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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 i...

Who Are You Leading First?

Where you choose to focus when you're going through change will greatly determine your outcome.  

People fail at lots of things because of broken focus. In the case of journeying through change, we often focus most on the change. It begs our time and we all too often  give it all we've got in mental, spiritual, emotional and even financial energy.
 

When you get on a plane and prepare to take off, the flight attendant always gives a spiel about what to do in case of an emergency. Among the things covered is what to do if the cabin loses pressure. They remind you that oxygen masks will fall, and in the event that you are holding an infant or child they ask you to make sure you put your mask on before assisting with theirs. Most people will drawn to help their child first, however this may prove a dreadful choice.

If you are involved in ministry or any type of public service, you are probably real good at running around and putting other people's masks on before doing anything for yourself. I understand. We have to change that if we want to thrive. This isn't selfishness. As you practice self-care through a change, you will be prepared to give others your best.

Dee Hock, an expert on leadership says that we should spend 50% of our time leading ourselves. Often the last thing we do when faced with a big change is lead ourselves. We stop leading ourselves in order to have meltdowns about the change, or to try to come to grips with the change. This is the exact opposite of what we should do if we care about a healthy outcome.

Have you "lost yourself" through a change? It's time to come to grips with exactly where you stand with self-leadership.  Bill Hybels says, "The best gift you can give the people you lead is a healthy, energized, fully surrendered, focused self. And, no one else can do that for you." 

Did you hear that? No one else can do this for you.

I can encourage you. But you have to do this.

 

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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 i...