Journal Entry – Week 3
“Your word is who you are.”
“a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

Lynn G. Robbins: “Making a Living and a Life”
“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man…It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest…” (Lewis, 1952, pp 109-10).

Motives in the workplace: “What you do to make a living, or how many dollars you earn, aren’t nearly s important to the Lord as whether you:
1.      Are building His kingdom including strong and valiant families
2.      Are honest in your dealings with your fellowmen and using your God-given talents in their service
3.      And if you are filling your life with good works, that positively impact your community and world
Grade
Primary Motivation
Secondary Motivation
A
Love of God and of fellowmen
Income $
B
Money $
Love of fellowmen
C
Love of money $
Indifferent to clients or customers
D
Filthy Lucre $
Harmful to clients and customers
F
Filthy Lucre $
Harmful to customers and society; nations destroyed

Important Self-Check Questions:
·         Do you give an honest day’s work for your pay?
·         Are you loyal to your employer?
·         Are you honest with the customers?
·         Are your products and services of the highest quality?
·         Do you charge fair prices?
·         Are you concerned for the welfare of your employees?

Sheri Dew: “True Blue, Through and Through”

1.      Decide today, once and for all, that you will be worthy of trust
2.      Have faith that the Lord can and will help you, and then diligently seek His help
3.      Make covenants and keep them
4.      Stand up for what you believe
5.      Expect your integrity to be challenged
6.      Don’t give up
7.      Covenant – or perhaps I should say, renew your covenant – with your Heavenly Father and His Son to do what you came here to do

“Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3: 27).

“Perhaps we said something like this: “If you need someone who will have the courage and determination to face the world at its worst, here am I, send me. If you need husbands and wives who will be faithful to each other, raise their children in the admonition of the Lord, and defend the family, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who will see through the lies of the world about family and gender and intimacy, and who will never confuse being tolerant of others with tolerating sin, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who can think straight in a confused, twisted world, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who will be fearless in building the kingdom of God, please, here am I, send me” (Dew, 2004, para. 70).

Frank Levinson: “Why Are Ethics Important?”

“People recognize an ethical environment and gravitate towards it.

Build an ethical foundation early and never step off of it.


Frank Levinson: “Top 10 Must Haves for a Start-Up”

1.      Spending everything on a good team and equipment
2.      Letting people know the company is in business
3.      Raising limited capital
4.      Taking stock of a company and determining its needs
5.      Being open to opportunities
6.      Having a supportive family
7.      Targeting mass markets, not just niche markets
8.      Having confidence in new ideas
9.      Acquiring and selling to real customers
10.  Choosing a great partner

Common Sense
Businesses Need:
·         Customers
·         Products
·         Sales
·         Profits
·         Taxes to pay!
Businesses Don’t Need:
·         CFOs
·         VPs (of anything)
·         Market Studies
·         Ad Campaigns
·         Website
·         Business Plan
·         Forecasts

Words of Advice:
·         Love your tough customers
·         Keep making it better
·         Never discount what your customers say
·         You have to have customers
·         A customer is not someone who likes your ideas, they are those who spend money for your products

Jan Newman: “Risks in Business”

“When you take someone’s money, expect pain!”
(until you return that money with interest)

“You need to put some skin in the game!”
Ø  Provides motivation to be successful
Ø  You will know they are aligned with what you are aligned with

“Never do anything dishonest, it will come out!”

Ken Zolot: “ Acton Hero Ken Zolot”

How has your restlessness made you a better entrepreneur?

Your place of business and your people should be well-tended to.

Ask, “Who cares?”
o   Why would others be interested in your product?
o   What complexities do you need to understand?

“If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said ‘faster horses.’” (Henry Ford)

James Ritchie: The Formula

1.      Get up early
2.      Work hard
3.      Get your education
4.      Find oil
5.      Make your mark

6.      Prepare to serve/give back

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