PART 2 – DILIGENCE (Continued)
Proverbs 27:23 says: “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.” If you read the verses following this opening statement, to get the context, you will find a picture of someone who is always on the alert, always watching every detail, always checking on how the business is running. This is supervision, and evaluation, in practise.
Your business may be very simple, in which case you will not need to put much supervision in, but more complicated businesses need more effort. Check the stock, the sales, the overheads, the staff, wages, insurance and so on. Keep a tally of everything week by week. Do some counting and jot down totals. See if changes can improve performance. Try new things and note the results.
One Internet web manager told us that even the slightest change in the entry point window, on the screen, had quite a large effect on the number of people who stayed to look further. So check your front window, literally. How does your shop look from the road? Is it grey and boring, or bright and exciting? Does your window display attract or repel people?
Getting back to the passage in Proverbs, think of the farmer doing the rounds. As he walks about his farm, he marks the sheep that are not doing well, and he looks at the soil he is sowing into. He estimates the coming weather, and makes changes to suit. He thinks about the market, and considers what might make the most or least money, then he changes his production accordingly.
The Bible promise is that if one is diligent to do these things, one will have: “goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidens.” Which means there will be money and food for your family and servants. Your business will meet all your material needs. But this provision is conditional, and it hinges on whether you do your part properly.
Obviously, from this it is easy to see that running a business is not a matter of opening a shop, putting some things into it, and hoping people come and buy. It is an intelligent activity, which involves a lot of planning. It takes foresight, wise decisions and consideration of many factors.
How to run a business using Bible principles – Introduction
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 1
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 3
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 4
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 5
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 6
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 7
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 8
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 9
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 10
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 11
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 12
How to run a business using Bible principles – Part 13