A Harvard MBA is not as useful as what is taught in your yard everyday

What is a sluggard? A person who is slow, lazy, and does not like to work hard. He is a pain to those trusting him (10:26). Diligent men will be successful (10:4; 12:24; 14:23; 22:29; 28:19); but lazy men are losers (6:10-11; 12:24; 19:15; 20:4,13; 24:30-34).

Sluggards are too arrogant to be taught (26:16), so Solomon mocks them with ants. If they were to watch ants for a few minutes, these haughty bums could learn success; for ants are much wiser than sluggards. A Harvard MBA is not as useful as what is taught in your yard everyday. But sluggards are too proud to learn from the small teacher.

Sluggards stay in bed, for they love sleep (6:9-11; 20:13; 24:30-34). They want things like other men, but they don’t want to work for them (13:4). Staying in bed is too nice!

Let us consider ants. If we get down in the grass and watch these little creatures, we quickly see wisdom and habits that are very useful. Ants don’t sleep beyond daybreak, and they don’t take siestas; so don’t worry about waking them early in the morning.

They are always moving, quickly and energetically. They don’t stand around, sit around, or drag through their work. They work fast. They don’t pace themselves to spread work out: they go right at a project and work hard until it is finished (Eccl 9:10). They hustle!

They don’t need supervision (6:7), for they just get to work and find something to do. What a difference from the sluggard, who must always be prodded to get anything done.

When times are good, they work extra hard to store up for bad times (6:8); they don’t presume to take it easy. They store surplus rather than eat it. And in their wisdom, they even bite off the ends of grain kernels to keep them from germinating in storage.

They don’t have union rules or selfish habits keeping them from helping others. If one is moving something too large for it alone, others will help him get it where it needs to be.

They do not choose the easiest way or get discouraged if the job cannot be quickly finished. When facing difficulties, they energetically try again and again until they are successful. They will go great distances from home in order to find their food. They will get into houses, cars, and just about anything in order to find what they need.

Dear reader, consider the ways of these little people. Hard work will do much more than talking (14:23) and dreaming (28:19). Don’t love sleep (6:9-11; 20:13); get busy!

What should you do when someone offers you a “business opportunity”?

Slinging French fries for minimum wage is better than hearing another business plan for making a million. If you resent the statement, this proverb is for you! Dreamers and promoters fantasize about being successful; but diligent and godly men go to their same old jobs with thankful hearts and find success through hard work! They do not sit around talking with speculators and making spreadsheets of imagined wealth from a new fantasy business. See the comments on 1:32; 12:11; 13:4; 13:11; 13:23; 14:4; 14:15; and 27:23.
Some men always talk of new businesses, new investments. They are full of ideas how to make money, but their own success is always just around the corner. Solomon warned his son against the distractions and delusions of moneymaking schemes. He knew about the exciting “business opportunities” and “investment secrets” of slothful fools and lying promoters. “Son, overtime at the fryer would be better than listening to these leeches.”
In all labor there is profit. Take an average young man, who diligently and faithfully works hard at a minimum wage, fast food job. In one year, he will be shift supervisor. In another year, shift manager. In two more, store manager. After managing faithfully for a year, he will get a piece of the action. In five more years, he will own half the business. In five more, he will buy out the owner. Simple, certain, and successful! No better ideas here – just faithful hard work! Not bad for slinging fries at minimum wage, eh?
In all labor there is profit. Take another young man, who diligently and faithfully works hard at ordinary factory or office jobs. Such efforts will make his raises and promotions above average. Saving and investing part of his weekly pay, he will accumulate much in 40-50 working years. He will retire on schedule with significant company benefits, considerable Social Security, and a sizeable estate. Simple, certain, and successful! No better ideas here – just faithful hard work! Not bad for an office or factory stiff, eh?
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Watch the man craving the lifestyle of the rich and famous: he hates his boring job working for others. Work to him is driving a Lexus, checking investments by cell phone, and flashing his Rolex in fine restaurants. He reads and listens to every harebrained scam. He drools at “guaranteed” returns of 50%, and he invests heavily to “take advantage” of his “insider information”! The Ponzi scheme takes him down to penury, and the laboring stiff has to loan him money for food!
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Watch the man always changing jobs and always in a new “business opportunity.” He attends rah-rah meetings where beautiful people with leased cars, pyramid schemes for businesses, and imitation Rolexes tell him he can be rich … easily! He is fascinated. He made up his mind he would never be a working stiff, and each new “business opportunity” and investment scam are potential saviors from real work. But for some reason he never finds the promised mother lode!
Young man, forget your dreams when you get up in the morning and wash your face! Now it is time to work, not sleep and dreams, or dreams and sleep! Dreaming is not ambition! Optimism is not ambition! Business plans are not ambition! Working harder and more faithfully than anyone else is ambition! Forget the lottery mentality! You are not going to be the next NBA superstar! Today is a blessed privilege – use it to do more, and do it better, with a more cheerful spirit, in a real job, than anyone else. You will win!
Here is divinely inspired financial wisdom from the richest and most successful man who ever lived. Wishful thinking is for losers; only consistent labor will produce results. Exceptions are lies, and they never last anyway (13:11). Talk is cheap! Talking about making money in any other way than hard labor at a boring job is confusing, deceiving, distracting, foolish, and vain. It will rob your soul of the ambition necessary to succeed!
Many companies squander their profits by spending more time talking about saving money and enhancing revenues than actually producing and selling their product or service! The cost per hour of high-level meetings with numerous participants is enormous! They may soon be filing for Chapter 11 protection. Governments do the same: analyzing, debating, and meeting with little productive effort to truly solve the problem.
Minimum wage is not bad. It is more per hour than most “distributors” in multi-level marketing make for the hours spent hearing and talking about getting rich. It is more than the “investors” make in Ponzi schemes and other investment scams, that relieve fools every year of their money in the foolish and vain hope of getting rich enough to avoid having to work a real job. In all labor there is profit, even at minimum wage!
Not all business talk leads to penury, for there is safety in wise counselors (11:14). But wise counselors are never the ones soliciting you, selling you an investment, offering you a product, or promoting an “opportunity.” Beware! Justified conversation not condemned by this proverb must be objective, based in fact only, and with uninvolved, third-party, critical and successful, wise men. They will tell you the truth, not what you want to hear.
Be thankful for your job. Be thankful for your given abilities. Be thankful for the opportunity to work hard. Be thankful for this proverb. Get to work, now! Be early to work; stay late. Exceed the job expectations. Be cheerful; be respectful. Work zealously as unto the Lord. Work patiently with your eye on heaven’s reward. You will succeed!
Wishful thinking is what foolish children do on Santa’s knee. Anything that sounds too good to be true, is not true! It is a deceitful vanity to steal your focus from real labor. Plow your field, and reject the illusion of greener pastures elsewhere (28:19). Avoid and ignore all sources of “business opportunities” that promise more than your job! Do not listen to them! Do not read their promotional lies! Apply yourself to what is before you!

Slinging French fries for minimum wage is better than hearing another business plan for making a million. If you resent the statement, this proverb is for you! Dreamers and promoters fantasize about being successful; but diligent and godly men go to their same old jobs with thankful hearts and find success through hard work! They do not sit around talking with speculators and making spreadsheets of imagined wealth from a new fantasy business. See the comments on 1:32; 12:11; 13:4; 13:11; 13:23; 14:4; 14:15; and 27:23.

Some men always talk of new businesses, new investments. They are full of ideas how to make money, but their own success is always just around the corner. Solomon warned his son against the distractions and delusions of moneymaking schemes. He knew about the exciting “business opportunities” and “investment secrets” of slothful fools and lying promoters. “Son, overtime at the fryer would be better than listening to these leeches.”

In all labor there is profit. Take an average young man, who diligently and faithfully works hard at a minimum wage, fast food job. In one year, he will be shift supervisor. In another year, shift manager. In two more, store manager. After managing faithfully for a year, he will get a piece of the action. In five more years, he will own half the business. In five more, he will buy out the owner. Simple, certain, and successful! No better ideas here – just faithful hard work! Not bad for slinging fries at minimum wage, eh?

In all labor there is profit. Take another young man, who diligently and faithfully works hard at ordinary factory or office jobs. Such efforts will make his raises and promotions above average. Saving and investing part of his weekly pay, he will accumulate much in 40-50 working years. He will retire on schedule with significant company benefits, considerable Social Security, and a sizeable estate. Simple, certain, and successful! No better ideas here – just faithful hard work! Not bad for an office or factory stiff, eh?

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Watch the man craving the lifestyle of the rich and famous: he hates his boring job working for others. Work to him is driving a Lexus, checking investments by cell phone, and flashing his Rolex in fine restaurants. He reads and listens to every harebrained scam. He drools at “guaranteed” returns of 50%, and he invests heavily to “take advantage” of his “insider information”! The Ponzi scheme takes him down to penury, and the laboring stiff has to loan him money for food!

But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Watch the man always changing jobs and always in a new “business opportunity.” He attends rah-rah meetings where beautiful people with leased cars, pyramid schemes for businesses, and imitation Rolexes tell him he can be rich … easily! He is fascinated. He made up his mind he would never be a working stiff, and each new “business opportunity” and investment scam are potential saviors from real work. But for some reason he never finds the promised mother lode!

Young man, forget your dreams when you get up in the morning and wash your face! Now it is time to work, not sleep and dreams, or dreams and sleep! Dreaming is not ambition! Optimism is not ambition! Business plans are not ambition! Working harder and more faithfully than anyone else is ambition! Forget the lottery mentality! You are not going to be the next NBA superstar! Today is a blessed privilege – use it to do more, and do it better, with a more cheerful spirit, in a real job, than anyone else. You will win!

Here is divinely inspired financial wisdom from the richest and most successful man who ever lived. Wishful thinking is for losers; only consistent labor will produce results. Exceptions are lies, and they never last anyway (13:11). Talk is cheap! Talking about making money in any other way than hard labor at a boring job is confusing, deceiving, distracting, foolish, and vain. It will rob your soul of the ambition necessary to succeed!

Many companies squander their profits by spending more time talking about saving money and enhancing revenues than actually producing and selling their product or service! The cost per hour of high-level meetings with numerous participants is enormous! They may soon be filing for Chapter 11 protection. Governments do the same: analyzing, debating, and meeting with little productive effort to truly solve the problem.

Minimum wage is not bad. It is more per hour than most “distributors” in multi-level marketing make for the hours spent hearing and talking about getting rich. It is more than the “investors” make in Ponzi schemes and other investment scams, that relieve fools every year of their money in the foolish and vain hope of getting rich enough to avoid having to work a real job. In all labor there is profit, even at minimum wage!

Not all business talk leads to penury, for there is safety in wise counselors (11:14). But wise counselors are never the ones soliciting you, selling you an investment, offering you a product, or promoting an “opportunity.” Beware! Justified conversation not condemned by this proverb must be objective, based in fact only, and with uninvolved, third-party, critical and successful, wise men. They will tell you the truth, not what you want to hear.

Be thankful for your job. Be thankful for your given abilities. Be thankful for the opportunity to work hard. Be thankful for this proverb. Get to work, now! Be early to work; stay late. Exceed the job expectations. Be cheerful; be respectful. Work zealously as unto the Lord. Work patiently with your eye on heaven’s reward. You will succeed!

Wishful thinking is what foolish children do on Santa’s knee. Anything that sounds too good to be true, is not true! It is a deceitful vanity to steal your focus from real labor. Plow your field, and reject the illusion of greener pastures elsewhere (28:19). Avoid and ignore all sources of “business opportunities” that promise more than your job! Do not listen to them! Do not read their promotional lies! Apply yourself to what is before you!

Let God Be True

20 Distinct Differences Between a Top Sales Performer and a Bottom Sales Performer

Distinct Difference #1
Top Sales Performer puts no limit on the number of calls they make to a prospect over a given period of time. A Bottom Sales Performer gives up after one to three attempts.

Distinct Difference #2
Top Sales Performer listens more than they speak. A Bottom Sales Performertalks too much.

Distinct Difference #3
Top Sales Performer sets five or more sales appointments each week. A Bottom Sales Performer sets five appointments a month.

Distinct Difference #4
Top Sales Performer targets prospects in the top 20%. A Bottom Sales Performer targets everyone.

Distinct Difference #5
Top Sales Performer asks who, what, where, why and how questions. A Bottom Sales Performer asks yes or no type of questions.

Distinct Difference #6
Top Sales Performer leads with solutions. A Bottom Sales Performer leads with product or services.

Distinct Difference #7
Top Sales Performer makes 10 prospect calls a day. A Bottom Sales Performer makes 25 or more prospect calls a day.

Distinct Difference #8
Top Sales Performer researches their prospects. A Bottom Sales Performer doesn’t know anything about their prospect.

Distinct Difference #9
Top Sales Performer sends customized proposals after each sales visit. ABottom Sales Performer sends a template email after each sales visit.

Distinct Difference #10
Top Sales Performer makes just one more call for the day. A Bottom Sales Performer is a clock watcher.

Distinct Difference #11
Top Sales Performer knows their sales goals. A Bottom Sales Performer just hopes.

Distinct Difference #12
Top Sales Performer sends thank you notes and emails to his customers and prospects. A Bottom Sales Performer is concerned with just making a sale.

Distinct Difference #13
Top Sales Performer knows his product or service inside and out. A Bottom Sales Performer is familiar with his product or service.

Distinct Difference #14
Top Sales Performer is aware of their top five competitors. A Bottom Sales Performer cannot explain the difference between their company and their competitors when asked.

Distinct Difference #15
Top Sales Performer is always learning. A Bottom Sales Performer is not committed to learning.

Distinct Difference #16
Top Sales Performer asks for referrals. A Bottom Sales Performer forgets to ask for referrals.

Distinct Difference #17
Top Sales Performer understands the value of cold calling. A Bottom Sales Performer avoids cold calling.

Distinct Difference #18
Top Sales Performer is creative and strategic. A Bottom Sales Performer doesn’t think outside the box.

Distinct Difference #19
Top Sales Performer pauses a lot. A Bottom Sales Performer responds too quickly.

Distinct Difference #20
Top Sales Performer asks for the sale. A Bottom Sales Performer waits for the sale.

By Mr.ColdCall

Hemingway’s 6-word story:”For sale: baby shoes, never used.”

It’s short, to the point and communicates the complete message.

This historical antidote got me to thinking about some of the elongated meetings I have been involved in when trying to craft with management teams company success models, sales value propositions, business objectives, scorecards, corporate mission statements, tag lines and business strategy goals.

Often, communication both internal and external gets very convoluted in theory, abstracts, perceptions, ego and expectations and limits the receivers’ understanding of the actual message and the potential action steps required for success.

Hemingway’s 6-word story format forces both the communicator and the receiver to focus on each word, their meaning and the specific sequence each word falls in. When done correctly, 6-word stories become a guidebook to follow and philosophy to absorb for business management, leadership and stated business process.

Here are eleven 6-word business stories I have developed for you to ponder:

  1. Selling
    Value, Communicate, Demonstrate, Negotiate, Contract, Commission
  2. Management
    Listen and Lead, Achieve and Succeed
  3. Marketing Research
    Gap Found, Strategy Developed, Execution Delivered
  4. Strategy
    Strategy is important, execution is better
  5. Business Success
    Hunt Now or Be Eaten Later
  6. Prospects
    Value First, Brand Second, Revenue Third
  7. Prospects
    Find Now, Qualify Now, Sell Now
  8. Financial Management and P and Ls
    Track and Measure, Manage and Improve
  9. Training
    Investment Made, skills Improved, Performance Enhanced
  10. Customers
    Value Understood, Lifetime Value Generated
  11. Leadership
    Objective Communicated, Motivation Supplied, Results Delivered

Can you manage your company goals, objectives and departments by 6 words or less?

Try this exercise yourself. It will help you crystallize who you are, what you need for your company or department to be successful and help your team specifically know what is expected of them without rhetoric, inaccurate perceptions, miscommunications or corporate gubligoop getting in the way.

By Paul DiModica

Selling Among Wolves

By the Grace of God, I thank my Jesus; who is my Savior and Lord, who has put in me a burden to share the best practices adopted by my beloved brethren in Christ in this Blog. One such posting I came across, that really caught my attention is an article by Bro. Michael Pink

Where do we go to find the “four cornerstones” of sales success? I believe the Bible has all the answers we need because selling is a battle for the hearts and minds of individuals, and the Bible is full of models for winning battles. For example, conventional wisdom believes that “selling is about telling,” but I believe the sale is made based on what the customer has to say, not on what the sales rep has to say. Therefore, it’s important to develop the skill set of asking strategic, purposeful questions. You can learn from Pharaoh (the world’s system), or you can learn from Moses, who outmaneuvered Pharaoh and his army without drawing a sword by simply listening to and obeying God.

Upon arriving at the border of the Promised Land, Moses sent out a reconnaissance team to spy out the land. He knew Israel would be met with resistance and risk, but if they were successful, there would be reward. Resistance, risk, and reward sounds a lot like business. So what are the seven questions Moses asked and how do they help us succeed in the marketplace? The Moses Questioning Strategy is an important skill set we’ll address in the next issue, but first you must be convinced of the importance of a good questioning strategy.

Did you know sales reps asking five or more questions in a selling situation close 72 percent more business than sales reps asking only two questions? That’s because selling is less about telling and more about listening. It’s a process of discovery you walk through with someone to help THEM arrive at the outcome that’s in THEIR best interest. In the process, the seller discovers the needs of the buyer while simultaneously helping the buyer clarify and crystallize his or her own understanding of those same needs. Only then can the seller truly help the buyer. Here are seven reasons to ask questions before planning your presentation.

Seven Reasons to Question

1. Questions develop rapport. People generally feel more comfortable when they’re talking. Asking questions gives them that opportunity. Rapport-building questions focus more on their interests than their specific business needs.

2. Questions build trust. Asking questions before presenting solutions demonstrates your interest in finding out what they want or need. When customers feel you are looking out for their best interests, they are more likely to trust you. Trust-building questions are more focused on their needs relative to your product or service.

3. Questions demonstrate that you care. When someone discloses a need or a problem to you, asking THEM how that problem impacts THEM is a good way to demonstrate that you care. You probably know the answer, but give the prospect the opportunity to vent THEIR feelings. It demonstrates a caring attitude and strengthens your bond with that person.

4. Questions reveal need. God asked Adam, “Where are you?” which quickly prompted Adam to reveal need: “I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Adam, however, only revealed what was obvious, his outer need for clothing or covering.

5. Questions develop need. God pressed Adam, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Adam revealed deeper need when he said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Adam’s answer now reveals his inner treasonous condition. In a single response, he leveled blame on God and on Eve. It was not just about having no clothes to wear; Adam’s need went much deeper to his sinful soul. When someone reveals a superficial need and you suspect a greater need, ask need-development questions to bring that need out in the open.

6. Questions reveal heart. God turns his focus on Eve and asks, “What is this you have done?” Please note that God knew the answer to all His questions, but asked them anyway. You should know the answer to most questions you ask, but ask them anyway to give the other person the opportunity to clarify the problem. Eve reveals her own heart by blaming the serpent instead of acknowledging any wrongdoing. It’s hard to fix a problem that isn’t out in the open yet.

7. Questions reveal motivation. When God had no respect for Cain’s offering, He asked Cain, “Why are you angry? If you do well, will you not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7). Cain’s motivation was at issue here as he offered what was convenient and at hand—produce. At best it was a faithless offering given out of duty instead of heartfelt worship. Abel offered the best, the firstborn of his flock, in faith, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). Motivation questions usually begin with “Why?”

Asking the Best Questions

Having established the importance of asking questions, we now turn our attention to what makes a question a good question. Using the acronym SALT will help you remember four important components of good questions.

Simple. Good questions are clear, concise, and easy to understand. After the resurrection, Jesus was walking along the shore, saw the disciples fishing, and asked them, “Have you any food?” (John 21:5). In other words, have you caught anything yet? It was a simple question that went straight to the bottom line: “Is what you’re doing working?” Jesus asked a question to which He already knew the answer, but the answer gave Him the opportunity to reveal His solution: “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find.” When they saw the great number of fish caught in the net, they knew it was the Lord. Simple questions are bottom-line oriented and reveal need.

Aimed. Good questions have purpose. Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me [perfectly] more than these [other disciples do]?” (John 21:15). Just a few days earlier, after claiming that he loved Jesus more than the others, Peter three times denied even knowing Christ. Jesus had purpose in His question and Peter admitted that he didn’t have a perfect love for Christ when he answered, “Yes Lord; You know that I [imperfectly] love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Peter knew where the question was aimed and quickly admitted his love for Jesus was imperfect at best and in no way superior to the others. When a prospect feels the point or aim of your question, it implies you know the answer and the customer is more likely to be forthright with you.

Leading. Good questions give the prospect the sense that all of your questions are leading to a grand point. They make him feel like you’re taking him by the hand and leading him down a path you’ve been down before. Jesus asked Peter a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me [with a perfect love]?” Peter undoubtedly knew that Jesus was going somewhere with this question. In sales, leading questions are a series of questions working together to uncover need, reveal motivation, or expose the heart of the issue at hand. Jesus was leading Peter to acknowledge the limitations of his love, while giving him opportunity to look Him in the eye and expose the true state of his heart for the Lord.

Timely. Good questions meet the prospect where THEY’RE at in THEIR present situation with words THEY can relate and respond to. Jesus asked Peter a third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Jesus met Peter where he was by asking if his love was the phileo or brotherly kind of love. Later in his life, as he grew in his walk with the Lord, Peter would use the word agape, or perfect kind of love, in his writings. Once the need is on the table and the heart is open, meet your prospect where THEY ARE and bring THEM along incrementally to the desired destination.

Selling is less about telling and more about listening. You will be better prepared for listening now that you know the importance of a good questioning strategy and the four components of good questions. Stay tuned for the next issue, when we will uncover the seven questions Moses needed answered and how they apply to your sales practices.

Maximize Your Business Growth

Here are 11 options you can implement to maximize your business growth by Paul DiModica

  1. To increase your sales and marketing success, repackage your current offerings with new names and a lower price. Offer an automatic product or service upgrade (in feature or units) with the new name or tie the new offering to a timed date.
  2. Offer extended payment terms. Increase your price by 20% and offer extended payment terms to make it easier for your buyers to buy.
  3. Hunt for new business from new prospects. Are you waiting for prospects to find you? Do you or your sales team cold call? In a slow economy, you need to find business — don’t wait!
  4. Expand your partnerships to reduce your marketing costs per sale. In a bad economy, partner with more companies to increase your networking lead generation and lower your lead capture costs.
  5. Enlarge your selling geography or selling zone. If your market is saturated, expand your selling zones to find more opportunities. Geo map your mostly likely areas.
  6. Spend more on marketing. Yes, spend more on marketing during a recession. This is not a department that you want to cut back on. If times are tough, spend more. During a recession, the cost of marketing lead generation usually goes down because advertisers become desperate for business — so use this to your advantage.
  7. Focus on reducing your offering’s cost. What options do you have to drop its production, labor or direct costs? Hey, in a recession . . . negotiate!
  8. Create 3 pricing options for your offerings with the middle price being the targeted price you want to sell at. Studies show that buyers statically buy the middle price when offered three options, so let’s point them to it.
  9. To reduce your travel and expenses, offer your prospects $1,000 off their first invoice if they travel to you and buy — instead of you and/or your team going to them. This approach helps you qualify prospects by making them take an action step by coming to you while simultaneously reducing your expenses.
  10. Raise your value and raise your pricing. Price must equal value. Your value is always too high if I as a buyer don’t believe your value is worth the investment. To generate more money during a recession, increase your offering’s value and accordingly raise its price.
  11. Change your prospect value proposition to focus on cost savings. To drive your targeted prospects to take action steps during a recessionary time, you need to focus your product or service messaging on how your offering reduces their business costs, directly or indirectly.

Successful business tells us that being on top means being wealthy, attaining favor and status, or having power to influence. However, Jesus influenced not from power, but from weakness.

James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted

Do you find yourself in humble circumstances? If so, James tells us that we are to take pride in this “high” position. These two things would seem to be an oxymoron. Most of us would not consider humble circumstances a high position. Successful business tells us that being on top means being wealthy, attaining favor and status, or having power to influence. However, Jesus influenced not from power, but from weakness.

J.C. Penney is a name synonymous with department store. He first launched his chain of “The Golden Rule” stores in 1907. In 1910 his first wife died. Three years later, he incorporated as the J.C. Penney company. In 1923 his second wife died giving birth to his son. In 1929 the stock market crashed and he lost $40 million.

By 1932, he had to sell out to satisfy…creditors. This left [Penney] virtually broke. …Crushed in spirit from his loss and his health suddenly failing, Penney wound up in a Battle Creek, Michigan sanitorium. One morning he heard the distant singing of employees who gathered to start the day with God: Be not dismayed, whate’er betide, God will take care of you…. Penney followed the music to its source and slipped into a back row. He left a short time later a changed man, his health and spirit renewed, and ready to start the long climb back at age fifty-six.

By 1951 there was a J.C. Penney store in every state, and for the first time sales surpassed $1 billion a year. [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 340-343.]

The success of J.C. Penney can be traced to God’s mercy in his life to bring him out of his humble circumstance. Do you find yourself in a humble circumstance? God is the only one who can help you see your humble circumstance from His viewpoint-a high position. It is a high position because of what God is going to teach you in this place. He does not intend you to stay there; it is merely a stopping place to learn some important things you would not learn otherwise. Press into God and trust Him for the outcome to your circumstances.

TGIF

What is the real key to elite performance?

According to sports psychologist turned executive coach Graham Jones, star athletes and businesspeople share one defining trait: mental toughness. People who become champions aren’t necessarily more gifted than others; they’re just masters at managing pressure, meticulously tackling goals, and driving themselves to stay ahead of the competition.

Jones, who has advised Olympic medalists and Fortune 500 executives, sees many parallels between the arenas of business and sports, especially in the behavior of people who rise to the very top. These stars have learned to love pressure because it spurs them to achieve. Inner-focused and self-directed, they concentrate on their own excellence and forget the rest. They don’t get distracted by others’ victories or failures – or even by a personal tragedy off the field of competition. Like Darren Clarke, the golfer who inspired his team to a Ryder Cup victory shortly after the death of his beloved wife, elite performers are masters of compartmentalization.

Superstars rebound from defeats more easily, Jones observes, because they don’t engage in self-flagellation. One of the keys to their success is a relentless focus on the long term and the careful planning of short-term goals that will help them attain major milestones. Competition doesn’t daunt elite performers; they just use it to challenge themselves – and they never stop striving. Even after becoming benchmarks in their fields, stars keep their edge by reinventing themselves.

Star businesspeople and athletes also recognize the importance of celebrating their wins. It’s not just the emotional reward that’s important, however: The very best performers also analyze the factors underpinning their success. That helps them build their expertise and their confidence.

What Happened to Modesty?

Modesty seems to have gone down the drain. The world wants to keep up with the Jones, and people use the credit card to indulge in whatever they want, not what they need.

The modern attitude, behavior and lifestyle has become far from modest. The younger generation has a language of its own, which could be more respectful of others. Many don’t know what the word “modesty” means.

But what about the “Christians”? Are they walking after the ways of this world? Are the church leaders teaching the word of God, concerning modesty? Are they and their families living examples to be followed? Many Christian women could have more material to their dresses, blouses or skirts. Is there anybody correcting them?

Indeed, no sinner can acquire God’s requirements to live in modesty.

Modesty in the born-again Christian life is holiness, symplicity, humbleness, moderate, propriety in dress, speech and conduct.

Modesty is certainly attainable, through the working of the Holy Spirit, in the life of the follower of Christ. It all depends on one’s relationship with God. If God’s word teaches us how His children should conduct themselves and live, then we will be able to reach what is expected from us, by applying The Scripture to our heart and life.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

“Be Holy for I am Holy”

Modesty in character.

Matthew 6:17,18 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

1 Peter 1:15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Modesty in Apparel

Dressing to please God and to reflect His glory means wearing clothes which draws respect instead of attention from the opposite sex in such a way as to make them lust.

1 Thess 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Modesty in Life

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:

Philippians 2:6 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Remember the Brethren who have needs, suffering for Christ’s sake, living in war zones or disaster areas, and those who are without income etc. Therefore, living in modesty means not indulging in excessive luxury, food and all that which the flesh desires.

Modesty in general is living a simple life, pleasing unto God which does not offend others (but may offend haters of God’s Truth). Christians must walk well pleasing unto the Lord, which includes living modest in word and deed.

What Happens at 30?

1. There is a misconception that you are an adult at 18, but the Bible does not speak of such folly.

a. Some of our nation’s laws, with minimum ages of 18 or 21, perpetuate this myth of majority.

b. God’s wisdom in the Bible does not allow any new liberties or rights for those turning 18.

c. You could not serve in the military, even with great manpower demands, until 20 (Num 1:3).

d. The priests of Israel, John the Baptist, and Jesus did not being until 30 (Num 4:3; Luke 3:23).

e. The Lord considered those under 20 to be children and ignorant (Num 14:29-31; Deut 1:39).

f. The Bible includes 19-year-olds with 6-year-olds when valuing a nation by age (Lev 27:1-7).

g. Men married well before 30, which is why she is called the wife of thy youth (Prov 5:18).

2. Parents need to realize that their children will view them and life much differently at age 30.

a. The Bible encourages you to train children with a promise for when they are old (Prov 22:6).

b. Hannah had Samuel worshipping the Lord sometime around the age of 5 (I Samuel 1:24-28).

c. You must discipline children while there is hope, before they are set in their ways (Pr 19:18).

d. Therefore, Solomon speaks over and over in Proverbs to his “son” and to his “children.”

3. A 30-year-old views life very differently from an 18-year-old, especially with a wife and child!

a. The Lord mocks men about the vanity of life by ironically mocking youth (Eccl 11:7-10).

b. Childhood and youth are vanity, for they are filled with foolish lusts and vain optimism that deceive youth to believe they can do anything, play forever, and never pay (Proverbs 22:15).

c. He begins to taste his mortality around 30, which sobers him of the brevity and vanity of life.

d. An adult realizes the folly of the sins of youth (Job 13:26; 20:11; Psalm 25:7; II Tim 2:22).

e. We want to be men in understanding, for understanding accompanies maturity (I Cor 14:20).

f. A man puts away childish things, and he does not need to be told what they are (I Cor 13:11).

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

1. You are a creature; He is your Creator: you are not your own; you have no rights. You owe Him all you are and have.

2. You must remember Him. It is easy to remember all else but Him and His rights and precepts.

3. You must do so in youth to use your vitality and be saved from the thorns and scars of sinners.

4. You must do so now: for you cannot boast of tomorrow, the matter is crucial, and death comes.

5. Childhood and youth are vanity (11:10), for they are filled with foolish lusts and optimism that deceive you to believe you can do anything and live forever (Pr 22:15; Ps 25:7; II Tim 2:22).

6. Old age will bring evil days, when you will have no pleasure in natural life; so you must wisely make the effort to remember and worship your Creator now, in the vitality of your youth (12:1).

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

1. Youth should fear God, which is to make every decision in the light of a terrible God and dear Father, Whom you neither want to offend or disappoint (Prov 3:7; 16:6).

2. Youth should keep His commandments, which is to make every decision in light of His glorious Word, for you believe that the Bible is right regarding every subject (Ps 119:128; Is 66:2).

3. Young man, God’s word can cleanse from the vanity of childhood and youth (Ps 1:1-3; 119:9).

Bible Truth for Bible Christians