Planning and preparation for success

 

We are four months into the new year. Have you hit your new year’s targets?

 

The caterpillar business model.

  1. Lung forward. Take a big step.
  2. Pull the rest of yourself up to year your idea has taken you.
  3. Re-group

 

Theses three steps have cycles that can last days, months or years.

 

  1. Lung forward.
    1. This takes guts.

                                                               i.      This may be opening the business

                                                             ii.      This may be hiring an employee

                                                            iii.      Buying the property

                                                           iv.      Getting the license.

                                                             v.      Spending the money

                                                           vi.      Getting the loan

                                                          vii.      Big cash outlay

    1. This can not be taken lightly

                                                               i.      Count the Cost. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- 29lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

                                                             ii.      Sit down and consider. “For what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. Luke 14:28-32

                                                            iii.      Having a baby. It is usually not a surprise to most people. There are usually eight good months to plan and prepare.

 

  1. Pull yourself up to your idea.
    1. Hire employees
    2. Get contracts
    3. Work on marketing
    4. Find a bigger or better location
    5. Network and create key relationships

 

    1. This is the time to work

                                                               i.      Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.  9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

                                                             ii.      60 hour weeks

                                                            iii.      Keep your eyes on the race

    1. PAUL APPLIED THIS PRINCIPLE TO THE JOB OF PREACHER

                                                               i.      Finish what you started  2 Tim 2:1-7 1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

                                                             ii.      These three careers all have something in common; they require the men to do their job regardless of how they feel at the time or what their opinion may be regarding the job at hand.

1.       A Soldier cannot stop fighting. He will either die or be court-marshaled.

2.       An athlete doesn’t quit in the middle of the race or the football game. He trains his/her whole life for that one event. In some sports, to quit means to never be invited back or let go from the team completely.

3.       A Farmer cannot stop during harvest. A lot of money and time is put into the ground by way of seeds and hard work. When harvest comes the farmer needs to be in the field or risk losing everything. There is no time to slack

 

  1. Re-group
    1. This may involve rest.
    2. Paying down debt
    3. Creating employee manuals in order
    4. Putting together office policies
    5. Getting OSHA up to date
    6. Re-strategize
    7. Re-think
    8. Re-tool. Get more education
    9. This is the best time to sell