I love new ideas. One thing that I’ve discovered, however, is when I chase a new idea that I dream up without God’s input, it usually doesn’t have a great result. However, there are times when God will give me an assignment that I wouldn’t normally consider. After receiving affirmation that this new assignment is from God, I have marveled ...
In this series, we’re discussing five guiding principles on negotiating agreements. The third principle is to understand the other parties’ needs and concerns. The story of Boaz’s pursuit to marry Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, is an example of a shrewd negotiation. Because of Jewish law, there was one person who had first rights to redeem Naomi’s land and marry Ruth. Boaz ...
In this series, we’re discussing five guiding principles on how best to negotiate agreements. The second principle I recommend is to avoid negotiating with those you can’t trust. A previous bank customer of mine was represented by their manipulative CFO. This CFO would leverage his other bank relationships to pressure us to give him a better deal. We agreed ...
Business negotiations are fraught with opportunities to become stressful experiences. In this series, we’ll discuss five guiding principles on how best to negotiate agreements. The first principle is to clearly define your desired outcome from the transaction. Recently, Rod needed to hire a new videographer. He examined his budget and considered the maximum value he could afford to pay. Even ...
In the 1970s, there was a popular book called The Peter Principle by Laurence Peter. The premise of the book was that successful people often receive promotions until they’re finally promoted to a level of incompetence. The most common application of this principle is in sales. After many great salespeople have success, they often assume their next step is to ...
Jeremiah 21 tells the story of Zedekiah, king of Judah. Frightened of the approaching Babylonian army, the king asks the prophet Jeremiah to intercede with God. Although he had disregarded God’s prior direction to submit to the Babylonians, Zedekiah wants God to repel the invaders. But Jeremiah is compelled to speak God’s truth. God will not bless Zedekiah’s request, but ...
In this series we’re discussing seven keys to successful business startups. The sixth key is to know the condition of your business. The owner of a chain of retail stores hired my consulting practice years ago to help their struggling business. This was a $5 million a year operation, yet, when I asked for financial information, they had no answers. ...
In this series, we’re discussing seven keys to successful business startups. The fifth key to success is to trust God rather than lenders for your funding. If God desires you to start a business, He has the ability to fund it in multiple and creative ways. Assuming that you need to borrow money, before exploring other possibilities, leaves God out ...
In this series we’re discussing seven keys to successful business startups. The fourth key is counting the cost. As a commercial lender, very few budding entrepreneurs came to me with an actual budget for their new business idea. Yet, one of the most common reasons for business failure is being undercapitalized and overextended. Most entrepreneurs are overly optimistic about how ...
In this series, we’re discussing seven keys to successful startups. The third key is to under promise and over deliver. Trust is the backbone of commerce. Many new entrepreneurs undermine trust by not being reliable. For the first meeting with a new client, try showing up early. Then, at that meeting, make a commitment to provide your next step or ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
