C12 Mid-Atlantic

As business leaders, we will undoubtedly face challenges within our work. But God did not design work to be a burden, but to be a gift, an opportunity, and a blessing. Let's carry that eternal perspective with us today!

"Only after you’ve figured out where you want to go should you move to the operational challenge of figuring out the specific steps you’ll need to take on the inside in order to get there." We love how Graham Kenny draws a clear distinction between strategy and execution. We develop our strategies first, then figure out how to execute them.

When Tom Darby of TMD Machining, Inc. applied lean principles to his business, he pulled his employees into the process. He didn't view this as simply a way to increase efficiency, but also as an opportunity to make his employees' work more meaningful through their contributions.

Strategic planning is a skill, like any other business skill. It's not a one-time task to complete but an ongoing process. In C12, we use the Business as a Ministry (BaaM) Strategic Planning Framework to help us design strategic plans for our companies. How do you approach strategic planning? Is there a tried-and-true method you rely on?

When we allow God to transform our perspective, our actions become more intentional, our joy increases, and our work gains deeper significance. What parts of your role do you struggle to find purpose in? How can you invite God into those moments?

Regardless of industry, location, or size, businesses share a common goal of creating and maintaining efficient, value-driven systems. In our October C12 Business Forums, we'll examine lean principles and how they can be applied in our companies. Would you like to discuss lean principles with like-minded business leaders and CEOs? We would love to connect you with a C12 Business Forum in your area.

Stewarding our businesses for God's glory is a great responsibility, but also a great joy. We work with an eternal purpose, which gives a whole new life to our work. What would it look like for you to view your work through the lens of Business as a Ministry (BaaM)? What might God do in and through your company?

Strategic planning isn't just about maximizing profits. Steve Hooper and his team charted a course to serve their employees even more effectively, honoring God with Sunday Cool, LLC. So encouraging to see!

"Small decisions about where to focus and what to do throughout your day may feel inconsequential, but their impacts accumulate." What a wonderful reminder that we can greatly increase our effectiveness through small but important decisions.

Robust Good Health is a classic C12 concept that clarifies and optimizes company-wide performance potential. Like Mike points out, Robust Good Health helps prevent both wasting resources and unsustainable over-performance that leads to burnout.