华为宣布大规模裁员,宁愿冒着赔偿10亿元的风险,也要在中国区裁掉近7000人,年龄大多在34岁以上。
一个公司想要长远发展,企业的员工不能太过安逸,这样公司的氛围会非常懒散,失去危机意识;
如今发展这么快速的时代,没有狼性般的竞争容易被社会淘汰。
滴滴出现后,出租车行业遭受严重冲击;
国民美食方便面销量持续走低,就是败给了横空出世的外卖行业。
绿箭口香糖市场占比大幅下滑,对手不是益达,而是微信。
做富人,不仅要看到非洲背咖啡豆的孩子收入低,还要看到这种低的背后机制。要看明白童工现象,跟商人无关,不是商人导致了童工,恰恰是商人给贫寒之家提供了机会。更要清楚这世上之所有会有童工,只是因为资本断流,没有从权力阶层流动到民间。只要打通政商通道,让资本下移,回归于民间本身,当地百姓的收入才有可能上来,童工现象,才会因为民众富裕而绝迹。
做穷人,只需要仇视资本。
做富人,就必须学会利用资本。
(10)美国女思想家安·兰德说:财富是一个人思考能力的产物。
一个人的独立思考和判断能力,和他的财富能力正相关。
商业是这个世界最大的善。每个人都是个小系统,天然的就需要与他人进行交换。拒绝付出的人就不可能获得,这是一切交换的铁律。
人性的最大法则,是不介意自己得到多少,而对自己的付出耿耿于怀。这种天性导致了交换障碍。有些人涌泉所得,只付出点滴,却仍觉得自己亏大了。摆脱天性中的交换恐惧,公正的看待每个人的付出,是获得财富认知的关键。
资本是中性的,它的毛孔中没有血也没有泪,只有交换恐惧症者的偏狭激愤。
——不要再有偏狭之心,不要再发激愤之语。学会利用资本,让资本造福于每个人,这才是我们与生俱来的使命。
融入这个文明时代,学习商业法则。最要紧的就是不要再恶意的贬斥他人的努力。你选购到手的任何商品,成本中最昂贵的,不是原材料,也不是薪资税费,而是商业前沿的智力运作。人是智慧生物,最伟大的智慧是带给每个人便利。今天的我们,得益于此前智慧先行者的每一点付出,万不可轻率的贬斥别人,让自己落入到阴暗的仇恨之窟。把你的心打开,把你的眼睛擦亮,人类早已放下体力时代的重负,现于今比拼的是智力开发。爱护自己的生命价值,你的大脑蕴藏着无以限计的潜能,当偏狭激愤压抑自我,我们心里唯见千里冰封,万里寒霜。只有当我们愿意为这个世界付出,渴望每个人,都能够在你的智力平台上获得利益,这时候你就领略了善良与仁慈的意义,就会见到繁花满天,落英缤纷,才会感受到灵魂深处那激放的灿烂风华。


Activity.
Write down some of the words that come to mind when you think of business leadership.
Teaching.
If we are to lead a fruitful business ministry, we must cultivate a Christ-like approach to leadership. We suggest that the core characteristics of Jesus’ leadership are authority and service. Were these on your list? The people around Jesus recognised that He ‘taught as one who had authority and they ‘praised God, who had given such authority to man.’ The people recognised that Jesus acted with authority long before they understood his positional authority as the Son of God.
Do you have authority? If so, what is it based on?
Reflection.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’
Matthew8:5-10
Teaching.
If Jesus’ authority was so important, we need to understand better. It helps to think about where authority comes from. Authority always flows from a higher authority. Even Jesus looked up. He had authority yet was Himself under the authority of His Father. The Centurion was commended by Jesus for recognising this. The passage illustrates how authority flows within a hierarchy. Authority always starts at the top where the buck stops. From there, it flows down the hierarchy. Being under authority means you operate with the authority of the one whose authority you are under. As Kingdom Entrepreneurs, we are leaders who are under the authority of Christ. We act with His authority.
What are the benefits of knowing that we are ourselves under the authority of Christ?
Teaching.
Too often in business, authority is based on positional leadership alone. It becomes ‘the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience over subordinates.’ Not so for the Kingdom Entrepreneur. This is because Christ-like leadership is characterised by both authority and the equally essential and complementary characteristic of service.
Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Matthew20:25-28
Jesus turns the world’s pattern of leadership on its head. He modelled servant leadership and made this a clear priority for His disciples. If we are to become Christ-like leaders we too must model an attitude of service towards those who are under our authority. Great leaders are not better than others. They are just the ones willing to lay down their lives for others. This turns the normal understanding of authority upside down.
What might it look like when a business leader gives their life for their subordinates?
Hierarchy 、 Obedience 、 Trust 、 Faith。
God.
Delegation 、 Empowerment 、Authority。
The diagram above illustrates the flows in a hierarchy. Discuss where the word ‘service’ should go on the diagram.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Ephesians6:5-9
Discussion.
Reflect on the passage. Note that masters are called to treat their employees in the same way as the Lord does. List what is expected from masters.
The Bible makes it clear that both employees and their employers have a Master in heaven who will treat everyone without favouritism. What would change in business if earthly masters behaved in this way and showed ‘no favouritism’?
When we recognise that we are under the authority of Christ we will be able to model Christ-like servant leadership.
The goal of every ministry is to bear fruit. Not just any old fruit, but spiritual fruit that will last. This can only be achieved in God’s way, through spiritual means. We must seek to ensure the activities of our business bear spiritual fruit.
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’
‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’
John15:5,John15:16
Jesus makes it clear that he has appointed us to bear much fruit. It is empowering to know that this is God’s desire for us. As the leader of a business ministry, we can confidently expect to bear spiritual fruit, in and through the activities of our business. It is
essential, however, that we remember how this is achieved. We must learn to operate ‘in Christ’.
Discussion.
Jesus tells us that we can ‘do nothing’ apart from Him. Why can’t a Kingdom Entrepreneur bear fruit apart from Jesus?
What does this tell us about the kind of fruit we are to bear?
Teaching.
Jesus goes on to set out why we are to bear fruit.
We are called to bear fruit for the Father’s glory. We do this by showing ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples. Business as a ministry is all about the spiritual fruit that occurs when Kingdom Entrepreneurs confidently and publicly live as visible disciples of Jesus.
We must never forget that Jesus is the source of our fruitfulness and that it is for the Father’s glory, not our own.
Reflect on the following account of a kings downfall.
‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’
Who did the king think was behind his achievements and who’s benefit and glory were they for?
Discussion.
How might a Kingdom Entrepreneur ensure that they and their company avoid the king’s mistake and remain ‘in Christ’?
If we are to bear spiritual fruit we must remain in Christ.
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Ephesians1:9-10
This passage sets out that God’s purpose is ‘to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.’ This is the primary objective of any Christian ministry and must involve bringing all aspects of our business under Christ. The book of Ephesians sets out how this goal is achieved in chapters 4, 5 and 6.
The diagram opposite illustrates the process. At the centre is the church and those called to ‘equip the saints for works of service.’ With the support of our church, we are required to progressively bring all areas of our lives under Christ. First and foremost, our own lives are to be brought under Christ through personal discipleship. Secondly, we are to bring our family and homes under Christ. Next, we are to be disciplined as workers, serving the Lord wholeheartedly. The master, the employer or Kingdom Entrepreneur is the final step in the process. It is here,
in the hands of leaders, that all things on earth might be brought under Christ.
When your business is brought under Christ you will have done your bit to bring unity to all things on earth. This is BizMin’s
Teaching.
goal. We want to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to play their part in bringing all things under Christ. That includes your business. We believe this is one of the key reasons why God is calling and equipping a new generation of Kingdom Entrepreneurs. It is a key part of what He purposed in Christ.
At the centre of this process is the local church. Has your church equipped you for ‘works of service’ in the world of work? Discuss what your church could do to better support believers in the workplace.
Discussion.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians6:10-13
It is at this point that the book of Ephesians turns to the spiritual battle. A Kingdom Business is a front-line in the battle for the Kingdom of God. It is essential that we recognise this.
Think of an example of where you have taken a stand over a situation in your business. Write down the testimony of how you were successful.
Reflection.
What was the role of prayer in this process?
How often do you pray for your business?
Never All the time Business is at the front-line of the spiritual battle for the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to equip Kingdom Entrepreneurs to take a stand and, when everything is done, to still be
Discussion.
standing. The good news is that we do not need to fight in our own strength. Remember, we are in Christ and can do nothing apart from Him. Any spiritual fruit we bear is a product of grace and most often the result of prayer.
The Kingdom of God will advance as our business is brought under Christ. This is a spiritual battle, won by grace.
In section 9.2 we identified that all of this is ‘for the Father’s glory. In a Kingdom Business, it is God who should receive both the praise and the glory. When you succeed, who receives the praise? Is it you, your colleagues or God?
Ephesians2:8-9.
Discussion.
How are we to ensure that God gets the glory through our business success? Reflect on the power of testimony.
If we don’t regularly praise and thank God for what He is doing in and through our business, who else will! Has your business success been for ‘the praise of His glory?
If we are to transform our business into a fruitful ministry, it must be for the praise of His Glory.
Close the session with a short time of prayer. Ask God to equip you to take a stand and bring every aspect of your business under the authority of Christ.