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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 inve

When "me time" isn't helping you...what next?

"Getting it all done" successfully is a lot of what I write about on this blog since it's the thing people ask me about most.

I came to a realization while on our family cruise. The painful physical symptoms I've been experiencing for almost two years were almost gone by week's end.  It was then that I realized that my de-stressing strategy at home isn't working. 

I'm sure you've heard the ol' "do something just for YOU, everyday" advice, especially if you're a woman.  Everyone sings the praises of "me time".

I take time for myself each day. I might ride my bike for 30 minutes, or take a long bath at the end of the day, or go walking or read.

And nothing's changing with my stress level and physical symptoms.

I make a conscious effort to not complain but at times my friends or family can see my stress, even just the way I may wince in pain as I change positions.  They say, "Have you been taking some time off each day to do something just for you?" 

"Yes."

[Insert puzzled look here...]  "Really?"

"Yes, really.  I promise."

And I'm telling the truth.

But thirty to sixty minutes of "me time" doesn't revitalize your life if you're carrying some things God doesn't want you to carry.
I know I'm not alone.  When I went to my doctor about six months ago and sought help for the pain she said she has a lot of patients going through the same exact thing. I believe there are times we all do what we have to do in extenuating circumstances. The problem is when the extenuating circumstances seem permanent they have gone on so long.


Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation.

So...what to do?

I'm not sure yet.  But I know there are solutions even if I don't know what they are yet.

When I look at my situation I'm tempted to say things like:

"There aren't any other choices..."
"I've tried everything..."
"Nothing's working..."
"There's nothing else I can do..."

But that wouldn't be true.  No matter what my feelings tell me those things aren't fact.  I was reminded of that last week as I read this blog by Seth Godin.

There are some choices I'm probably avoiding because they are painful and others I don't know about.  Sometimes God has a solution we've never imagined (because He's God -- His ways/thoughts are higher than ours) and sometimes friends suggest a choice never thought of.

The main point here is, I'm not powerless and neither are you.

We do have choices.

We can make course corrections and do things differently even if we don't know what different looks like yet.

Don't believe the lie that things have to stay like they are, or that you have no options.  When someone doesn't give you an option, create one.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I definitely agree! Its very important to make this time
Terri von Wood said…
My favorite line in this blog post: "When someone doesn't give you an option, create one."

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