How A Youth Business Training Became a Millennial Focus Group for Community Transformation7/21/2015 If you have been working in ministry or the community for any amount of time it is not uncommon for God to work in ways that are not necessarily mysterious, but are definitely unexpected. Recently, I was facilitating a youth business training with Greater Works Vocational Discipleship Program for a group of at-risk youth in Atlanta. I had my lesson plan laid out to teach them how to start a purpose driven business. However, I found as I was going through my curriculum, it was not connecting with them. I tried different "trainer techniques" to get them to engage, but nothing seemed to work. It wasn't until I started focusing more on asking them questions than teaching content did I start to make a connection. I began inquiring about the problems they saw in their communities and the causes they believed were the culprits. The energy in the room skyrocketed when I became the student and I opened myself to be taught by them. At that moment I had two choices: 1) stick to what I had planned to teach them, or 2) become a sponge so that I could better determine how best to reach them based on what they were facing. Fortunately, I chose the latter. So what began as a youth entrepreneurship training became a millennial focus group for community transformation. It was very revealing what they saw as the issues and causes in their own communities, as well as some of the potential solutions. The top 4 issues they listed were:
That's why we need more Joshua's to lead the younger generation to their promise land. Sometimes it's easy for adults to talk at or over teenagers without really talking to them to hear their perspectives. With the complex issues that we are facing our communities these days, it behooves all of us to seek wisdom from whatever source God may bring it. You can learn more about how Kinsman Community Ministries is working with youth to transform their communities through social enterprises at www.mykinsman.org/youth. Project THRIVE is a collaboration between Redemption and Advancement Alliance and Kinsman Inc., in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine and Villages at Carver Family YMCA in South Atlanta. Our focus is on empowering men with challenging backgrounds and circumstances to make "Healthy Choices for a Successful Life." Our first event was held on January 24th. We had several session including fitness, nutrition, sexual health, drug and alcohol addiction awareness training, and mental/emotional awareness. From excellent instructors to a professional chef, the 15 attendees had a great time and provided very useful feedback which we'll use to develop our long-term programming. It was a great success and the men provide great feedback with which we'll use to develop a long-term program. Stay tuned for the next event! Learn more at www.redeem-advance.org Leave your comments below... Did you know the manifestation of your dream was meant to be a gift from God that keeps giving to others? On the most recent Sunday night Dream Catalyst Weekly Prayer Call I taught about the Parable of the Ten Minas found in Luke 19. One of the key principles gleaned from this parable - similar to the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25 - is that the most significant reward for our faithfulness is not money. Instead it's responsibility that's connected to influence over people. We must recognize that the dream given to us by God comes with His expectation that through the fulfillment of our dreams our lives will continually be a blessing to others. Click here to listen to the prayer call and download the teaching notes. Have a blessed day! Feel free to write your comments below...
Here's a quick survey to determine how truly ready you are for 2015 to be the greatest year ever in your business:
If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions then you need to join me for a special tele-seminar, Dream Mapping for Entrepreneurs, tonight at 8 PM EST. Call-in: (712) 432-0850 Access code: 1030781# You have been in the wilderness of your dreams for too long. It's time for you to take over your promise land! Please leave your comments below... Leaders are learners, which is why at Kingdom Business University we're committed to developing and delivering powerful learning experiences that help Christian entrepreneurs to grow spiritually and financially. That's why we're offering this #CyberMonday special to you as a great incentive to put some powerful resources in your business toolkit.
Everything in the KBU Online Store is 30% off with a special discount code. We are committed to helping transform urban communities through faith-based small business startup and job creation initiatives. As such, 20% of the proceeds from your purchases will go to support our community development partner, Kinsman, Inc. To take advantage of this discount just logon to store.kbuonline.com and use discount code: SBS30 at checkout to take advantage of your special deal. Please partner with us where you can do well by doing some good. And let's keep growing together! Did you know that fewer than half of American workers were satisfied with their jobs in 2013, according to a recent survey from the Conference Board? I believe one reason is that too many people have tried to fit their vocation into their occupation. What do I mean by that? The origin of the word vocation is “spiritual calling.” I would venture to say that most people don’t feel very “spiritual” about their 9 to 5. Your vocation goes beyond the job you do everyday. Your true vocation is linked to your life purpose. Unfortunately, not enough people understand their life purpose or do what’s necessary to pursue to a career that becomes a reflection of that. In a perfect world, of course, your occupation by default would be your vocation. But for most people that’s not the case. Many in the workforce are frustrated because they have a deep yet unfulfilled desire to do work they believe exemplifies and flows from their life purpose. Unfortunately, they don’t know how to make that a reality. With a deeper understanding of vocation, you can make the shift from work frustration to fulfillment. If you’re looking for a way to transition from the mundane to the meaningful; from working just for the money to work that is purposeful and fulfilling, click here to learn more about a free resource that would be of great benefit to you. Have you been able to find an occupation that closely aligns with your purpose? How did you do it? Looking forward to your comments. Different day. Same results. One definition of insanity is continually doing the same thing, but expecting different results. This applies to many people in their career pursuits. They put their dreams on hold while working at a job they don’t like, for people who don’t appreciate their talents, and for pay that doesn’t reflect their true value or contributions. Their hope is that “one day” they will be able to pursue what’s really in their hearts. Sadly, “one day” often never comes for the majority of people who live/work like this. Since January 2008, millions of jobs had been lost. And although the unemployment rate has been dropping steadily, there are still millions of people stuck in the rut of underemployment or misemployment. I’m wondering how many of these people continue to focus their attention on seeking jobs in places that are paying people less than they are worth. I’m wondering how many people are sending out hundreds of resumes, competing against hundreds (or thousands) of other applicants in the hopes that a recruiter or hiring manager will be able to sift through the embellishments and enhancements to see them for the wonderfully talented, uniquely qualified, and distinctly special individuals that they are. So many people are searching for acceptance from a corporation without truly understanding or appreciating their own self worth. They are caught in an unending cycle of chasing something that only wants them for what they can produce versus who they are as individuals. In any other situation this type of relationship would be unacceptable. However, in career pursuits people tend to just accept this arrangement rather than pursuing a job/career path where their value is clearly recognized and highly appreciated. Make the Jump from Frustration to Fulfillment That's why I'm excited to offer a FREE online coaching program, Make the Jump from Frustrated Employee to Fulfilled Entrepreneur, to help you build an effective "on ramp" to find a fulfilling career path that's connected to your purpose through the vehicle of entrepreneurship. This is not a multi-level marketing program or get-rich-quick scheme. This is an opportunity for you to discover the gold that's inside of you and transform it into a thriving enterprise that not only impacts you but all those in your circle of influence. This FREE program launches October 20th, so go to www.incmydream.com today to learn more. Don’t embrace the insanity that is often disguised as a job search. Life is too short to be stuck doing jobs that are unfulfilling, unchallenging, unsustainable, and don’t allow you to flourish as a professional and as a human being. Make the jump! Please write your comments below... CLICK HERE FOR A FREE CAREER COACHING PROGRAM! Salespeople are not evil. Marketers are not inherently deceitful. Brand strategists aren't all trying to get over on you. The truth is you can succeed in business without being a jerk or manipulator. You can be the best salesperson without succumbing to the pressures of the marketplace to cut corners or take advantage of people. Watch the video below to hear some interesting perspectives that you may not have considered before as it relates to your sales, marketing, and branding activities... Related article: Love Thy Customers and Other Radical Strategies to Grow a Flourishing Business Leave your comments below... "The path of God's choosing is blessed. The path of your choosing is stressed." J. Calvin Tibbs On this Labor Day, this is just a small reminder that your work is blessed when it has been assigned by God. Whether you're an entrepreneur or employee, anything that you're doing outside of His direction or permission will always prove to be much more challenging than it would be otherwise. Even when it's assigned by God that doesn't guarantee that you won't have challenges, but at least you will have God's grace to empower you to get it done. God's ways are always profitable for you, especially as it relates to your business or career. Don't embrace the world's system that says the harder you work the more valuable you are. In the Kingdom, God is not looking at how hard you work. He's evaluating how obedient you are. Obedience leads to being blessed. Disobedience leads to stress. When you follow God's plan, you will be able to enjoy your holidays and your work days! Related article: Are You Working By Grace or By Grind? Leave your comments below... Entrepreneurship is often one of the overlooked areas in life where we have the opportunity and ability to express our divine DNA in a significant way. It not only empowers the person who exercises these creative gifts. The recipients of God-inspired, value-adding good works can receive the benefits of solutions that bring real, positive, lasting change to their lives. When this is happening on a local and global scale through entrepreneurial Christians, the world will really see our lights shine through our good works and glorify God in Heaven. This is especially relevant as it relates to helping people get out of poverty. Often times those in our society who have been disenfranchised, disregarded, and discarded don't recognize the fact that they were made in the image of God and have innate abilities to change their situation. They must be reminded of the greatness that God has placed in them and be invited into environments where that greatness has the opportunity to mature. This is our primary focus and commitment at Kinsman, Inc. We are committed to creating opportunities and environments that empower people to recognize their God-given purpose, gifts, and internal assets to become change agents in their families and communities. For many this could result in launching and growing a profitable, purpose-driven business. For others the outcome may be a higher valuation of their own self-worth, which gives them the confidence to pursue opportunities in the workplace they never before thought they could attain. The book that I recently released, Inc. My Dream: A God Inspired Process to Turn Your BIG Idea Into a Dream Business, helps to support this vision. It was written with the intent to equip people to tap into the entrepreneurial mind of Christ and activate the divine characteristics of entrepreneurship that He put in them to solve problems and change lives through business ventures. It contains Biblical insights, practical instructions, and inspirational energy to help aspiring entrepreneurs build an actionable business strategy around their idea, so they can transform it from a concept into a profitable reality. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to support the $100,000 budget that we have established for our programs over the next 12 months, which include:
Click here to purchase your copy of Inc. My Dream on Amazon.com The spirit of entrepreneurism reflects the divine nature of the Father. We are going to help restore this needed attribute in families and communities. Please join us in this venture. Leave your comments below... |
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