How to Succeed in Business....

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and evaluating (Those of you who know me are shocked, I’m sure).  Scattered Seed is nearly three years old, and yet in many ways, it’s still such a newborn.   

Stepping out into your calling is hard work.  Figuring out exactly what it is you’re supposed to do, and who you’ll be doing it for.  Trying to do it all on your own, and then realizing the need to have other people involved, even if they’re “just” offering prayer support.  Hours and hours of researching, planning, evaluating. 

Over it all looms the question:  “AM I DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY?”

And so I look around me to see what everyone else is doing, and compare myself to them.  Advice is everywhere - friends, colleagues, and of course, the giant pool of data that is the internet.  How should my fees be structured?  Should I blog?  And if so, how often?  About what?  If the work is there, should I expand and hire some help? 

The temptation to just imitate everyone else is strong.  Business models are a dime a dozen.  And it’s not like I don’t have the capability to make a marketing plan or start a newsletter. 

But then I remember:  If I modeled Scattered Seed after the world’s business principles, I’ve lost the most distinguishing factor I have.  This isn’t a normal business – it’s my ministry.  If Scattered Seed succumbed to all of the latest business principles and models, well…….. it would become a worldly business. That’s not what God intended for me.

And yes, some of the decisions I make may not make a lot of sense to everyone else.   And it may fly in the face of everything that I learned in my college business classes.  That’s okay.  At the end of the day, there’s only one question that matters:  Is this what God has told me to do? 

So if weeks go by, and there’s nothing new posted to the blog, there’s no need for me to worry.  I’m sure He’ll eventually give me something to share.  And if there’s a lull in my work load, it’s probably for a reason (like perhaps, rest for the upcoming onslaught).  God created Scattered Seed, not me.  And as long as I stick to His plan, it’ll be a success in His eyes. 

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within ME (and you!), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  Philipians 1:6 

Scattered Seed

I’ve been working with Christian ministries in some form for more than ten years.  (If you want to read more about my professional journey, click here).  In that time, I’ve come to realize two truths:

1) Everyone has a ministry calling from God. 

                Yes, you read that right – YOU are a minister.  Doesn’t matter if you are a stay-at-home mom whose only contact with an adult is the mailman (and I’ve been there!), a cubicle-dwelling businessman,  or a card-carrying, licensed minister – God desires to use you right where we are, right at this moment.  We all have an impact on someone – the question is what kind of impact is it?  This brings me to my next point:

2)  It is up to each of us to recognize and develop our ministry callings, so that God may use them (and us) as He chooses.

Can’t claim authorship of this – it’s straight from Jesus' parable of the scattered seed.  God gave each person a calling, a seed of an idea.  Some people never recognize their calling – and the seed never gets planted.   Sometimes we don’t fully understand what God wants us to do before we go charging ahead – and we try to plant the seed in rocky soil, where it can’t take root. Sometimes we make a bit of headway in our calling, only to be distracted by other “weeds” – pressures from society, temptations, or just the general “busy”ness of life.  Our seed sprouts, grows a little, but the weeds choke us.

Sometimes, though, we get it right.  And that ministry opportunity blossoms, and we experience the joy of doing what we were asked to do, and the subsequent approval from our Father.

As for me, I love to garden (both literally, and figuratively).  I’m constantly amazed by all the variety I see in the plants around me – so many beautiful sizes, textures, and colors.  But nothing pleases me more than seeing a plant that is struggling become established and begin bearing fruit. 

For me, this blog is an extension of my calling to nurture ministry.  It’s a place to write down what God reveals, process what I’ve seen and heard, and share the wisdom of others who are in the garden with me.  I hope you’ll find it helpful!