February 8, 2011 | 
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I have always said that the three easiest ways to grow hype free and consistently are to:
- Speak out of a passionate and powerful identity
- Partner with people who are always up to BIG things
- Communicate constantly what you are doing through an ezine or text system.
Speaking with authority and clarity is the number one way to pull in clients/members. When we are able to communicate passionately our message (and often times that is our personal story) it connects us together with our audience.”We have overcome through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony” Rev 12:11. What is essential for when you speak is to ALWAYS give people an opportunity to invest further By signing up for your ezine, product or service. (Give a discount or incentive and that is even better:)
Always be up to something big with people of integrity and boldness. This is an essential. We serve a big God who loves illuminating people to his love and his desire for their success. When we step out in faith to think big, it requires a team. Taking territory is kingdom business and whether you are a small business owner or ministry leader, your marketing plan HAS to integrate partnerships and alliances with people who have FAITH and take ACTION! Church Planters, ministry leaders and entrepreneurs this is a must if you want to keep your people challenged and on the inrease!
Consistent and valuable strategies communicated weekly that your audience can utilize successfully will keep you growing consistently. It statistically takes over 50 soft touches before people are prepared to invest in the vision or service. In other words, it takes time to establish trust and integrity. It is your responsibility to cultivate and provide those around you with the outreaches, tools and resources they need on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to grow and then stay successful.
Posted in Intergenerational Impact, Success Principles for Christians | 
Tags: business entrepreneur, church planting, entrepreneurs, evangelism, how to set up a business, hype free marketing, ideas for small businesses, leadership in church, marketing church, marketing strategies, set up a business, small business tips, starting a small business, website marketing strategies | 
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Do you feel extremely sensitive to rejection right now? Experiencing feelings of fatigue or loss of energy that you can’t explain? What about feelings of worthlessness or guilt, impaired concentration, indecisiveness or insomnia?Over the past week I have spoken to multiple entrepreneurs and ministry leaders who are struggling emotionally.
By the grace of God, I have moved out suffocating depression many times and come out in and even wider place than I was in before!. The bottom line? You can’t afford depression, it drives away any opportunity you have for increase or momentum. Here are three practical and prayerful things you can do as a small biz/ministry leader to move from depression to dynamite!
1. Stay zoned in the word and prayer, casting your cares on Christ. Specifically ask him for what you need that day. If it is money for the doctor because you have no health insurance, if it is praying for wisdom on parenting wayward children, if it is praying that the Lord will help you build confidence, then pray fervently. God cares and he wants to show himself strong on behalf of those who BELIEVE in HIS NAME AND WAYS. Here is one of my favorite promises in times of distress. This promise is for those who need more power, more clarity and power for decisive action.
It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me on high places. He teaches my hands to WAR.
2. Get physical, get outside and walk hard till you sweat for 30-40 minutes if you do nothing else. Hard cardio releases endorphins which make you feel powerful,confident and CLEAR. The deer didn’t get to the high places by meditating~she had to sweat, pant and push her way physically to the top with her deerius hindius area. Success is not a spectator sport and you will have to pray hard and work hard. That requires you to have the energy, stamina and ability to stay paced and purposed despite wanting to quit.
3. Ask for a BIG commitment from yourself and from your clients/leaders/members. Jesus had no problem asking people for commitments that required they give it ALL. Go and sell everything you have, forget the dead and come with me, if you want to be the first, be the last. Where there is little ownership, there will be little results. If you want to have an identity like Jesus you have to learn to overcome rejection, your feelings of worthlessness and require a big commitment from yourself and others. People WANT to be challenged and to build relationally with those who give their lives significance. Don’t be afraid of pain for yourself or in the lives of others because without potential failure or discomfort, you nor your clients will NEVER achieve anything BEYOND themselves. God does not WANT you or them comfortable. He wants you to have to live by FAITH.
In working with entrepreneurs and ministry leaders, I can’t help but notice they sabotage their success with perfectionism.. They put themselves and others under constant and persistent pressure. No matter how long they spend creating, or how great the results appear to those around them, it always could have been better. So, what are the symptoms in your personal life? 
2. Your always working on some area of your life. You don’t ever “arrive” and experience the peace and rest of Christ.
3. You are a control freak. If things in your personal life are unresolved, you fixate on someone else in order to relieve the pressure you put on yourself to perform.
4. You always feel stressed. If everyone around you and life has to be perfect for you to relax, well that is definitely stressful.
5. Depression, lack of moderation, hiding from those who will hold you accountable, eating disorders, chronic negativity, these are signs of someone who holds themselves and everyone around them to a level of perfection that God himself doesn’t require. (Boy,when you think of it in that perspective, that we are pickier than God, that pretty much is about as prideful as it gets:)
Posted in Success Principles for Christians | Tags: business, entrepreneurs, Identity in Christ, ministry growth, pastors, perfectionist | 2 Comments »
Jim Citrin, author of The Dynamic Path, researched top performers for three years and discovered that their success was correlated with daily and consistent specific actions. This has ramifications for your longevity as a leader and also to the continued growth of your organization, whether it is a small business or non-profit. It also helps us continually understand that increased power, provision and purpose is not just for the “ultra-leaders”, it is simply a result of taking small actions on a daily basis. Rob Cross, a Professor of Management at the University of Virginia, examines social ties within companies and how they coorelate to bottom line results in business. He say’s that under 3 percent of the population succeeds by building large social networks. If you have ever read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, this would be the “connectors”. Interestingly enough, Professor Cross says that most “high performers,” (the 80/20 rule) have succeeded because they built quality relationships rather than large social networks. They don’t strive to connect with everyone, but those they partner with, they invest with deeply and intimately. In doing so they get their work accomplished and the results they are looking for.
With the pressure to be social media savvy with face-book and twitter over the past couple years, it is empowering to know that there is a payout for small and strategic. Last year I talked about Alan Deutshmans book, Change or Die, which essentially discussed the premise that lasting change comes from emotionally investing in a person or team that has broken through the barriers that you desire change in. The statistics show that keeping long-term success requires emotional connections that provide hope, challenge and consistency. So nice to know that there is science behind one of my favorite phrases. “The team that prays together, stays together”… Coach Beverly Lewis of www.lifepointspeaking.com and I specialize in providing opportunities for small business and non-profit owners to get the growth strategies AND more intimate relationships they need to be successful. We believe at the core of any powerful partnership you will find 5 core values which we specialize in providing for our leadership teams. In the next couple weeks we will be launching the Lions Guild, a unique opportunity to join the ranks of those who value militancy in prayer and also practical action. Here is what one client had to say about the results she received from this type of focused teaming:
The POWER and collective INSIGHT of a team…are aspects I’ve rarely experienced professionally, and never with the kind of STELLAR results that your team made possible for me. There have been so many wins since I started partnering with Slingshot Success:
The courage to listen to God’s leading rather than my own fear.The ability to recognize my own sabotages and how to take new ground in my business.The strategies to be able to sustain it and the feedback from a diverse group of business people. The encouragement of fellow team members with the prayer support and intercession has been POWERFUL! Monica Hall, Digital Diva Marketing
If you have any questions about breaking through your unique barrier whether personal or with your vision, feel free to connect with me at Becky@successnotsabotage.com.
Posted in Success Principles for Christians | Tags: knowledge management, Leadership, Malcom Gladwell | 1 Comment »
Want more purpose, power and increase in your biz or non profit this year? Then make sure to identify and deal with hidden sabotages in your personal life. Huh? Yep, I know that may be overly simplistic… It is a bit easier to think the reason your not growing is because of an external problem. Lack of traffic, better technology, better teams… The truth is, many times I have found clients who voice to me that their businesses or ministries aren’t thriving, are really distracted by a personal issue they really feel hugely sabotaged by.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to call the 911-Whaaaaahhhhm-bu-lance just yet. However, you do need to address this heart issue that is causing you to leak out that Niagara Falls potential within you. Why? Because when clients are feeling sabotaged they lose our ability to keep paced and purposed in two ESSENTIAL things owners need to build success. Clarity and consistency. Many times, clients voice to me that they struggle with consistency. What I really find with examination is they don’t have CLARITY because they feel conflicted. In our culture today, ”conflicts” are socially acceptable. It is reasoned away, therapized (yes, I know I made that word up:) through and through and posted on face-book and twitter for all to like or dislike. The results of that? No breakthrough and no sustainable growth that actually empowers them to serve anyone and their vision to THRIVE.
It is AMAZING to see how people’s businesses or non profits blossom when they take the ownership to get aligned properly. So, how do you identify that one area that is preventing your growth? It’s simple.
Identify what is shaming you and deal with it MILITANTLY.
Yes. Make eliminating that ONE sabotage, your main priority. Wonder what shame looks like? It could be your news year resolution to lose weight and lower your cholesterol (that could be dangerous to your health now), the drinking you can’t seem to do in moderation, the men or women you can’t seem to do without, the marriage that has left you lonely and abandoned, kids that have made you wonder where you went wrong as a parent, friends and business partners who have betrayed you. Sometimes people aim for perfection — a process that inevitably fails and causes more problems. Another manner in which people cope is by seeking power, which makes them feel more valuable.
Diverting blame. By blaming our faults or problems on others, we can avoid guilt and shame. Being overly nice or self-sacrificing. People sometimes compensate for feelings of shame or unworthiness by attempting to be exceptionally nice to others. By pleasing everyone else, we hope to prove our worth. However, this inevitably involves covering up our true feelings, which is, once again, self-defeating. Withdrawal. By withdrawing and hiding we can numb ourselves to any future possibilities of pain.
Bottom line? Watch your business or non profit grow by taking care of your heart. You will be amazed at the freedom your receive personally and how you grow without effort. Need help with the HOW to get started? Email and let’s set up a time to talk about your unique sabotage, you can contact me by just going to my contact form (which is entirely confidential:)…
Ever wonder why one person seems to have doors for growth and promotion happen constantly while another experiences nothing but frustration and turmoil? It is the difference between a purposed plan of God and a pipe dream. The first is birthed in prayer and combines practical action points for quick small specific results. Pipe dreams are BIG talk, results that will come in the future (if they hang in there long enough) and no accountability.
People who struggle with pipe dreams are at the core, experiencing an internal theft. Lack of clarity creates fear and insecurity while boldness, authenticity and power come from understanding WHO we are in HIM. From this point on is where all building and growth takes place. It is really very simple. Look to God for affirmation and to people to confirm the HOW you are going to strategically grow. The fact of the matter is, most of the time clients (even the one’s running non for profit ministries) get this completely backwards. They look to people for AFFIRMATION and to God for CONFIRMATION.
They are always looking for a sign to confirm the right way to GO rather than investing the time in understanding WHO they are in HIM. Trusting God to open the doors as they do the practical things neccessary to grow. When we look to any other person other than Christ to affirm and promote us, we immediately invite idolatry.
Last week I shared with you my embarrassing pipe dream and the pain that was produced from it. This week we are going to discuss 3 ways to KNOW if you have a purposed plan of God that will thrive. First, purposed plans from God will always create ENORMOUS discomfort in either business or ministry as you launch. You might feel completely terrified by the weight of what God is calling you to and gripped by the fear of failure. You are being called to a unique vision and can’t turn back. Out of the boat, into the deep dark sea and terrified of being eaten alive by a great white shark. (me bad, too much animal planet for me:). The answer to this is simply consistent and daily time in his presence. It is powerful when we are completely dependent on HIM to give us the clarity, revelation and momentum we need to accomplish the vision before us.
Secondly, your in a purposed plan if you have a desire to serve at a greater level with your unique gift and passion. Whenever God calls you to a powerful plan however, there will be clarity about WHO you are called to serve. The best way to discover this WHO is to think about the PAIN your client or member is in. For example, Esther was petrified and OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE which resulted in her praying and fasting for favor and power. She knew she was called to serve the JEWS in specific cities because the pain was DEATH. Purposed plans start with DISCOMFORT, serve SPECIFIC people (and you can identify exact pain points for).
Thirdly,your in a purposed plan of God if you are having to deep deeper (as in your brain is emitting smoke flumes:) and develop strategies on equipping clients/members to SOLVE their challenges. God is in the deliverance business and guess what, YOUR IT. There is ALWAYS a strategy he has prepared for you to deliver EXCELLENT service that will enable you to build momentum. However, you can’t develop the HOW strategies until you discover the WHO and the pain points first of the people you are called to serve. Yes, service seasons can change but the underlying principles don’t.
If you need help developing your non for profit or business into a PURPOSED PLAN of God, contact me! I am passisonate about helping you channel that Niagara Falls potential into the results that you KNOW are possible. WATCH God provide the resources when you take the FAITH and ACTION to prepare! Can’t wait to serve you and your unique call! Bec:)
The term pipe dream is a phrase commonly used when referring to a plan that is next to impossible to achieve (and that occurs to someone after smoking somthing stronger than Malbaro’s). Last week we talked about the main way God establishes your growth through purposeful plans. First and foremost, by challenging you to steward and cultivate your gifts and talents in the midst of persecution and opposition. Think David, Joseph, Deborah:). Doesn’t sound glamorous or easy does it? Conversely, the “world” and the pipe dreams offer you access and power to control knowledge, resources or gain influence over others through short cuts and fast tracks.
No one WANTS to waste their time investing in pipe dream plans. So where’s the disconnect? How do we unintentionally get sucked into this pain pipe? The truth? We pray daily that God will give us the grace to draw closer to him in intimacy and true Lordship and then we make sure to be doing the following on a weekly basis. Don’t be afraid of thinking BIG, just make sure you are doing the following three things (and learn from the mistakes I made early on with this pipe dream:). What is your number #1 way for discerning a pipe dream from a purposed plan of God?
Our identity in Christ is to be able to finish what we start despite pain or persecution. I believe this is one of the greatest inheritances we have, and one that authentically separates us from those who are not under the Lordship of Christ. If you have cycles of not experiencing the fruit of your labor or you simply feel like there is constant chaos when you move to finish anything, it could be because you are not perceiving how to submit to the way Christ is asking you to follow him. Or if your anything like me, (more times that I would like to admit), I did not want to go the way he was leading. I wanted Christ to increase but the decreasing part for me was not in the Becky game plan:)
Clients sometimes will suddenly experience “a lack of peace” as they move to goals with greater impact. This divine tension is created because God is after processes and captivating our hearts as we build our identities in him. One of the biggest mental challenges we have to choose to win is staying in place positionally until our victory is won. Yes, God will alllow us to experience heartache and trouble so that we will follow him closely and at the speed he is leading. He also will use times of deep emotional distress in order to draw us into an inner hiding place and “garden” with him. Often times we abort the plans of God in our lives because we simply bail due to the uncomfortableness of the “stretching”.
Here are some questions to ask God if you are experiencing a desire to quit or you “lose your peace” as you attempt to transition or finish strong. First, believe that you are deeply loved and highly favored despite how your circumstances might make you feel. Often when we have relational challenges, financial turmoil or business/ministry obstacles it has a tendency to make us feel isolated.There is something uniquely discouraging about loneliness, it seems to create in us a despair that is paralyzing. Often times my biggest battles have been over an inward feeling of abandonment but we must declare, even in the midst of feeling the complete opposite, that our covenant is one of overcoming resurrection power! This one strategy is absolutely essential, as we have to be able to SPEAK over ourselves and others the TRUTH of our identity in him.
Secondly, when you are struggling with whether you will have the strength to finish whether it be a diet or goal, stay fixed on why you orginally decided to make the decision you did. God is not a wishy washy God. He does not make decisions or give you instructions and then say, “okay, never mind”, nix that idea, let’s go to plan B. For instance, I had a client contact me and share that he was ready to bail on a team he was part of because he did not have peace and was tired of being “stuck”. (He had stalled on homework that involved clarifying his ministry identity).When we began to explore together what the root of “no peace” was, we found that God had already showed him what to do but the truth was he didn’t want to do it. It was larger than what he felt comfortable with and there was a fear of putting himself out there publicly and it failing. After we discussed the worst possible scenarios, which would essentially be advertising and no one showing up, all the sudden, a renewed energy and peace instantly returned. The team commended his courage to step out and then subsequently assisted him with advertising (the power of team effort)
Lastly, if at all possible, join a team if you are stepping into new territory. Whether your goal is physical, financial or spiritual, partnerships are imperative for success. If you want to learn how teaming can literally change you life, contact me and we will find the right place and pace for you!
Secretariat is a must see movie for every Christian leader who believes stewardship is the path to greatness. This remarkable true story chronicles the spectacular journey of how housewife and mother, Penny Chenery takes over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, she manages to navigate the male-dominated horse racebusiness and ultimately fosters the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years (and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time).
This movie is PACKED full of strategic and powerful principles for your ministry or business. Here are just a few:
1. Where there is turmoil and lack, there is ALWAYS, (ALWAYS) atleast one resource, that if stewarded properly, will EXPLODE your vision or team into greatness. (despite feeling like you need MORE, you already have everything you need to go to the next level)
2. Along the way you will be surrounded by those: who desire to keep you from stepping into a new identity (because you are creating discomfort for them personally), who accuse you that your selfish and greedy (people who are clear on their identities will always attract wealth), and lastly who misinterpret your BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE as arrogance. (think Joseph, clear identities always create an understanding that your deeply loved and highly favored:)
3. You have to be able to recover quickly from public failure and LAUNCH boldly into your next endeavor at a BREAKNECK speed if want to build momentum and WIN (Most people don’t get how hard, focused and fast they have to stay paced if they want to break into a new level of authority and identity).
4. Greatness, success and finishing strong is never about the money. It is about having a heart of a winner. Life is an adventure and meant to be lived whole-heartedly. Great people, great horses and great teams never hold back. They will risk EVERYTHING for the vision. They GO FOR IT. There is no PLAN B. (People are conflicted when they look back or live half in, half out in their spiritual life, their businesses, ministries and relationships).
5. Even if the vision is SPECTACTULAR, you still need to work your butt off to gather people, financial resources, teams and momentum. (Nothing “happened” to Penny. She was relentless in her pursuit to make her dream and team overcome all obstacles so they could win).
6.Winners PURSUE strategically. They go and disciple, and the key word would be GO! They don’t wait for things to “happen” to them. They boldly ASK for what they want because they know it is not just about them. They are defending the legacy and inheritance of others and because of that they can steward supernaturally for increase. Who are you defending and what is your cause?
It is time to ARISE in the identity that God has given you and use it to TAKE BACK what the enemy is trying to steal from your family and your community. If you would like to begin to connect with women who share your same passion for excellence and justice, don’t miss my upcoming workshop November 1st. We will be showing you how use your unique identity to HARVEST SUCCESS for 2011. Email me at Becky@successnotsabotage.com to reserve your spot!
Posted in Apostolic Growth, Business Leadership, Church Leadership, Community, Identity in Christ, Kingdom Wealth and Stewardship, Modeling and Reproducing, Money, Relationships, SUCCESS Events, Success Principles for Christians | Tags: align yourself externally for success, Build a new identity tailor made by the Holy Spirit, build success in your marriage, Leadership, Money and Stewardship, undestanding your identity | 3 Comments »