I know everyone who starts a small business wants to be successful. It’s okay. It’s required to have some level of financial success or we won’t be in business long. But, to me that is just a start.
I think as a Christian in business we strive for more. It isn’t just about revenues and profits. I call the other metrics in my business Kingdom metrics. These are other ways that you measure your business impact. How many people you can provide a job for? What your business can do to give back in the community? And simple day to day things like: Did I keep all of my commitments today? Did I treat others the way that I would want to be treated?
Sharing Business Connections
Today, I wanted to talk about another way I measure my business impact. It is a really important Kingdom metric for me.
Helping connect business services in my community.
Here is a great example. A couple of years ago I found a CPA who has her own practice with a couple of bookkeepers. They are experts at Quickbooks. She is personable, reliable and shares my Christian values. Since meeting her and using her for my own project, I began to refer her to others. I refer her to my clients because it helps my clients. But it also helps her. I also refer her to my friends and family. Telling people about Starbucks or the latest Apple product may be beneficial to these companies, but referring 10 or 12 people to a small business can make a significant impact.
I know this from personal experience. I helped a director of a Christian counseling center to figure out some ways to manage their practice more efficiently. Since then she has written testimonials for me and referred many of my best business clients to me. She has made a significant impact in my business. Although I have thanked her profusely and offered to help her any time she needs it, I still don’t know if she realizes what a positive impact she has made in my practice.
The same thing goes for my marketing creative guy. I have told everyone about him, including my brother-in-law. He isn’t in my local community, but his work is online. So the whole world wide web is really his community. He has helped so many people I have referred to him. I pray it also helps him.
The Reward Is Priceless
I received a letter from a local business thanking me for my referrals. It was heartfelt. I didn’t make a dime off of these referrals, but this was as meaningful to me as a measurement of my business impact, as the revenues I generated last week.
Who in your community, local or online, are you spreading the word about? Make a difference in another small business and share your connections. You will be amazed at the positive impact it will have….for them, and for you!
So true- but hardly done! My experience is people hold onto their network for dear life, often afraid they will loose something if they share. I find the more I give out the more I get back in return. I love connecting others and helping to make their businesses prosperous, when they grow our whole community benefits.
I agree…hopefully in th end we will have people we know and trust helping us and get to avoid some of the not so great services and products out there!
Thanks sue. This is my second time to read this one. I have an idea that’s been stewing in my brain. First time to share it with someone besides my wife. For a term community center with a twist. Move my insurance office into a residential area or close to one and make a Christian presence there to really change the landscape of that community. Open other businesses provide jobs, services and spiritual support like after school program to that area. Anyway its hard for me to write down what’s in my head. But you have inspired me.
That is great Bryan. You should try mind mapping all of your ideas. There is a free program called MindNode that you can mind map on the computer! There are so many who do need help in our communities. I know this is the type of calling that must be a God-vision!
What a great post! It has encouraged me to keep going and do what I’m doing (but probably should be doing more of.) This post reminds me of the movie “Miracle on 34th Street” where Macy’s referred some of their customers on to other stores when it was to their benefit.
I think as Christian business owners, we need to do the same. And I love what you said about the bigger companies – yes it can help them, but it can REALLY help a small business.
I would love to have a group of like-minded people who want to help and refer each other. Anyone game?