Wisdom

First Key to Financial Success

2016-10-28T10:39:40-05:00November 7th, 2016|Tags: , , |

The First Key to Financial Success – Revenue Growth In my book “Unconventional Business” I discuss Seven Keys to Financial Success. The first key is Revenue Growth. Knowing the pace your revenue grows from year to year is critical in assessing how well your customers appreciate your products. Unfortunately, some pursue more sales in a greedy and unethical manner. A ...

Leveraging an Opportunity

2016-09-28T12:52:01-05:00October 31st, 2016|Tags: , , |

Most Saturdays you can find our son, Jeremy, and I at a local thrift store. One of his quirks, related to his autism, is his insistence in buying a VHS video each week from a specific thrift store. Like most thrift stores this store is filled with used, donated goods. As Halloween approached, however, I noticed racks of new Halloween ...

Building Trust – Testimonials

2018-03-14T08:42:29-05:00October 17th, 2016|Tags: , , |

Building trust is critical in our relationships, and, in the world of commerce. Jesus modeled five building blocks of trust in the calling of his first disciples. These elements can be remembered by the acronym TRUST. The first T is for Testimonials. Jesus’ first encounter with Peter and Andrew was at the Jordan River. John the Baptist baptized Jesus, then, ...

Wanamaker’s Wisdom

2018-03-14T08:42:30-05:00September 28th, 2016|Tags: , , |

Prior to Philadelphia’s famous Wanamaker’s department store, prices were usually established by haggling with the shopkeeper. John Wanamaker, a department store legend in the early 1900s, had a philosophical problem with haggling so he invented a fixed price amount for price tags and the money-back guarantee. His problem with the practice of haggling flowed out of his spiritual roots. He ...

Marketing Plan Questions-Question 3

2018-03-14T08:42:31-05:00September 21st, 2016|Tags: , , |

In my book, “Unconventional Business,” I highlighted seven questions from marketing guru, Seth Godin, that may help you shape your marketing plan. The third question is, “What do your prospective customers want?” During my banking career I watched as we constantly launched products to meet our needs with little concern about the customer’s desires. Then a new product was announced ...

Social Creed of the Churches

2016-08-26T12:51:13-05:00September 2nd, 2016|Tags: , , |

In the early 1900s workplace conditions were dismal. Many industries were unsafe, paid less than a living wage, and required 12-hour days, 7 days a week. In 1909, with these unjust conditions as a backdrop, Labor Sunday was launched as a day when pastors preached on the value and dignity of work. This led to a federation of churches identifying ...

Small Businesses Beware

2018-03-14T08:42:33-05:00August 23rd, 2016|Tags: , |

All new hires are important, but a small business jeopardizes their culture even more if someone makes a poor hiring decision. If you have twenty employees who have represented your organization well, hiring the wrong person will hurt, but it’s unlikely to devastate your culture. However, if you’re the only employee and you bring on someone new, they become 50% ...

A Word of Wisdom

2016-07-26T13:22:31-05:00August 22nd, 2016|Tags: , |

One of the hardest things about interviewing job candidates is the relationships that develop and cloud your judgment. My friend, Joe, reminded me of this truth recently. Joe has helped hire thousands of employees, so I called him for help. When I shared with Joe about a possible employee I was considering, Joe said, “They’re not the right fit, Rick. ...

The Wisdom of the Front Line

2016-05-25T14:27:11-05:00June 15th, 2016|Tags: |

Paul and some investors launched a new business with a promising new medical product. The product concept was great, but when the medical community used their new product, it wasn’t effective due to design flaws. Paul communicated to his investors that the product needed to be revised, but the investors didn’t believe their sales people. When the business was nearing ...

Restrain Your Lips

2016-05-25T14:23:44-05:00June 14th, 2016|Tags: , |

Don entered a partnership with a close friend. Unfortunately, these two men had a dispute, and Don left the business angry, hurt, and financially harmed. Don considered suing his former partner, and he was tempted to slander him when the opportunity arose. But instead he chose to honor God. Don maintained contact with his partner and showed him the love ...

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