I don’t watch much television; but while recovering from shoulder rotator cuff surgery, I caught Restaurant Impossible on the Food Chanel.  I found that it provided several worthwhile lessons we can apply to our businesses. While the show is scripted and dramatized, it still conveys solid principles. You can learn more about the program hosted by Robert Irvine here: http://bit.ly/i2LrOt .

Many accounting statements may be legal and still not reflect the condition of your business accurately. 

Every year businesses attempt to manage year-end spending and payments to maximize tax benefits. I am not a tax accountant or CPA, so check with your tax specialist to validate your situation.

Many business leaders have great vision and a clear idea about what needs to be done in order to accomplish that vision. Setting deadlines with accountability is a major step in taking vision to reality. King Solomon gave us an example when he, “had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace.”  (2 Chronicles 7:11, NIV) Solomon was successful because he went from an idea to implementation. 

A key element of growing a business is a commitment to improve everything within that business.  Jesus taught, "Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:2, NASB) Jesus was speaking of branches that already produced fruit.  He was explaining that even fruitful branches need pruning in order to grow more fruit in the long run.

Don't just focus your pruning on the problems. Spend time pruning the fruit bearing parts as well. Even a productive fruit tree will slowly bear less fruit without pruning. The first year’s fruit loss will be subtle, and you don’t pay a high price for it. However, when you see an overgrown apple tree with little fruit; the loss took several years. It will take drastic pruning to return the tree to a fruit producing tree.