How I Succeed in Business

Since being selected as Business Person of the year for Gwinnett County, I have been asked to speak at several events including a Rotary club in a few weeks. When I asked what they wanted me to speak about the reply was they wanted to know my formula for success. There will be a three minute introduction and I have been allotted twenty minutes to tell the Rotary club how I succeed in business.

As I ponder this, I realize I am all too often long-winded and given time could probably bore them silly for hours espousing on business technique and metrics that I believe to be important in managing a business. How in the world can I tell anyone how I succeed in business in just twenty minutes? As I prepared for this talk as always I first made a list and wrote down all of the things that I think contribute to success. Next I grouped together like ideas into categories and finally I prioritized them.

First on the prioritized list was God. I could never succeed without God. My life is living proof of this. Prior to becoming a Christian I was a complete failure in everything; it was only after becoming a Christian did I become successful. This is not to say that God alone made me successful. Indeed I had to meet God half way. It is team’ effort that works with God in firm control of the team! God is the Supreme Commander and we are His troops. I believe if we study God, (the Bible is God’s word), and try our best to imitate’ Him and His methodology we undoubtedly will see more success.

In order to accomplish anything we must first set worthy goals. Taking our cue from our relationship with God, obviously we should understand that success will take a team’ effort; therefore we must surround ourselves with good people. The people that comprise a successful team will consist of people of integrity and excellent character with great attitudes and cheerful dispositions who all work diligently for the common goals. The entire team must maintain a tremendous attitude, have a strong work ethic and work smart’ in order to achieve our goals and accomplish the things we desire to accomplish. All of the foregoing should be considered a requirement’ for making and staying on the team.

The leadership will need to adopt a policy of being fair, friendly, and firm to each and every team member at all times and must exhibit excellent communication. Just like in our daily prayer life, communication is critical for success. Murmuring, jealousy, self-centered super star complexes, temper tantrums, slackers, unrighteous behavior can impede and/or prevent success and must expeditiously be dealt with by the leadership in a fair, friendly, but firm’ manner, (including expulsion), for the sake of the project and the rest of the team. Leadership should however understand that mistakes are no doubt going to occur and we all will make them. It is an honest mistake the first time and a dumb mistake the second. We should learn from our mistakes and not repeat them; to do otherwise is not smart.

There you have it. A formula, (of sorts), for success in just twenty minutes

Eph. 5:1
Be imitators of God