What is the “Why” of your business?-3-

Posted on | December 24, 2009 | No Comments

This is the final part of the message adapted from notes that I took from a Business breakfast where Pastor Neil Smith from Planetshakers Church in Australia was speaking on the general themes of creativity in business and building a business.  I have entitled the three messages “What is the Why of your business?“.  In the last last post we made the suggestion that if you are a business owner,you really should let go of things so that you can properly grow your business;and that if you and someone else can do a job, one of you is superfluous.  It’s what you let go of that grows your world, as Pastor Smith says.

The parable of the talents

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.“ Matthew 25:14-21, the Bible

If one continues reading the above scripture, one learns that the two-talent person also doubles their money, whilst the one-talent person goes and buries theirs.  The first two are commended by their Lord and the last not only is rebuked but actually has his talent removed from him.  FAITHFULNESS leads to INCREASE.

Faithfulness in your business leads to increase

The attitude of faithfulness(to your employees, your business colleagues or your business itself), whether you run a christian home based business, a franchise business, an internet work from home business or regular business, seems to be rewarded by increase.  The attitude of maintaining only what you’ve got, or of just turning up to work does not.  In fact, as an aside to this, I note that there was an article in the NZ Herald this year (2009) saying just this.  The “self-reliant” Kiwi attitude, apparently, is holding Kiwi businesses from doing well on the world stage.

The attitude of maintaining does not.  Report on Kiwi business attitudes.

Kiwi bird

The following are the sobering findings of a recent (2009) report, called “Playing to our Strengths: Creating value for Kiwi firms” by economic researcher Tony Smale:

• Some of the national characteristics that make Kiwis great, also stop them from achieving significant international economic success.

• While English is an international language, New Zealanders are just not fluent in the dialect of business.

• They’re seen as “high in human values but low in business acumen”.

• They’re friendly enough but are not perceived as having the smarts or the sophistication to do business internationally.

• Potential overseas business contacts often think Kiwis are odd.

• Kiwis can be very passionate about their “baby”,but sometimes seem “abrupt”.

• They can be unsophisticated in their business attitudes: they are awkward with concepts such as mixing business and pleasure.  Kiwis (probably much like Aussies) don’t like to “beat around the bush” – even though in many cultures relationship-building is key to a successful business partnership.  In fact, the report says, Kiwis ” usually don’t even want business partners – but we want everyone to love our products and want to buy them.”

• New Zealanders have reasonably simple aspirations, known colloquially as the ” three B’s”: the bach (a type of holiday flat), the boat and the BMW. When a Kiwi business owner has achieved these, or whatever luxuries are considered prestigious within their peer group, they will often fall back into the state of “enoughism”. i.e they will not think of expanding any further.

The report also said that Kiwi businesses are not great at investing in the skills of their work force; that’s probably understandable if the above mindset prevails.

Increasing what you have is faithfulness

I am not saying Kiwis are the only business group who do this-in fact I have seen the same in certain sectors of U.K business; I just happen to live here and that is what is observable in this business climate.  Neil Smith would say that Increasing what you have is faithfulness, and I think most people would say that burying one’s talents after one has achieved one’s own narrow goals, is not a recipe for future business success, and is not helping the growth of others who could benefit, or the wider economy.

So, to conclude, we should go to work ON our business, and not get lost in the mechanics of being IN the business.  Practice makes perfect.  The opportunities WILL come to you if you are PREPARED and POSITIONED as we discussed in the last post.  Have the ability to change tack and switch if necessary-God could very well have a better plan for you than what you are doing right now.  Invest in your business and in others. Increase is good!

Have a most relaxing Christmas and holiday season!

John Reason,
Salesman, Article Writer, Internet Marketer.
© 2009-2010

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