The present is the fruit of the past, and the seed of the future.
This statement recognizes that the present is birthed from the past. And while you cannot change the past, you can look at the present seeds you have and decide what you want to plant for the future you desire.
Your future lies within your faith, your hope, and your willingness to act upon what you believe.
The choice is up to you.
As I have travelled, I’ve stood in awe of the spirit and soul of humanity. Despite fear, uncertainty, disappointment, war, and disaster, humanity continues to rise, to re-build, re-construct, re-new and re-bound, with resolve to press forward, while holding onto hope.
No matter what comes, born of your action, or that of another, you are capable of a resilient pivot.
Lift up your countenance…you will rise.
Perspective is expansive, yet limiting.
Perspective is creative, yet destructive.
Perspective is intangible, yet tangible.
Perspective is paradoxical.
How can “perspective” be oxymoronic in its nature and meaning? Because it depends on whose perspective is at issue. A brick mason gives creative and expansive meaning to bricks. Yet, someone hurling bricks through a glass window, gives a destructive meaning.
Perspective depends on the meaning a person gives it, by thought and action.
While building a home seems creative, that home could be part of a trend of gentrification, pushing historic residents out of their neighborhoods – which is destructive.
How one sees the world, is how they live in the world.
As this year progresses, the question of “what next?” has come to the forefront of all levels of human engagement – education, business, medicine, science and technology, arts and entertainment, and religion.
In the next, we expect something “new”. However, “new” does not necessarily mean something that has never existed before. “New” can be something that was already here, but which one is only experiencing now, for the first time. Seeing “new” in this way, shifted my perspective of what is next.
Our next will be not only what has never existed, but also what is already here, but not yet discovered by us. The key is determining which “new” you are in, and whether you will be proactive or responsive to the “new”.
Working with, and through, the shifting dynamics of family, work, community, and politics, can throw off our physical and mental well-being. Yet, despite these tensions, history has shown humanity’s ability to pivot in peril, and rise with resiliency.
Life is a gift and a trust,
wrapped in moments and memories,
secured by the bow of love,
faith and community,
received with the hands of gratefulness and
responsibility,
and displayed in the dignity
and significance of humanity.
2020 began with unusual fervor and anticipation of a new decade filled with resolutions, goals, plans and dreams. Little did we know, a virulent virus would shake up the world. All of us have felt the impacts of this pandemic, many which still linger, in some way or another. Feelings of loss, uncertainty, sadness and disappointment have probably touched us all.
Yet, we have also seen growth in community consciousness and a heightened awareness of the dignity of every human. We have demonstrated and observed resourcefulness and resilience in each other. So, while this past year challenged me too, I feel inspired and look forward to what lays ahead.
You and I have the mettle for this moment!
May you prosper, spirit, soul and body – III John 2
Subduing in business means to vanquish a need in humanity through the cultivation of allocated resources. The quagmire we see not only determines the need of resources we will utilize, but also to what extent we will do so. What is our responsibility to the earth and our fellow humans?
Subduing also entails anticipating future needs for products or services. Those who are able to deftly do this find themselves still in business. Those who cannot become like Sears, Toys“R”Us, and Blockbuster or find themselves losing market share, like Blackberry or Motorola.
Success incorporates your ability to anticipate need and shift to meet it, while expanding internal processes and capabilities (scaling). We must review the “Five Capital Model”, look at technical feasibility, operational implementability, and the nuances of political and bureaucratic influence. Having a “360” view allow for better allocation of resources and achievement of goals.
Recalibration and restructuring are vital components to repositioning businesses for success.
You’re on your way…Don’t stop now!
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Duplication and distribution would be key.
We look at Jesus and see that for three years, He created a system of fruitfulness, multiplication, and replenishment in twelve men. Today, His system is still working—still making disciples. Distribution is key, because it allows the product or service to reach beyond local areas and go global. This is the part of business that allows you to make money while you sleep – residual income.
When we look at replenishing, we also need to look at the element of scale. Scalability means that a business experiences competitive advantage as it grows, in a capable and cost-effective manner.
The Coca-Cola Company wisely leveraged partnership to expand. They catered to their strength—producing concentrated beverages—and allowed for another company’s strength—bottling—to become a part of the aggregate, which has led them to become the world’s leading supplier of sparkling and still beverages. (Wikipedia)
For my books and e-commerce businesses, I utilize various platforms that distribute them around the world. The key is to create systems of transport that will work 24/7.
You’re not finished yet…Replenish!
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Being seedful allows for multiplication. How does this translate into business terms? Multiplication is increase. This multiplication requires a system to ensure that the reproductive cycle sustains itself so that what we produce is able increase and multiply exponentially.
Multiplication can be seen in networking marketing and franchise models. And recently with the “paid partnership” of online social media influencers. I like to call this “cross pollination” marketing. This allows each entity to leverage the “network” of their contacts for the benefit of all parties concerned.
Multiplication can be a collaborative effort, a strategic partnership, or a joint venture. It allows for diversification and value augmentation. It aligns with the African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”
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God commanded mankind to be fruitful. In order to be fruitful, you must be seedful. Being seedful means that within every individual is the potential to grow something, which itself will have more potential to grow, and so on and so on. Before fruit grows, it is hidden in the seed; and once the fruit reaches maturity, the seed is hidden in the fruit. Everything created has within itself the seed to reproduce. This is what science calls the “reproduction cycle”—and all living things have it.
As a business, what have you produced that will allow you to bring more fruit—more seed? For example, if you bake cookies for family gatherings, can those same cookies be made and sold to others, to stores, or even online? Do you have anything already in you that can produce more fruit?
I recall my friend Tracye Carter, founder of Tracye’s Culinary Creations and her world-famous Tracye’s Chicken Salad Dressing. Tracye was always one to host dinner parties and insist on preparing everything. The dinner presentations were elegant, but the food was starlit. The dish that became her claim to future fame was her chicken salad.
Tracye’s consistency in her product and service at dinners and get-togethers led to large catering contracts. I even had her cater my first book launch! She and I met one night for dinner to talk further about the far-reaching potential of her chicken salad. After our conversation, additional business research and counsel, and a leap of faith, her product is now available in all of the Whole Foods Markets in the southeast.
Tracye started her business with a seed of a skill—culinary skill. She continued to develop it by learning more about food—how to prepare it on a larger scale, how to market it, and more. Was it an easy process? No. Did it cost something to make it happen? Yes, it cost time, energy, some no’s, and even financial investments. However, if you ask Tracye today if it was all worth it, she would tell you yes.
What seed do you have? What are you doing to make it grow?
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