Our CEO Role Model

In leading our companies we are called, before all else, to model God’s character and His ways in our business interactions. As we focus on keeping this first thing first, we use the gifts and opportunities He has given us to permit Him to reach others through us. We do this in the process of conducting business. We don’t stop leading the business, making daily calls and decisions, or dealing...

Your Leadership IQ

Lech Walesa told Congress that there is a declining world market for words. He’s right. The only thing the world believes anymore is behavior, because we all see it instantaneously. None of us may preach anymore. We must behave.” Max DePree, Chairman Herman Miller Leaders lead, and leadership by example is the best technique as proven for thousands of years. No great leader has ever been...

Considering Buyer Behavior

Buyers come in many shapes, sizes and behaviors. Ideally, our pricing policies and customer handling reflect this. Customer motivations, flexibility and preconceptions – all of which impact how we can best connect with them – can be all over the map! Zig Ziglar, famous sales expert and Baptist Sunday School teacher, said, “Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no...

I Coulda Been a Contender!

“I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude v3 Marlon Brando’s pitiful angst in delivering the most famous line in 1954’s“best picture,” On the Waterfront, still resonates with us since it deals with a common condition: being burdened by regret for previous actions and lost opportunities. Brando’s character,...

Loyalty: An Engine For Healthy Growth

We’re quick to overly complicate what’s involved in building a healthy company. Overwhelmed by a continuing barrage of ‘helpful’ input from authors and consultants, we continually seek the latest ‘breakthrough’ ideas and techniques to catapult us past competitors and ‘beat the odds’ in becoming a long-term success story. Sadly, in spite of all the expert advice, just 22% of the...

Ministering from the Overflow

For people committed to such concepts as fairness and justice, God’s grace is beyond “amazing.” As those adopted by God and eternally viewed as righteous solely through our faith in Christ, we must constantly remind ourselves of the indescribable and undeserved nature of this free gift. Our crucified and risen Lord lived perfectly, and died, that we might escape sin’s hold and the law’s...

A Word of Encouragement

I have some good news for you today! God isn’t participating in the recession! And He won’t be needing a stimulus package or bailout, either! These tumultuous days may be the greatest season of our lives… the most fruitful that we have ever known! It will all depend on how we perceive them. It’s been said that “The circumstances of life don’t make me who I am; they reveal whose I...

Anxiety or Contentment? What’s Your Choice?

2009 has been an unusually challenging year for many.  Along with a severe, sustained recession, there has been unprecedented political, social and spiritual upheaval across America. In spite of these issues, our God reigns! Let’s take this well-deserved pause from the action to take a deep breath and deeply consider before God how we’re doing in ordering our priorities and tending to His...

Bringing News of Great Joy

In C12 we often speak of ‘spiritual value added’ related to sharing the love of Christ through acts of service, sanctification and salvation. As we approach Christmas, with our calendars full of events and family gatherings, it’s vital to remember the amazing opportunity we have to faithfully and intentionally share Christ’s Gospel of grace and produce Kingdom fruit. It’s been said...

Integrity – I’ve got it! Or do I?

Practically speaking, integrity means that we live without obvious contradiction between what we say we believe and what we actually do. There’s an observable consistency about them, linking their words to their actions. A common slang expression for people with integrity is that they “walk their talk,” meaning that what they say and do are consistent. A ‘high integrity’ person lives...