Here’s a Secret…
January 10th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the armor of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” (Isa 45:1-3)
Okay. Here it is early in the New Year and I’ve been expecting to find some treasures in darkness and hidden riches in secret places. I found one that we expect will dramatically impact the endowment we are raising for the Christian Business School some of you know I am heavily involved with. Although the endowment grew by tens of millions of dollars in the last two quarters of 2007, we expect that to pale in comparison to 2008. If I told you the goal for 2008 you would not believe it, but that’s not important. We do.
We need the endowment to launch the school and we intend to eventually take it internationally to help lesser privileged people groups have access to first world, kingdom class business training. Naturally, to raise hundreds of millions of dollars takes a combination of God’s favor (without which we would be nowhere), diligent work, tremendous vision and insightful strategies. One of those strategies opened up to us as the New Year began and I really want to share it with you so you can apply it. Here goes…
Remember the Parable of the Sower? Besides the intended message, it also teaches us something about High Probability Selling. When it was all said and done, less than 20% of the seed in that story produced over 80% of the return. As 2007 came to a close, we evaluated what the profile of our high returning opportunities were and in 2008 we are able to filter out the hard ground, the stony ground and the thorny ground opportunities, despite the fact that they contain millions of dollars of potential revenue for us. By knowing what the good ground looks like and directing our efforts exclusively in that field we can now increase our result by a factor of 5 in the coming year. (God willing)
You have to be willing to let some opportunities go to others while you focus on High Probability Targets. Remember, time is of the essence. We are told to redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity. Moses told us in Psalm 90 to number our days that we might apply a heart of wisdom. One way to do that is to recognize that time is ticking and ask the Lord to show us the High Probability Targets for developing the vision He has given us to bring to fruition.
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January 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Michael,
Thank you for writing on Isa. 45. I believe it is on God’s heart to release His will and He has given us a “blueprint” of His will; yet how much do we really understand about it? Keep up the GOOD WORK!
January 10th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I am setting down today to put on paper my business plan for 2008 and as I read your words todays they are very appropiate to what I want to do.
In my prayers starting the new year I have ask God to be at the center of every decision, thought, and action I do. Ten days into the new year and I realize how difficult and how much discipline I need in order to see that happen. In this short span I am already seeing doors open and God speaking to my heart. Being level headed enough to always see that it is not me but him who is doing it is the real challenge
God bless
Wayne
January 10th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Great words of wisdom, however, question?
I am not sure why you added (God willing) after saying God will increase by a factor of 5??? Especially when sown into good ground, don’t limit God, he has NO limitations, it is only our thought that we are limited.
To me that is casting doubt on what God is already doing, once the seed has been planted we thank him for the return, no matter how large it may be.
It is like saying, I know God healed me but I am not sure it will last???
Or are my sins forgiven, really?
Love In Christ,
Kristy
January 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Mr. Pink:
With all this money coming into your hands, Christian Freedom Int’l desperately needs $100,000 to build a men’s and a women’s dorm in China. (I am not affiliated with them in any way, only a supporter). They have many, many students who could receive Bible training if only they could have a safe place to live.
Any chance your fund could help this worthy cause?
January 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Good Word! also agree with Kristy…thanx!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Hello - I am Neill Newton - CEO - Global Flying Hospitals (www.gloflyhos.org)
Our world is changing rapidly. It is being turned upside down. Economic wealth is on the move, to emerging nations, emerging millionaires and billionaires and emerging corporations. For instance; China Petroleum is now the No1 capitalized company and China, closely followed by Vietnam, is the fastest growing nation - soon to be No1.
And, the old trusted good ground is becoming sour. Philanthropy Today reports that the direct-mail solicitation results by charities has declined, up to 25% in some cases. They reason that the older generation which normally gives is now dying off. The young people in their high-tech, Ipod, Xbox world are less apt to give. Mounting debt also shortens a person’s ability to give, and competiton dilutes the results.
Michael, once again, is so correct and focussed. Not to waste time planting investment, money-making initiatives or fundraising into stoney or thorny ground … but seek out the good ground. If the ground has soured because of over-cultivation and competition, find niche pieces of ground that are overlooked. Unearth ground that has never been tackled. Figure out how to tap that new, hip generation that have money to spend on electronics. Forget the norms.
The old ways of planting and sowing have become dinosaurs. There are HUGE untapped and lucrative markets in the world … but to get to them you must break the old habits, the old thinking, and be adventurous, brave and allow God to show the way to them. Think outside your fort, or outside the walls of your country …. “go into all the world” and plant your seed. Money is unlimited … and the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just … but you must go get it! neillnewton@gmail.com
January 13th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hey Kristy and also Mike;
Thank you for your comment about “God willing”. There are many things God has promised in the Word, but James tells us in chapter 4 “Come now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Does that help?
Blessings, Michael
January 13th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Neil; I love your post my brother. We must zig when everyone else is zagging! That’s where the blue oceans are. Stay in touch my brother.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Michael,
You are so right. We must cast off our old habits and negativity to gain the higher, more fertile ground for God’s true purposes. I am so excited for you and your international business school through your affiliated 501(c)3. There is an ever-widening digital gap between the highly prosperous nations and the impoverished third-world countries where up-to-date business knowledge is so desparately needed yet so rare. As Christ followers, our purpose should be to continue helping others in all ways to grow, especially in the knowledge of Jesus and his teachings.
God bless you and your intense efforts with the business school. I hope somday to put my experience and education to work with you and the foundation.
All the best,
Jon
January 14th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Thank you for your addition to the “God Willing”..
Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not here and today is what God has given to us, it is the present.
Gods will says that we are the head and not the tail, we are above and not below, that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and that we have the authority, in Jesus name over all things, so when we Pray the Word of God, we are knowing that Gods Will is, today, and forever, we just take it and Praise him, this is not by what we see, feel or hear but by the promise of His Written Word, for when we speak it, it is done.
He said that we have the authority to do this, let there be light in the darkness, he spoke into the situation and it was.
This is the Faith that he wants us to show and then Praise him that it is his will.
Love In Christ,
Kristy