It Wasn’t His Idea

2 Chronicles 1: 1 – 17

It wasn’t his idea

1 Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly. 2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. 7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” 8 And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” 11 Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” 13 So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of meeting, and reigned over Israel. 14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 Also the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland. 16 And Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price. 17 They also acquired and imported from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty; thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Have you ever experienced this situation? You came up with a good idea and it was either totally ignored or not accepted. Then sometime in the future another person suggests the same idea and the whole company praises this individual for his/her great work.

Does this point hit home to you? Then be of good cheer my friend, you are not alone in getting taken advantage of. The path to corporate success is paved with hard work and dedication. But how can you blaze up that path without having to pave that road?

Here are some of the techniques these worldly-wise people use to advance their own agendas. Let me share with you some ‘Amazing Ways’ to take credit for someone else’s work

1. Ask them how they plan on solving say problem “X” right before the meeting, then once the meeting has started say their plan before they can speak.

2. Go for a nice stroll by their desk when they’re away

Exercise is a great way to improve productivity, especially when your exercise is walking in front of a smart person’s desk. Do a quick once-over of their desk or computer screen, and if bystanders are suspicious, just say you’re looking for some staples. Staples are the most inconspicuous office supplies to look for.

3. Repeat a solution someone just said, but add a minuscule detail change

If they don’t give you all the credit, at least you’ll get recognition for “fixing” an unbroken idea. Ideally, the situation would go a little like this:

Manager: And that’s why we need to cut down expenses 12% by the end of the quarter. Any ideas?