Faciliator Guide
Starter Guide for starting a business connect group
To help you get started, here is a checklist of things to consider before starting your business connect.
- Consistent location:
A consistent place to meet. Ideally somewhere private like a board/meeting room. The same place builds stability and leads to consistent growth. Consider and communicate accessibility. Transport parking etc.
Outside of your group, encourage members of the group to connect outside of official meetings. This is a great way to strengthen relationships and build community.
- Consistent times:
The same day and time each month (or at least every second month). This helps people plan ahead and notifies them of the next one with plenty of notice (ideally at least two weeks).
Always start and finish on time.
If the conversation will keep going make an official close and give people a chance to leave on time. Then allow the conversation to continue. People must trust that they can come and plan their morning according to a concise schedule.
WhatsApp is a great way to communicate with others, especially in business. It allows you to have a private chat group with people and it’s easy to reach out and add new people to your group.
The following are a few tips to help you build a strong group.
- Use the description of the chat to describe where and when you meet. Eg address and schedule of the next few months.
- As people join the group ask them to introduce themselves and share what they do and what they’re looking forward to with joining the group.
- Consider a text once a week to the group, a thought or encouragement. Or resource share. Keep it concise, faith-filled, and uplifting.
- Ensure people know they can reach out for prayer or support.
- Encourage and give permission for interaction in the group.
- If you have a lot of new faces, let people share their LinkedIn profiles.
- Hosting
Hosting a group for the first time can be a daunting task. You want to make sure you have everything covered and that it runs smoothly.
Here are a few tips to make sure that your group is a success:
- Before the video starts
- Always be aware of newer people. Reach out individually and thank people for coming.
- Give people time to mingle before starting your presentation or discussion. This will help them get comfortable with one another and get ready for whatever comes next!
- Consider having refreshments and snacks (not essential) or letting people know where they can get good coffee beforehand. Or offer to take it in turn for someone to do a coffee run.
- After the video finishes
- Start with easy questions to break the ice. “What was your biggest takeaway from that…”
- Encourage conversation, it may be awkward silences to start!
- Appreciate people’s contributions and as much as possible always ensure every person has a chance to comment or share.
- Ensure that people don’t hijack the group… if someone’s talking too much, then politely interject and say “it might be great to hear from others in the group”.
- Growing the group:
- Using the link to join a WhatsApp group is a handy tool. As people can forward it to those who are interested.
- If you’re meeting online, send the Zoom link to friends and ask them to distribute it to anyone they know.
- Speak to your local pastor about sharing about the group to the church or within certain settings.
As a business owner, there are so many things you have to do to. It’s easy to get distracted. However, building and growing a bible community is one of the best things you can do for your business. More than just providing a space for people to congregates, these communities become incubators for scripture to sharpen, the Holy Spirit to encourage, and Jesus to disciple.
Notes
A Life of Multiplication
Monthly Business Connect Resources for you and your small group!
Below you will find the link to the video as well as the accompanying written resource. Check it out and may it expand you and those in your world!
Notes
Ride The Tsunami
The Only Constant in Life is Change.
- Change brings uncertainty (Fact).
- In response to this Uncertainty we (Choose) either:
- A Fear / Stress response.
- A Faith / Opportunity response.
Questions and Actions
Take for example, what is occurring in Australia at the moment:
- What is your default response in times of rapid change?
All of these events, bring change and pressure. Are you more resigned to the “fact” that this is just the time you are in? Or… Are you actively seeking ways to use this to your advantage? Discuss this in your group.
- Unemployment levels at their lowest in almost 50 years. (Increased pressure to attract and retain talent.)
- Interest rates rising rapidly. (Downward pressure on property prices, tighter lending criteria, increased mortgage repayments.)
- Global supply constraints due to Covid. (Increased prices for goods and services).
- Most would have lived and enjoyed the moment of such a time.
- Some would have saved a little.
- No-one saved and stored grain like Joseph.
Then Egypt’s seven good years came to an end and the seven years of famine arrived, just as Joseph had said. All countries experienced famine; Egypt was the only country that had bread. When the famine spread throughout Egypt, the people called out in distress to Pharaoh, calling for bread. He told the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you.” As the famine got worse all over the country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold emergency supplies to the Egyptians. The famine was very bad. Soon the whole world was coming to buy supplies from Joseph. The famine was bad all over. Genesis 41:53 – 42:17 (MSG)
A Case Study In What Not To Do – The Kodak Story
- 85% market share on camera sales.
- 90% market share on film sales.
- Sales exceeded US$10 Billion in 1980.
How does this happen and what can we learn from it?
- Kodak made some money when it sold a camera.
- Kodak made a bit more money when it sold film.
- Kodak made most the money when it processed the picture. (My money don’t jiggle, jiggle it folds, I like to see…… I think you get the idea!)
Questions and Actions:
(Note: Don’t let this exercise distract you from your core focus or day to day responsibilities.)
- List the waves of change that face your industry, geography or company.
- Next to each change, categorise them into the following 2 categories:
- Temporary (The wave will dissipate/fluctuate over time). Eg – changes in interest rates etc.
- Trend (The wave will continue to build over time). Eg – remote working arrangements.
- With a focal point for 3-6x months time.
- Which trends have the most potential to impact you?
- How are they are a threat?
- How are they an opportunity?
- Pick the top 1-2 opportunities.
- What are the next 3x steps that give you more clarity or certainty?
Questions and Actions:
Values in Corporate Leadership:
Traditional corporate leadership may express their values on a banner for all to see. They may include values such as “Integrity”, “Respect”, “Teamwork” etc. A description of each would be included to minimise misunderstanding. Now, whilst these are good and helpful, my personal experience is that they can be a little clunky (does that count as a word??) in the day to day. Try to distil your values into 1 or 2 questions that you can ask yourself and your team on the run. These questions are not designed to talk about every value you aspire to. They are questions that help you focus on the core of who you are or who you aspire to be. This exercise is a workshop in itself, so let me give a couple examples to help. Example 1 – Cavalry One of my previous companies was a Hybrid Cloud Company. It’s a great business where there was very little tolerance from customers if there was any downtime. At such pressure moments, it was easy to point the finger and blame others. This was a sure fire way to shift blame, erode personal responsibility and kill culture! The 2x Questions we used:The first question helped us to think about someone else (which got our eyes off ourselves and reduced the temptation to defend). The second question is one of self-efficacy and personal responsibility (which got our eyes off blame and onto personal improvement). Example 2 – 100X Legacy 100X Legacy is my core focus today. We believe that we should all be living a life of multiplication to give back to the Master Jesus. We want to play our part in helping our clients 100X their:
- What is the client perspective?
- Have you acted in a way that you are proud of yourself?
We believe you need all 3 to have a fulfilled life.
- Time
- Money
- Mission
The 2x Questions we ask today:
- Time + Money (But no Mission) = Meaningless.
- Time + Mission (But no Money) = Frustrated.
- Money + Mission (But no Time) = Squeezed.
- Time + Money + Mission = 100X Legacy
The first question helps keep our priorities right. You have to feel the love before you can trust the person who is guiding you through change. The second question helps us to respect our clients and ourselves. We want to be involved in work that we are proud of and our clients are proud to associate with. What 2x Questions could work for you and your team? Have a play, be happy to be copy, and discuss with your group.
- Do they feel the love?
- Was it excellent?
Questions and Actions
Values in Personal Leadership
Remember, organisations don’t change, churches don’t change, people do. The first people that need to change are the leaders. If you want to grow as a leader, you need to commit to:This is faaaaaaaaaaaaar easier said than done. It makes for a great slogan on a postcode and also doubles as an inspiring Instagram story. I mean heck, who doesn’t like hearing a story of someone who came from little, took ultimate responsibility and implemented lifelong learning to become an Astronaut, Navy Seal sniper, Neurosurgeon and an Olympic Gold Medalist for synchronised swimming? Here’s a framework to help you on the journey. The “I” and “R” Framework aka Know your Identity and know your Role. Giving and receiving feedback (which we need in order to change) can be hard to take/give if your feel your identity is under question. For example. Imagine you are receiving feedback from a friend or colleague. Friend: “It looks like you struggle in conflict situations. I either see you avoid it all together, or fawn over the person with an overemphasis on their positives without really addressing their improvement opportunities.” If you’re not comfortable in your Identity, you may respond with: “I know, but I am just such a nice person.” Someone has given you feedback on how you can improve in your role as a friend or leader. You have responded with a statement that refers to your character or identity. Your Identity and Role are seperate, and should be treated as such. The person providing feedback, wasn’t making a comment on your identity. They were giving you an improvement opportunity on your role. If you confuse the two, you will significantly stunt your growth and development. If your identity is secure and you realise it is seperate to your role, you would instead respond with further clarification questions such as:
- Lifelong Learning and continuous improvement.
- Ultimate responsibility with a focus on Being Good Vs Looking Good.
etc. Have a commitment to Be Good Vs Look Good. When you are receiving feedback (from the right person), don’t be defensive and don’t take it personally. Don’t waste their time trying to explain things that are not important to the feedback. Even if you disagree with some of what is said, respond with a statement that affirms what they said whilst letting them know that there are other mitigating factors (without the need to explain them). For example, “Yup, thank you for that. I’m going to take note on what has been said and chew on it. There are some other factors that influence the specifics of that example but I think your point is valid.” As we close off this section, here are three personal reflection questions I find helpful in my role as a leader:
- How long have you seen this?
- How does this affect others?
Have a chat with your small group.
- Would you follow you?
- Why would you follow you?
- How do you demotivate your team?
- The number one thing your team want, is progression.
- The number one thing you want as a leader, is momentum.
- How do you provide your team (and the people around you) a systematic opportunity to progress and grow? Adhoc doesn’t count!
- As a leader, do you think that the organisation is too dependent on you? Do you feel like you are a “Rome” leader?
- If the centre circle, represents 0, and the circumference represents 10.
- Reflecting back on the last two weeks:
- On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate each of the categories. Below are some supporting comments to help you through this process.
- Your relationship with God: This is not a question of your activity, projects or volunteering. It’s not about performance, rather relationship.
- Reflection Scripture: “I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’” Matthew 7: 22-23 MSG
- Your energy levels: As a leader, you set the energy ceiling for your team. If you are operating at energy level 7, then that will be the highest level of energy for your team (usually slightly lower).
- Your health status and approach: Is your approach to health taking you to where you want to go? As an example, I am now a Dad. One of my health goals is to be able to pick up my grandkids. Therefore, low stress and agility is more important to me than a six-pack. Are my current routines taking me to where I want to be? What’s missing?
- Your Personal Growth Status and Alignment: Are you a lifelong learner? Before the age of 18, you probably learnt how to read, write, add, subtract, ride a bike, kick a ball, fall in love plus a whole bunch of other things! When you write down what you have learnt after 18, is the list equally impressive or inspiring? How do you want to personally grow?
- Your Work? Having a job is different to building a career. Running a business is different to growing a team or growing impact. Does your work force you to be better or are you just busy?
- Your Finances: This is less about net worth and more about how you are managing and growing your finances? Are you wasteful? Are you stingy? Do you have a budget? Do you budget for generosity as well as saving and spending? Do you believe that you will never have wealth so you don’t even try? A couple little personal sayings I have around finances:
- “You can’t save your way to wealth. You save your way to invest, and you invest your way to wealth.”
- “Time is like money. Once you have spent it, its’ gone. Also, If you invest your time or money it will one day work for you.
- Your friends. Note: as you get older, quality becomes far more important than quantity. I’m personally at a stage where I want deep friendships over multiple associations. Who are the friends in your life that Proverbs 18:24 refers to that stick closer than a brother?
- Your Family. Are you prioritising the right things? If not for your immediate family, what of your extended or chosen family? Does your personal life reflect the life you want for your family? A helpful reminder for those with children. “Your children will not listen to what you say as much as they will follow who you are.” As an example, many parents encourage their children to be considerate of others and to possess an outward focus. If the parents are inwardly focussed on themselves, their families, personal goals etc with little though to anyone else, the children will copy the behaviour more than they will listen to the words.
- That has inspired you.
- That you are going to immediately implement as a result.
Notes
The Missing Ingredient
TIME + MONEY (BUT NO MISSION) = MEANINGLESS
MONEY AND MISSION (BUT NO TIME) = REGRETFUL
TIME AND MISSION (BUT NO MONEY) = FRUSTRATED
TIME + MONEY + MISSION = THE 100X LIFE.
A life where you return on what has been given to you that benefits the Master, you and others.
You find the 100X teachings in the Parable of the Talents.
A Parable where a Boss gathers 3 of his servants and delegates varying amounts of resource to
be responsible for.
1. The first is given one bag of gold.
2. The second, two.
3. The last, 5x bags of Gold.
It’s a parable that reveals insights about Gods expectations for how we live our lives.
1. It’s not about what we have, it’s about what we do with it.
The 2nd and 3rd servants (the ones who were given two and five bags of gold) risked,
immediately went to work, doubling the initial investment and earning the praise of the master
– “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little, I will put you in
charge of many things, come and share in the master’s happiness.”
One had 2 which became 4, the other had 5 which became 10. Yet both received the same
praise the master. It’s the return, not the amount that counts.
2. Being a hard worker and diligent on its own is not enough.
The 1st servant (who was given one bag of gold), very intentionally hid the money so no-one
could find it. He was so careful in both his planning and execution that he was able to retrieve
the money and return it back to the master in full, not even a single coin was lost. This
behaviour garnered the following response, “Wicked and lazy servant, take the bag of gold
from him and give it to the one who has ten. Throw that worthless servant into the darkness.”
It’s a harsh and direct response and prompts the question “How many of us falsely believe
that we are good stewards, when we are working very hard and diligently in in fear?
As we gather today, understand that you have been given much and that much is expected.
If we take a simple measure of net worth (not considering other factors such as access to health
care, stable government, safety, justice or political system etc)
How much net worth do you need to have to be in the top 50%, 10% and 1% of the world.
• $4,210 USD ($5,970 AUD) – Top 50%
• $93,000 USD ($131,000 AUD) – Top 10%
• $870,000 USD ($1.2M AUD) – Top 1%
Remember, we have been given much and much is expected.
Remember, working hard and diligently to protect the asset is not good enough.
God is expecting a return.
We must change.
1. To return to the master.
2. To live our best life.
3. To impact others.
Peter
WHAT’S BUSINESS GOT TO DO WITH EASTER?
EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING AND PRAYER
JOSHUA 1:3-9
ADVERSITY IS NOT YOUR ENEMY
Pastor Taiyo Konda and Peter Lowe discuss the theme of persevering through adversity. They emphasise the idea that obstacles and challenges should be seen as opportunities for growth and refinement rather than hindrances. They draw inspiration from the biblical teachings that highlight the importance of perseverance and the role it plays in shaping our character and faith.
The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, is famous for saying:
“THE IMPEDIMENT TO ACTION ADVANCES ACTION.
WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY BECOMES THE WAY.”
The things that you see as obstacles, are not barriers; they are pathways.
When viewing obstacles in a mere binary sense, we are only left with “win” or “loose”.
But what if there was a deeper purpose in the obstacles that we face in life?
What if there was more than just the external result we were pursuing?
What if (regardless of the outcome), there was an internal change that we should be seeking?
Just like sustained pressure over a long period builds diamonds, and irritations create oysters, so
does pressure and irritations build precious stones and jewels within you.
The ancient scriptures put it this way:
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
James 1:2-4
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
• What is a significant obstacle that you are facing now?
• What would you like to see change in the external? What would be the impact of this change: Today? In a year?
• As you wrestle with this obstacle, what are you learning and how are you growing?
• As you learn and grow in this specific wrestle, what would be the impact of this internal change: Today? In a year?
• Do you believe that regardless of the outcome, you can change for the better?
• Do you believe that the real opportunity is not in the external change that you are seeking, but in the internal change that is happening as you wrestle?
INSIDE THE TORNADO OF FAST GROWTH
COURAGE UNDER FIRE
I was told a story by my English teacher about an essay that received a full grade in the final High School exams.
As they nervously opened the paper to one of the most important academic tests of their life thus far, the student was confronted with the essay question: “What is Courage?”
The student, thought, wrestled, and debated in their head, until they penned the following words: “This is…”. Any more writing would reduce the impact of these two words that so accurately encapsulated the question.
Courage is the strength to act despite the danger, difficulty, or risk. Without danger, difficulty or risk, there is only comfort and convenience. Courage is something that we admire in others when we see it. It is something we would hope that we possess when the time calls for it.
There’s a fascinating story that we read in the ancient scriptures of an interaction between God and the Leader of an army named Joshua.
Joshua is about to embark on a military campaign that would take place across many years, with many battles, situations, losses and eventually victory. God gives a promise of the future to Joshua, but it would require two things of him,
“BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS. I WILL GIVE YOU EVERY LAND THAT YOU SET YOUR FOOT UPON.”
JOSHUA 1: 3-9
Notice, what it didn’t say. God didn’t say, “I will give you every land that you tap dance on, walk in circles on or dip your toe on.” God said, “I will give you every land that you set your foot upon.” To do this, you will need both strength and courage.
So many of us have big dreams and hopes and we believe in the God of the impossible. We start the journey, but end up walking in circles, impatient for the outcome and wondering where is God.