Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...

Reality check for leaders

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of emotional health for leadership/ministry. The truth is that many people can manage to arrive at a position or platform but once they get there they seem to hurt as many people as they help.  (This can make whatever you're doing a moot point as there is no other reason for ministry other than helping people.)  How many times does leadership become something else entirely other than what we originally went into it for?  Way too much!

It takes intentionality to keep pure motives in leadership as well as maintaining a solid foundation from which to minister.  I find that I personally need constant tune ups. 

Some danger zones for me are times when I begin to:
  • Have an angry edge in my communication.
  • Negative things spill out when bumped.  (Whatever emotions fill you will spill out when people bump into you...)
  • Need the accolades of people to keep me going or prop me up (whatever God says isn't good enough any more...not enough to live on.)  Having the kudos of others is a wonderful thing and when it happens -- awesome.  But if I get to the point where I need it, crave it, solicit it or live on it, I'm in a dangerous place.
These are some warning signs for me that I personally need a serious tune up.  I also find that major tune ups aren't needed most times if I ask myself the hard questions on a daily or every few days basis.

    Comments

    Really good article today! Thanks for sharing it!

    Love you
    LaDonna
    You're welcome! Love you back!
    Kathy Butryn said…
    This is a very good reminder Deanna...I've got this post in my twitter que for tomorrow.

    blessings,

    kath

    Popular posts from this blog

    What To Do First to Make a Profit

    The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...

    Sisterhood Rises Up To Change Lives Forever

    God is in the business of preserving families. It is His heart. It's my heart too. And, I'll unabashedly say here that I believe it should be everyone's heart. Everyone likes good news and I've got some for you today. If you are in doubt that God still speaks today and that He uses people to accomplish His work, I pray this will speak to you. Last night I was sitting in service at Celebration Church where we are pastors, and my husband was preaching. His message was about what we want to be remembered for in life, and he made the statement that we can't change our past but we can change the future.  In that moment, God spoke to me. He began to give me my next post for Lost Daughters, where I'm also a blogger. To be honest it's more than just another place where I blog. It's a sisterhood. A lifeline. A place that has come to mean a great deal to me, because of the amazing women who are there. During the service I basically had this entire post...

    Lost Daughters & Me

    Last month I wrote my very first adoption related post here on my blog, and said it would probably be my first and last. I was aware of the controversy it would probably bring, as well as the hurtful feelings that would result if those who are not adoptees rose up to disagree.  Although everyone wasn't totally happy, the positive response was overwhelming. I received a lot of private mail that was encouraging, and it outweighed the negative reactions. A few people literally begged me to write more. I wrote a follow up post here , about what I planned to do next. After prayer and consideration, I know I am supposed to start a separate blog about adoption, in addition to writing here at deannashrodes.net.  I am working on this new blog (though it is not live yet), as well as launching a Tampa support group for adult adoptees. However, I believe the best way for me to get my feet wet as I start the blog and support group is to begin by joining others. I need to learn, gr...