I have asked Rich Marshall to host a couple of blogs. He is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer and author with over 40 years experience in bringing out peak performance in others. His clients are a virtual who’s who of corporate America. He has developed a new breed of corporate leadership training you will want to know more about. It’s called the E.P.I.C. Training System, a classic leadership development program and a remarkable proprietary system built on 7 foundational areas of human performance improvement. Now, here’s Rich…

Strategic Planning with the Holy Ghost - Part 2

Over the last several years I have had the privilege of working with dozens of enterprises in the planning process. Coming from a background of pastoring (I did this for 35 years) I was very accustomed to seeking help from the Lord, especially in asking the indwelling Holy Spirit to help. However I found that most executives, even Christian executives, do not take advantage of this competitive edge. For some reason, when it comes to planning most of it falls into one of two categories:

1.      A full reliance on the Holy Spirit; with lots of faith and prayer and trust involved. In most of these cases; there is little practical, commonsense and time tested and proven strategic planning ingenuity used. It is as if it would not be full of faith if good planning methods were employed.

2.      A full reliance on proven strategic planning methods; with much attention given to the planning process, using all of the most up-to-date methods available. In most of these cases; there is little or no input from the Holy Spirit. It is as if it would be “poor business” to include Him here.

Therefore I am encouraging Christian business leaders to integrate all of their business life under the heading: My business is my ministry. When we do that, we will be much more likely to include the Lord in all that we do; especially the planning process.

Here are some thought provoking ideas to assist you in the integration process.

• All that you do is a spiritual activity. Both business and church are ministry and both should be treated as a way of fulfilling your God given purpose in life.

• It is so easy to fall into presumption and call it walking by the spirit. In other words, we assume that since we are Christian and prayed in the morning, that everything that happens during the day has been orchestrated by God. I have found that Charismatics are probably most guilty. By the way: leaders are not exempt.
• Prov. 16:3 “Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.”
• Did this plan or strategy arise out of dependence on and hearing the voice of God during the process?
• Marketplace ministers need to watch out here. We are sometimes so intent on losing Christian-ese that we forget to use planning opportunities to engage the Holy Spirit.
• Consciously, from a place of dependence, invite God into your planning process. Don’t leave Him out.

NOTE: Join Rich and me Tuesday at 1:00 for an in depth discussion on how to integrate your leadership style with your core values, vision, mission and life purpose. Click here to register for the free call!

I have asked Rich Marshall to host the next couple of blogs. He is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer and author with over 40 years experience in bringing out peak performance in others. His clients are a virtual who’s who of corporate America. He has developed a new breed of corporate leadership training you will want to know more about. It’s called the E.P.I.C. Training System, a classic leadership development program and a remarkable proprietary system built on 7 foundational areas of human performance improvement. Now, here’s Rich…

Strategic Planning with the Holy Ghost - Part 1

I know it should not be this way, and yet I know that it is. For some reason many Christian business leaders have not come to full realization that God knows everything about business. Where do we get the idea that God can help with relationships, raising kids, understanding the “deep things” of life, but that He does not know about business? Where did we miss out on the fact that all “business principles” were “Biblical principles” before they were “business principles”?

OK, so I am not sure where the misguided idea came from, but I do have a few thoughts on the matter. You see, I come into the business world and its way of thinking from decades in the church world and its way of thinking. I was a Pastor, and I love pastors and support them and believe in them and all of that good stuff, so don’t think I am being overly negative on pastors. But here is what has happened. The pastor gives his testimony and it goes something like this: “I was working in that evil, bad, nasty, sinful world. And then God called me, and now I am in fulltime ministry.”

All good, all true, all intended to be motivating. The problem is not as much with what is said, as it is with what the businessperson hears. When they hear something like this, they conclude that one must leave the evil business world to go into full time ministry. They also hear that one who is truly “called” becomes a pastor. It leads to a mindset that thinks work is “secular” and church is “spiritual.”

So now, when this business person goes to work, he or she is already thinking this is my secular life. This is not spiritual, and therefore God must have nothing to do with my work. Therefore, I will live with a different set of rules here, and I will not engage God at work.

This is so far from the truth! God created us to work! God blesses us when we work. He has promised over and over again to bless the work of our hands. Work is a spiritual activity and should be seen as ministry, an event that God wants to be involved in at every level.

I love to teach people how to listen to God at work; to watch them engage with Him on a daily basis at work. It is a joy to watch what happens when we include the Holy Spirit in our planning and activities at work. In fact, one of the more popular offerings that we have in our list of services to business leaders is what we call “Strategic Planning with the Holy Ghost.”

NOTE: Join Rich and I Tuesday at 1:00 for an in depth discussion on how to integrate your leadership style with your core values, vision, mission and life purpose.  Watch your inbox for signup information.

Hello Friend,

I received this e-mail just now from Jeremy over at ChristianBusinessDaily.com.  I know how much Zig Ziglar has meant to many of you over the years and I didn’t want you to miss out on this opportunity.

Be sure to send your personal note to Zig today!

Blessings,

Michael,

—Forwarded Message—

Dear Michael,

I got an email yesterday that really inspired me.

It was from Tom Ziglar — the son of legendary speaker, salesman, author and Christian Zig Ziglar. He was updating folks on Zig’s condition, since the terrible fall down a flight of stairs he had a while back.

Yesterday’s email included a short video from Zig, talking to his daughter.

I can’t help but be inspired every time Zig speaks, even as he deals with his health and memory issues. His outlook on life is contagious, and he’s helped thousands — hundreds of thousands — of people over the years.

While watching the video, I was reminded of a set of Zig Ziglar CDs I have on my shelf here at the office. We used to promote them on CBD. The program was called “Christian Motivation for Daily Living” and it features Zig — at his prime — sharing motivational material that’s grounded in biblical truth.

I had forgotten just how powerful and motivational these programs are — one of his best programs ever I believe, because it’s targeted SPECIFICALLY to Christian leaders.

In honor of Zig Ziglar - and all that he has accomplished - I want to invite you to order this program today. If you already own it, you should buy a copy for a young colleague who could benefit from Zig’s wisdom and motivation. I’m going to order another copy too.

If you don’t own it — perhaps you missed the promotions we did a few years ago and weren’t aware of Zig’s impact — then you really should consider buying all three volumes. When you do the math, it’s kind of like getting Zig’s amazing teaching for about $11/hour. A no brainer!

You can learn more about the program here.

Be sure to order 1, 2, 3 or 10 copies of this amazing program today! We’ll ship them out right away, and you’ll find them to be a motivational blessing that you can pop in your CD player and listen to on your way to the office, or while traveling on vacation this summer. Your order will support the ministries of Zig Ziglar AND ChristianBusinessDaily at the same time.

Click here to learn more

God’s Blessings to You This Weekend,

Jeremy Harrison
ChristianBusinessDaily.com

P.S. I almost forgot the most important part! Next week, we will send a personal letter to Zig from all of us at Christian Business Daily — thanking him for the impact he’s had on us, and we’ll report on how many of our readers have ordered — and reordered this classic program in his honor. If you want to post a personal note of encouragement to Zig - you can include that in the comments on the order form, and we’ll make sure your comments are included.

“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were greatly afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? why have you dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” Ex 14:10-12

They had spent their entire life living under an oppressive regime, one that had ordered their midwives to kill all newborn males. For the next forty years, they complained and yearned for the good old days back in Egypt when they ate fish and leeks and other vegetables. They seemed to forget the fact that they were also slaves and were brutally treated.

It seems so strange to us that this oppressed people would prefer to go back to Egypt instead of seizing their new opportunities in the Promised Land. As a result of their unbelief, everyone over the age of twenty perished in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb. Only the young could go in to the new thing.

When I visited some former Soviet bloc countries a few years back, I marveled at the fact that just like the Israelites of old, so many of the older folks yearned for the good old days when communism was in force and everyone had a job working for the government (slavery) but they had enough food to live on. Now that they were transitioning to a free market economy they had to become productive to enjoy the benefits of freedom and they were unwilling to do so. Not true with the young people - while the older ones who yearn for communism wither and die in the land, the young people are rising up and entering their promised land.

Nowhere is this is more evident to me than in Ukraine with Pastor Sunday’s church. Young people are rising up to seize the new and are quickly prospering. 200 new millionaires in the last 18 months in that church alone! I met some of them and they have a heart for their nation and for impacting the world! Money is only a tool to that end. It is not the only tool, but it is a very helpful tool. If you haven’t heard Friday’s podcast on this topic, I urge you to check it out now and consider subscribing to it too. We will be sharing details on that program to help you do similar things.

Have a great week!

Hello friends,

In honor of April 15th, I thought I’d pass along the message I just got from Jeremy over at ChristianBusinessDaily.com.  In light of today’s topic of conversation on the blog, you may particularly enjoy it.  The video is one of me on a similar rant from a few years back…

Blessings,

Michael

Dear Michael,

Happy Tax Day!

I’ll make this quick, because I still need to go wait in line at the post office.

If you’re a small business owner like me, I’m sure this is one of your least favorite days of the year.

By the time I leave the post office today, I will have mailed a 2007 income tax payment, a monthly payroll tax payment, and my 2008 first quarter estimates.  Tax day is now a monthly event for business leaders like you and I, but we all get hit especially hard on April 15.

While I wait in line, I’ll try not to think about how much more productive my small business could be with that money than the government.  In fact, given the way tax dollars are wasted, I think my tax payments would bring a more valuable return if the checks were cashed, shredded, and used as bedding for an animal…

Sorry.  Let me end my tax day rant right here.

Despite the fortunes that we deliver to the IRS each year, only to watch them get wasted… we are NOT helpless victims.

I don’t need to tell you that, because you are a small business leader.  You’ve already taken leadership into your own hands - starting your business with a vision of doing something different. Something great. Something that makes a difference on your industry, and the people you serve.

As Christian business leaders, our calling is especially important — and unique.

If you are a Christian business leader, you have been called to expand the Kingdom of God through the marketplace - whether you know it or not.

We can no longer separate the secular from the sacred.  Our business practices must shine the light of Christ in a very dark place.

We need to leverage our influence in our local communities to begin to take back the gates of commerce, and make an impact for Christ that cannot be ignored.

Friends, the battle to impact the culture with the Kingdom of God is heating up fast.  The stakes have never been higher!

Today… Tax Day 2008… We’ve set up a free video to encourage you in your work, and to help expand your vision of what God can do through Christian business people.

Click here to watch a free video from a remarkable event that you missed in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Then read the article to find out how we can make a lasting impact on our small towns, our cities, our states and our nations - through the potential influence we have in business.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Harrison
ChristianBusinessDaily.com

P.S. This free video will only be available through the end of the week.  Click here to view it now.

Congratulations my friend,

You’re on the short list.

You’re among an exclusive group of leaders with a free pass to see a conversation that will change the way you look at your life.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard of the guy we’re talking to. His name is Zig Ziglar.

There’s a good chance you might be among the millions of people who have seen Zig speak. If not, you’ve probably read one of his many best-selling books, or read his syndicated articles. However, our interview with Ziglar isn’t about promoting conferences or selling books or CDs.

It’s about life.

Few people have a more unique or inspiring view on life than Zig Ziglar. At 81 years of age, Zig Ziglar has a joyful perspective about life that’s contagious - even in times of difficulty.

Last year, Zig had a terrible accident that left his family wondering if he’d make it. Tumbling down a steep flight of stairs, he hit his head on the marble floor below. Since his fall, he’s had to endure daily physical therapy, and has dealt with ongoing struggles both with his balance and his memory.

The circumstances have changed for Ziglar, but his wisdom and heart haven’t. In fact, since his accident, he returned to his speaking tour. His presentation is dramatically different, but the reaction has been astounding. Thousands of people have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the wisdom that Ziglar is sharing. People who have seen him speak before AND after his accident have remarked that there’s something different - something extra special - about what he has to say.

Not long ago, I was privileged to have the honor of being invited to visit the Ziglar headquarters and lead the morning devotions for the team. Afterward, I spent the morning chatting with Zig Ziglar and his son Tom Ziglar - the CEO of the Ziglar corporation. We had an intimate conversation, and I was able to ask some very specific questions. Questions about business life and family life. Success and failure. Questions about his faith. Zig’s answers were directed specifically to us, the Christian Business community, and Zig and Tom shared insights that you won’t hear on the podium.

This is a special interview that you don’t want to miss. It will be 1 PM EST next Thursday, February 21. Click here to get your free pass!

Sincerely,

Michael Q. Pink, Founder
Selling Among Wolves, LLC

We have been talking about how the rainforest is so incredibly productive. How does it stay so focused on the most important tasks it has like breathing in CO2 and exhaling fresh Oxygen for us to breathe? For the last two weeks we talked about the first two laws… Eliminate the Unnecessary and Automate the Mundane. These two laws, when properly applied, will create a vacation for you in every working day! But there’s more…

Once you eliminate the unnecessary and automate the mundane, it’s time to Delegate the Tactical. Don’t make the mistake of delegating to others the things you should have eliminated or automated. If you do, you’re just wasting their time and indirectly, yours. In the rainforest, there are many pests that consume the productivity of plants. While many plants have devised their own way of dealing with those pests, on some occasions, plants actually delegate the defense of their leaves to others. They hire ants by paying them with nectar. The ants get hooked on the income (the nectar) and ward off all potential intruders like caterpillars, grasshoppers, grubs, etc.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Friend,

Quick update. (Keep reading to learn about how you can receive up to $600 worth of training!)

There has been some exciting stuff happening over the past 10 days that you need to be aware of:

In its first WEEK alone - the newly-launched ChristianBusinessDaily.com had more page views than it has ever experienced in any MONTH of the website’s history.

Leaders from every corner of the world are coming together and laying the foundation for a powerful online network for Christians in business — one that has the power to make a lasting impact on our culture.

If you hadn’t heard, the new ChristianBusinessDaily (CBD) is a powerful place where people are…

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Friend,

The ChristianBusinessDaily.com Teleseminar series is now in full swing. I would hate for you to miss tonight’s event with Harvey Hook. Harvey is the Executive Director of “The Gathering,” an organization that addresses the moral, spiritual, ethical, leadership and character development needs of businesspeople.

Harvey has just written a brand-new book entitled, The Power of an Ordinary Life. As a believer functioning in the business world, you’ll be challenged, strengthened, and encouraged by what he has to share with us on tonight’s live event.

Check out all the details here.

Blessings,

Michael