A spiritual business or job gives you excitement and a sense of purpose. It makes getting out of bed every day a real joy! Any job can be a spiritual job. This episode will show you how!

Coming up on this week's podcast episode:

• Magic words that change your life.
• How to know God is on your side.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around

Tip Of The Week

What you say is what you experience. Change your language

Spiritual Foundations

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

Is God really on your side? How can you know for sure?

Feature Segment: How to Have a Spiritual Business

Peter Drucker shared a story of three stonecutters who were asked what they were doing. The first said, ‘I am making a living.’ The second kept on working while he said, ‘I am doing the best job of stonecutting in the entire country.’ The third one looked up with a visionary gleam in his eyes and said, ‘I am building a cathedral.’ These workers were building the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. That third man had found the secret of spiritual business.

The difference between the first and third men is vast. The third is fulfilled, fueled by passion and meaning. Yet they have the same job.

How can you have the same experience, no matter what your job might be?

Inverted Life Pyramid

1. Faith
2. Fitness
3. Family
4. Finance

7 Tactics For a Spiritual Business

1. Know what you believe.
2. Know why you believe.
3. Do no meaningless work.
4. Speak no meaningless talk.
5. Create massive value.
6. Practice forgiveness.
7. Profit!

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

What do you do if business is not so good? Do you blow a pile of money on standard media advertising, like radio and newspaper, and hope for the best?  Do you drain your retirement account savings to keep the business afloat? Do you close down the shop, and stick a sign in the window that says, “the economy did it”?

Or do you use a proven, reliable formula to turn your business around? Seems to me that last idea is the best. And that's what this week's episode is all about. How to turn your business around, in any economy.

Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

On this week's podcast episode:

• The power of storytelling to grow your business.
• Why your level of faith doesn't matter.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to  Turn Your Business Around

Tip Of The Week

You can change the quality of your life by changing the quality of your stories. Decide how you want your life to be, and tell that story. Even before it's a fact.

Spiritual Foundations

All things are possible for one who believes.
Mark 9:23

Most modern Christians have been taught this verse means if we have more faith, that all things are possible. In other words, if we can believe, God will intervene on our behalf. He will bring our miracle. If we can't believe, then were out of luck and God is not going to help us.

I don't think that's what this verse means at all. Let's look at it in context, and let's also look at how the original language (Greek) is structured.

First, what's the context of this verse? A boy is brought to Jesus who is possessed by a demon. The boys father says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us.” Jesus points out that the family, and even his own disciples, have very little or no faith. He calls them “faithless”. Then he goes on to say, ” If you can! all things are possible for one who believes.” So just from the context of the story, it seems that Jesus is talking about himself when he says all things are possible for the one who believes. He's the only one present who has any faith.

Pastor Joseph Prince points out that if you study the Greek structure of the verse, it’s actually saying, “Can you believe that all things are possible to him who is always believing?”

it's not about how much faith you have. It's not about what you believe, it's about who you believe. Believe Jesus, whose faith is always constant. If you can believe that all things are possible for Jesus… That he makes all things possible for you.

Have faith in the one whose faith is perfect on your behalf.

Feature Segment: How to  Turn Your Business Around

Business success, in any economy, consists of about 20% technical skills, and 80% psychology. What you believe about your business, your ability to generate profit, and what is possible determines whether or not you will be successful. You can't ignore reality, but you can intentionally influence it.

Four Required Steps to Turning Your Business Around

1. Decide it's possible
2. See the situation as it is
3. See the situation better than it is
4. Do what is required to make it the way you see it

Nine Business Saving Tactics

1. Contact previous customers
2. Improve the physical environment
3. Improve the sales conversation
4. Generate referrals
5. Generate fresh leads
6. Follow-up relentlessly
7. Measure everything
8. Control expenses
9. Increase marketing

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Have a Spiritual Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

What if you could  become smarter as little as 24 hours? What if you could remember more, come up with more ideas, and think more quickly than ever before?

This is eminently possible, and I've got the “get smarter recipe” coming up in today's episode.

Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

On this week's podcast episode:

•  A new process for better copy.
•  When you feel separated from God… what to do.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to be smarter!

Tip Of The Week

Read Copy Logic for a new and better system of improving sales copy. This simple book lays out a system for improving the results you get from your sales copy. And copywriters will love it.

When this book was first recommended to me, I was skeptical. It sounded like a book about how to critique copy. I have written lots of copy for clients, and endured many “critique” sessions. Usually, those critique sessions result in weaker copy. They are often a vehicle to stroke the client's ego. Rarely do they result in better sales copy.

This book is different. It lays out a step-by-step, easy-to-follow system for improving your sales copy that is both humane and effective. And nobody gets their ego wounded or inflated. Every piece of copy I turn out from now on will go through the Copy Logic system. It just makes sense. And you can't argue with the million-dollar results it has produced.

Spiritual Foundations

I was talking with a friend of mine, we began to speak of God. My friend said, “I don't think I'm on such good terms with God right now. I'm not sure he would answer any of my prayers.” This made me very sad, because it is the result of poor understanding of the Bible. Too many of us have this picture of a “fire and brimstone” kind of God. In reality God is all loving, and he himself has declared that he will not hold our sins against us.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12

Thoughts that make us feel condemned or cut off from God don't come from heaven. Those kinds of thoughts come from the devil himself. You may call him the adversary, or the enemy, or even “the resistance”. Whatever you name him, he's real, and he would like nothing better than to cut you off from your father in heaven.

Once you have accepted the gift that Jesus offers-full payment for all your sin-the deal is done. There's no more need to confess, or to keep a running list of your sins. Why would you keep a list that God has promised to forget? Be conscious of the fact that he himself has made you perfect, and watch his blessing flow into your life.

Feature Segment: How to Be Smarter

The first proposal I make is that you are neither “smart” nor “stupid”-but you can easily enter into either state. The real question becomes, how do you optimize yourself to be in “smart” state more often, and to be in “high smart” most of the time?

“Inner Game versus Outer Game Of Intelligence”

Nine Ways to Be Smarter Tomorrow

1. Sleep Better
2. Drink More Water
3. Eat Only Plants
4. Breathe More
5. Move More
6. Ask Better Questions
7. Increase Inputs
8. Write Down Your Ideas
9. Become a Noticer

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Turn Your Business Around”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

What if instead of chasing after business, you could have business chasing after you? That's exactly what happens for me, and in this week's episode am going to tell you how to build a system that helps you attract business.

May I ask for your help? Please subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  What are your success rituals?
•  My update on “The One Thing”.
• Plus, our feature presentation…  How to Attract Business

Tip Of The Week

From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

So how is this working out for me? Listen to the podcast audio to find out.

Spiritual Foundations

Recently, I was reading a book called Business for the Glory of God. I began to wonder, just what is the “glory of God”? Guess what? There is an answer, and it is important for us to know it.

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Exodus 33:18-19

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

Do you not know that youare God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Co 3:16

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:22-23

Feature Segment: How to Attract Business

1. Value
2. Positioning & Authority
3. Hub & Spoke
4. Traffic, Lead, Conversion Systems
5. Path

I am conducting a webinar training that details how to do all this two days from now. Click here for details.

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Be Smarter”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

What if you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in my own business. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how you can do the same.

I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

•  An update on the “five things” productivity tactic (hint: five is too many).
•  An alternative to BaseCamp that works.
• Plus, our feature presentation… How to Consult With God

Tip Of The Week

Update on “5 Things”… it's now “1 Thing”. From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

While I do love (and use) BaseCamp, I am trying out a new tool for managing projects that could be even simpler. Meet BizPad.

Spiritual Foundations

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5

Sometimes we think God is only interested in “spiritual things”. That he has no interest in the material world, and neither should we.

This is not a Judeo-Christian idea. It is an idea that sprouts from Greek thinking, and specifically is at the root of a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed, among many things, that the material world was evil and that only the spiritual world could be pure and unsullied. This led them to believing that Jesus was a ghost, and not an actual man.

The truth is from the beginning God wanted to partner with human beings to comp is his purposes. This is why Adam and Eve were put in charge of the garden. They were given assignment, and this was before the fall. So work, and the material world, are not evil, and are not results of the fall.

What's my point?

When God created the world, he looked at his creation and said it was good. We should relax and enjoy the fact that we can have fun while working, that we are interested in what we do, and celebrate the fact that God made us the way he did. I think he enjoys what we enjoy. And thus, I think he's interested in every aspect of our lives. That he longs to give input, supply answers, and help us out. Just as we long to do the same for our own children.

 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13

Feature Segment: How to Consult With God

If you separate God from any part of your life, you are not having the full experience of God, nor of that part of your life. Business is no exception.

These days, if I am asked if I personally have a consultant for my business, my answer is yes. I have the very best consultant available. God.

Now, most people probably assume that I mean I run my business according to godly principles. Principles that I find in Scripture, or that I am taught by pastors and teachers. While this is true (to the best of my ability, and as God enables me), this is not really what I mean.

Or rather, it is not all that I mean.

I mean that I consult with my father in heaven every day about my business. I’m in constant dialogue with him about what things to work on, what to write, even how to solve specific challenges and problems I encounter along the way.

So how do you do it? How do you ask God for answers? How do you ask him for help? Here are five steps I have found useful

1. Know that God is interested, willing, and able. From Scripture we know that he has even counted the number of hairs on your head. We know that one man came to Jesus with the problem and said Jesus could heal him “if he was willing”… And another man came to Jesus and asked for help, “if you are able”… And the answer Jesus gave to both was yes. He was willing, he was able. He healed everyone who came to him.
2. Realize that you are qualified for God’s help. Jesus stepped into the gap between us and God. He solved the “sin problem” once and for all. So just place your faith in him, and know that you don’t have to “clean up your act” or “make amends” before he will be willing to help you.
3. Be intentional about what you are asking. If you are asking for an answer, be specific in your question. If you are asking for help, be specific in your request. I suggest writing down what you are asking for.
4. Offer thanks immediately. In Philippians we are told to make our requests known to God, with “prayer and thanksgiving”. Notice how many times Jesus thanked his father… before the miracle happened. There is a unique opportunity to thank God after your request has been made and before you've seen the answer with your eyes.
5. Expect and look for the answer. Whether you have asked God for an idea, a connection with a person, or just a miraculous infusion of money, so you can meet payroll… be looking for the answer. Have hope.

What if God doesn’t answer?

Or what if he says no?

First, I think the number of times God says “no” is much lower than we believe it is. For instance, when we pray for physical healing, it is clear from reading Scripture that it is always God’s will for us to be healed. He paid a high price so that this could be the case. So if the healing doesn’t come, there is some answer other than the one that puts God in the position of being a liar.

I believe that when we pray, something always happens. Always.

Maybe we don’t see it, maybe we don’t see it yet, or maybe it comes in a form that we don’t recognize.

It’s helpful to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily his denials.

A useful question that has helped me navigate these waters is one I learned from Graham Cook. When faced with a difficult situation, and no apparent answer from God, I ask him, “Who does God want to be for me in this situation?”

I have received some of the deepest answers to my own prayers by asking God that question.

You can ask for God’s help, for answers, and even for direct assistance. And he will answer you. Try it.

Listener Questions

We heard from these listeners this week:

• Sonya Ramsey asks  how to avoid making your business into an idol.
• Anette Bone wants to know how we can be sure we are in God's will.
• Summer Alexander asks if the changes she made to her business were really God-inspired.
• Mary Rose Macguire wonders if she's really hearing God's voice, or her own.
• Pam McCall has a great testimony of God's provision for one of her clients.
• Laura Viviana when you ask God for something, but it hasn't come yet, how do you deal with it?
• Rich Bradfield  asks how we keep ourselves an alignment with what God is doing.
• Tony Policci  asks how we pose a question to God and get a specific answer.
• Laura McClellan  wonders how we know when we are motivated by profit, as opposed to being motivated by the spirit.
• Ilene Saidel asks for my favorite scripture to pray for new customers.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:17)

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
(Proverbs 11:24-26)

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Attract Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

Your Feedback

Do you have an idea for a podcast you would like to hear? Do you have a question that you like to ask me? Please contact me.

Call in your questions or comments to our new, fancy “request line” at (509) 713-2679 or click here to leave a message on my Voicemail Page

And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.