The pace of change has increased, the growth in complexity has multiplied, and information has proliferated at an unprecedented pace.  We are in extraordinary times.  And unprecedented times call for unique and disciplined approaches if we are to survive and thrive. In this seventh of a series I unpack my recommendations for habits, attitudes and disciplines to intentionally put into your personal routines and your corporate culture to provide the tools you’ll need to survive and thrive in these complex times.  In this article, I unpack “The discipline of rational thinking.” The XI Community: https://x-icommunity.com/

Christian Business Insights

How to Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times -- Part Seven

The pace of change has increased, the growth in complexity has multiplied, and information has proliferated at an unprecedented pace.  We are in extraordinary times.  And unprecedented times call for unique and disciplined approaches if we are to survive and thrive. In this sixth of a series I unpack my recommendations for habits, concepts and disciplines to intentionally put into your routines and corporate culture to provide the tools you’ll need to survive and thrive in these complex times.  In this podcast, I unpack “A propensity to take risks.”   The XI Community:  https://x-icommunity.com/

How to Survive & Thrive in Turbulent Times

The pace of change has increased, the growth in complexity has multiplied, and information has proliferated at an unprecedented pace.  We are in extraordinary times.  And unprecedented times call for unique and disciplined approaches if we are to survive and thrive. In this fifth of a series, I unpack a set of recommendations for strategies, processes, attitudes, habits and disciplines to build into your lives and businesses – things I call sails and keels – to help us survive and thrive in these unprecedented times.  In this podcast, I describe the next keel – the discipline of regular review and planning. The XI Community: https://x-icommunity.com/  

How to Survive & Thrive in a Turbulent World

In previous posts, I noted some of the factors that combine to create an incredibly turbulent, complex, rapidly changing and information-saturated world in which we find ourselves.  Our ability to navigate these turbulent waters is the single biggest challenge we will face for the balance of our careers. In this post, I recommend another of the fundamental pieces of the infrastructure we need to survive and thrive – an attitude of openness.

How to Survive & Thrive in These Turbulent Times

In my previous posts, I noted some of the factors that combine to create an incredibly turbulent, complex, rapidly changing and information-saturated world in which we find ourselves.  Our ability to navigate these turbulent waters is the single biggest challenge we will face for the balance of our careers. In this post, I recommend a fundamental piece of the infrastructure we need to survive and thrive – an articulated vision and purpose

How to Survive & Thrive in Turbulent Times - 3

In my previous podcast, I noted some of the factors that combine to create an incredibly turbulent, complex, rapidly changing and information-saturated world in which we find ourselves.  Our ability to navigate these turbulent waters is the single biggest challenge we will face for the balance of our careers. In this podcast, I recommend a fundamental piece of the infrastructure we need to survive and thrive – an acceptance of personal responsibility.

How to Survive & Thrive in Turbulent Times - 2

If you are a professional, a business owner, or an executive and you want to increase your sales, then creating and continually refining a sales system is the best thing you can do. An effectively managed sales system will provide you with methodical, predictable sales with more control and less frustration than anything else.           In an earlier piece, I described the concept of a sales system, and depicted the basic infrastructure upon which every powerful sales system is built.  In this podcast I’m going to add some flesh to those bones, focusing specifically on the most difficult part of every sales system – acquiring a customer.

Building Your Sales System -- New Customers

Focusing on one or more target markets is one of the key processes to building a successful sales system for your business or practice. But, business people are often unsure of how to go about the process of identifying those markets that hold the greatest potential.  Here are seven strategies to help you identify your highest potential target markets.

How to Identify Your Target Markets

Here’s the fifth in my series of nominations for words which should be banned from the Christian’s vocabulary:  ‘Church planter.’            I know, that really affronts the sensibilities of most readers. Most Christians hold ‘church planting’ up at the top of their list of noble endeavors. How could anyone question that?           Before you dismiss this idea as pure heresy, stop, take a deep breath, and think with me. Let’s look at church planting from the biblical perspective, and then consider it in a practical sense.

Should we plant churches?

Acquiring new customers is one of those processes that frustrates and discourages most B2B sellers. It doesn’t have to be a frustrating and discouraging process.  Like almost every aspect of a sales system, acquiring a new customer is a matter of understanding the processes and methodically implementing them in the right quantity and quality.           The starting point is developing a sufficient quantity of suspects.

Building Your Sales System by Collecting Suspects

Once a year, a small college in Michigan publishes a list of words that should be banished from the English language.  These include words that have become incredibly over used, and still others that have been twisted to mean something entirely different from their original meaning. In the case of modern Western Christianity, we have a number of words that are so commonly used that the ideas they convey have become part of our culture, are rarely questioned, and, as a result, have changed our behavior in ways that are detrimental to our spiritual growth and the growth of the Kingdom.  On top of that, they are non-biblical!           Here’s the fourth in my series of nominations for words which should be banned from the Christian’s vocabulary: worship service.     

Words that should be banished from Christianity #4

 At its most fundamental level, business is always and only about three things:  Money, people and systems. There is a huge body of content revolving around money in business.  When it comes to people, as an element in business, there is an equally impressive body of knowledge and infrastructure.   When it comes to systems, however, particularly sales systems, there is not nearly the quantity and quality of conversation. And yet an effective sales system is, at the very least, just as necessary to the growth and health of a business as good people and adequate funds.  Good systems are where the company’s financial assets intertwine with the people to produce results.  

Understanding Sales Systems

In the case of modern Western Christianity, we have a number of words that are so commonly used that the ideas they convey have become part of our culture, are rarely questioned, and, as a result, have changed our behavior in ways that are detrimental to our spiritual growth and the growth of the Kingdom.  On top of that, they are non-biblical!           Here’s the third in my series of nominations for words which should be banned from the Christian’s vocabulary:  ‘Pastor.’ 

Words That Should Be Banished from Christianity -- Part Three

One of the biggest decisions a business makes is the decision on which market segment to focus.  ‘Market segment’ is the term that describes a group of suspects and prospects who have something in common. One of the most powerful principles of effective sales systems principles this:  Define your target market as narrowly and precisely as possible. In this podcast, we unpack that powerful strategy

Growing Your Business by Narrowing Your Target Markets

In our modern Western Christianity world, we have a number of words that are so commonly used that the ideas they convey have become part of our culture, are rarely questioned, and, as a result, have changed our behavior in ways that are detrimental to our spiritual growth and the growth of the Kingdom.  On top of that, they are non-biblical!           Here’s the second in my series of nominations for words which should be banned from the Christian’s vocabulary:       “Clergy.”  

Words that should be banished from Christianity -- Clergy

Providing 'out-of-the-box' views of Christian Businesses, designed to help you build a powerful business, expand your impact, and grow closer to God in the process.

hubhopper

Christian Business Insights

hubhopper