I recently posted the following thought on Twitter:

“Some days are for planting seed. Others for harvesting. But MOST DAYS are for preparing, tending, and waiting.”

It raised quite a ruckus and a chorus of “that’s the truth!”

Anyone who has been involved in gardening or farming knows this fundamental fact.

In the spring time, there’s a mad dash to till the soil and get the seed in the ground. In just a few days or weeks, the work is over.

Then we wait. Wait for the seed to come up.

Then we wait. Wait for the crop to grow.

Then we tend the crop by eliminating weeds and applying fertilizer.

Then we wait. And we prepare the equipment. We clean up the planting implements and prepare the harvesting equipment.

Then we wait. We wait for the time to harvest.

Then another mad dash occurs at harvest time. We work like crazy to get the crops “in the shed” before weather can destroy it.

Then we wait. And we prepare the equipment again for another season. We prepare the soil for the next growing season.

The same is true for your finances and in your leadership. There will be moments where it will require the “mad dash” of effort. Then there will be moments where it will be waiting, tending, and preparing.

It’s what you do in the “then we wait” moments that dictates how well you will perform in the “mad dash” times.

Are you preparing for your next mad dash? My book, OXEN – The Key To An Abundant Harvest, is a perfect resource to prepare you for a maximized financial future.

Small business owners don’t lack for things to do. There is the endless work of creating new products and improving existing ones. Meeting with new customers and existing ones – local and abroad. Hiring employees and freeing up non-performing ones to “pursue other opportunities.” You get the thrilling task of managing payroll and cash flow. You get to deal with all of the wonderful governmental entities – federal, state, and local – regarding licensing, codes, rules, laws, and endless regulations. Then, of course, there are the meetings with your CPA around tax time.

The LAST thing you need is to wonder if your financial books are correct and accurate.

Unfortunately, we hear of cases of a modern-day Judas, where a rogue employee who has been entrusted with the money decides to help themselves to it and embezzle money. It can literally bankrupt a business.

This is why it is important to conduct financial reviews and perhaps even complete third-party audits. Annual financial reviews are instances where internal members of your organization are tasked with performing random “tests” of financial records and require those in charge of the finances to provide objective evidence that records are retrievable and accurate.

Third party audits take this process to an entirely different level. An outside organization is hired to put the financial team through a rigorous test of all critical financial systems – accounts payable and receivable, payroll, record-keeping, financial reporting (balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement), and separation of authorities (i.e. separating rights of who can print checks from check signers).

While no review and audit can completely eliminate the chance for fraud, it can reduce it tremendously. And it will allow you to make business decisions with full confidence in your finances and the financial team.

Here’s the statement I use: “Trust, but verify.”

This post is part of a Small Business Series here at the wildly popular JosephSangl.com. Click HERE to read more of the posts in the series.

I recently heard Ken Friar, Executive VP of INJOY Stewardship Solutions, share the following statement:

“People don’t plan to be selfish. They just don’t make a plan to be generous.”

But it only takes one or two people who are living generously to move literally hundreds – even thousands – to give.

Consider Exodus 36:3-8:

And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 8 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Moses cast the vision God had given to him, and the people responded in an amazing way.

I’ve seen similar examples happen throughout my life. When tornadoes swept through Alabama in 2011, I saw one or two people begin giving to provide immediate assistance, and it compelled me to give. The next thing we knew, more than $100,000 had been raised.

When Hurricane Katrina smashed the Gulf Coast, people around the world rushed to help by giving tremendous amounts of money. The same was true for the earthquake in Haiti and tsunami in Indonesia.

We see it happen when a family’s home burns down and a community unites together to help them.

Generosity is contagious!

As I consider the various “contagious giving moments” I’ve witnessed, here are some common variables:

1. There was a clear need. We all want to make a difference with money that we give away. We want a “return on investment” on the money. Without clear understanding of the ROI, we are more inclined to hold onto their dollars.
2. The need was urgent. There are many cases where there is a need, but it isn’t urgent. Urgency is what causes us to move immediately.
3. There was a trusted entity to send money. There have been so many highly reported instances of financial mismanagement that we have been conditioned (and rightly so) to ask the question, “Is this organization going to handle this money in the exact manner they’ve communicated?”
4. Someone gave first. When we see our friends, family, or heroes give, it inspires us!

Have you ever been able to be a part of a “Contagious Generosity Moment”? Will you take a moment to share it with us in the comments?

This is part of the “Biblical Financial Lessons” series here on the wildly popular JosephSangl.com. Click HERE to read more posts in the series.

During a leadership conference I attended, I heard a great statement by Pastor Van Moody. He said:

“When you get sick of saying it is when they are just starting to get it.”

It is so true. As a leader, you are the chief vision caster. This means that the vision must ooze from every pore of your body. Even when you feel like everyone in the room has heard you say it 7,004 times, say it again. After all, vision leaks.

While you may have heard yourself say it 7,004 times, it could be the first time one of your clients hear it. It might be the first time a team member truly heard you say it – and finally get what you are saying.

What is it you want your organization to accomplish? What good thing are you expecting your team to deliver? What do you dream of your customers saying after your organization has served them?

Say it! Then say it again …

This post is part of a Leadership Series here at the wildly popular JosephSangl.com. Click HERE to read more posts in the series.