Two nuns who happened to be nurses were driving to work at a local nursing home when they ran out of gas one morning. As they sat stranded alongside a busy highway, one of them remembered she had a bedpan in the trunk and walked to the nearest gas station to fill it up.

Upon returning with the unusual container, the nuns began carefully pouring the gas into the empty tank. Just then a family drove by and stared in disbelief. Finally, the father blurted out, “That’s what I call acting in faith.”

Faith is the fuel that drives the engine of success. However, faith is not like gasoline, which runs out as you use it, but like a muscle, which grows stronger as you exercise it.

But what does faith have to do with business? Plenty. Faith is a concept that I often emphasize. Faith, in this context, isn't necessarily about religious beliefs but rather about trust, confidence and belief in the potential for positive outcomes.

One personal story that demonstrates this concept involved a situation early in my career when I was working to expand my envelope manufacturing business. We were facing a significant challenge with a major client who was considering switching to a competitor. The stakes were high, and losing this client would have had a substantial impact on our business. Our team was anxious, and the pressure was mounting.

I had to rely on faith in several ways. First, I had faith in my team and their abilities to deliver exceptional service and quality. I also had faith in the relationships we had built with the client over the years. I learned a long time ago that the only way to create faith is to trust people. I believed that by demonstrating our commitment and value, we could retain their business.

We decided to take a proactive approach. I personally reached out to the client to understand their concerns and needs better. We then mobilized our team to address these issues swiftly and effectively. Throughout the process, I maintained open communication with the client, reinforcing our dedication to their success.

Our efforts paid off. Not only did we retain the client, but we also strengthened our relationship with them. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of faith -- faith in our team, our relationships and our ability to overcome challenges.

Faith in your team and relationships can turn challenges into opportunities. Believe in yourself and your team, and the rest will fall into place.

A recent seminary graduate was asked to preach the Sunday sermon. He began, “My message this morning is on the relationship between fact and faith. It is a fact that this is Sunday morning. It is also a fact that you are here and that I am ready to speak to you. It is faith that makes me believe you will remember what I have to say.”

His belief applies not only to religion but also to business. Faith hears the inaudible, sees the invisible, believes in the incredible and receives the impossible. Consider these ideas.

Trust in relationships -- Faith is foundational in building trust with clients, partners and employees. Trust is essential for successful negotiations, collaborations and long-term relationships. We live by faith, not by sight.

Confidence in decision-making -- Having faith in your abilities and decisions can lead to more decisive and effective leadership. It allows business leaders to take calculated risks and pursue opportunities with conviction. Faith is a decision married to unswerving determination.

Resilience in challenges -- Faith provides the strength to persevere through difficult times. It is the belief that challenges can be overcome and that efforts will eventually lead to success.

Inspiration and motivation -- Faith can inspire and motivate teams, fostering a positive work environment where individuals believe in their collective goals and the impact of their work. When you cease to use faith, you lose it.

Vision and innovation -- Faith in a vision or mission can drive innovation and creativity. It encourages thinking beyond the status quo and pushing boundaries to achieve extraordinary results.

Faith in business is about fostering trust, confidence and a positive outlook, which are crucial for achieving success and navigating the complexities of the business world.

Mackay's Moral: Positive thinking without positive faith will result in positive failure.

A married couple are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They walk down the street to their old school, find their old classroom and a desk they’d shared where he had carved, “I love you, Sally.” On their way back home, a bag of money falls out of an armored car practically at their feet. Sally quickly picks it up and takes it home. It’s $50,000.

The husband says, “We’ve got to give it back.”

She says, “Finder’s keepers.” And she puts the money back in the bag and hides it up in their attic.

The next day, two FBI men show up at their home and ask if either of them found any money that fell out of an armored car yesterday.

She says, “No.”

He says, “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.”

She says, “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile.”

The agents begin to question the man and ask, “Tell us the story from the beginning.”

The man says, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday ...”

The FBI guy looks at his partner and says, “Let’s get out of here.”

I guess you can’t blame the investigators, but I wonder whether she will enjoy spending that ill-gotten gain.

Telling the truth is fundamentally important in both personal and professional settings. It serves as the bedrock for trust, credibility and integrity. While it might be tempting to tell an embellished truth or a half-truth to avoid discomfort, the long-term consequences of such actions can be detrimental. Beware of the half-truth -- you may have gotten the wrong half.

In the workplace, truthfulness ensures that relationships are built on honesty, expectations are clear and decisions are made with accurate information. It also helps in maintaining a reputation for reliability and integrity, which is invaluable in any career.

We’ve all heard the expression, “The truth hurts.” That usually applies to situations where we already know what’s real but are reluctant to acknowledge it. Just remember, the truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie hurts forever. Perhaps the most damage is done to the liar’s reputation.

It is important to deliver the truth with empathy and tact, considering the impact it may have on others. Balancing honesty with sensitivity can help maintain strong, respectful relationships. People cannot change the truth, but truth can change people.

Several years back, the Forum Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts, studied 341 salespeople from 11 different companies in five different industries. Their purpose was to determine what separated the top producers from the average producers. When the study was finished, the results were startling. It was not skill, knowledge or charisma that divided the pack. The difference came down to one trait: honesty. When customers trust the salespeople, they buy from them.

Many people don’t believe what they hear these days because they’ve been burned in the past. That’s a shame. Remember, exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

It sometimes seems we have created a society where people are so careless with the truth. Don’t they realize that a cover-up only adds to the loss of credibility?

Why is it that you can tell people there are more than 300 billion stars in the universe, and they will believe you without question? But if you tell them a porch railing has wet paint on it, they must touch it to make sure.

Let me share a light-hearted story that illustrates the humor in telling the truth. Years ago, during one of my business trips, I found myself at a networking event where everyone was trying to impress each other with their achievements. One gentleman approached me and, with a big grin, asked, “So, Harvey, what do you think is the secret to your success?”

Without missing a beat, I replied, “Well, I always tell the truth -- except when I'm golfing. Then, all bets are off!"

The room erupted in laughter, and it was a great icebreaker. The truth is, honesty is crucial in business, but sometimes a little humor can make the truth more palatable and memorable.

Mackay’s Moral: If truth stands in your way, you are headed in the wrong direction.

A teacher worked in a small remote village and taught children reading and writing. The children were very smart and worked hard to learn. She loved her job but received very little pay, except for what the villagers could share with her.

One day a small boy came up to her desk with a present. It was crudely wrapped in crumpled brown paper tied with string.

The teacher unwrapped the gift and found a beautiful seashell inside. She picked it up and looked it over closely. She had never seen a seashell like this before, and she knew the village was many miles from the nearest ocean. “Where did you find this?” she asked.

“Near the great sea on the other side of the mountains,” the boy said.

“But that’s such a long way to go,” the teacher said.

The boy smiled and said, “The long walk is part of the gift.”

A gift is more than a trinket. It’s a symbol of everything that went into it. Gift-giving is a wonderful way to express love, appreciation and thoughtfulness. It's an opportunity to show someone that you care about them and have taken the time to choose something special just for them.

It’s so important to understand the recipient --their hobbies, favorite activities or things they are passionate about. A gift that aligns with their interests shows that you pay attention to what matters to them.

Personalized gifts, such as engraved items or custom-made pieces, can add a special touch that makes the gift memorable. Sometimes, experiences like a concert ticket, a cooking class or a weekend getaway can be more meaningful than a physical item.

Presentation also matters. Taking the time to wrap a gift beautifully can enhance the recipient's experience and show that you care about the details. A heartfelt note or card can add a personal touch that conveys your feelings in words, making the gift even more special.

When it comes to creative gifts that can be given for any occasion, the key is to think outside the box and personalize the gift to make it memorable. These are some of my favorites.

Personalized puzzle -- Create a custom puzzle using a photo that holds significance for the recipient. It's a fun and interactive gift that also serves as a keepsake.

Customized cookbook -- Compile a collection of recipes that you know the recipient loves or would enjoy trying. Include personal notes or stories related to each recipe.

Experience jar -- Fill a jar with notes, each containing a different experience or activity you can do together. This could include movie nights, hiking trips or trying out new restaurants.

Subscription box -- Choose a subscription box that aligns with the recipient's interests, such as gourmet snacks, books or self-care products. It's a gift that keeps on giving!

DIY memory book -- Create a scrapbook filled with photos, mementos and notes capturing shared memories. It's a heartfelt way to reminisce about the good times.

Virtual class or workshop -- An online class or workshop that aligns with their hobbies or interests makes a great gift. Classes are available in every topic imaginable.

Personalized calendar -- Design a calendar featuring photos and important dates that are meaningful to the recipient, like birthdays and anniversaries. This is an idea I use most often.

Corporate gift-giving is a nuanced art that can significantly impact business relationships. It's more than just a gesture; it's a strategic tool that can enhance connections.

Is the purpose to express gratitude, build relationships or reinforce your brand? Gifts can show appreciation to clients, partners and employees for their support and contributions. Thoughtful gifts can help build and maintain strong business relationships. Gifts can serve as a reminder of your brand, especially if they are personalized or branded items.

It’s important to know your audience. Consider the recipient's preferences, culture and interests. A personalized gift shows thoughtfulness and effort. Choose high-quality items that reflect well on your company. I also like to give gifts that arrive at unexpected times, like at Thanksgiving to show customers our gratitude for their business.

I prefer to give gifts that will keep me in the person’s thoughts. It doesn’t have to have the company name plastered all over it to be memorable, but something unusual, delicious or useful will remind the recipient that you put some effort into choosing it.

Mackay's Moral: The best gifts are not about the price tag; it’s the thought and effort behind the gesture that truly counts.