Blind Brokers Network
10 principles to expand your blind and shutter business.
Every business needs principles to operate by. In some businesses it’s make money in others it’s change lives and in a few it’s change the world. In Rick Warrens Book Purpose Driven Church, Warren explains how he grew a bible study into a mega church. According to Rich Karlgaard of Forbes magazine “This is the best book on entrepreneurship, business and investing that I’ve ever read in some time.”
1) Don’t’ try to make your business grow. Instead, work to make your business healthy. Because if it’s healthy, it will grow.
2) Don’t be afraid to make it up as you go along. Warren quotes Mark Twain, who one said: “I knew a man who grabbed a cat by the tail and learned 40% more about cats than the man who didn’t” A healthy business is one that tries many things that don’t work-and has the scratches and scars to prove it.
3) Don’t trap yourself in costly infrastructures. To accommodate Saddleback Church’s continual growth, Warren used 79 different facilities for functions in the Church’s first 15 years-schools, bank buildings, recreation centers, theaters, restaurants, large homes, even 2300-seat tent. Only in 1995, when the church had grown to 10,00 worshippers per weekend, did Warren erect Saddlebacks own building. “The show must never tell the foot how big it can grow.” He says.
4) Don’t compete for market share. Instead, compete with nonconsumption. “The business must offer people something they cannot get anywhere else, ‘Warren says.
5) Sell Big! “I’ve discovered that challenging people to a serious commitment actually attracts people rather than repels them, says Warren. “The greater commitment we ask for, the greater response we get.”
6) Faith and dedication won’t overcome lack of skill and technology. Funny words from a preacher, but how true. “One of my favorite verses,” Warren says, “is Ecclesiastes 10:10: ‘If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.’”
7) Borrow from others’ successes. “Anytime I see a program working in another church [business], I try to extract the principle behind it and apply it in our church. I’m very grateful for the models that have helped me. I learned a long time ago that I don’t have to originate everything for it to work.”
8) Never enter a new business without first picking someone to lead it. “If no leader emerged, we would wait on God’s timing before beginning a ministry,” says Warren.
9) Purpose not only defines what your business should do, it defines what it shouldn’t do. “The secret to effectiveness is to know what really counts. Then do what really counts.”
10) Nothing should precede the purpose of your business. “Plans, programs and personalities don’t last,” says Warren. Only purpose lasts. It can heal your business, too. “Nothing will revive a discouraged church [business] faster than rediscovering its purpose.” Blind Brokers Network