By opting to attend a Convene leadership conference in Denver this past week, I took a few hours to consider business performance from an eternal perspective. Surrounded by others genuinely interested in having greater kingdom impact, I heard some "off the grid" ideas, some of which I can share now.

As I have mentioned in previous editions of this column, it's not wise to go at your business and ministry alone. This was emphasized at the conference where Prov. 24:5-6 was amplified: "A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers."

If you are moving too fast, perhaps its time to make a timely stop to evaluate if you are "on track."

To engage in value learning-recognizing your beliefs about issues, the limitations you face, the expectations you have, the reasons why you want to move in a certain direction and how others view your thought processes--and growth, obtain wise business counsel from successful peers in other industries.

Realize that you are not the lone ranger. Others don't have it all together spiritually or in business, but are in process-just like you.

Have you taken time to build and strengthen your life and business around God's principles? Benchmarking against others is particularly revealing. You gain insight about their tracks, how they are approaching challenges and hear about applicable processes from other industries that could be a breakthrough activity for your own team.

By listening to others about the difference between working on the business versus working in the business, you return to your business with a renewed interest in focusing on business and ministry drivers. You pull back from micromanaging and push yourself into being micro-interested. You are exposed to legacy thinkers, other kingdom builders and business leaders that have learned from their own "miss-takes."

You start to evaluate whether your business is helping enough people "bump into" Jesus.
You consider hanging around wiser, sharper people that want you to prosper in your ministry and work, but don't have to be your friends. They leave the emotional stuff at the doorstep and simply tell it as they see it.

A revolution can start in your company-and it could mean building a much more significant business than you've ever imagined. While it's neither easy or quick, you can start building leaders by reshaping your kingdom purpose; revisiting your mission statement to make sure it's still relevant to all concerned-customers, employees and you, too; doing a semi-annual checkup on your guiding principles, holding them up against your core values; and making sure your business model, personnel structure, and sales, operations, financial and succession plans are properly aligned with your mission and vision.

Aiming for both business performance and eternal perspective, remember that you can't become what you need to be by remaining what you are.

Pray to be "infinitely beyond" the norm. Remember Paul's note to the people of Ephesus urging them to understand the implications of their new identity, to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1).

An answered prayer for "infinitely beyond" starts with seeking wise counsel and being willing to change.

Rick Tocquigny
CEO
Artbeat of America/Gracefully Yours greeting cards
Host of the national radio show "Life Lessons"
www.blogtalkradio.com/search/rick-tocquigny-life-lessons/

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