Do You Have a Super Bowl Winning Business?

 

This past weekend, the NFL held its championship game, which since the 1966 season has been commonly referred to as the “Super Bowl”.  In a very entertaining game, which included a record breaking 108-yard kick-off return and a 34 minute power outage delay, the Baltimore Ravens were able to hold off a late 49ers rally to win 34-31.  However, unbeknownst to most of the 108 million people watching by television, and the thousands in the stadium, behind the scenes of this final game of the season was a very powerful engine of American business generating BILLIONS (yes, with a “B”) of dollars of revenue. 

The business of running a successful NFL franchise, and consistently winning in an era of increased parity, has absolutely nothing to do with a lucky mile-high catch, or a close no-call at the end of the game.  A single play on a single day never determines the outcome of the single most important game of the year.  Those that perform at a high level year in and year out make good decisions on a daily basis that inevitably lead to tremendous success, and these teams and their players share some common characteristics that all entrepreneurs and small business owners can learn from to take their businesses to a championship level.

1. Discipline - One of the big stories from this year's Super Bowl has been Ray Lewis and his retirement from the game of football.  His quest for another Super Bowl ring in this “swan song” or “final act” of his career has also shined a super-bowl-sized light on his past failures and misdeeds.  However, while Ray would be the first to admit that some of his youthful indiscretions were riddled with poor decisions, he is also an unbelievable model of discipline and self-control.  Ray has long since been an advocate of healthy living and clean eating, and treats his body as a machine, only feeding it what will cause it to work at the highest level.  He hasn’t eaten fast food – not a single cheeseburger or French fried potato – in his entire 17 year career.  In addition to his eating habits, his work ethic in the weight room and on the practice field has been referred to by some as “legendary”, and his role as leader of his football team has never been in doubt.

This type of discipline and commitment to excellence are the same attributes necessary to own and operate a successful small business.  Those who succeed at the highest level are always those willing to put in the time, energy, and effort that is uncommon in their industry, and to do the things that their competitors are unwilling to do.  It’s not necessarily about working long hours, or abandoning your family to slave away at the office, but rather a mindset of sacrificing short term pleasures in order to achieve long term gain.  Sometimes this manifests itself in a longer work week every once in a while, however it is also about allocating capital responsibly, putting principles before profits, and going the “extra mile” in relationships with customers, employees, and those in your sphere of influence.

2. Accountability - Every week football players are required to "break down tape" or watch video of the previous week's game with their coaches.  In these sessions, coaches perform more of a micro-analysis of each play, and take time to examine the fundamentals of each player, such as tackling, route running, and how the quarterback is able to read through his progressions and make the appropriate pass.  Just imagine how much incentive it must give each player during the game, knowing that their every movement will be analyzed and reviewed in slow motion by their position coaches and fellow teammates.  If they take a play off or don't give maximum effort during any phase of the game, their team will know about it.

Can you imagine if you employed that same strategy for your employees?  If you sat down at the end of the week and watched all 40 hours of your employee’s time at the office along with them, can you imagine how much more productive they would be?  Of course, you would probably have a tough time retaining employees with that kind of 1984-Big Brother-micromanagement, so let’s skip the employees for now and head right on over to your office.  How much different would your work day be, if at the end of every week you had to sit down with an accountability partner and go over every hour you spent at the office?  What if every email and article read, every task completed, every conversation on the phone independently audited and analyzed by an impartial 3^rd party? Don't you think your productivity, attention to detail, and time management would dramatically increase?

While it may not be necessary to go to these extremes, it's an excellent idea to have an accountability partner or group of like-minded individuals that you meet with on a monthly basis.  It’s a great opportunity for you to share ideas with each other, get advice from those in different industries, as well as hold each other accountable for what has been accomplished during the previous month.

3. The Back-up Plan – Both of the head coaches in this year’s Super Bowl were applauded for making very difficult decisions during the course of the season.  Jim Harbaugh benched his quarterback, a former #1 draft pick who had led this same 49ers team to the NFC championship game just one year earlier, in favor of an unknown 2^nd year player (Colin Kaepernick) from an equally unknown college (Nevada).  Older brother John made headlines as well, when he fired his offensive coordinator with just a few weeks left in the season.  Both men understood the importance of a back-up plan.

Every player on the football field has a back up for their position, and sometimes 2 or 3, as insurance in the unfortunate event that one of them gets injured on a play.  If one player is unable to take care of his obligations, an equally prepared back-up player is able to take his place in the game.  Coaches spend hours on that week’s game plan, however they also go into each contest with contingency plans depending on how the offense or defense plays them in that particular game.  Great coaches and great teams are also known for their “half-time adjustments”, in which another plan is devised on the fly, to counteract something unexpected that happened during the first half of the game.

In business, we may spend months on a business plan or marketing campaign.  However, sometimes even the best laid plans in a boardroom don't always work out as well as we had hoped once they get deployed in the real world.  Sometimes our competition makes a move we didn’t expect or perhaps a rapidly shifting market catches us by surprise.  As entrepreneurs, we must be flexible enough to change when we are faced with new information or a changing dynamic within the marketplace.

4. Rest – This one may come as a surprise to you, as many business leaders and bloggers spend their time extolling the virtues of long hours at the office, advocating for the “early bird” to also be the “night owl” and burn the “midnight oil” and both ends of the candle.  However, that has never been, nor will it ever be my advice to you.  I understand that we all have specific times in our business when we have to work extra hours, whether it’s due to a seasonal increase in business, or you are working on a new product launch or marketing campaign.  However, much like NFL players, we must take an opportunity to rest our bodies and our minds.

Each week during the NFL season, usually the day immediately following a game, the players receive a day off to rest their bodies.  Additionally, during the 17-week season, each team is given an entire week off, referred to in football as the “bye” week.  This week allows the players to spend additional time resting their tired bodies, and recovering from injuries.  Once the season is over, players are also encouraged to spend time away from the game with family and friends, to re-energize and get ready for the upcoming mini-camps in the summer.

Our culture frequently shirks off vacation time because of the illusion of increased productivity. However, studies show that vacation time actually increases productivity, as the rested mind is more creative, and able to make up for the lost time with increased speed and clarity of thought. This concept was certainly not lost on the Creator of the Universe, who Himself took a day to rest after creating the Earth and its inhabitants during the previous 6 days.  God was the originator of the “day off”, and felt so strongly about its importance, he established a weekly time to rest for his people, known as the Sabbath day. 

While this is certainly not an exhaustive list of necessary traits for running a Super Bowl winning business, hopefully it will serve as some food for thought to help take your business to the next level in the upcoming year. I will end my part of the discussion here, but now it’s your turn!  Take a few moments and join the conversation by sharing an attribute below, and why you think it’s important in reaching the pinnacle of success in football, and in life. 

Recent Posts from E-mandate:
"If I Only Had More Time..."
"The Election is Over...Now What?"
Vaulting to Success, Part 3

"If I Only Had More Time..."

 

“I just don’t have enough time to get everything done.” 

“There’s so much to do and so little time.”

“24 hours just isn’t enough time to get everything done.” 

Have you ever found yourself uttering one of these phrases (or something similar) during an exceptionally busy period of your life?  Perhaps you feel that way all the time, as our increasingly busy culture is always on the go, trying to squeeze as much activity as possible into our already crammed schedules.  Just imagine how nice it would be if you in fact did have more than 24 hours in a day!  What do you think you would do with all that extra time?  The answer may be closer than you think.

Our nation received a time management “pop quiz” a few weeks ago (except in Arizona & Hawaii), and yet most of us didn’t even realize that a test was being administered.  At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 4th, something magical happened…an hour was added to the day.  As most of you know, there is a single day each and every year (at the end of daylight savings time) when there is actually 25 hours.  So, that begs a very serious question for each and every one of us.  What did you do with it? 

I woke up at the exact same time I always do on Sunday, right around 6:00 a.m.  Only today it wasn’t 6:00 a.m., it was actually 5:00 a.m., so I had a free hour with which to do whatever I wanted.   When the alarm went off, I was faced with the aforementioned pop quiz, and it answered a very important question.  If I was given extra time in my day, would I actually use it to do something productive, or would I squander it?  Much to my satisfaction, I got up and cleaned out my garage, while everyone else in the house was asleep.  However, I must admit that it was the first year that I remember actually taking advantage of the extra time.

Many of the same people who complain incessantly about needing more time in the day rarely do anything significant on the one day that they are given the additional time that they so earnestly desire.  In fact, every year numerous online polls are conducted asking folks what they plan on doing with the extra hour, and the most common answer is “get an extra hour of sleep.”  These people received an extra hour in the day, and yet accomplished the same amount (or less).  Unbeknownst to them, they are victims of what is oftentimes referred to as Parkinson’s Law. 

Parkinson’s law states that the amount of time which one has to perform a task is the amount of time it will take to complete the task.  My wife and I joke about it all the time, and it’s never more evident than when we are getting ready for church.  If we wake up late on Sunday morning, and only have 30 minutes to get ready for church, we race around like wild people and leave precisely at 9:30 am.  If we wake up on time, with 2 hours or more to get ready, we get the same things done (though with slightly less stress) and STILL leave at precisely 9:30.  Rather than hurry up and get ready in 30 minutes (which is obviously possible) and use the extra 90+ minutes for important tasks, we tend to take our time and get ready at our own pace.

Entrepreneurs have a tendency to do the same thing with their task lists, allowing the tasks for the day to fill the entire day, instead of compressing them into a block of time that allows for other portions of the day to be used for brainstorming, business building, long term projects, etc.  Their theory of needing “more time” is completely erroneous.  In fact, they don’t need more time, they need to learn to utilize the time that they have in a more efficient manner.

The entrepreneur’s first (and biggest) time management mistake is starting their day with the easiest tasks first.  They do this because it gives them a sense of accomplishment, as they are able to quickly cross things off the list.  However, the problem with doing the small tasks first is that (per Parkinson’s law) it tends to take up most of the time you have allotted to work, 8 hours or so.   This leaves very little time for the big projects, which are typically the most important, and the ones with the most profit potential.  Every small business owner says that they want to spend more time working ON the business, rather than IN the business, because they realize that’s what it takes to make the company grow.  But big projects take big time, and because we don’t get the satisfaction of drawing a big, bold line through it on the to-do list for days or even months, we unfortunately have a tendency of putting it off. 

As you can imagine, I wear a lot of hats in my life…husband, father, blogger, entrepreneur, pastor, and the list goes on and on.  So, like many of you, I oftentimes find myself in the unenviable position of having what SEEMS to be more work than can be accomplished in the time I have available.  For a long time I fell into the trap of trying to get all the little things done first, so my mind was clear and I could focus on the big things.  But I never seemed to get around to the big stuff, and by the time I even THOUGHT about the long-term projects, the day was practically over.  I always thought I would get to it “tomorrow”, but after 100 tomorrows, I realized it wouldn’t happen unless I changed my strategy. 

After getting advice from some other successful businessmen, I found that the best way to accomplish my big goals is through a time management strategy known as “time-blocking”.  On Sunday evening, I have a planning session in which I set my schedule for the upcoming week, including time for small items like e-mails & phone calls, but also time for blogging, strategy sessions, and what I call business builders…the BIG vision stuff.  When my phone vibrates letting me know that a new time block has started, everything else is shut off and I eliminate all distractions.  I turn my phone to silent, I close my office door, shut off my e-mail account (so I won’t be tempted to check new emails) and I spend all my allotted time on that specific project.  This allows me to have focused intensity on the project at hand, and it has produced amazing results in regards to my productivity.

So, if you are guilty of wasting the extra hour you were given last month, or if you have a tendency to allow insignificant daily tasks to steal valuable time away from building your business, then give time-blocking a try.  Take one week, and schedule EVERYTHING you do in your calendar, setting aside a 1 to 3 hour “block” for important projects that require focused intensity.  You will be AMAZED at how you’ll be able to complete projects you’ve been trying to get done for months, and you will end each day with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. 

Come back and share your results in the comment box below…and then check out these great articles on time management from Entrepreneur.com
Work Smarter, Not Harder -- and Other Time Management Tips from Jen Groover
Get More Done & Sleep Better at Night
 

The Election is Over...Now What?

The day has finally come and gone. The long, arduous battle between the Democratic vision of bigger government versus the Republican vision of smaller government has come to a decisive and abrupt end. The political spin, half-truths, and endless campaign commercials have ceased, the fat lady has sung, and we as a nation have finally decided who will be the next President of these United States. After “the most important election of our lifetime” (which every election in my recent memory has been labeled) about 50% of you are pleased with the outcome and the rest…well, not so much. The far-right extremists on the losing side are once again threatening to move to Canada, while those on the winning team are making equally hyperbolic statements in victory. But those of us in the real world are back to work, and many entrepreneurs are left to wonder how this election will end up affecting their businesses, their families, and their future. And as much as both sides would like to convince you otherwise, the truth is, it probably won’t affect you much at all.

 

I fully understand that tax policy, the impending “fiscal cliff” and Obamacare can have a tremendous impact on both large corporations and small businesses alike. I don’t have the time, inclination, or room in this blog post to dive into a political topic as deep and murky as that one. However, one thing that I am more than certain of is that waiting around for a president to help you achieve your dreams will leave your broke, disappointed, and unfulfilled. Free market capitalism is an effective economic model that creates enormous opportunity, not because of the man at the top, but because of the ingenuity and creativity of all those working within its system. If the participants in capitalism start using the president as the scapegoat or whipping boy for their own lack of success, they have revealed a great deal about themselves and their inability to take responsibility for their own actions.
 

I have studied the lives of countless millionaires and billionaires, and they all have one thing in common. Their businesses were built through hard work, discipline, and determination during (& in spite of) numerous presidential administrations from both major political parties. Sometimes they paid more taxes, and sometimes they paid less. Sometimes there were incentives and tax credits to take advantage of, and sometimes there were not. However, through it all, their success or failure was determined by their own actions…not by who was sitting behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.
 

Though the “hope & change” message of 2008 was largely absent from this campaign, President Obama still spent a great deal of time in his victory speech on how hopeful he is for the country’s future.  While many Republicans view that “hope” with a great deal of cynicism, after what they view as an unsuccessful first term, I still believe we should all look forward to the next 4 years (as well as the next 40) with a great sense of hope and optimism about our lives. Not because the President or the current Congress is going to issue tax cuts for our businesses or give handouts to our families, but rather because we are going to tap into the God-given “power to create wealth” (Deut. 8:18) granted to us by a loving Father. As the body of Christ begins to embrace this creative power that comes only from Above, we will find ourselves implementing new ideas and fresh vision that will catapult our businesses to greatness and increased prosperity in the days ahead.


Other Recent Posts....
Vaulting to Success, Part 1 - The Right Track
Vaulting to Success, Part 2 - The Safety Net
Vaulting to Success, Part 3 - The First Step

Vaulting to Success, Part 3 - The First Step

Whenever the fact that I pole vaulted in college comes up in a social setting, it’s a great conversation starter. It seems like everyone is interested in the event, though very few people know much about it. As I’ve explained the steps of a successful vault over the years, I’ve realized that there are some terrific business lessons buried within the process that apply to both entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. In part one of this series, we talked about making sure you’re on the right track, because the last thing you want to do in sports or business is to start climbing a ladder only to find that it’s leaning against the wrong wall. In part 2, we discussed the importance of having a safety net to help protect you from the unexpected. In this post, I want to address the biggest obstacle to success that we face in just about any area of life, and that is taking the 1st step.

A few years ago I spent some time traveling and teaching at real estate seminars throughout the southeastern United States, and without fail the most attended workshop was always, “Getting Started”. There is no question that the first step in virtually anything is always the hardest, whether dieting, relationships, or business. In the pole vault, when your name is called and you step out on the runway, looking ahead at what you are about to attempt can certainly be an intimidating sight. Many good people (and otherwise “tough” guys) have been frozen in fear by the task at hand, unable to take that all important 1st step. The key to a successful vault, however, is to push those negative feelings aside, aim towards your goal, trust your training, and start moving forward. Speed is not important at the beginning of your approach (you’ll get to that at the end), it’s simply time to get moving, and begin building momentum.

Many entrepreneurs are oftentimes too worried about having everything perfect, with every single kink worked out of their new idea or business that they spend years “perfecting” it, but never actually get started (check out my post on perfectionism here, and how it limited me for years). I’ve seen timid pole-vaulters unwilling to take a jump because the wind wasn’t right, or they needed powder for their hands, or the coach wasn’t there spotting them…and that same attitude is pervasive in many aspiring small business owners. You have to understand that the conditions will NEVER be perfect, and you can’t keep waiting for your website to be “just right” and the economy to be “just right” and your new business stationary to be “just right”. Give me a break! Everything is never going to be “just right” and it’s time we stop letting these excuses keep us stuck in park, never moving forward to accomplish our dreams.

When I got radically saved (of course, isn’t it always radical when someone finds Christ?) after my freshman year of college, I didn’t want to return to my secular school for another semester. I knew the pitfalls that were awaiting me there, and as a young believer, I was terrified that I would backslide and lose the new freedom and peace I had found in this spiritual awakening. I knew I wanted to do something for the Lord, but I didn’t know if that meant full-time ministry or something else, and so I went back and forth for months trying to figure out my next step. I allowed what is commonly referred to as the “paralysis of analysis” to cost me the entire fall semester as I tried to decide where God wanted me next. This indecisiveness kept me from doing anything PERIOD, much less anything worthwhile for the Lord.

After watching my trepidation keep me immobile for far too long, my pastor finally stepped in and shook me out of my fruitless funk with one very simple phrase. He simply stated, “Son, you can’t steer a parked car.” Boom! The light bulb switched on, fireworks went off in my heart, and for some reason that analogy is all it took to get me off the fence to finally make a decision. All I needed to do was to get the wheels rolling, and even if I began to notice I was steering in the wrong direction, as long as I was moving forward I could easily make adjustments on the fly.

A lot of aspiring entrepreneurs have a passion for something, or a leading in a certain direction that they feel is inspired of God. Yet they have waited years, if not decades, waiting for some kind of prophetic confirmation or lightning bolt from the sky to see if it’s REALLY Him. They are stuck in park, and rather than start moving forward with a sincere heart, allowing God to shape their direction as they go, they simply sit idly by doing nothing as life (and opportunity) passes them by.

Nike had it right with their now infamous slogan, “Just Do It!” Woody Allen is often quoted as saying it in a slightly different way, “80% of success is just showing up.” When asked about that quote in a 2008 interview for The Collider, Woody elaborated, “I made the statement years ago which is often quoted that 80 percent of life is showing up. People used to always say to me that they wanted to write a play, they wanted to write a movie, they wanted to write a novel, and the couple of people that did it were 80 percent of the way to having something happen.” A lot of people TALK about doing something, but Nike’s slogan isn’t “Just Say It.” Woody’s point was that if you just do it, you’re 80% of the way to having success with what you’ve done. Yet so many people with that next big idea, or a best-selling book in their minds, never actually act on them.

So, the question is now left with you…what kind of person are you going to be? Will you be another silent tree in the forest of mediocrity, with “perfect” rattling around in your mind, but no one ever hears it, and nothing ever comes to fruition? Or will you take that first step, and actually get something done, even if it’s just “good” and not exactly how you wanted it? You’re on the runway and your spikes are on, you’re pointed in the right direction. Now let this post officially serve as your friendly “nudge” to start moving! Today is your day and now is your time…so take your idea, and get started.

Then you can work on making it great.



Vaulting Towards Success, Part 2 - The Safety Net

In part 1 of this series, we examined the importance of always making sure you’re on the right track and moving in the right direction, both in life and business. In a track and field competition, there are a dozen different areas that you could find yourself, whether it’s in front of the high jump mats, long jump or triple jump sand pits, the oval racing track, or even next to the steeplechase water pit.

If you plan on pole vaulting, as I did in school, you had better confirm that you’re on the correct runway, or the results could be disastrous. Only one area on the field has the necessary plant box for your pole to land in, and the necessary mats for you to fall on. Attempting to jump in the WRONG area, while running with a 15 foot fiberglass pole at full speed, is not strongly recommended.

The same can be said of your business pursuits and entrepreneurial endeavors. If you choose a track in life that doesn’t necessarily fit your skill set or your passions, the end result could be even more disastrous and painful than trying to pole vault on the wrong runway. There’s nothing more disheartening than spending your life climbing up the business ladder, only to find out you had it leaning against the wrong wall!

The Safety Net

After ensuring you’re on the right track, you also want to confirm that there is a safety net in place if things don’t go exactly as planned. In the pole vault, the padding is not limited to the area in which one would land if everything goes perfectly. In fact, the padding extends well in front of the plant box, around the bottom of the standards (metal contraption that holds up the cross bar), to both left and right sides, and to the back of the pits. The reason? Well, let’s just say that things don’t always go according to plan.

Anyone who has pole vaulted for any length of time can tell you the war stories of jumps gone awry. I have watched poles break in the middle of a jump (check out this video from last week's world championships), I’ve been thrown into the standards, I’ve come up short and landed in the metal plant box…and the list goes on and on. I have quite a few bodily scars that can be attributed to my jumping days of old. However, while it may be one of the most dangerous sports in all of track & field, the risks associated with the pole vault are greatly mitigated due to the padding and other safety measures that have been added to the sport over the years.

Much like in the pole vault, it’s extremely critical that all new entrepreneurs have a safety net in place. This is best accomplished in a new venture by setting aside dedicated cash reserves, preferably 6-12 months of anticipated business expenses. It’s important that there is enough available capital to sustain your company as its fledgling roots try to take hold in the local economy.

Too many times new businesses are formed because someone loses a job, or doesn’t have anywhere else to turn. While that may be a great motivating factor to launch out on your own, it provides little room for error in case your sales and revenue don’t immediately take off. In fact, this is the primary reason why 1/3 of all businesses fail in the 1st two years, and over half fail in the 1st four years. To ensure longevity and success, new businesses should be started from a place of strength, not cash-strapped and in a position of weakness and desperation.

However, a safety net of cash reserves should NEVER be confused with a “back-up plan” or a “Plan B.” Your reserves are designed to help you get through the growing pains of your new endeavor, giving you ample time to build your brand, your customer base, and your goodwill throughout the community. It is NOT a “fall back” or an excuse to give up if things don’t immediately go as planned, because…NEWS FLASH…things will NOT go as planned.

If you are not committed to your business for at least a year or more, it is obviously not a true passion or calling, and you should probably find somewhere else to spend your time and money. However, if you can’t get away from that gnawing inside of you to do something beyond yourself, if it eats at you, nags you and consumes your every thought…then you are right in the place you need to be, and ready to launch yourself towards greatness.

Today is your day! It’s time to tap into your entrepreneurial spirit, and create something new and life-changing, a product or service that can make the world a better place and enhance the lives of your customers. Burn your proverbial boats, commit to your business, and give it everything you have. When you do that (along with a safety net of cash) you will be destined for entrepreneurial success!

Vaulting Towards Success

When I was in high school, one of my greatest passions was the pole vault. My grandfather had jumped back in the days of bamboo poles and landing areas filled with sand, and apparently the desire to launch yourself into the air is hereditary. When I was too young to jump myself, I had the opportunity to watch my older brother compete in high school meets. I enjoyed those days, but watching alone was simply not able to fufill the longing inside.

After years of waiting impatiently, I finally hit my high school years and it was my turn to try out for the track team. I was originally told by the track coach that I was "too small" to compete in the pole vault. Apparently 4 feet, 10 inches and 92 pounds (soaking wet) is not the ideal body type for such an event. However, rather than letting his negative assessment discourage me, I turned the coach's words into fuel to ignite my pursuit to be successful in the sport that I had grown to love.

I eventually went on to win the section championship, made the front page of the sports section, and earned an athletic scholarship to Oral Roberts University where I was 2nd team all-conference in my 1st year. But this post isn't about me....OK, so it's totally about me, but indulge this has-been for just a second.

The pole vault is an intricate collection of motions that when done properly can help elevate you to extraordinary heights. There are a lot of parallels between the different steps in a successful vault and achievement in the business world. Over the next few blog posts, I'm going to share a few of those powerful business lessons with you. But before I do, if you've never actually seen someone pole vault, watch this very brief video so you get an idea of what I'm talking about.



1. Make sure you're on the right track

If you've ever been to a track meet, you've undoubtedly noticed that there are numerous events going on at the same time. At one end of the field you will have the high jumpers competing, and perhaps a long distance race or sprint event will be happening on the oval track itself. At the opposite end of the field you will have the pole vaulters and long jumpers often competing right next to each other, and many times there is a competition going on between javelin or discus throwers in a totally seperate area.

If you decide to pole vault, you had better make sure that you are on the right runway, because each area is specifically designed for its unique purpose. Only the pole vault area has a metal plant box in the ground for the pole to land in, as well as a very large set of mats for you to land on when you get done falling from 16 feet or more. If you're not on the right track, moving in the right direction, the results could be disastrous.

This is also true when it comes to your entrepreneurial endeavors. If you make a decision early on to move in a certain direction, and it's not really the plan that God has for you, the results can be less than ideal. The business world has a warning that "When you're climbing the corporate ladder, make sure that it's leaning against the right wall." You would hate to get to the pinnacle of what those around you consider succes, only to realize that it's not where you wanted to be.

The same wise advice applies to entrepreneurs and small business owners. When you start a new business, make sure you have a deep passion for the product you will be selling or the service that you will be providing. All too often, entrepreneurs will join a partnership, or open a business or franchise based solely on the potential profits. It's not until many years and many thousands of dollars later they realize that they absolutely despise what they're doing.

Everyone has that thing deep down inside of them that they know they were called to do. Your eyes light up and your heart burns every time you stop to think about it. For me, it's raising up and equipping Christian entrepreneurs. For you, it's something totally different. Whatever it is, put your efforts and energy towards learning how to help others through your passion, and monetize it for your own financial gain and security. It's there in that place that you will find true fulfillment as an entrepreneur in God's great Kingdom. What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear what you have to say on the topic. Let me know by commenting below. And stay tuned to this blog or your e-mail box for part 2 of "Vaulting Towards Success".

The Power of Passive Income

In 2005, Robert Allen released the New York Times bestseller entitled, “Multiple Streams of Income”. Though it was not an entirely new concept, the book certainly put a spotlight on the need for investors and entrepreneurs alike to focus on the creation of multiple revenue streams. However, as I pointed out in Part 2 of this series, many small business owners found that their pursuits for additional income only led them into a trap of creating 2 or 3 full time jobs for themselves. These hardworking individuals never saw the blissful ending they so earnestly desired because they didn’t understand which type of income they should be pursuing.

There are 2 major types of income: active income & passive income. Active income is defined as income that we derive from services actually performed. Another very technical term for active income is something referred to as, well…WORK! Most people consider it a 4-letter word, and one of life’s necessary evils. While it may be considered evil by some, it’s certainly not all that necessary. That is, if you are able to implement an effective strategy to create income that’s independent of your personal involvement.

Hard work is the backbone and foundation for any new business or entrepreneurial endeavor. Most start-ups require a great deal of time, energy and patience to get them off the ground. Unless you are fortunate enough to have incredibly deep pockets, the beginning weeks and months of your start-up will certainly be a grind. God-willing, you will eventually begin to make better money, and the business will start to experience success. That’s when you will come to a major crossroads in your organization. The decision you make at this juncture is imperative, with the answer paving the way to either a life of freedom or one of hard labor.

Passive income is defined as earnings an individual derives from a rental property, limited partnership, or other enterprise in which he/she is NOT ACTIVELY INVOLVED. The biggest preventer of “going passive” with your business is known as Parkinson’s law. The more we make, the more we have a tendency to spend. If we make the mistake of consuming all our profits, it leaves nothing for business development or the hiring and LEVERAGING of other people’s time and talents, which is the key to passive income. Too many entrepreneurs stop at a good income, satisfied to make ends meet, and possibly even attain a few nice things. Most never create a strategy to take a good income and make it great (primarily by making it passive) so they can focus their “active” time on another income stream or perhaps one of life’s other passions.

The parable of the talents is a great Biblical example of passive income in action, as the master earned a 100% rate of return by simply placing the responsibility in the hands of a capable assistant or employee to manage his business and finances. That should be the goal for each and every Christian entrepreneur. Create a business in an area you love, make a short-term sacrifice to create massive income, turn the income passive and then go fulfill your divine call. Whether God’s will for you is to open more businesses, go to the mission field, volunteer at your church or work at a homeless shelter, you need to have the freedom to go and do without the pressure of finances and the day to day work of your business. That’s the freedom that passive income provides and it gives you the power to do as you feel led, not as you feel forced to do to survive.

Other Related Posts:

Multiple Streams of Income, Part 1
Multiple Streams of Income, Part 2

Take Action on Your Promise

When I was in Bible school, it seemed like I was always fasting. Sometimes it was just a day, sometimes 3 days, and every once in a while it would be longer. In fact, I ate so little that when I first met my wife I only weighed 121 pounds. At first glance this may sound extremely spiritual, but most of the time I was on what I liked to call, "forced fasts". I wasn't avoiding food because of some deep, intimate encounter with God, but because I just couldn't afford it.

During one of these "forced fasts", I was in the middle of a break between Bible classes and I had an amazing craving for a soda. Sadly, I didn't even have enough money at the time to buy one, as every spare penny had gone into my gas tank to get me to school.

While I was wandering around the campus, I felt one of the strongest unctions in my spirit up to that time, and the Holy Spirit was telling me that God was going to give me a soda. As strange as it may sound, it was one of the most powerful spiritual encounters of my life. God was teaching me something about provision and blessing, and it's a moment I remember vividly some 12 years later.

I knew I had to do something, to take some kind of action to show that I truly believed this word He had deposited in my heart. I wasn't going to just walk around in an empty field waiting for something to drop out of the sky. I had enough sense in me to realize that God uses other people to bring blessing and provision into our lives.

So, I started marching (and praying) across the parking lot towards the school cafeteria, with all of the passion and zeal of a young Bible school student. I was high on faith, and I knew beyond a shadow of all doubt that somehow, someway...God was going to give me a soda.

As I entered the crowded vending machine area, I had no clue what was going to happen, or how this promise would be fulfilled. I just knew it was going to happen. I walked up to the soda machine without a penny in my pocket, but with full assurance that I was about to get a drink. Willing to look foolish for Jesus, I lifted my finger up and started to push the button on the machine, though I had not placed even a nickel in the slot. Just as I did, a young man at the table behind me yelled over the noise of the crowded snack room, "Hey man, you want a soda?"

I turned around and there it was, an ice cold can of carbonated, caffeinated sugary goodness...free of charge. Apparently this fellow student of mine had accidentally hit the wrong button when buying his own, and so he just so happened to have an extra one that he didn't need...the exact second that I walked up.

What would have happened had I just hid myself in a prayer closet and tried to "faith it in"? I'm certainly not implying that faith is unimportant, but what I am saying is that faith without works is dead. When God gives you a promise, he expects you to TAKE ACTION & begin making preparations for the fulfillment of that promise. It's an act of faith that shows you truly believe he is going to do what He said He will do.

Has God recently given you a promise about your finances or your business? What have you done to get prepared for its fulfillment? I'd love to hear your story below.

Making Preparations for Success

"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own." (Joshua 1:11, Emphasis Added)

After Moses' death, God immediately commissioned Joshua to "get ready" to cross the Jordan and take the Promised Land of Canaan. Without hesitation, Joshua passed the message on to the Israelites to begin making preparations for their coming conquest, and to "get the supplies ready" for the journey across the Jordan.

Looking back on the story thousands of years later, with the luxury of knowing the end of the story at the beginning, we may not always consider the level of faith that it took for Joshua to give these marching orders. He had spent decades hearing of this "promise" without any real progress towards seeing it fulfilled, and though he had earlier led the army of Israel in a resounding victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:9), Moses was no longer around to stand on top of the hill raising his hands.

Joshua had plenty of reasons to allow fear and doubt to creep into his Spirit, and prevent him from reaching the land of promise and provision. Yet when God gave the word, Joshua jumped to attention without hesitation and said to the Israelites, "Ok, let's go! Pack up your stuff and make your preparations, because my God has said success if ahead of us! Hallelujah!

When God gives us a promise, whether it relates to our finances, business, family, or relationships, he expects us to begin taking action & making preparations as if it's a done deal. It's an act of faith that illustrates to God your full and unwavering belief that he is going to do exactly what He said he would do, exactly when He said He would do it.

However, all too often our church members live with a "wait and see" approach. If God comes part of the way, then I'll go the rest. If I begin to see things moving, then I'll start really making preparations for the blessing that's coming. That's not faith! Even the world can believe in something once it's already started happening. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we DO NOT SEE!

Joshua didn't stay up at night peering over into Canaan with binoculars waiting for the enemy to just drop dead of a collective heart attack. He didn't sit back and wait for some mysterious "sign in the sky" or "check in the mail." He received a promise from God, and he immediately began to make preparations for the fulfillment of that promise.

Have you recently received a promise from the Lord? Do you have dreams and visions that you believe God is bringing to fruition this year? If so, what have you done to make preparations for the wave that's coming? Have you built the larger storehouses (metaphorically speaking) to contain the increased crops, created a contingency plan for how and to whom you would delegate tasks when your business explodes, or laid out a budget to utilize the increased profits in the most productive manner? Are you truly acting in a manner that displays unwavering faith in the promise you've received, or will it be just another year of lip service void of any action?

Five Principles of Biblical Stewardship for Your Small Business

Stewardship is a biblical perspective that can be applied to your business. Stewardship simply means managing possessions and property that are not yours. You may say, "My business belongs to me." According to Psalm 24:1, the earth and everything on it belong to the LORD. The world and its people belong to him (CEV). Based on this scripture, your business belongs to God; therefore, you are a steward managing his business. He has blessed you with the talents, time, and treasures that you need to properly manage that which you are responsible for.

There are five principles of biblical stewardship: persistence, planning, proportionate, pleasantness, and purpose. Let's see how we can apply them to your (God's) business.

Persistence: Scripture teaches us that faithfulness is a necessary quality to possess as a steward. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (I Corinthians 4:2 KJV). Being persistent and dependable is viewed as being faithful. If you have any doubts, you can't move forward in your business. You have to believe it to achieve it. You have faith that you can be a successful entrepreneur and small business owner; therefore, you are persistent in making it happen.

Another symbol of your faith is your dependability. Your business is not fly-by-night; you are in it for the long haul. Your clients can depend on you being there and not skipping town. Also, they can depend on you to be faithful in completing their projects and tasks.

Planning: God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order (I Corinthians 14:33 CEV). Planning goes without saying in any size or type of business. It is highly advisable to have a business plan as entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as a marketing plan. A plan will keep you focused and on track; therefore, your business plans will be accomplished peacefully and in order.

Proportionate: If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better (I Corinthians 16:2 CEV). The proportion of talents, time, and treasures God blesses you with will determine what services and/or products you will offer to your target market. Remember, He gives you what you need to be good stewards. At the same time, you are serving God by providing your clients with excellent service and/or products, which come from your proportion of talents, time and treasures that He has given you.

Pleasantness: Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give (II Corinthians 9:7 CEV). Be pleasant in your business dealings, especially with your clients. It's what's known as providing excellent customer service. Don't force it, give your pleasantness freely. Your clients would much rather conduct business with someone who is pleasant rather than with someone who is rude. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31 NIV). When completing their projects and tasks, do it cheerfully. God sent you that client as a way of providing you with treasures.

Purposeful: When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God (I Corinthians 10:31 CEV). As a steward over God's business, it's important to honor Him by operating it with honesty and integrity. I remember reading in "The Prayer of Jabez," written by Bruce Wilkinson where Bruce was having a conversation with some business executives. One of the executives asked Bruce, "Is it right to ask God for more business?" Bruce responded, "Absolutely! If you're doing your business God's way, it's not only right to ask for more, but He is waiting for you to ask."

Conclusion: Biblical stewardship deals with use of your money; however, it is a perspective that covers your entire life, including your business. As I have pointed out, the five principles of biblical stewardship can be applied to your business. This should be our business plan as entrepreneurs and small business owners. From time to time, we need to refer back to our plans to ensure we are on the right track. God has entrusted his business to you by appointing you as steward to manage it. The more God bless your (His) business, the more He wants you to bless individuals, the community and the world at large. This style of stewardship will bring honor and glory to His name. It is also a manner of serving God.

*This post provided by one of our guest bloggers, Rita Cartwright. Rita Cartwright has been owner and sole proprietor of RJ's Word Processing Services (rjswordprocessing.com) since 2002. She is a professional administrative expert offering virtual assistant services.

The Entrepreneur's Great Mistake (MSI, Pt 2)

Warren Buffett’s Rules of Money:

#1 – Never Lose Money

#2 – Never Forget Rule #1

Warren Buffett’s rules of money are incredibly simple and succinct (and of course a little comical), yet unfortunately many entrepreneurs today don’t heed the wise sage’s advice. Tens of thousands of dollars in personal income is often lost by many small business owners because of one major flaw in their business model. In part 1 of this series, I pointed out the importance of generating multiple streams of income in your business. It is essential to your financial well being that you develop numerous revenue streams, preferably diversified across different business classes. This helps to minimize risk and create a safety net for times of economic contraction or uncertainty. However, one major caveat must be included in this conversation to make sure you never violate Buffett’s #1 rule (or #2 for that matter).

Every entrepreneur starts out with good intentions, armed with an optimistic vision for the future and a fresh commitment to self-reliance. After years of working for “the man”, they are ready to experience the freedom and invigoration of this brave new frontier. In the beginning, grinding out long & arduous hours with little sleep is considered the norm. It’s seen as a necessary “short-term sacrifice” for the chance at the “long-term gain” of owning their own business, being their own boss, and achieving great prosperity.

After successfully getting the fledgling business off the ground, many entrepreneurs see the need for an additional income stream, and begin pursuing other opportunities. This requires working even longer hours in an attempt to maintain the momentum of the 1st business, while making the necessary sacrifice to see the 2nd business through the inevitable “growing pains” of start-up. Though from outward appearances it looks as if all is going according to plan, there is an ugly secret lurking around the corner, just waiting to be discovered.

At the end of another long work day, our entrepreneurs suddenly look up and realize that 5 years have gone by, and the term “short-term” sacrifice now seems like an unbelievable misnomer. Both revenue streams are providing a steady source of income, but the once optimistic visionaries have now become tired and disillusioned. Upon careful reflection and self-examination, our entrepreneurs realize that their “multiple streams of income” are nothing more than 2 full time jobs in which they have grown to hate their new boss worse than their old one.

After years of pounding out 80 hour weeks, and teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown, our small business case studies learned a valuable lesson that I hope you can grasp long before they did. The secret to financial freedom is not just multiple streams of income, but multiple streams of passive income. More on that in part 3…

To Your Success, Matt Robinson

You’re Not Just Facing Difficulty; You’re Building a Great Testimony

In the midst of a recession, the stories of heartache and financial distress can be heard on nearly every street corner. Many in our great country have lost their jobs, their homes, and even worse, their hope. The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12) and these days there are certainly a lot of fabulous believers with ailing hearts, as they try their best to make their way through these difficult times.

If you can’t tell from the title of my blog, I am passionate about Christian entrepreneurs. I want to create them, develop them, train them, encourage them, and then watch them grow. As much as I’d like to think that all Christians are thriving in the midst of this recession, I know that in reality that is simply not the case. And in periods of economic contraction, many times it is the entrepreneur and small business people that feel the crunch the most. That’s why I want to encourage you today with an uplifting word from the Lord.

As the Biblical poster boy for suffering and loss, Job experienced this same type of hopelessness as he went through major trials in his life. After experiencing tremendous success & personal achievement, Job tragically lost his entire family, his possessions, and everything he held dear in his life. As a result, Job’s passion for life and hope for the future had all but disappeared. "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?” (Job 6:11).

Job saw nothing positive on the horizon, and because of the surrounding darkness, was unable to see the victory on the other side. The story of Job’s redemption has encouraged believers for centuries, but as Job sat covered in sickness and poverty, the future benefits of his story on the Church were the furthest thing from his mind. Perhaps if he had picked his head up and looked forward to what God had planned for him, he would have maintained his hope and joy through what was otherwise a tragic time in his life.

It’s always difficult when you’re in the midst of a trial to see through to the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” When we go through trials and tribulation, we oftentimes become very egocentric and inward focused, removing our ability to look UP, look OUT, and look AHEAD to the promise of a better future. You must realize that you’re simply going through a difficult time, not stuck on a treadmill of misfortune. Like Job, you are building a remarkable testimony that will encourage others for years to come. You are writing a powerful story of triumph in God that will resonate in the future with those who are facing similar circumstances.

So, if you’re facing financial or business related challenges, and find yourself discouraged and disheartened, I am here to speak TRUTH over you and get you out of your funk! LIFT YOUR HEAD UP and see beyond today to a powerful and prosperous future. Your future will be greater than your past (Job 8:7) and you will undoubtedly be the HEAD and not the tail (Deut 28:13). Our God is faithful to watch over his Word and make sure it does not return void (Isaiah 55:11), and so I have no doubt that He SHALL meet ALL of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). He has plans to PROSPER you and NOT to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). Hallelujah, Amen, and SO BE IT!

To Your Success, Matt Robinson

(Encourage yourself with this great worship video, “Your Latter will be Greater” by Israel Houghton, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j5gTIXmsOs )

Selling Ice to Eskimos?

I’ve heard it said that you can’t sell ice to an Eskimo and I must admit that it seems like a rather daunting task. You know…the whole supply and demand thing. I think the same could probably be said of Europeans, who for some strange reason insist on drinking their beverages at room temperature. Personally, I love the frozen stuff but I must admit that even I may give the “cold shoulder” to an ice salesman. After all, wouldn’t even we avid ice connoisseurs view it as an unnecessary luxury if we had to pay for on it a regular basis?

Consider the proverbial “wandering man in the desert.” During his journey across the hot, barren land he comes across a water salesman who just set up shop next to your ice selling business. At first, it seems like the perfect marriage, a win/win situation with both businesses servicing the needs of the other’s customer. The water salesman charges $1.00 per glass and you ask a relatively small $0.50 fee to top it off with some icy cool goodness. Our desert wanderer reaches into his pockets and finds his last $2.00, just enough to satisfy his craving for an icy cold glass of H20. However, to your overwhelming dissatisfaction, the thirsty man makes a decision that quickly turns your business model on its head. He opts to spend his money for 2 glasses of water, and passes on your frozen version of the same.

One would think that selling ice water to a man in the desert would be an extremely easy sale. But on closer examination, does this man really need the ice? The temperature at which he consumes the water is not nearly as important as drinking the water itself. After careful consideration, this man came to the logical conclusion that he was unlikely to pass too many water salesmen in the desert, and so he opted for an extra helping of hydration. Finding himself in a time of personal recession, with only $2.00 to his credit; our friend was forced to spend his money wisely.

During an economic downturn, individuals are forced to make extremely difficult decisions with the limited resources in their possession. Consumers eliminate flippant buying decisions, and begin to analyze each expense with a greater deal of caution. Therefore, it is extremely critical that entrepreneurs in these trying times make sure that their product or service is in fact filling a need in the marketplace, and not just a want or desire (think Starbucks).

Many times a recession lends itself to creating new needs in the marketplace, which opens up new opportunities for wealth and increase for those who can identify and meet those needs. Debt elimination, mortgage modification attorneys, and loss mitigation specialists have already begun to pop up to meet some of the obvious needs in the current marketplace. To one person, a recession and the accompanying corporate layoffs and high unemployment are a sign of doom and gloom, while to the opportunistic entrepreneur they are a path to unlimited riches.

I recently heard of a tremendous recession success story that was started in Silicon Valley, California. The company helps executives that have been fired from large corporations to write resumes, obtain additional training, and prepare to find a new job. They are hired by the HR department of the company making lay-offs, and their services are made a part of the terminated employee’s severance package. The company was started specifically to fill the need created by the economic downturn, and last year alone recorded over 3 million dollars in total sales. The entrepreneurs behind this company capitalized on an economy-specific opportunity, but oftentimes we also see location-specific opportunities present themselves during recessionary periods.

After the devastation of Hurricane Ike, and the great need for rebuilding in the area, a long-time friend of mine founded a construction business in Galveston, TX. As unemployment rates climb near 10%, and many small business owners are closing up shop, his business is expanding on a daily basis. He is just one of many who are finding needs in the current marketplace, as well as locations with a demand for their services, and are being rewarded handsomely for adequately meeting that need.

This same economic phenomenon is found in the Biblical story of Joseph. After accurately interpreting Pharaoh’s dream of anorexic bovine feeding on their obese counterparts, Joseph was given charge over the Egyptian leader’s entire kingdom. During the 7 years of abundant harvest, grain wasn’t such an easy commodity to sell (remember that whole Eskimo thing?) and Joseph did little more than preserve and maintain the wealth of the Kingdom. However, when the years of famine came, Joseph was well positioned to profit by selling his product to those who had a tremendous need for it. By being in the right place at the right time with the right product, Joseph’s business was able to thrive during a recession and accumulate untold wealth and possessions for Pharaoh.

It may seem counterintuitive to start a new business, or even expand an existing one, in the middle of what has been called, “The Greatest Financial Downturn since the Great Depression.” But a recession can actually be the perfect time for entrepreneurs to take action on their passions and ideas. There is certainly less competition during a recession, and many times during an economic slow down the prices for advertising, raw materials and other business essentials will drop significantly.

In fact, many of the nation’s most successful companies (General Electric, Southwest Airlines, & Microsoft, just to name a few) were started right in the middle of recessions. Why did these companies succeed, while most of their competitors were hemorrhaging cash, cutting production, and eliminating employees? It's because the visionaries that started these successful enterprises recognized a market need and then worked tirelessly to fill it. That union between the supply of a product or service combined with the market’s demand for it is the ultimate key to any thriving business, regardless of the economic climate in which it begins.

What opportunities are there in your area or market? What new needs have been created by recent events in your community, including the local impact of this current worldwide recession? How can your company fill those needs and capitalize on the growing demand in your specific niche? By opening up our minds and allowing God to reveal his ideas to us, we can see great prosperity in a time when the world is searching for answers. When the lost and suffering see our businesses thriving, we’ll begin to see the fulfillment of 1 Thessalonians 4:12, as our success begins to “win the respect of [the] outsiders.” It is then that we will see God’s entrepreneurial mandate begin to assist in the fulfillment of His higher priority, something affectionately known around Christian circles as “The Great Commission.”

Despise Not Small Beginnings

"Who despises the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10, NIV

There is no such thing as an overnight success story. We all love to believe that they exist, if for no other reason than to leave us with the hope that one day success will also find its way to our doorstep. After all, we pay our tithes faithfully and even give offerings above and beyond to our local church and various missions organizations, as the Lord leads. Isn’t that supposed to swing wide the windows of heaven and pour down piles of money into our laps, so much so that we can’t contain it? This possibility, regardless of how remote, keeps us hanging on; shuffling our way through each day until that monumental moment happens to us…just like it happened to that nice young man we heard about from the evangelist on TV.

As hard as it may be for some people in the Church to grasp, financial freedom and economic prosperity does not simply fall in our laps. (My temptation is to write about how I don’t want my words here to burst anyone’s bubble, but that would be disingenuous of me, because that’s exactly what I want to do!) Until we “prepare [our] minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13), and then ACT, we will never see the success that we so fervently desire. It’s the mindset of waiting, watching, and hoping that has kept the Church at large destitute, ineffective, and unable to fulfill its earthly mission.

From the beginning of time until today, every successful business, invention, ministry, or organization has been built the exact same way; small step-by-small step, difficult decision after difficult decision. The reason why we think overnight success stories do exist in our society is because we’re not privy to the blood, sweat, and tears that goes on behind the scenes before that multi-million dollar company goes public, the famous actor gets his big break, or before the world renowned evangelist becomes, well…world renowned.

The other night my wife and I were flipping through the channels and came across a show called Gladiators 2000, a teenage spin-off of the mega-hit American Gladiators, originally filmed back in the 1990’s. As a student of all things successful, my interest was not necessarily peaked by the fast-paced, dramatic nature of the competition, but rather by the name of the 19-year old host of the program: Ryan Seacrest. For those of you who have not been sucked in by the reality singing competition known as “American Idol,” allow me to give you an update on pop culture. Ryan Seacrest is also the host of that particular program, which just so happens to be the #1 rated television show in America. Accompanying those high ratings is also an extremely high paycheck for one Mr. Seacrest (now 34), who made in excess of 20 million dollars last year, as well as landing some other high-profile gigs such as hosting the Emmy Awards, Dick Clark’s “New Years Rockin’ Eve,” and the American Top 40 radio program, just to name a few.

Most people are familiar with the fame, success, and glamour that surround stars like Ryan, but few people know of their tireless work ethic and undying commitment to their craft that is typical of successful people in any industry. Those close to Ryan tell stories of his passion for radio, and how he had crafted a smooth presentation early in his teen years. After a few years as a DJ in his native Georgia, Ryan moved to L.A. and began hosting a radio show for just $15 an hour (which in Southern California has you living well below the poverty line). However, Ryan didn’t despise his small beginnings, and kept pushing towards the success that he knew could be his if he stayed committed to the process. This same story can be found in countless successful businesses, even those that were started in the middle of recessionary periods of our country’s history.

The oil crisis of 1973 sparked the largest recession in our nation since World War II. The high gas prices would have deterred nearly any entrepreneur from starting a business that relied heavily on transportation. Apparently nobody told that to Frederick W. Smith, founder of the mega-shipping giant, FedEx Corp (or perhaps they did tell him, and he just wasn’t listening). Beginning its operations on April 17, 1973 as Federal Express, the company delivered a mere 186 packages to 25 cities on its first night of operations. Not exactly an overnight success story (no pun intended). However, with a strong business plan and an even stronger work ethic, FedEx grew into the financial juggernaut that it is today, now managing more than 7.5 million shipments everyday worldwide.

Our fast food, microwave-ready, instant coffee society has conditioned us to expect immediate gratification, but in business things don’t always work that way. Successful enterprises are built the same way in recessions as they are during times of abundance, and that’s through hard work and dedication. As you begin to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams, don’t become discouraged if things don’t happen for you right away. The day of small beginnings should not be despised, but rather embraced as a time of trial & error, learning, growing, and developing a master plan that will launch you into success in the years to come. As more people succumb to the fear and dread being propagated by the news media, the greater the opportunity becomes for those who have the drive and commitment to take action and make things happen. Being an entrepreneur is not always a bed of roses at first, but over time it can create a wonderful life for you, your family, and those you choose to bless with your wealth and financial increase. Stay committed to the process, even in times of recession, and you will certainly see amazing results!