As I moved through my career, I discovered that the principle that business success engenders recognition, access and ultimately influence held true for all the years that I made my living as a sales person.
My status as one of the top sales people meant that when the company president wanted to spend a day riding with a sales person, he chose me. When the company was considering a new line, they often ran it by me.
I have, of course, seen that same principle at work in the hundreds of companies for whom I have consulted over the years. When I interview employees, for example, it would always be the top sales person who was on the list – chosen to be the spokesperson to the outside consultant.
When decisions were made that impacted the entire sales force – compensation for one – they were often run by the top sales person.
In my career as a professional speaker, I had lots of occasions to interface with national trade associations. I found the principle at work at the company level as well as the individual sales person level.
It was the leading companies in that industry who provided the personnel for the boards and committees.That particular association’s decisions regarding strategic direction, location and agenda for the annual meetings, etc. were often made by the principles in that trade group’s leading companies. At the
company level, excellence in performance brings with it recognition, access and influence.
Hobby Lobby would not have had the ability to stand for its rights (and ours) if it were a struggling, one-store operation. It’s success and industry-leading position put it into a position where it could impact the entire country.
There is a lesson in this for Christian business people.
We are called to be the light in a world of darkness and salt to season our communities and culture. What better way to do that then to become excellent in our professions and leaders in our industries!
Influence through excellence ought to be the strategic goal for every Christian business person and every Christian business.
When business excellence intertwines with our transparent Christianity, the impact can be enormous.
I remember hearing Zig Ziglar speak at the annual conference for the National Speaker’s Association a number of years ago. The first words out of his mouth were to praise Christ and give a short version of his personal testimony. Then, onto a memorable keynote speech. Zig set the bar for excellence in his profession
and used the influence that came with excellence to point to Christ.
We can’t be another Zig Ziglar, with his influence and platform, but we can have a similar impact on the communities and industries in which we find ourselves.
Imagine the impact on our culture, economy and political environment if every industry were led by a Christian company.
Imagine if the movers and shakers within every profession were the Christians who had earned that position through excellence.
We could frame the discussion nationally, impact legislation, and touch and empower millions of citizens. Our commitment to individual responsibility, kindness, fairness and character development, to name a few, would leap to the top of the national dialogue. We would have the ear of the lobbyists, and the political powers would seek our insights. Millions of employees, vendors and customers
would see what it is like to deal with integrity, love and concern...[Read More]
