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- Feb 9, 2004
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Keep Building - February 07, 2006
Are you still building and creating? Or have your energies been diverted?
I was privileged to speak recently at the Gospel Communications International annual dinner. I wanted to impress on the crowd of several hundred supporters that, after many decades of progress, Gospel Communications continues to be in the building and creating stage. That's a compliment and not an easy task for any organization.
I've learned there are four stages in the life of many businesses, churches, and other organizations:
The first is the building stage, a time when everyone is excited about creating something from nothing and energies are poured into making the organization bigger and better.
The second is when energies begin to be diverted from growing an organization to managing what has been built.
Stage three is defending, when the primary concern is holding on to what's been achieved and defending the organization from competition.
Fourth is the blaming stage, when energies are turned inward and people fight among themselves to divide the spoils when things start to go downhill.
After serving as chairman of Gospel Communications for more than three decades I was in a position to remind people at the dinner that evening of something significant: the organization continues to meet the challenge of staying in the building and creative stage.
They have remained true to their mission of proclaiming the gospel through media. They continue to create new ways to reach more people in more countries. They have successfully passed on leadership and responsibilities to young people with creative ideas and passion. Going forward, they have decided to focus on the simple purpose of "Getting the Word out."
Whatever your organization family, church, business, favorite charity ask yourself if you are still in the exciting creative stage or if you've been sidetracked from your mission by management, defending or blaming. Do you have goals for your marriage or family? Is your church still true to its essential mission of evangelism? Does your business have creative ideas for growth?
God created the world, but each day is a new creation. He continues to instill each newly created child with the potential to help build a better world. If your creation is in a downward spiral, go back to stage one, and rekindle your passion for building.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
Are you still building and creating? Or have your energies been diverted?
I was privileged to speak recently at the Gospel Communications International annual dinner. I wanted to impress on the crowd of several hundred supporters that, after many decades of progress, Gospel Communications continues to be in the building and creating stage. That's a compliment and not an easy task for any organization.
I've learned there are four stages in the life of many businesses, churches, and other organizations:
The first is the building stage, a time when everyone is excited about creating something from nothing and energies are poured into making the organization bigger and better.
The second is when energies begin to be diverted from growing an organization to managing what has been built.
Stage three is defending, when the primary concern is holding on to what's been achieved and defending the organization from competition.
Fourth is the blaming stage, when energies are turned inward and people fight among themselves to divide the spoils when things start to go downhill.
After serving as chairman of Gospel Communications for more than three decades I was in a position to remind people at the dinner that evening of something significant: the organization continues to meet the challenge of staying in the building and creative stage.
They have remained true to their mission of proclaiming the gospel through media. They continue to create new ways to reach more people in more countries. They have successfully passed on leadership and responsibilities to young people with creative ideas and passion. Going forward, they have decided to focus on the simple purpose of "Getting the Word out."
Whatever your organization family, church, business, favorite charity ask yourself if you are still in the exciting creative stage or if you've been sidetracked from your mission by management, defending or blaming. Do you have goals for your marriage or family? Is your church still true to its essential mission of evangelism? Does your business have creative ideas for growth?
God created the world, but each day is a new creation. He continues to instill each newly created child with the potential to help build a better world. If your creation is in a downward spiral, go back to stage one, and rekindle your passion for building.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
