When Jill Donovan, founder of Rustic Cuff’s, launched her jewelry business in Tulsa, God led her to some very creative marketing ideas that worked brilliantly. So, when Jill opened a store in Dallas, she decided to use the same approach with no traditional announcements or marketing. But customers never materialized. Jill told me she learned the hard way that ...
A big surprise many new entrepreneurs experience is their first-year tax bill! For example, a new social media influencer on TikTok receives money from TikTok each month. Many spend that money without considering taxes. What many new entrepreneurs don’t realize is that the money they received throughout the year isn’t really theirs. A significant percent of money earned is owed ...
During the pandemic, the US Government offered tax credits to help small businesses weather the troubling times. The government, however, seems to have forgotten to plan and fund the additional support the IRS needs to distribute the funds. Many businesses filed for these credits early in 2021 and have yet to receive any monies. In business, it’s easy to ...
As I’ve reviewed dozens of job applications lately, it’s not uncommon to see applicants with five jobs in just a three-to-five-year period. Brevity of time on a job reflects in part our cultural changes to loyalty. There was a time when loyalty was valued by both the employer and the employee. My father was loyal to General Motors for his ...
A Stanford Economics professor, Nicolas Bloom, has been researching remote work for the last several years. Bloom believes that there are three different work options for the future. He believes 50% of workers will be required to work in a workplace setting. These include retail, healthcare, or manufacturing jobs. Option two is hybrid work. He predicts 40% will work at ...
In the book of Acts, the disciples were faced with a significant transition in their ministry. Following Jesus’ departure, Peter led his team in prayer, filled their leadership gaps, rallied people around the vision and built a close-knit, well-trained community. The time had come for Peter to personally execute the 5th key in organizational transitions by implementing the plan Jesus ...
Recently, I took an assessment that pointed out that my leadership style is to primarily focus on the future. This can be good in preparing for the future, but it also means that I sometimes do a poor job of reflecting on the past. There is a lot to be learned, however, from pausing to reflect on the past. As ...
Over twenty years ago, I helped start a school for learning disabilities. We struggled, but finally clarified our target audience. Recently, I referred a parent to that school. I was shocked when he informed me that they no longer serve children with his son’s challenges. Over time, the original mission of an organization can easily be highjacked, unless you define ...
Over the years, some people have asked if I’ve ever considered taking our Unconventional Business events into Oklahoma City. But it never seemed like the right time. Recently, however, we hired someone who previously lived in Oklahoma City. As she encouraged us to consider moving into Oklahoma City, we began praying. Since then, the Lord divinely introduced me to someone ...
Many business owners believe that the privately-held stock they own in their company has little value until they sell the business. Mark discovered otherwise. Mark leveraged his stock long before selling his business. Mark had his business appraised, then donated 20% of his company stock to a donor advised fund. (That’s basically a checking account specifically for giving.) This gave ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
