The Success Center

The Bible says that the power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) so I have to believe that success and failure are there as well. Simply put, everything we want to achieve in life, on the job, in our business, and etc. is determined by what we say.

The Power of Words

I believe that our words form the atmosphere around us. Whenever I keynoted a seminar I always started out by having attendees repeat a “success mantra.” It goes like this;

“As I develop my business I will build it by wisdom and it will become strong through good sense. Good advice and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Success will follow me because I choose to lead with integrity, good planning, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.”

Here’s video of me explaining the concept to a journalist that filmed the beginning of my keynote at the 2008 African American Leadership Conference (skip ahead to 2:08 for the good stuff!).

I adapted that mantra from a scripture in Proverbs [I can't remember which one due to the gray hairs on my chin, but if you can figure out which one, I'll send you a gift - seriously].

The Bible and Our Success

As Christian entrepreneurs we believe that the Word (Bible) is our final authority and has everything we need to succeed. It’s easy to forget that the Bible also gives us a way to receive the success we want for our business through speaking it out loud.

Speaking the word empowers us, gives us hope, and moves God on our behalf. The Bible says that God is not a man that He would lie, so He has to do what His word says He will do!

What does that mean for us? It means that we can go to God when our business isn’t producing the fruit we’d like to see, speak the Word, and get the help we need. That help may be unexpected income, favor from our peers, God expanding our territory, and etc.

Speaking the Word brings together God super abilities with our natural needs to create supernatural blessings in our life and business!

Christians around the world always wonder why their prayers aren’t being answered – it’s because they’re not putting God in remembrance of His word. I promise, if you include the Word of God in your prayers you’ll see an immediate shift in your situations!

A Scripture to Remember

Let me share with you one of my favorite scriptures that deals directly with God’s promise for our prosperity. It comes from Deuteronomy 28: 3-13 and it reads;

³ You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

⁴ The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

⁵ Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

⁶ You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

⁷ The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

⁸ The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

⁹ The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. ¹⁰ Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. ¹¹ The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

¹² The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. ¹³ The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

The key to Speaking Your Success

So, how do you manifest your success with by the power of your words alone? It’s as easy as 1, 2, and 3!

First – Make the Scripture Personal!

I love the scripture above because when you make it personal it speaks directly to any financial or business situation you can possibly face.

Let’s start with verse 3. Instead of “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country” say, “I will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.”

Now, verse 11 – Instead of saying, “The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you,”

say,

“The LORD will grant me abundant prosperity—in the fruit of my womb, the young of my livestock and the crops of my ground—in the land he swore to my forefathers to give me.”

Pretty simple and straight-forward right? That’s how it’s meant to be!

Note: This scripture comes from the old testament so wealth back then was the equivalent to livestock. Continue to speak it as it is and just know in your heart that God understands what YOUR livestock is.

Second – Thank God in Advance!

Once you’ve spoken the scripture out loud thank God for His word, for him performing His word, and for His word coming to pass. This is called, exercising ”faith muscles.” Since we know that God can not lie, and we’re speaking “His words,” then it’s got to happen, right? Exactly!

Be patient, wait on God to move on your behalf, and know that He’s already dispatched the Angels since you spoke it!

Third – Repeat!

Don’t just stop at speaking one scripture, get a ton of them and speak them out loud. This is called “applying the Word” to your situation. You have to repeat the process until you KNOW in your heart and spirit that what God said He’ll do for you HE.WILL.DO!

The Ball is in Your Court

So, are you going to sit in defeat and have a pity party because your business isn’t making the kind of money you want it to make? Or, are you going to take God at His word, speak it out-loud, and watch Him work on your behalf? Give it a try, I promise you won’t regret it. Here’s a great post from Christian Personal Finance Blog on 24 scriptures about business that you’ll enjoy.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Prayers That Avail Much the 25th Anniversary Edition. It includes hundreds of prayers on various topics (including business and financial needs) already personalized and ready for you to speak. The ball is in your court – What do you think about speaking the Word to manifest your success? Let me know in the comments below.

Note: Also, for the first person to let me know what scripture was referenced (from the book of Proverbs) in my success mantra, I will mail you a free gift!

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs are more than those actively involved in building a business enterprise. Truth be told, an “entrepreneur” is someone who takes possession of a venture or idea and assumes responsibility for the outcome; it’s someone who takes control of his or her life and assumes responsibility for it. A “Christian entrepreneur” does that to the Glory of God.

But one of the defining characteristics of great entrepreneurs is that they have a purpose that goes beyond just making money.

“Purpose? Are you kidding me,” you might be saying. “Who has time for ‘purpose’ when I’ve got sales to make, expenses to meet, market share to increase, marketing to do, prospects to convert, social media to use, great service to give, and endless hours to spend doing it??!! Not to mention some months I’m not even profitable!! Who has time for ‘purpose’”?!!

But regardless of what you believe, great entrepreneurs ALWAYS have an underlying purpose:

Whether it be a Coca-Cola:

“To refresh the world; to inspire moments of optimism and happiness; to create value and make a difference.”

Or the early Ford:

“To democratize the automobile.”

Or a Google:

“To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

Or what about Apple? Steve Jobs was so driven by the purpose for his company he lured away John Sculley (then Pepsi CEO in 1983) with these now famous words:

“Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?

Other great organizations such as Wal-Mart, the U.S. Air Force, Southwest Airlines, Charles Schwab, and BMW  are all purpose-driven. In fact John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, recently stressed the importance of companies having a core purpose.

These entrepreneurs do more than make money…they “change the world!”

What is Purpose?

I’m glad you asked! It’s defined as:

“The object toward which one strives or for which something exists.”

We’re all guided by it. Everyone one of us.

The Bible says,

“The noble-hearted man has noble purposes, and by these he will be guided.” (Isaiah 32:8 The Bible in Basic English)

Without it, we’re like children “tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine.” (Ephesians 4:14 The Amplified)

In other words, where there’s no purpose, we go everywhere and end up nowhere!

Entrepreneurs of Purpose

Entrepreneurs that have a core purpose do more and go further than their counterparts. These “Purpose-Driven entrepreneurs” (please don’t sue me Rick Warren)  know who they are and where they’re going. They’re internally driven.

But let me ask you: how important is purpose to you? Do you have one?

What are your thoughts?

Rod’s Recommended Video: What’s Your Entrepreneurial Purpose in Life?

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here. Mike is also working on his second book: “Biblical Stratgies for Marketing Success.”

Continue Reading

I know what you’re thinking . . . what key to success could Jesus Christ of had other than being the son of God? It’s really simple actually, he was a servant. He had a servant’s heart and it showed in everything He did (which was the will of the father’s).

Monday I showed you how to use Twitter to deliver excellent customer service, today, I present to you the greatest example of a customer SERVANT. Watch this short video that illustrates a part of the book of John chapter 13. I’ll show you 5 things you can learn from it after the jump. (You’ll need the Adobe Flash player to play)

The rest of that passage reads,

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

What can we learn from Jesus’s take on customer service?

• You have to be willing to get dirty – I know what you’re thinking, “you mean, I have to wash my customer’s feet?” Not at all, but you have to be willing to get your hands dirty in order to wash away their problems. If that means staying up all night, doing something you wish they would do themselves, or some other feat that pushes your comfort envelope; then so be it.
• It’s Not About You – Making a sales is great and all, but that’s only your customer’s way of giving you permission to serve them. Put their needs first and you’ll keep customers for life.
• Jesus Said, “no servant is greater than his master” – Remember that even though you get paid the big bucks you’re there to SERVE your customers . . . not boss them around because you’re “in demand.”
• Exercise Humbleness and Humility – Honestly, sometimes this one catches me off-guard. An old client once asked me for references for my work to which I replied (in my head), “References? Don’t you know who I am?” Humbleness will get you the contract, project, or clientèle, but humility is the grace you’ll need to keep it.
• Service = Blessings – Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” [nuff said!]

Did you know that when you serve others you give God an opportunity to serve YOU? That’s right! When you accept payment for a project and go the extra-mile, get your hands dirty, and deliver more than what’s expected, it’s a Biblical principle for you to be blessed more than you can ask or think. For more ways on how to deliver excellent customer service, check out yesterday’s repost of, Customer Service is Dead and You Killed It. What did you get out of Jesus showing us how to serve? What would you add to this list? How do you serve your customers and clients? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

As I stated in Monday’s post, my life has changed significantly since I’ve been in a new relationship and things have changed on my job. I asked God, “How do I find the right balance of time to spend in my relationship, with family, friends, and my business?”

His response to me?

—————— Spend time with me and I’ll show you —————————-

That blew my mind.

For months I had been so wrapped up in my own agenda, head-over-heels in my new relationship, and working constantly that I had not spent as much time with the Lord as I should have. Sometimes, as Christians, we can get caught up in just living  life that we forget the one who brought us life in the first place.

Last Friday I went to Creflo Dollar’s 2010 Change Experience Convention and it changed my life! Creflo spoke on how we should honor the Lord with our time and our tithes (Read why tithing is a part of my proven secret to business success here). You see, if we honor the Lord (which means to let His word weigh heavy on our hearts in every area of our life) then we’re in position to be honored (blessed!). It was in that moment that I realized that I had not honored God with my time, instead, I put everything else before Him.

Remember, Matthew 6 and 33 (King James Version)? It reads,

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If you’re married with a family, a single mother, a corporate over-achiever, a small business owner, or a combination of all the above, put God first and He’ll create the balance you’ll need to succeed.

How do we put God first and honor Him with our time?

Get into Your Bible

I’ll admit that I’m not the most dedicated Bible reader. But, when I get into it . . . I get in to it! The Bible is God’s love letter to us, His living Word, and contains everything we need to succeed in life and business. Open it up and read what He says about you and every situation you encounter.

Pray and Fast

You’ll see a lot of these next tips include prayer. That’s because, it’s the gateway to communication and communion with God. When you pray and fast (disregard certain foods and liquids for a specific time period) you make your spirit more sensitive to hearing from the Lord. This opens up blessings for your life, family, and business in ways that you could not have gotten otherwise.

Pray and Speak the Word

After you pray, find a couple of scriptures that pertain to the areas of your life that you want God to prosper, and speak them out loud. Doing so enables God to move on your behalf and perform for you in ways you can’t imagine or think. Can’t find time to manage your family and your business (which is growing fast)? Apply the Word and watch God give you the supplies, help, and resources you need to make it work!

Pray and Write

Writing is an awesome way to receive instructions from the Lord. I’ve got tons of journals with business ideas, strategies, and other things that have come to me. Journaling is a great tool that will help you archive the wisdom, knowledge, or understanding God drops in your spirit.

Read Inspirational Books

I just finished reading Creflo Dollar’s 8 Steps to Create the Life You Want: The Anatomy of a Successful Life (Faith Words) [affiliate link] and now, I’m looking for my next book. Reading is a great way to spend time with God because He allows the wisdom that He’s given others to minister to you. Put down the fiction, the murder mystery, or the sleazy love novel for a bit and you’ll see awesome results in your life!

Set aside Worship Time

Listening to music is a great way to spend time with God because He ministers to us through song as well. Put on your favorite gospel or inspirational song and just meditate on where you want God to take you in life. I promise you there’s nothing more liberating than to just worship and love on God freely like this.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with family duties, running your business, working your job, or all the above – honor the Lord and He’ll honor you. This simply means that He’ll bless you to handle it all by bringing in needed help and supplies or give you tactics and strategies to see it through. If you’re looking for practical steps to maximizing your time, go back and read 6 Ways to Maximize Your Time and Get More Done. However, this article lays the foundation for success that goes beyond your own strength and capabilities. What are your thoughts? Share them below.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

This is the age of amplification–where news, opinions, and reviews go further and faster than ever before. This is both good and bad for the Christian Entrepreneur.

It’s good because if what you’re selling is great, with just a little bit of communication, you can get it in to the hands of people quicker. But, if what you’re selling sucks [1], there isn’t enough PR out there to change the opinions of people. Because people are quicker to believe their friends than your ads.

And with all the changing marketing techniques there’s a need for changeless marketing principles that work regardless of product or service. And there’s one Person that’s been using these strategies for years–the greatest marketing phenom the world has ever seen:the Master Marketer Himself, Jesus.

Jesus was a Master Marketer!

He had no marketing budget and still gained such a following that most Chief Marketing Officer’s would’ve passed out from disbelief; He used no ads and still thousands showed up to hear Him speak!

In only three and a half years He preached a Message that still continues on to this day!

So its safe to say we could probably learn a few things from Him. So, here they are… some tips from the Master Marketer Himself:

Have a great product

Not a good product, not an ok product, not a status quo product…but a great product!

When the people of  Samaria heard a woman raving about Jesus–they ran to see for themselves. When they saw what He was offering themselves, they were impressed:

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world.’” [2]

I warn you: don’t make a big hype if what you’re offering doesn’t match the hype! You will regret it.

Let people try it for free

When getting His Message out there Jesus didn’t charge people.

He didn’t say,

“Ok, if you want Me to heal your eye that’s $50. What that’s a withered hand? Yeah that goes for $45. Raise your daughter from the dead? Whew…that ’s our special of the week…its gonna cost ya!”

If you want to get the word out about your great product, let people who need it try it.

• That’s what William P.Young did to get the word out about his book The Shack. He and two freelance editors–Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings–were rejected by traditional publishers and decided to publish it themselves. They introduced it to the the Christian Community through a series of podcasts–described as “an ever expanding conversation among those thinking outside the box of organized religion.” With only $250 spent on marketing these unknowns, with no national platform,  had a book that has sold into the millions, and the rest is history (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 87 and 89)
• That’s what Rick Warren did for Purpose-Driven Life. Years before he wrote his first book, Purpose Driven Church and followed it up with a website: Pastors.Com. The membership of the website grew to 85,000 pastors who saw Warren as trusted advisor. He enlisted their help with the PDL book–asking them to conduct the “40 day campaign” in their churches. He gave away 400,000 copies of  the $20 book for $7 to churches and congregations that agreed. Within two months, those 400,000 spokespeople pushed sales to two million, and  the rest is history (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 85-86)
• That’s what Mel Gibson did to market The Passion of the Christ. When he approached movie executives about producing the movie nobody wanted to go near it. So Gibson decided to fund it himself using $30 million of his own money. Not having much money left to marketing (it usually costs $40 million for marketing, he only had $15 million) he tried an unconventional approach: letting pastors see it for free.  They started small–showing only a few pastors, but it grew exponentially. One of the final screenings was at Willow Creek Church. After the showing, Bill Hybels took the stage and spoke for the 5,000 pastors in attendance: “All right, what do you need us to do?” (Faith Based Marketing, pgs 87, 89) And with $611,899,420 in gross sales the rest is history.
• That’s what Timothy Ferriss did to promote his book The Four Hour Work Week. He called successful authors and asked them how they promoted their books. They gave him two answers: radios and bloggers. Since radio was losing its influence he decided to rely on bloggers. He went to a blogger event, met the ones he wanted to meet, established relationships, and then asked them to do a review. They did. And with the book becoming the #1 New Times, the #1 Wall Street Journal, and the #1 Businessweek bestseller the rest is history.
• That’s what Seth Godin did to promote his first best seller. He built a website, sent out an email asking people if they wanted to read 1/4 of his book for free, some did and some didn’t (most of the one’s that didn’t just plopped down money to buy the whole book!). And with multiple bestsellers under his belt, the rest is history!
• That’s what Rod Kirby did to promote his new E-book. And with hundreds of visits to the site, tons of downloads, and plenty of good reviews the rest is history!

The Bible says Jesus went all over Galilee, using synagogues for meeting places, teaching  people the truth of God.

And…

“He healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives.”

What happened next?

“Word got around the entire Roman province of Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment, whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus healed them, one and all. More and more people came, the momentum gathering. Besides those from Galilee, crowds came from the ‘Ten Towns’ across the lake, others up from Jerusalem and Judea, still others from across the Jordan.” [3]

In other words, word about this Guy spread near and far!

Give it to people who want it…not to everybody.

In the middle of His ministry Jesus decided to stop by His hometown.

And “on the Sabbath, He gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. ‘We had no idea He was this good!’ they said. ‘How did He get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?’ But in the next breath they were cutting Him down: ‘He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s Boy. We’ve known Him since He was a kid. We know His brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and His sisters. Who does He think He is?’ They tripped over what little they knew about Him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.” [4]

So because of their unbelief He didn’t do much miracles.

What He was selling was good, but they didn’t buy into Him and therefore couldn’t buy into His product (or Message).

So what did He do? Fight with them? Beg them to believe Him? Do more miracles in spite of their unbelief? Nope! He just left. Went somewhere else. He went other places where He’d be more receptive.

Stop fighting people who don’t believe you (or in you)…especially when there  are others that do. Stop wasting your time and go find those people. Rick Warren didn’t market to atheists, William P. Young didn’t market to people comfortable with religion, Gibson only showed screenings to conservative Christian and religious groups (even refusing to include those that initially criticized the film), Timothy Ferriss didn’t go after those interested in a 9-5 lifestyle, and Seth Godin gave books to those that wanted it!

Service Your  Best Customers

Not all customers are created equal. Remember: 20% of your customers will buy your stuff. That 20% will market you the best, talk about you the most, and defend you with all their strength.

Jesus spent time with thousands of people but He revealed Himself the most to the 12 disciples. When He left it was the 12 (Matthias replacing Judas) who spread the Gospel and turned the world upside down! Jesus spent His time with His best customers and as a result got His product into the hands (and hearts) of millions. Would He have received the same return spreading Himself to the masses?? Probably not.

Do whatever you have to do to keep in contact with your best customers!

Now do you see what I mean? Jesus was a Master Marketer. And if You follow Him, have a great product, and use His examples you’ll be one too…even in a market like this.

What are you thoughts?

1. By “sucks” I mean the dictionary definition: “To be objectionable or inadequate.”
2. John 4:42 (New Living Translation)
3. Matthew 4: 23-25 (The Message)
4. Mark 6: 2-3 (The Message)

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

Continue Reading

When it comes to principles of entrepreneurial success nothing is more proven than sowing and reaping. It’s more effective than any business, marketing, or social media plan you’ll ever come up with. Why? Take a look at this short verse from Genesis 26:12 (amplified);

“Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings.”

This scripture is pretty self-explanatory, Isaac sowed a seed and received a great harvest. However, to understand why Isaac received a harvest we have to take a step back to verses 2 & 3.

²And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you.

³Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.

You see, anyone can sow a seed but there are certain variables that must align before you see a harvest. It all comes down to being in the right season to plant seed, giving it time to grow, and reaping your harvest. Isaac was in the right season to be blessed, he obeyed the voice of the Lord, planted his seed, and reaped a great harvest.

What does this have to do with your business? Everything! When you sow a seed you exercise your faith that the seed will grow. You anticipate growth without knowing what the full harvest will be. This is where favor sends you a harvest a hundred times more than you planted.

To get a full grasp of this principle let’s first define what sowing and reaping does for you and your business.

• It blesses you by taking care of present and future needs (God’s obligation for your sacrifice).
• It blesses others because your business was destined to be a blessing and not just make money.
• It gives freedom for God’s will being done through you and your business (our obligation to God for giving us the vision).

Now that you understand what it is and how it benefits you, let’s talk about “what to sow.”

• Tithes & offering – The Bible says to give a 10th of your income. I’ve always been taught to give a 10th plus a little extra. Why? If you give God your best you’ll receive the best from Him. Giving a 10th is your obligation as a Christian entrepreneur and giving an offering is your sacrifice. Combined, God is obligated to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or think.
• Time & effort – In order to receive a harvest a hundred times as much as you planted you have to do your part. Meaning, you have to be willing to put your hands to the plow and work the land (or vision) God has given you. That means not giving up, staying persistent with the dream, and sticking with it when times get tough.
• Products & Services – Sometimes it’s strategic to sow products and services to organizations, people, or businesses that need them. This is a  great way to build credibility, relationships, and generate buzz for your business. God honors your sacrifice and will definitely make it worth your while.

A Short Story

I haven’t always been a faithful tither but when I give I never worry about needing anything for my life or business. It’s interesting how God honors the financial sacrifice and gives us back more than just money. Ideas seem to flow freely, favor from others enters my life, and I lack nothing to accomplish my goals.

It’s really awesome how it all works in the supernatural to enhance our natural lives.

I remember needing a place to host my monthly seminars on business leadership and I couldn’t stand to pay my local library anymore (non-profits could host events free but for-profit organizations couldn’t). I remember challenging God to make something happen and He challenged me to sow a seed. I started bringing my tithes and offering on a consistent basis to church. Before the end of the month I got an offer from a pastor, who’s church I didn’t belong to, to host my seminar series – free of charge – at his church!

That’s how I know it really works. If you don’t believe me, then challenge God for yourself and watch Him work on your behalf. If you need financing to start or grow a business, need new equipment, investors, etc. – this is how you get it. Try it . . . I dare you!

Has anyone else experienced this level of success from sowing and reaping?

Further Reading

Does God Want You to Succeed?

Are Christian Entrepreneurs Supposed to be Wealthy?

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

Image by Joe Cannibal

There’s an organization out to stop your progress. It performs acts of sabotage covertly on your path to success to stop you from ever making it to your promised land. This group is called, FEAR.They are the reason you find it so hard to start a business, plan an event, write a book, or start the thing God has put in your heart to create. My friend and author, Paul Wilson, Jr., defines fear as thoughts or feelings that create a mental prison of anxiety & apprehension, preventing positive forward progress.

In order to combat this worthy opponent you first have to understand how FEAR operates. The group infiltrates your thoughts and tells you you’re too busy, you don’t have the right equipment, or it’s too hard to accomplish. Then they take over your eyes and when you look into the vision God wants to give you all you see are giants in the land. Lastly they monitor your hands and they make sure that you never reach or grasp the tools God already has for you to keep you idle.

But, there is a secret to defeating this black ops organization. It’s rooted in American’s favorite past-time, the game of baseball. What FEAR would have you to do is not even step up to the plate and take a swing at bat. FEAR wants to make sure that you forfeit the game even before the game starts. FEAR will put so much pressure on you to make a home-run that you’ll stare at the bat long before you even pick it up. What you have to realize is that the game is not won with one swing and one swing only . . . it’s won in innings!

Here are 5 sure fire ways to defeat FEAR, inning by inning, score home-runs, and win the big game;

1. Get to know your Umpire – God is the umpire of every game. He officiates the game, He calls the fouls, He’ll make sure you’ll have everything you need to win the game. I say it all the time, but it’s true, if God gave you the vision then He’ll provide you with everything you need to build it. Get to know Him and He’ll make sure you understand how to use the tools He provides.

2. Break the Game Down – Of course you want to win the game, but what’s your strategy for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings? If you’re going to start consulting, what’s your strategy for marketing, what’s your process for turning prospects into clients, and how are you going to generate leads? Don’t get so overwhelmed with the idea that you never start to work it. Take it a step at a time and break it down into “bite-sized” pieces instead of trying to swallow chunks at a time.

3. Create a Game Plan – no one ever went to war without a plan. Period. You don’t have to create the world’s most thorough and in-depth business plan; but you need to have an idea of where you want to go and how to get there.

4. Ask your teammates for help – Baseball isn’t won by the hands of one person, it’s a team sport so get together a team of advisers and ask for feedback on your business plan. When I started my first business which was a video game tournament company, I had just graduated high school. So, I went back to my favorite teachers and asked them to be on my advisers board and they gave me a wealth of advice and support for my business.

5. Hit the Ball! – You have to start somewhere, just hit the ball already. Don’t worry about making a home-run on your first hit. Let’s get to first base, make adjustments once we’re there, and figure out how to make it to second after that. It doesn’t matter if you go to the library to research whatever it is that you want to start, read up on blogs that pertain to your industry, or go to seminars and learn something new. Do something! Remember, fouling out is better than striking out!

Bonus: Write down 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

So, the next time you start thinking that your dream is to big to accomplish, remember the game of baseball. Don’t just stare at the bat . . . pick it up and do something with it! So, what are you afraid of? What part of your business appears to big to make it a reality? I’ll tell you mine: I want to make big budget Christian movies (rivaling Hollywood!). For the longest time I thought it was impossible, but now I find myself networking with producers, starting scripts, and other things to make this dream a reality. I’m not there yet, but at least I’ve stepped up to the plate.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

With no venture capital, no cost projections, no business plan, no spreadsheets, no ads, and no sophisticated office space the early church turned the world upside down!

And yet when we look for lessons on what makes a start up successful we look to a Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Zappos, and Amazon–not realizing that the greatest start up and some of the greatest lessons for start-ups are found right in the Book of Acts!

And without further ado…here they are…some of the lessons we can learn from the early church:

• They had purpose–They had one purpose and one aim: tell people about Jesus and make disciples. That simple laser focus marshalled their energies, occupied their thoughts, and allowed them to complete lofty goals.  Purpose is a trademark of great organizations. Those companies with a purpose that exceeds any one person seem to trounce all purposeless counterparts. Do you have a purpose that is greater than you?

• They were committed–“They agreed they were in this for good.” (Acts 1:14 The Message) This wasn’t a “fly by night” operation–they found their life’s work. They faced jail, persecution, death and still were committed to the cause. Paul summed up his commitment: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 New King James Version) In other words, “He gave His all for me so I’m willing to give my all for Him.” Are you willing to give your all for what you’re trying to do? Not some of you, but all of you.

• They were apprentices first–Many of them were disciples (followers) before they were apostles (leaders). Although there are exceptions, most entrepreneurs had experience in their respective field first. Warren Buffet worked in his father’s brokerage house and under Benjamin Graham before he built Berkshire, Donald Trump apprenticed under his father before he built Trump Organizations, Mark Kay Ash worked in direct sales before she founded Mary Kay, and etc. The best way to train for leadership is through servitude. Do you REALLY understand what you’re getting yourself into?

• They had one message communicated through different mediums-On the day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues (or languages). They spoke in over a dozen dialects all telling the wonderful works of God. The nations present “were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’” (Acts 2:12 New King James Version) Your message needs to reach your marketing target through any and all means…but it must be ONE MESSAGE. Not different messages, through different mediums, at different times–that’s just confusing. But one message, through many means, to one group (your target audience). Do you know your core message?

• Peter knew how to sell (or persuade)– In the middle of the amazement, confusion, and ridicule Peter used the opportunity to give one of the best sales presentations the world had ever seen. He spoke with authority, urgency, and conviction.  He used supporting Scriptures (or references)…and…he closed the deal!! 3,000 people signed the order and were baptized into the family of God! One of the greatest abilities you as a business owner must have, besides leadership, is sales ability. It’s vital! Why? Because nothing happens without a sale. Absolutely nothing! When Peter preached he preached with the intent of closing: “Turn back to God! Be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven! Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.” (Acts 2:38-39 Contemporary English Version) Do you know how to sell?

• They created a leadership culture–After a while the church had grown exponentially; and with growth came problems. The Greek speaking believers were complaining about the Aramaic speaking believers. So they had a meeting and the Twelve told the multitude: “It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables.” (Acts 6:2 New King James Version) In other words, “We can’t leave what we’re doing to handle that.” So they appointed seven leaders to handle that situation while they continued doing what they were doing. Most leaders would do the opposite and take on the extra responsibility needlessly–but in order for your company to grow there has to be a culture of leadership. John Maxwell calls this the Law of Explosive Growth:”To Add Growth, Lead Followers–To Multiply Lead Leaders.” (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, p.205) You can’t just be preoccupied with developing you, you have to develop those around you. There’s a saying: “Good leadership works itself out of a job.” In other words, a good leader develops other leaders around him or her so well that he or she almost doesn’t have to be there. When you develop other leaders you can work less and still get more done! Do you create leaders or followers?

These lessons simply validate the point that business is God’s idea. But what do you think: do you agree? Disagree? Do you see any more lessons? What are your thoughts?

Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on business and leadership development from a Biblical perspective. When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

Continue Reading

As an entrepreneur you wear many hats. You’re the manager, the administrative assistant, the delivery person, the accountant, the graphic designer, and the list goes on and on. Some people are more “blessed,” than others and have employees to handle many of their daily operational duties. But when you’re just starting out . . . it’s just you.

When you’re wearing so many hats it’s easy to get lost in the hustle and forget why you’re doing it in the first place. You’re juggling clients, sales presentations, trying to get your website just right, and in the daily shuffle the vision God gave you  turns into just another job. Don’t get so tied up to working it that you forget what you’re working for. In the bible, the book of Habakkuk 2:2 (New King James Version) says;

Then the LORD answered me and said:

“ Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.”

Whatever your business idea or grand scheme, get it out of your mind and onto something solid. When you “make it plain,” you give fuel to your dreams, desires, and destiny. It gives you a reason to put on the many hats of entrepreneurship. It gives you that reason you need to keep pushing through to the next sales meeting. It gives you incentive to keep going through the setbacks, successes, and failures.

One other thing, when you write down the vision of your company. Describe what you want it to be and not where it currently is. The bible also tells us that the power of life and death are in the tongue and we should speak things as if they were and not as they are. So speak, or in this case, write your success into existence. You may not be a millionaire or have a few hundred employees . . . so what! If God gave you the vision He’ll definitely give you the tools to make it happen!

Here are 3 tips to help you make your vision plain so that when you or someone else reads it you can run with it.

• Write it on a mirror – If you wake up and the first thing you see is you in a mirror, then this one is for you. What better way to start your day than seeing your vision staring back at you? It’s like looking into the future!
• Write it in a journal – Journalism is the key to keeping track of the progress of your vision. I keep many journals and each one is full of ideas, concepts, and anything else that comes to me in the middle of the night.
• Print it on a business card – I call it a vision card! It’s just a quick synopsis of what your business is and what it’s destined to become. Keep it in your wallet where it’s easily accessible. When you’re having one of those rough days just pull it out and remind yourself of the vision God gave you.

Remember, don’t get so caught up in working the business that you forget what you’re working for. Make the vision plain and keep it in front of you. This enables you to push through the rough seasons that entrepreneurship brings. What’s the vision for your business? What things do you do to remind yourself of where you’re headed in the business? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Main Image above supplied via Flickr from – sepblog.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading

Do you want to take your business to the next level? Are you ready to make that first million and live the good life? What if I told you that the key to getting it is actually easier than you thought?

Check out my guest post, “The Ultimate Key to Business Success” on my friend, Mike Holmes’ blog, “I Shall Raise Thee Up.”

In it I share the greatest route to wealth, prosperity, and making millions in business.

About the Author Rod is the editor-in-chief of The Success Center, Producer of "Inside the Success," and a Success Coach. For more information, tips, and advice on being a successful Christian-preneur subscribe to Rod's "Success Tips!" weekly newsletter.

Continue Reading