So, what steps can you take to see a good idea come to fruition? In this article, Dr. Tony Garza explains the importance of evaluation to ensure it’s actually a “good idea.” From there, he explains why it’s crucial to question the idea’s purpose, relevance to your organization, and timing throughout the process of its execution.

It is no secret that it takes a process to see an idea through to completion. There are countless resources on this topic, and they all have some type of process that includes certain steps for this. Most of these include the idea or concept, planning, strategy, and execution. The specific word and arrangement may be different, but most include a version of these steps. You may have your own way of doing this and it may be formal or informal, but it is a process that you follow whether on purpose or by default.

Here’s a question for you:

“What is more difficult – coming up with ideas or executing them?”

At a recent leadership talk I attended; the speaker asked this question. And the response? Far more attendees believed that execution is more difficult. This is why having a process in place is important. In this article, I want to focus on the importance of evaluation as part of the process. I have seen ideas not work, not because they were bad ideas, but because there was no room for evaluation throughout the process.

Evaluation asks critical questions at each part of the process. Questions such as:

1. Is this a good (idea, plan, strategy), and why?

2. Is this the best (idea, plan, strategy) for what we are trying to accomplish?

3. Is this the right time for this (idea, plan, strategy)?

I can’t stress this enough:

“A good idea executed at the wrong time is a bad idea.”

Once an idea is presented and evaluated, it seems that often the next logical step is to begin planning. Planning gives you the road map for how the idea will be executed.

But, here is where it gets tricky.

Many jump from planning to execution, but I would like to propose that you need a process of evaluation in between. Why? Because whereas planning gives you the road map, evaluation tells you where you’re at.

You should be evaluating your idea throughout each step of the process. As a result, your process should actually look more like this:

Idea – Evaluation – Planning – Evaluation – Strategy – Evaluation – Execution – Evaluation

Pastor Andy Stanley said it this way:

“A map is useless if you don’t know where you’re at.”

I had never really thought about it that way, but I think he’s right. How will you know which way to go or where you should start?

I came across this thought when reading the story of Nehemiah in the bible. Nehemiah hears that the city of Jerusalem is in ruins and God puts it in his heart to rebuild the wall. However, he doesn’t go straight to the planning stage. In chapter 2 verse 13 we find Nehemiah out at night “examining” the walls. He already knows that he wants to rebuild the walls (idea), but first, he evaluates the damage so that he can make an accurate and effective plan. Even within the rebuilding (execution) stage, we find Nehemiah evaluating again and making adjustments in chapter 4 verse 14. Many times, you will find yourself adjusting the strategy after evaluating it.

You can read the rest of the story for yourself and find that he comes up with a great plan and strategy that results in great execution and results. It is important to note that no matter how great the idea or the process, prayer, like evaluation, should be present at every stage.

Do you have a project or idea that God has put on your heart? I recommend you add “evaluation” as part of the process.

So, how should we respond? In this blog, Melody Gray Block, Certified Financial Planner and MBA, shares how we can turn to biblical scripture for our questions about financial uncertainty.

How should we respond?

Sometimes, the pressure to do something – anything can begin to overwhelm us and it often creates increased anxiety and stress. We need to be careful to not make emotional decisions which could potentially lead to worse financial conditions. Emotional reactions can even cause us to start pointing fingers at loved ones which is not beneficial or productive.

First, we should remember that it is not the events or situations that occur in our life that makes the difference in how we progress, rather it is how we respond to those events. Instead of allowing fear to lead to panic which leads to hysteria, we should pause and remember God is Sovereign and in Control! Whatever the situation or circumstance, it did not take our Heavenly Father by surprise. That being said, here are five ways that we, as believers, can respond during times of financial uncertainty!

1. The best way to combat fear is to know His love for you (John 3:16), use your shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16), and mediate on His truth daily (Joshua 1:8).

Remind yourself that our Heavenly Father is on the throne, remind yourself of His promises in His word, and remind yourself of His unconditional love, goodness, and mercy that He has for you (Psalm 23:6). Find those verses that resonate for you and repeat them over and over, meditate on them, and ask the Lord to give you His wisdom as He gives it freely to you (James 1:5).

2. Know that God is the owner of all things (Psalm 24:1) and we are called to be faithful stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2; Luke 16:11-12).

Thus, we can rest knowing that He is in control and owns all things. As faithful stewards, our focus should be to seek to understand Biblical Financial Principles to faithfully manage the resources He entrusts to us. We should be open to His wisdom and sensitive to how He directs us so we can find ourselves prudent in all financial affairs.

3. Place your hope only on our Lord Jesus Christ!

We should remind ourselves that He is our provider (Matthew 6:26-33; Acts 14:17; Philippians 4:19). He is our true source. Our source is not a company, customer, market, bank account balance, investment portfolio balance, or income check. Jehovah Jireh is our true provider (Genesis 22:13-14). Rest in Him knowing that He is your source; He cares for you; and He loves you.

4. Learn to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13).

Paul set a great example for us as he learned to be content in all circumstances. Whether we abase or abound, we can trust our Heavenly Father to provide for us as we continually seek Him and listen for His voice daily.

5. During times of uncertainty, be encouraged as we gain an opportunity to learn to Trust God more!

Remind ourselves of the promises He has given us as children of the Most High God! He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6); do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6); and cast our cares on Him who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). As we continue to be strong and courageous and continue to recognize God as our provider and protector in our lives, we begin to enjoy His peace as we rest in the shadow of the Almighty and seek His face.

What can we do?

We should start or continue to practice Biblical financial principles and habits in our lives. The Bible has over 2,300 verses on money and possessions which teaches us timeless financial wisdom we can apply to our lives no matter the current economic environment. Here are five key financial principles we can continue practicing today:

1. Spend less than you earn (Proverbs 21:20).

It is easier said than done, but in times of turmoil, you may need to triage your spending and scale back on variable expenses. First, focus on meeting your most important needs such as tithing, a place to stay, electricity, and food for yourself and family. Second, you should prioritize maintaining all debts and other items to the best of your ability. Lastly, we should limit or minimize spending on non-essential items such as eating out or other casual spending. Instead, find creative ways to entertain and feed your family. Ask the Lord to give you His wisdom on what you can do in your situation.

2. Avoid the use of debt (Proverbs 22:7).

During uncertain times, it is best not to take on increased debt unnecessarily. Each time you take on debt you mortgage your future and in turn increase your monthly or annual obligations. By limiting the use of debt, you can ensure you can maintain your expenses even with a lower monthly cash flow and give yourself the best possible chance to more quickly recover when increased cash flow or increased income returns.

3. Maintain some liquidity (Proverbs 6:6-11).

In other words, be able to gain access to cash when it is needed. During periods of uncertainty, anxiety begins to build when there is limited access to additional cash if needed. Focus on building cash reserves to increase your financial margin which will assist in keeping anxiety at bay. A good time to build liquidity is when there is a surplus in your cash flow. If you are at a point of financial uncertainty with limited cash, then find ways you could raise cash such as a second job or selling unwanted or no longer needed items in your home.

4. Set Long-term goals (Luke 14:28; Proverbs 20:18).

It is important to keep a long-term perspective. Be cautious about making short-term decisions which will ease your anxiety today but cause greater harm in reaching your longer-term goals. If the circumstance you face could be considered a short-term scenario, then it is important to consider the best decision today without sacrificing your future goals. It would be advisable to monitor your anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7), seek wise counsel (Proverbs 19:20-21), and diversify your assets (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2).

5. Give generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

Too often in a time of financial uncertainty, most individuals believe it is prudent to limit or decide to stop giving to their local church. My encouragement is to continue to tithe and give offerings even in times of distress. Giving is the single best antidote to greed when times are good and demonstrates your Trust in the Lord to provide for you in times of distress (Malachi 3:10). Do this and watch your relationship with the Lord grow closer and closer!

In my 20+ years in the financial services industry, I have developed my own definition of Financial Freedom.

“Financial Freedom is when a believer recognizes that God owns it all and learns to successfully implement Biblical Financial principles to steward the resources entrusted to them with an open hand as God directs” (Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 27:23).

Allow this time to build your relationship with God in new ways which you have not yet experienced before as you learn to Trust Him more and more in every circumstance you face.

TRANSCRIPT

– Melody Gray Block – She is a certified financial planning professional and has been involved in the financial services industry for 19 years. She helps small business owners and individuals get their financial house in order through a comprehensive financial planning services to include insurance and investment management services. She is a retired army veteran serving over 20 years and is currently serving on the SAGU business faculty. Please help me welcome: Professor Melody Gray Block. Thank you very much. Please give a hand for Coach Harmon Did’t she do an excellent job? Excellent job! You know, for those of you that don’t know, I used to play basketball. And I mean, I love to play ball. So anytime you want to go to the courts, let me know. So excellent job. I learned a lot of great things. So, what I’m really excited about is this opportunity. Thank you so much, Dr. Sanders, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Brooks, for allowing me to have the chance to just share a few things with you today. Of course, just like Coach Harmon was saying. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to talk about, but of course, the Lord always kind of comes through with that. Don’t you know? One of the things that I wanted to share with you is about money. A lot of times people go,’well why do you have to have this conversation,”. Right? We are in the spiritual realm here. Wait, ‘why do we need to talk about money,’? Don’t you know that a lot of us have a lot of doubts? How many in here have doubts about money? What is it? How do you make it? How do you manage it? Is it okay to manage it? Can I have some? Can I not have some? Right? What does the word say about money? Right? There’s a lot of doubts out there. If you go to a bookstore you’re going to find a number of different things out there. Even about just how to manage money. Right? Just, how to create a budget. Something very simple. But there’s going to be tons of books out there about how to manage or create a budget. Right? Wouldn’t you say? So it creates a lot of confusion, a lot of confusion. Even just how do you manage it. How do you make it? What do you do with it? What does the word say about it? So what my goal is today, and what I want to share with you is: four principles or four perspectives, I should say, that allow you- so that you can take a hold of what I want to share with you today. It will be more impactful to you than anything else that you learn about money. And I know that’s a pretty broad statement. You’re like, ‘Man, that’s a pretty huge guarantee,’. I’ve worked with people that struggle month to month, with people who are multimillionaires, and I have to tell you that the word of God has a lot of powerful words to say about money. Don’t you know that? There’s over 2,600 scriptures if you were aware about money and possessions. This is a big deal. Right? God spends a lot of time talking about this because it is a really big deal. So what I want to share with you are not only these perspectives but I’m going to also end with five different habits so that you can take these habits and you can apply them to your life. You will make a difference. And it doesn’t matter if you’re managing a $100 dollar allowance from your mom every month or if you’re managing $100 million dollar business. The principles are the same. The perspectives are the same. So I want to and I’m looking forward to sharing some of these with you. So why is this so important? Why does God say so much about money? It’s because of this, in Matthew 6:21 it says: “For where your treasure is, is where your heart will be also”. Where is your heart when we have a relationship? We’re called to have a relationship with God. Right? Relationships are to the heart. Right? It starts with trust. All of those things. So where is your heart? When we take a look at our finances? You could probably take a look at your finances and see how do you spend money every month and be able to learn a lot about your habits and what’s important to you. Right? If any new game comes out and you’re willing to go get that new game before you tithe. Right. Maybe showing that we really wanted that game. Right? Then where are we with the Lord? As you start taking a look at how do you spend your palm and how you spend your money, everybody’s going to be slightly different with that. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We all have different values. We all have different perspectives and principles. But I will tell you, with God, where is your heart, is where year treasuries is. Where is your heart? And so that’s why it’s so important. Money alone has the power to pull you closer to God than you would ever think that you could get or further away than you ever think was possible. It has that power. That’s why it’s so important that we get this right. So important. So what I’m want to share with you are four different perspectives. And so it starts with our heart. When you deal with money, just like anything else that you do, just as Coach shared, that we have to have the right lens the right way to be able to see things or view things. So that right lens. As we begin to take a look at that and I want to share with you. Four perspectives or four lens to look at money. Okay, we’re going to talk about stewardship. We’re going to talk about faith. We’re talking about wisdom. And we’re going to talk about contentment. So let’s start with stewardship. Stewardship perspective: Song 24:1, ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The world and all who live within it,’. Guys, God owns it all. Right? He owns it all. He owns everything. What I love about this versus is that it tells me that the pressure is off. Right? I don’t have to own it. Right? The lord owns it. He owns everything. Everything He gives you, He owns. – I’m sorry. I think I’m ajusting a little bit. Is that okay?- But he owns it all. So God owns it all. And if you could really get in your mind, ‘Wow, anything the that the Lord gives you, He owns it,’. Right? Our only responsibility is-switch to this? Can you hear me? Is that better? Okay- So God owns it all. Right? So He owns everything. And when we can get that perspective that He owns it and our only job is to manage it, then it takes a lot of pressure off. Right? But the great thing is, is we don’t even have to know all of those things. He teaches those things. How to even manage that money in our word, and in the word. So our role is just to be a steward of His resources. It’s to the point where we can. Once you adopt the attitude or stewardship mentality, you’re poised to go to on an unforgettable journey and adventure with God. When you can get to the point that you can hold out your hand and everything that you have and you say, ‘Lord what would you have?’ and where you can just say if He comes to you and says, ‘We’re short. I want you to write $10,000 to your neighbor”. and you can easily say without a shadow of a doubt, without first questioning, ‘How is that going to affect my retirement planning? How was it going to affect that thing that I was want to save for? How is that going to affect this that and the other?’ and you can literally just say, ‘Lord, absolutely. You want me to write a check to this person? I got to write it,” with an open hand. And when you can get to that spot, and when you can get there with that perspective, then you’re going to go to some amazing places with God because God is looking not just for stewards, but He’s looking for sons and daughters. Sons and daughters that He can trust. Right? He’s going to do a huge move of God. There’s a huge move of God going on right now. There’s no doubt in my mind that the people and the students that are here at Southwestern are going to be going to be world changers. He’s going to impact you in ways that not only can you impact others within your community, but within businesses that you have. But He can only do that if He can trust you. Right? Only if He can trust you with those resources. So, when you can be in that position, where you are a son or daughter of God, and that you say, ‘Lord, what would you have for us to do is what I want to do,’ because we won’t have to be concerned about that. Right? Because He says He would never leave you nor forsake you. So you don’t have to be concerned about what I’m going to do or how am I going to take care of myself. or how am I going to take care of my family or how am I to do this? Right? The lord has all of that in mind. So when you can have that perspective that God owns it all, the role, and our role is understanding our role is that we are stewards of his resources. It takes that pressure off. The other perspective we want to take a look at is the faith perspective. In Hebrews 11:6 it says that, ‘Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who is,’- I can’t really read that- ‘when it comes, they must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him’. What would you do? What would you have me do with the financial resources that you have? It takes faith. Right? Sometimes when you first- when God first tells you, ‘Hey, tithe,’ sometimes that first tithe check takes faith. Right? Like truly a tithe?. Right? Not just your $20 right? A true tithe. When you really have and you take that step you’re like- but I want to have that bill. Right? But it’ll be all right. I mean, I did have that journey when the Lord first told me to tithe, then I was like, ‘How Lord?’. He’s like, ‘I got this thing.’ I was a single lady and I don’t have any other resources. Nobody else to call on. Lord are you sure? I had to literally sit and just read it over and over and over. “Trust the Lord, lean not on my own understanding.” Right? When you have to continue to get that, but when you can get that, when you can have that faith, to step out and manage finances this is the way the Lord says, ‘There is a reward.’ Actively trust. The hard thing about it is, I can’t always see that it’s very good. Sorry, guys. Actively trust Him to uniquely guide and direct our steps. Guys there’s so many verses in the Bible that talk about money and the impact of money. So He’s there to guide you and direct you even within your finances. Sometimes people think, ‘well, that’s world stuff,’. Right? ‘God doesn’t know about money.’ Have you ever heard that? Am I right? This is the real world stuff. Right? My dad used to say that to me, ‘This is real world stuff melody,’. Right? I’ll tell you what: God knows way more about money than we do. Right? He has so much to say about money and how to run a business inside the word of God. So we can actively trust Him? Just like we can absolutely trust Him to guide us to the right person to marry. Right? The right job to take. We can trust Him when we have a situation or financial burden or a bond or a situation we’re dealing with. We can say, ‘Lord what would you have for me to do in this situation?’. Right? He’s there to guide us and direct us. As I’ve said before, having that position where you can literally hold your finances out and say, ‘Lord, what would you have me to do with this?’. If he was a blessed Professor Watson with a million dollars first decision is not, ‘What am I going to do with that,’. Right? The first decision is, ‘Lord, what would you have?’. Right? What would you have? What was, what is your goal with that? Well, we can also be in that position that it doesn’t matter how much I have or where it comes from. The father, ‘You have a plane and direction,’. I trust that. Right? When you can have that position to really just hold it out and really seek his direction. But that’s hard. Right? I mean, when the first time you get a huge jump in pay, or you might get a huge influx of cash, it’s really tempting. Right? Truthfully, right? It’s tempting to go, ‘man, I’m going to do this, and I’m going to do this,’ and we’ve already got it set in our mind. Right? But when you can consciously go before the Lord and say, ‘Lord, whatever you would have,’ and honestly position it and lay it at his feet, you will see amazing things happen. As we continue to walk by faith thinking about God’s direction, God will and can sometimes use money to test our lives and to sharpen us. Know that one of the greatest things that, and I’ll talk more about it in a minute, but, one of the great things that Paul said is, ‘Whether our base are bound, I learned to be content.’. Right? So it doesn’t matter as we begin to walk things out. God may put you in a position that allows you to make additional money and learn lessons. Right? You might be in a position where He recruits you to go someplace that you’re like, ‘Lord, how are you going to make it work?’. Right? But it takes faith knowing that wherever He directs, He provides. It may or may not be in the way that you want or how you want. You may not be able to get that car that you want or that other situation you might want, but we can trust Him that he’s going to direct us. Where he directs, He will provide. And of course connecting your faith journey with your financial journey. Guys there’s no doubt in my mind that as I began to go to the Lord more and more and more when it came to my finances, as I began to see clients go more and more and more to the Lord to find out more and getting closer to the Lord with their or their spiritual life, and combining that with their financial journey. Guys it will bring you so much closer to the Lord than you would ever think is possible. And I would challenge you to try to attempt that. The other thing that I want to share with you is wisdom perspective. Wisdom Perspective in James 3:17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all purer than peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” There is so much when we start taking a look at the word. There are so many verses and so many parables about money and possessions because this is the one area that can obviously pull us away from the Lord. God’s works and speaks, of course, with authority. It is timeless guys. It never changes. Right? What Jesus talked about 2000 years ago applies today. And it will apply in 2000 years from now. So having the wisdom, the financial wisdom, the business wisdom, that is our work and in the word of God- it’s timeless and it will supply all and apply to all financial decision making skills or making decisions you need to make. Contentment perspective: First Timothy 6:6, ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain.’. In the world we have this perspective: more money, more things. It’ll make me more successful. It’ll make me more secure and I’ll make and be more significant. Right? That’s the world’s perspective. And sometimes it’s really easy, even as Christians, that we think, ‘Well, we have to be prepared, and we have to do these things, and the word says we need to do this,’. And it says we need to do that! Right? There’s so much that it’s so easy for all of us to get so caught up in making sure about we have and pursuing those things that we feel that everybody else on Facebook or Twitter or whatever else we follow says that we need to have to be successful and secure and insignificant. I going to tell you, there’s only one thing that you need to have to be successful, secure, and significant, and that is Jesus Christ. That is Jesus Christ. And when you have that, and you’re following what he has called you to do, whatever that is then that’s going to be more impactful in your life and in those lives of those lives around you. More than you would ever think is possible. Paul as I shared said, I need to learn that. He had learned to be content whether he had much or had little. He had- So whenever we have a position, or we have an attitude, that doesn’t mean that we don’t continue to strive. Always strive but continue to pursue things that the Lord would have. Right? It doesn’t mean, we sit back and watch Netflix all day. Right? Then, I mean, we do that. But it does mean that, you know what, I’m content with whenever or wherever I’m at. Whatever the Lord has me. That’s where He has me. I’m there for a reason. Whatever that reason is. And that we can trust that He will provide And He will never leave us nor forsake us. And that He will provide whatever needs that we have and to keep our lives free from the love of money in all be content with all that we have. It is important that, as we continue to go forward, that we have that contentment for these four perspectives. If you can grab a hold of these four perspectives. It will make a huge difference in how you approach money and how you approach your life. The other thing that I would share with you and leave with you are like, ‘Okay. Well now what?’. God gives simple financial principles and scripture. When you apply them your financial future is more durable and more stable. These five principles. These five habits will make a huge difference in your life. These principles will apply whether you’re managing a little or you’re managing a lot. And that is basically the five things here, which is, 1) spend less than you earn right. Whatever you earn, whatever that is, you spend less than that. 2) You avoid the use of debt. Anything that you can do to avoid the use of debt would be advantageous over your life. If you’re using credit cards stop using credit cards. Right? Find another way to go about handle that in your day to day expenses. 3) Give generously. We should always give generously. Giving is the antidote to greed. Giving is the antidote to greed. So if you begin to find yourself, and in your own heart beginning to stir up because you have more and more, maybe you have an opportunity to be able to get a nice paying job or what have you, it’s easy to allow that money to take a hold of you. The antidote to that is to give. So give generously. It will continue to position your heart in the right spot. 4) Plan it for financial margin. That basically just means guys things happen in life. Good things, bad things. Maybe you’re doing just fine. But maybe your parents need something. Or maybe your child needs something. Or maybe a friend needs something. Be to operate within a financial margin within your life. And of course: 5) Set those long goals. A lot of times with goals or long term goals, we might set as car as a course. And we say you know I’m going to save for this or we’re going to save for that. And then on that journey with the Lord, the Lord’s going to say, man that’s a great job being a Steward of those resources that I’ve asked of you. Now I’d like for you to take so much of that. I want you to give this to this other person over here. So it’s going to be an amazing journey that if you can just take these perspectives and these principles. And if you just take this alone. This will make a huge difference, and huge impact in the life that you have today and in the future. So with that, thank you.

I always laugh when I hear someone say those words because of course anything can go wrong. Or it can go right. But much of that depends on how well we are prepared. In both my personal and professional life, I believe in planning for contingencies. When my kids were little, I didn’t leave the house without extra clothes and diapers. I knew the likelihood of needing them was high. In the professional world, the failure to plan for contingencies can lead to catastrophic failure.

One of the easiest and most rewarding methods of planning for contingencies is to make leadership development a priority. Organizations that are seeking to build long-term success know that developing leaders at every level of an organization is crucial.

, former CEO of General Electric once said, “My main job was developing talent. I was a gardener providing water and other nourishment to our top 750 people. Of course, I had to pull out some weeds, too.” Mr. Welch understood the value of leadership development in organizations as large and powerful at General Electric, but what about in your small business? In your church? In your nonprofit organization? Is it just as important to develop leaders in the local business as it is in corporate America?

I personally think it is more important.

Imagine a locally owned hardware store. We still have a few of those around that haven’t been edged out by large retailers. It’s the place where the old-timers still go, the place where I can walk in and actually have a conversation about how to repair something or even get a reference for a quality repair service with someone who very likely knows what they are talking about. This type of business has been in operation for generations, and they are the backbone of our country. But these types of business owners don’t typically consider the concepts of leadership development in terms of their own company, because they don’t have the time to invest, the money to invest, or the understanding, perhaps, of just how critical small businesses are to the economy. After all, it’s hard to see the big picture of how you fit into the global economy as a small business owner when you are just trying to keep your head above water!

When any organization invests in building leaders, it is like setting money aside for the future.

Leadership development in smaller organizations is about identifying those people who show potential for leadership growth, and are also likely to stay with your organization. I used to know a small business owner who owned a coffee shop in a small college town. She was always looking for a college student to come help her manage the business, but the students weren’t really interested in sticking around, they wanted to spread their wings.

One day, after a particularly disheartening conversation with her, I suggested that she stop advertising at the university for managers, and see if a simple ad in the local paper might help her find someone who was a permanent resident that she could train. The lady really just needed a few days off, and didn’t have anyone she trusted to leave in charge. She ran the ad a few times and got several good applications. One of those ended up being a lovely young woman who really needed the work. She was a single mom who appreciated that the coffee shop was closed at night and on Sunday. My friend invested into this new employee and now the employee manages the shop and my friend travels several months of the year!

When any organization invests in building leaders, it is like setting money aside for the future. It’s building plan to carry on in the event of illness or accident. It’s teaching your employees how you want your customers treated (because your employees will treat your customers as well as you treat them!). It’s learning to delegate some jobs to other people because you have identified that their skill set is a better fit for a particular job than yours is. It’s about identifying the best in people and helping them learn to develop themselves and pull that potential out of them, to the benefit of both the employee and the organization!

What do you get out of it?

Different things matter to different people, but some of the things you might gain from leadership development in your organization are:

• A happier customer who recommends your business/organization to their friends and family.

• A workforce who is excited and motivated to come to work because they know you believe in them.

• Higher profits as a result of happy workers and customers.

• A proud reputation as an employer of choice.

• A plan to keep the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build intact.

• A day off (or more!).

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”- Vince Lombardi.

Small business owners, nonprofit directors, and church leaders understand hard work. It’s what we do. Most never get rich in spite of working much harder than they would if they worked for someone else. But these entrepreneurs are building something. They are doing what they can to make the world a little better. Developing leaders within your organization sends a clear message that an organization intends to succeed, whatever the mission.

There are variety of leadership development programs available to organizations, but a good rule of thumb is to conduct a needs assessment first to see what areas of weakness your organization might have and then choose a leadership development program that will closely align with your organizational values and fit into your budget and schedule.

Be relatable

People want to know who you are and what to expect. Begin by ensuring that your social media sites have avatars (profile pictures) that represent who you are. Pictures of you are an excellent way of reminding the audience of the personal nature of your ministry. Be sure your pictures are clear and well lit. Including family in the pictures is also a great way of showing that your ministry is founded on family if that is your target audience. Adding additional pictures of your ministry in action and quick videos allow your audience to envision themselves attending your events. You may even want to consider live videos of appropriate activities within your church or ministry.

Be real

The internet is full of perfect images resulting from dozens of attempts until just the right picture is taken. Filters, portrait mode, and editing create a false impression of life. Your target audience is not fooled by these images and many long for something different. Candid photos go further to connect than posted photos.

The key to promoting your church or ministry through social media is developing a strategy and consistently following the plan

Do not be afraid to share needs your ministry may have. For example, if volunteers are needed or the food pantry is empty, sharing that may allow people to see a place they can contribute. Giving glimpses into the day to day is also an opportunity for them to begin to develop a relationship with you outside of the church or ministry. An example here would be photos of places you visit, highlights from your studies, or even a photo from the coffee shop during your devotional time offers a bridge to connect.

One critical point – do not preach at them through social media . Instead, share what you are learning and allow them to make the connection to their lives. Posts should be an even distribution of encouragement, relatable posts as mentioned above with a sprinkle of requests (attend church, join a ministry, etc.).

Be relevant

The digital world is changing daily. New social media platforms emerge and algorithms (the logic behind what is shown and to who in social media) are continually updated. In this quickly changing realm it is critical that you invest time in understanding how the social media platforms work. There are many options from online articles and videos (be sure to review a reputable source) to classes at colleges and universities. Whichever you select, make it part of your monthly plan to learn something new and apply it.

Be ready to delegate

Sometimes the best choice is to delegate the management of your social media sites to another. Examples can be someone within your target population (age, gender, family or single) who is active in their own social media. Give them opportunities to post either as a guest or, if they have proven responsible in other areas, allow them to assist with the planning of your posts.

Whether you work in marketing or any other area of a company or ministry, you will be presented with opportunities to choose your ethical stance.

Ask almost any person for their definition of marketing, and they will usually start with a statement that relates to selling a product. Even just a few years ago, this was primarily the foundation of what marketers did. They took a product or idea and determined how to effectively sell it to a selected population. However, as customers have become savvier, the Internet has increased the ability to research before buying, the market has become saturated and the entire concept of marketing is changing. Marketing is no longer about the product – it is about the customer.

In this customer-centric world, marketing now becomes a concept that must weave throughout an entire organization. Now that marketing is no longer relegated to the group in the corner office, it is to everyone’s benefit to have a basic understanding of the marketing exchange. In fact, understanding the customer, being able to have a conversation with them via marketing and continuing that relationship is now key.

So how does a Christian leader who is part of the marketing conversation ensure that their company and their leadership is an ethical reflection that they can be proud of? I would propose there are three keys to achieving this and they are not just for the marketing team and manager.

1) Do not be afraid to be different or have a more expensive proposal or product.

One of the reasons that many leaders find themselves in a challenging position is they focus solely on cost. Cost is the easiest component of the marketing mix to change but the most challenging to maintain as a strategy. The truth is a customer is more than willing to pay for a quality product and/or campaign if they see the benefit and are comfortable with the reputability of those they are working with at the company.

2) Just because everyone is doing it does not make it right.

What is legal is not always ethical. One of the definitions in Merriam-Webster for ethics is a guiding philosophy. For the Christian, a strategy should include questions about not only the end goal but if the path to get one to that result aligns with guidance received in God’s word. This is one reason that reading a Proverb a day is beneficial for the Christian leader – it saturates one’s spirit with wisdom needed for day-to-day decision-making.

3) If you fail, learn from it and change your direction.

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a fast-paced marketing campaign. As deadlines are pressed upon the team, cutting a corner here, borrowing an idea there or crossing a line with choices of visuals or verbiage can easily occur. However, the Christian should remember that we are responsible for every word, every action and our influence over others. Perhaps we did not speak up and question a design or strategy. Thank God for grace – it is at this point we can turn from that way and change. Sometimes this action alone – choosing to be different is enough to catch the eye of another. Many clients are looking for those who are not afraid to step outside of the norm and reflect a strong ethical purpose in their work.

Whether you work in marketing or any other area of a company or ministry, you will be presented with opportunities to choose your ethical stance. Will you be ready? Think about it ahead of time, determine where your ethical lines are drawn and practice your reasons and you will.

It’s not hard to recognize a problem; 90% of people are capable of that task. The real key is being creative and resourceful in devising an answer to the challenge and turning a negative situation into an opportunity to do good.

One of the hallmark characteristics of an entrepreneur is the ability to identify an opportunity and then to craft a workable solution. This trait can also lead to a wonderfully satisfying life of service to God and our fellow man (and woman). Too often, however, we turn a blind eye to situations around us or prefer to complain about a problem while ignoring a chance to be part of a solution. What if we were continually on the lookout for someone with an issue, or an organization with a problem, and we actively sought to facilitate a solution to the challenge? What if we saw problems and needs as opportunities? Think of all the good that could be done if more people were obsessed with solving problems rather than merely identifying them and grumbling. It’s not hard to recognize a problem; 90% of people are capable of that task. The real key is being creative and resourceful in devising an answer to the challenge and turning a negative situation into an opportunity to do good.

As entrepreneurs seek opportunity, their paths are almost universally littered with failures along the way. Rarely is even the most successful tycoon correct all the time. One of the most important traits of those who succeed is that they are not afraid to fail. Many times, multiple failures might have preceded the huge victory. If they had given up or not been willing to take the chance in the first place, they would have never experienced the triumph. In the same way, we must get out of our comfort zones and be willing to try something that is beyond what we know we can do in our own abilities. If we fail, or simply don’t do a great job, we have gained experience and knowledge for a better performance next time. Question many great speakers and they will probably be quick to tell you of some of their early attempts and the fiascos they and their audiences endured. Experience, training, and even failure taught them how to get better and fulfill their purpose more effectively.

Our fear of failure might not be in the public arena in front of hundreds or thousands of people. It could just as easily be in a task we have never done and are unsure how it should be done. We might shy away from accepting a task or assignment simply because it is unfamiliar to us and we feel that there are others who are more qualified and could probably do it better. Even those who might be more experienced had to have a first time at some point and sometimes availability is more important than ability. Also, we need to remember that God might have placed in another person’s mind the idea about our suitability for an assignment and HE has a plan for us that is more than we have for ourselves. We must be willing to be pushed beyond our perceived current abilities. That notion doesn’t mean that we don’t do our part by studying, training, and preparing, but if we know we already can do it, it’s not really a stretch and there is no growth.

Speaking of preparation, entrepreneurs often make great sacrifices in the early stages of an endeavor and reap the benefits much later in the process. Many people might see the financial rewards of a fruitful venture and mistakenly think it was an easy path and lucrative all along the way. The true situation is usually very different. The person often starts with an idea and a dream and not much in the way of financial resources. Sacrificing current lifestyle, the businessperson plows all his/her savings into the venture and lives frugally while devoting inordinate amounts of time during those formative years. It’s after years of financial investments and time expenditures that the rewards become apparent.

We need to be willing to sacrifice current time and effort to prepare us for something greater. God doesn’t always call and immediately send the person into the work. There is often a time of preparation in between the calling and the sending. This preparation might be formal education as offered in a university or it could be informal training and experience in an internship or entry-level apprentice program. Either way, we are foregoing other alternatives to gain the knowledge and skills that will increase the ceiling of the tasks to which we can be entrusted. While God is quite capable of supernaturally equipping someone for a task, He often expects us to do our part in the preparation process. Sacrifice and prepare now to be more useful in the future.

While many might associate an entrepreneurial mindset with a business-oriented context, there are multiple concepts that, when applied to life in general, can increase our effectiveness in fulfilling the purposes for which we were created. Instead of aimlessly wandering through life, we can have a proactive approach to preparing ourselves, identify opportunities, and then step out and take action without fear. We can all be “life entrepreneurs.”

So, why do so many managers have a hard time mastering one of the most essential responsibilities of leadership?

Many managers are fixers – hardwired to solve problems. Once solved, they are on to the next problem, often speeding past the chance to praise those who labored toward victory. Unsurprisingly, if you look at nearly any top-10 list of reasons your top talent leaves, it includes variations of not feeling valued, poor communication, lack of recognition or lack of trust or autonomy.

The Chemistry of Praise

Mark Twain famously said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”

Everyone, including spouses, extended family, colleagues, customers, and even your boss, loves to get sincere recognition and praise for a job well done. When we hear something we like, is released in our brains — the chemical associated with feelings of joy, pride, satisfaction and well-being. When you praise someone sincerely, it leads to a physiological desire to recreate that feeling. In the simplest terms, that is why praising someone cements good behavior and work habits. A side benefit is that, when you learn to enjoy praising others, you experience that same chemical reward. By doing something good for someone else, you also feel good. Sincere praise also helps you develop good work relationships with colleagues. Consistent with the law of reciprocity , others are often willing to return that feeling of goodwill by lending a hand or sharing useful information.

Now that we understand the problem and the benefit, what are some practical steps to enhance the skill of praising others?

1 — Give praise often.

The best way to avoid feeling uncomfortable praising someone is to do it until it feels natural. The aim is to build a healthy habit of praise. Regardless of personality type, you can learn to observe those around you and actively look for praise-worthy things.

2 — Give praise immediately.

It is important to praise others as they earn it. Resist the urge to wait until the “time is right.” The moment of achievement is always the right time, because it helps the recipient quickly assess the things that are important to you. Immediate praise also feels most authentic.

3 — Praise publicly. Correct privately.

If you are not comfortable receiving praise publicly, your natural inclination may be to reserve praise for private settings or one-on-one. But, public praise is most often most impactful.

If you are in a meeting, praise the person while others are present. If you are interacting through email, copy relevant peers and superiors when you send a praise email.

4 — Be sincere.

Anyone who has a seen a show like American Idol understands the weight of a compliment from Simon Cowell versus that of Paula Abdul.

Heaping praise on the mundane or manufacturing praise can be counterproductive. It means more to the recipient when they recognize it as praiseworthy. Learn to watch for key moments. Make a note. Then, look for an opportunity to express it.

5 — Be specific.

Not all compliments are created equal. Saying “Nice job!” or “Well done!” is better than no praise at all. But, being specific adds impact. For instance, “Wow. Your writing in that report was great. You have such a way with words. I could learn so much from you.”

6 — Check your but.

Have you ever been the recipient of a message along the lines of, “Thank you for responding so quickly, but…”

If you have ever studied business writing, you likely learned the sandwich method for delivering bad news — Good or Neutral News / Bad News / Good or Neutral News. Many managers misapply this method to delivering praise and critique to others.

Praise should not be the buffer to ease a request for more work or to soften a critique. Let your praise stand alone. When praise is followed by criticism, it nullifies the previously mentioned dopamine pleasure response and counteracts your intended outcome.

7 — Praise through action.

Did a subordinate demonstrate the ability to powerfully communicate? Trust them to represent you at an upcoming meeting. Did they show above-and-beyond attention to detail? Give them the opportunity to lead a key project. Words plus action magnify the impact.

8 — Spread your praise.

Your highest-performing team members are likely oft-praised. (Perhaps that is why they are your highest performing.) Learn to look for praiseworthy moments among those who receive less recognition. That praise may be the difference between them flourishing or floundering.

9 — Praise those who you don’t naturally get along with.

A tenuous relationship can wreak havoc when a project overlaps with someone you don’t naturally get along with. Praise can go a long way. Your responsibility is to train yourself to look for the good in others despite your underlying bias.

10 — Personalize your process.

Find what works for you. I keep a stack of thank you notes and envelopes on my desk where I see them every day. They serve as a reminder to watch for praiseworthy moments.

If someone is outside of my normal circle and I know I won’t see them soon, I write a handwritten note and drop it in the mail for immediacy. Sometimes I see the cards and decide instead to send an email and copy the person’s supervisor(s). Sometimes I see the cards during my morning meetings and remember that I observed a member of my team who was deserving of praise and I need to verbalize that thought.

Find something that suits your style and personality.

Take a moment to consider how these tips may apply to other relationships like friends and family.

To many, strategic planning is a fancy term used when executives get together to forecast the future of the organization. Even the term “strategic” is often misunderstood and misapplied. The root word, ” ,” is defined as a plan or method for achieving a goal, usually over a period of time (Webster). So strategists gather around a table to create strategies to put into a strategic plan. That makes for an expensive day of strategic planning that usually ends with an action plan of goals optimistically designed to increase business.

If we are unprepared to handle the problem, then failure may be imminent.

Decades ago when my father was preparing me to go into business, he taught me a simple principle that worked for me countless times over my 34-years in business. He told me, “That light at the end of the tunnel isn’t hope. It’s a freight train.” Clearly, this contradicts the famous phrase, “Don’t be fretful. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.” That makes the word picture of hope (light) piercing the darkness. We can even base this saying on Psalm 30:5, “… weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” So was my father being a pessimist and contradicting Scripture? Or is he a realist?

The freight train coming through the tunnel is an oncoming problem in business. If we are unprepared to handle the problem, then failure may be imminent. However, if we have attempted to identify possible future problems in our strategic planning sessions, we can be prepared to handle it without chaotic management.

Being prepared doesn’t mean it won’t be a crisis situation. We may have a crisis on our hands, but we have a rational and methodical course of action to take. Preparation through strategic planning is the critical difference between reactive management and responsive management techniques. We will not react to the problem but respond to it using actions formulated beforehand.

Contingency planning is the correct term we should use. Webster defines a contingency as “an emergency event that may but is not certain to occur, and is liable to happen as an adjunct to or result of something else.” Contingency planning is like playing chess. Before I make a move, I try to think through the possible responses of my opponent. If my move puts my chess piece in jeopardy, I must seek an alternative move. I continue this thought process through any number of iterations until I arrive at a move that will not result in the loss of my property. The move may be offensive or defensive. I have tried to think of every possible contingency that will lead to a successful move.

Being prepared doesn’t mean it won’t be a crisis situation.

So that light at the end of the tunnel being a freight train bringing a crisis upon us will not cause panic and be catastrophic to our business. There may be some collateral damage, but it will not destroy us. We have done our best to minimize the negative impact of the crisis.

In fact, if it is a foreseen end run by one of our competitors, we may have an action plan that not only halts the freight train but creates an opportunity for even greater success–described as a tactical feint.

So as you as you prepare in business, remember the freight train. Do not fear it. Plan for it.