“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”
— Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)
There is something profound about this simple verse, tucked quietly into one of Scripture’s most reflective books. No qualifiers. No disclaimers. No “if the timing is right” or “if you feel appreciated.” Just this timeless command:
Whatever your hand finds to do — do it with all your might.
And yet… how often do we wait?
Wait for the right conditions.
Wait for a better boss, a bigger platform, a more exciting opportunity.
Wait to feel more “ready” before we give our full effort.
I’ve been there. Perhaps you have too.
But what if — just what if — the key to transforming your career or even your life isn’t about getting more time or finding the perfect opportunity… but about how you show up to the work already in front of you?
That was the heart of a recent conversation we had with our team at The Plenipotent Company. A conversation about ownership, excellence, and value — not as lofty ideals, but as everyday practices that can radically shape your path.
And what emerged was this powerful truth: having a sense of ownership changes everything.
How you approach what’s in your hand today will shape what’s placed in your hands tomorrow.
Ownership is less about who’s watching and more about who you’re becoming when no one is. The work may go unnoticed, but its impact on your future won’t. Share on XLet me start with a story — one you might find both humorous and sobering.
A young man living abroad sent money home to his brother, asking him to oversee the construction of a house. It was meant to be a gift for their aging parents — a home they could finally call their own.
The brother back home, however, saw an opportunity. Instead of using the full funds for quality materials, he decided to cut corners. He purchased cheap cement, hired the least expensive workers he could find, and quietly pocketed the surplus funds.
In his mind, he was clever — enriching himself at the expense of a brother too far away to notice.
Months later, when the house was finally complete, he received a message:
“Dear brother — I wanted to surprise you. You’ve been such a help. I’ve decided to gift the house to you and your family. It’s yours.”
Can you imagine his face? Instead of being the elated owner of a brand new house, he was overwhelmed with deep sadness.
Suddenly, the foundation he had skimmed on, the cracked tiles he had ignored, the inferior roof he had dismissed… they were no longer someone else’s problem.
They were his.
Isn’t that exactly how life works sometimes?
The quality of work you put in today is what you will live with tomorrow.
Don’t just do the work—own the outcome. Ownership transforms tasks into legacy. Share on XYou may think you are building for your employer, your client, your boss. But in truth? You are always building for yourself.
That house? It’s yours.
That reputation? It’s yours.
That skillset? Yours to keep — or to regret.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
— Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
Scripture reminds us again and again: we reap what we sow. Not just spiritually, but practically.
If you sow carelessness today, you will reap its consequences tomorrow.
If you sow excellence, ownership, and diligence today — even in work that seems unseen — you are sowing seeds that will one day bear fruit.
You are not just building for someone else.
You are building your own future.
Let’s bring this down to something even more relatable.
Have you ever been tempted to give “just enough” at work?
Maybe the project isn’t that exciting. The pay isn’t great. The client isn’t grateful.
So you tell yourself: “Why bother giving more than the minimum?”
Here’s why: you are always building you.
It’s easy to give less when you think no one’s watching—but the person most shaped by your effort is you. Share on XEven if no one else sees, you are shaping the kind of person you are becoming.
And in God’s economy — and in the very nature of how life works — nothing done with excellence is wasted.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
— Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
This brings me to a recent story from our own company.
We were helping a client publish a book — a fairly simple project, or so it seemed. The brief was straightforward: get the book ready for Amazon and Selar. That was it. No grand expectations. No flashy deliverables.
But the team didn’t stop there.
They saw an opportunity to own the project, to bring excellence into every detail of the process.
So they went beyond:
- Created multiple book formats (PDF, Kindle, print)
- Designed beautiful covers, refined through audience feedback
- Created a customised book launch guide, promotional campaign, and multimedia assets
- Initiated lead generation process
- Crafted a project report so clear and valuable that the client later called it “the best document I’ve seen in a long while.”
The team could have done the bare minimum. But instead, they chose ownership. They asked: “How can we serve this client in a way that builds real value?”
And guess what?
That project opened new doors. It created new opportunities — not because we asked for them, but because value speaks.
Excellence speaks loudest. You don’t need to promote yourself loudly when your work speaks for itself.
And isn’t that exactly what we see in the life of Joseph?
You know the story:
- Betrayed by his brothers.
- Sold into slavery.
- Thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
If anyone had an excuse to give the bare minimum, it was Joseph.
He could have sulked. He could have said: “What’s the point? I’m a slave. I’m a prisoner.”
But instead?
Wherever he found himself, he owned the space he was in.
In Potiphar’s house — he took responsibility.
In the prison — he brought leadership.
And in time, his ownership mindset elevated him to national leadership.
Joseph didn’t wait for the right title. He didn’t wait for “his big break.” He showed up with excellence in whatever was in his hands — right then, right there.
I wonder, friend — where do you find yourself today?
Are you in a season that feels small, unseen, or even unfair?
Are you tempted to wait until something better comes along to give your best?
Let me encourage you: don’t wait.
Own what’s in front of you.
Sow excellence — now.
Every act of ownership is a seed. You may not see the fruit immediately, but in time, your harvest will speak for itself. Share on XBecause whether you see it or not, you are always building your future.
And in God’s economy, even unseen seeds will one day bear fruit.
Let’s make this practical.
How can you cultivate an ownership mindset — starting today?
Here are five simple steps:
1. Stop trading blame, start taking ownership.
No more “If only my boss… my company… my client…” Own what’s in your hands. That is where your growth begins.
2. Look for ways to add value.
Ask: “How can I make this project, this interaction, this task better than expected?”
Deliberately hold yourself up to standards that are far higher than anyone could reasonably expect of you. That’s how you attain excellence.
3. Do it as unto the Lord.
Whether the client appreciates it or not. Whether your boss notices or not. You’re ultimately working for an audience of One.
4. Document your value.
Keep a record of what you’re learning and building. Weekly reports, project reflections, lessons learned — these will one day become your story, your asset.
5. Trust the process.
You may not see instant rewards. But remember: you reap what you sow. Stay faithful. Your diligence will make room for you.
Friend, I know life and work can be discouraging sometimes.
You may feel unseen. You may wonder if your excellence matters.
Let me remind you: It does.
You are not just building a job. You are building a life. A reputation. A future.
And most of all — you are building the kind of person God can trust with greater things.
So lean in. Own it. Bring your best — even in the small things.
Because in time, as Scripture promises:
“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
— Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)
When you live with this mindset, opportunities will find you.
And your result will speak for itself.