Summary: When it seems the economy around you is in turmoil and chaos, is it still possible to thrive? If so, how do you do that? In this weeks podcast episode we will cover: The results of "asking the listeners". Changes you can expect in the podcast. Stu McLaren: "Doing the work up front". Is God the source of evil? Plus, "How to Thrive In a Turbulent Economy" That’s all coming up on today’s episode… Tip Of The Week A couple of episodes ago, I advised you to ask your customers what they really want. I proposed using a survey-which is exactly what I did. Here are the results of my survey about how you think I could improve this show. The suggestions were: Add more listener participation and questions. Change the ending music to match the beginning music. Share concrete copywriting tactics. Get more specific about dollars. Make the show tighter. Those are the top suggestions we are implementing, starting with this episode. I hope you like what you hear. Lifestyle Business With Stu McLaren Stu McLaren explains why it's worth doing the work up front, and doing it well. Spiritual Foundations Recently, I inadvertently started a bit of a tiff on Facebook. I posted the following: If you think you are sick because God has some purpose in it... reconsider. Sickness does not come from God. According to John 10:10, evil is the work of the enemy, who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy". Jesus, on the other hand, comes so that we "may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). He also came to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). It's simple. God is good. The enemy is bad. Good things come from God, and evil things do not. It's helpful if we keep the difference in mind - it'll help us not attribute the work of the enemy to God! The reason this is important, is because when Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death, he ushered in a new and better covenant for all of us who follow him. We no longer live under fear of punishment, for Jesus has taken the punishment on our behalf. He has covered us in his grace-literally, "unmerited favor." God does not send evil into your life-not to teach you a lesson, not to improve your character, and certainly not to punish you. If you follow Jesus, you believe in him, you confessed to measure Lord and Savior… you are unpunishable. Feature Segment: How to Thrive In a Turbulent Economy Yes, there is chaos in the marketplace. The economy can be described as turbulent. But that doesn't matter. There is no reason for you, my entrepreneurial friend, to fear the storm. Bedrock principles will keep you on course. Here are seven keys to thriving even in a turbulent economy… Faith. You will receive what you believe. Carefully guard where you are placing your faith. It makes a difference. Foundations. Most people crumble when their core values are challenged-because they never made those values a conscious decision. Most of us simply inherit our values and beliefs from our family and friends. Make yours a choice. Don't just know what you believe, know why you believe it. Family. After your connection to your Creator, the most important link to your ultimate success is your family. Even if you have no family, as it is traditionally understood. I explain what to do if you don't have any family living, or none that you are connected with, in the podcast audio. So make sure you listen to the show itself. Friends. How you relate to friends-even how you define that word-is of vital importance to how effective you will be in the world. Especially in the world of business. Focus. What you focus on expands. If your constant focus is on the negativity and the chaos of the environment around you, expect to see more of the same. Take responsibility for what goes on inside your head. Finances. Business is a game won (or lost) by the numbers. The rules are simple: make money, save money, spend as little as possible.
