Speaking opportunities can help promote your business. Consider speaking engagements that will bring visibility to your business.  However, don't grab every engagement and give a stock speech. 

Are you familiar with what is known as the “stump speech?” Politicians used to stand on a dead tree stump and give a talk to those willing to listen. The politician would give the same speech everywhere,  adding local color as possible. While it worked in that day, today we need to be more focused when speaking on behalf of our business.

Delegation and accountability is important for any business. We see a clear example of delegation in scripture. “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.’” (Luke 9:1-3, NIV)  The scriptures are clear that Jesus gave the disciples power and authority to drive out demons and cure disease.  He also told them what to take and what not to take.

Allen asked me to review some ad copy that contained a number of claims: “You will save money;” “The system is reliable,” or “My system is easy to use.” My first response was, “Says you!” 

Allen paused before he asked, “What do you mean?” I explained that his entire advertisement was made of claims without providing any evidence. How did he expect prospective customers to trust his statements without evidence? 

Most of us have interviewed potential employees with very little work background. These may be individuals fresh out of school or those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time. Trying to discern a person's qualifications without work experience is a challenge.

Establishing the correct wage for staff is never easy.  We see an example in Scripture, “But Laban said to him, ‘If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.’” (Genesis 30:27-28, NIV).

I've learned over time that when we fail to meet an employee's reasonable expectations and salary requirements, they move on. For example, I interviewed a prospective salesperson who wanted to make $200,000 within 12 months. Given that this person just finished school with little experience, I knew that making half the expected salary was unrealistic. If offered a position, the expectations would not have been met.