Is Your Life “ISO?”
“Okay, what in the world is he talking about now?!”
ISO. You know, the International Standardization Organization. Thanks to them, we have standardized shipping containers, standards for various computer and television interfaces, and much more. Had they been around sooner the entire world might be using compatible 110 volts AC and 60 Hz (or not!).
The company I work for just completed an ISO audit of the standards we subscribe to, as an engineering and manufacturing firm. For us, it’s ISO 9001:2008 and AS 9100:2009 Rev C. (We did very well!!)
Here’s some background, then my points.
In the “old days” of government contracting, there were grueling standards like MIL-STD 9858A that meticulously mandated every aspect of a contractor’s quality requirements.
Now? Contractors willingly (!!) abide with international standards. They develop a Quality Program according to those standards, then operate accordingly.
From the relevant standards, you develop a corporate Quality Manual, and more specific direction through various Quality Procedures. At lower levels there may also be Process Instructions.
Here’s the beauty of it all: If an organization operates such a Program according to the appropriate ISO standards, there’s no need for constant outside surveillance! Occasional audits are performed internally by company personnel, and then externally by a certifying agency.
So; is your life “ISO?”
The on-going theme of this Blog is “Building Firm Foundations for a Shifting World.” I propose that valid, relevant, reliable standards are essential for strong foundations in our country, our businesses and organizations, and our personal lives.
- VALID: There are clearly some “standards” that are not valid, even if they once were. Please don’t figure your 2015 year taxes based on 2005 standards!
- RELEVANT: Don’t “strain gnats and swallow elephants.” Standards should focus on what’s really important. There’s a lot of stuff in life that’s just preference, and that’s okay.
- RELIABLE: By this, I mean solid standards that don’t shift based on what’s politically correct at the time. Another way to think of it is, don’t use uncalibrated tools. And make sure that what they’re calibrated against, is itself accurate!
We’ve already talked about “ISO” standards in business. If a company doesn’t maintain adequate Quality certifications, they’ll find it harder to compete.
Are there similar standards for government?
Of course. For the United States, it’s our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Amendments. They authorize and mandate that the people’s Congress establishes laws. The Executive Branch is charged with executing those laws. And the Judicial Branch (originally smaller than today’s) assures those laws are Constitutional.
What happens when those standards aren’t followed? We have Presidents writing Executive Orders which he enforces as law, while not enforcing duly-enacted laws. Federal judges “re-interpret” the Constitution to say things that aren’t there or even implied, and “legislate from the bench.” And Congress doesn’t use its authority to impeach the President or judges for over-stepping the “standards” they swore to uphold.
How about other organizations? We hear of well-known charities that lost track of millions of dollars. Some of their CEO’s have salaries and perks that rival those of multinational corporations. And some of them haven’t settled significant and old tax debts! We hear of “ministries” that are unaccountable. I was glad that the Christian Radio Ministry I was a part of for 21 years was owned by a Bible College. And, that the College submitted to external, audited standards of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
So again, how about you? Can your spouse depend on you? Your children? What standards do you live by? Are they just “whatever’s convenient?” Or are they valid, relevant, and reliable?
For those who want to go deeper:
God gave “standards” (Ten Commandments) to His chosen people. As they obeyed, they were blessed. If they disobeyed; not so much. An example of the latter is the period of the Judges, where “…everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
King David and others were held accountable to those standards, more or less, by various prophets. But the wise King Solomon? I don’t remember reading of any prophet who had access to him during his reign! Maybe he thought he was above accountability? Immeasurably wealthy, powerful, and wise; he found that everything “under the sun” (physical world and life, apart from God) was “vanity of vanities.” Read Ecclesiastes; he was a man who strayed far from the “standards” of his youth.
Jump ahead to the New Testament, and those of us who have accepted Christ’s atoning, sacrificial death on our behalf. He died in our place (John 3:16-18; tomorrow’s Scripture Video) so we are no longer “under the law, but under grace.” (Rom 6:14)
So under His grace and empowered by His Spirit, we now desire and strive to follow His word; valid standards that are relevant and reliable.
In my opinion, that’s a bedrock principle for “Building Firm Foundations for a Shifting World!”
What are some other standards that you find helpful in your life?
Very respectfully,
Bill