Warren Buffet's 10 maxims to live by

1. Hard work: leads to profit, talk just leads to poverty
2. Laziness: a sleeping lobster is carried away by the current
3. Earnings: never depend upon a single source of income
4. Spending: if you buy things you don’t need you will soon sell things you do need
5. Savings: don’t save what is left after spending, spend what is left after savings
6. Borrowing: the borrower becomes the lender’s slave
7. Accounting, no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes have a leak
8. Auditing: beware of little expenses a small leak can sink a large ship
9. Risk Taking: never test the depth of a river with both feet
10. Investment: don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Overcoming the Challenges and finding Joy in the Workplace

As a business expands new challenges can take us out of our comfort zone. We are going to discuss how to gain the confidence needed to overcome new challenges and build the practical and spiritual skills that will help you complete new tasks all the while maintaining a joy and peace regarding your current circumstance.

Please join us Thursday October 1st at the Lauren Parson Pratt conference center 281 Park Ave South (@22nd Ave) at 7pm

Value of Relationships

As current and future business leaders, the marketplace is our area of vocation and mission field. Despite the availability of and our modern reliance on technology, marketplaces are and will remain vibrant with human interaction. Building lasting relationships in the workplace is of value to our professions and to the Kingdom. Let's meet to consider, discuss and pray about how we can become people who are consistently well-liked, connected and serving others as we work.

Join us Thursday September 10th at the Lauren Parson Pratt Conference center 281 Park Ave South (@ 22nd Ave) Time: 7-9pm

Pathfinders Event: "Shifting Gears"

Thursday,July 23rd:

Business like cycling requires that you shift gears in order to get ahead. In the modern workplace you have to constantly adapt to ever changing circumstances. It is God’s desire that we continue to grow and succeed in our place of business and this often will require that we shift gears spiritually. I believe that we are in a season where God wants to shift you into high gear so that you can spiritually accelerate and take your business and life into a new gear. Join us this Thursday at Pathfinders were we will help you transition/shift smoothly into the new gear in your career so you can strive ahead of the pack.

Location: Laura Parson's Pratt 281 Park Ave South (@ 22nd Ave)

Time: 7-9pm

Warren Buffett on:

Best investment ever made: My marriage license. Who you marry will have more impact on your life than any other external event in your lifetime. It is hugely important who you marry – marry someone who will bring out the best in you.

On success: IQ does not equal success. Good grades does not equal success. Character, discipline and focus will equal success. You need to detach yourself from the heard and the views of other people.

On mistakes: If you can’t stand mistakes, you shouldn’t be in the game. Don’t berate yourself over mistakes, just get on with the game.

On debt: If you are smart enough, you don’t need debt. If you are dumb, then debt will always get you into trouble.

On Investing: Don’t need an IQ to invest, but do need the right temperament. If it is cheap, I will buy; if not, I will pass. Develop your circle of competence, and know how big that perimeter is. Invest with a strong ‘margin of safety.’ If a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, how sure are you that there is in-fact 2 in the bush. How far away is it, and how will you get there? Is there a bush close by that has 3 birds in it?

On career: Why paint something you don’t like; paint a life that you want. Build something that you want to build. Major on character, discipline and focus.

On motivating: Bringing out the potential in people is the most rewarding thing you can do.

On politicians: He asks them “what are you for that your constituents are really against?” – this will reveal what they really believe.

On democracy: The problem with democracy is that elected officials will not rule for the future, but only for the present day.

On hiring staff: Hire someone who is not in it for the money, fame or reward and hire someone who is prepared to go into the fox hole with you and stay there in the tough times. Work with people you want to work with and be the kind of person that you would want to hang around with.

On strategy: Strategy really means ‘dumb.’ So ‘Strategic planning’ means ‘dumb planning’ and ‘strategic acquisition’ means ‘dumb deal’. We have no strategic planning at Berkshire Hathaway, we just look for great investments and aim to preserve our capital.

High Performance

Dana Torres attributes her Olympic gold medal winning skill to having her body and muscles professionally stretched 5 times daily. And while, in part, hers is a God-given talent, she maximizes her "raw material" with techniques that lead to high performance. Are you operating in your professional life in such a way that you are achieving high performance? Let's gather to consider and share what areas of our work and thinking need activating and / or realigning so we too are maximizing our natural, God-given talents and excelling as high performers.

Join us Thursday April 2nd at the Location Laura Parson Pratt Conference Center
281 Park Ave South (@22nd St.) please plan to join us after the meeting for a Pathfinders Social at Barbounia.

GET TO KNOW THE VOICE OF GOD

I usually don't like to quote or post material form other sources, however I made an exception this morning because I read a very inspiring:

"God wants us to know that no matter how difficult things may get for us, he will sustain all who trust in him—by the power of his still, small voice, speaking to our inner man daily.

This is confirmed by the prophet Isaiah: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). You have to understand, Isaiah delivered this word to Israel in the very worst of times. The nation was under judgment, in absolute ruin, with everything breaking down. And so Isaiah told Israel’s leaders, “Turn to the Lord now! He wants to give you a word of direction—to speak to you, saying, ‘Go this way, go that way, here’s the way…’” But they wouldn’t listen. They decided they would turn to Egypt to deliver them! They thought they could rely on the Egyptians’ chariots, horses and supplies to see them through.

Yet, God did not send all of his judgment on Israel at that point. Rather, he decided to wait patiently until the bottom fell out of every plan. He said, “While they’re running around scheming how to survive, I’ll wait. I want to show them my mercy, in spite of their wickedness!” (v. 18). Sure enough, everything failed, and things only got worse for the nation. Finally, when all their schemes had fallen through, God told the people, “Now, let me take over! Open your ears, and I will speak to you. I know the way out, and I will direct you. I want to guide your every move, to the right and to the left, to deliver you. I’ll lead you by my voice—speaking to you, telling you what to do, down to the last detail!”

What matters—what’s vitally important—is that you get to know the voice of God. He is still speaking. He made it clear, “My sheep know my voice.” There are many voices in the world today—loud, demanding voices. But there is that still, small voice of the Lord that can be known and heard by all who trust what Jesus said." -David Wilkerson

Be Strong and Courageous

Assistant Pastor Anthony Ceccutti of Christian City Church Manhattan spoke a wonderful message on Sunday on Joshua chapter 1, where God tells Joshua to be "Strong and Courageous." In difficult times we often have a choice between fight or flight. Often when God allows an obstacle to obstruct us it is for us to attack and conquer.

Often we stand in front of an obstacle in defeat asking why God has allowed such a trial to enter our path. Instead we need to ask God what is the lesson we are to learn from this obstacle and how are we to overcome it? Are we to rely on our own abilities and ingenuity or are we to trust that God is going to provide a way of escape?

Obstacles will come and go but the lessons learned will last a lifetime.

Ten Tenets of Investing

I thought this was a brilliant piece by James Montier of SocGen and wanted to share it with you with some added comments of my own.

Ten Tenets of My Investment Creed

1. Value, value, value Value approach minimizes the risk of overpaying for the hope of growth. (I would add to this don't buy things just because they are 'cheap' because they could just get cheaper)

2. Be contrarian Sir John Templeton observed, "It is impossible to produce superior performances unless you do something different from the majority"

3. Be patient wait for the fat pitch, value managers' have the curse of being too early

4. Be unconstrainedWhile pigeon-holing and labelling are fashinonable, Iam far from convinced that they aid investment. Surely I should be free to exploit value opportunities wherever they may occur.

5. Don't forecast Forecasting is like relying on your seriously flawed ability to soothsay.

6. Cycles matter Howard Marks says, "we can't predict but we can prepare" (I would add, be aware of the cycle you are in and the one you are about to enter).

7. History matters The four most dangerous words in investing are "This time is different"

8. Be skeptical Learning to question what you are told and developing critical thinking skills are vital to long term success and survival

9. Be top-down and bottom-up Both viewpoints matter, either has a monopoly on insight.

10. Treat your clients as you would treat yourself the ultimate test of an investment is would I be willing to invest with my own money? (Do unto other's as you would have done unto you).

Do you Soar or Slide?

"Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" - Isaiah 40:31

Eagles use storms to actually lift them above the storms. If you are flying above the storm you are unaffected by the turbulence. This is a complete contrast to a snake whose entire body is earthbound. The snake is not only effected by the storm above but the ground below scraping his belly. If you listen to the spirit of God and abide in Christ Jesus you can soar like an Eagle, while those who live out of the flesh are earthbound.

When it comes to your business do you Soar like an Eagle or Slide like a snake?

Pathfinders + Social

March, 5th 7 pm

Contact info@cccmanhattan.org to RSVP
Location Laura Parson Pratt Conference Center
281 Park Ave South (@22nd St.)

Unleashing Your Future: During challenging economic times businesses refocus on core competencies by cutting departments that are not key to their long term business objectives. God can use life's economic storms to strip us of our unnecessary baggage and have us refocus on Him. Join us as we lay out a plan for you to release your baggage and unleash God's plan for your future and your business.

AND, please plan to join us after the meeting for a Pathfinders Social at Barbounia. See you there

Stepping on your Problems

On Sunday, Senior Pastor Stephen Hickson of Christian City Church Manhattan had an amazing message on "Vision" and I had to share part of it that was particularly inspiring.

"When Jesus was walking on the water, he was walking on their problems, the water/storm and he commanded Peter to walk on his problems as well."

I love the image of Jesus encouraging us to walk on our problems. What is greater the problem or God and the direction He has for your life? If He has placed you in a boat and He is steering the vessel He will get you to the other side. Wouldn't you rather be where God is and where he wants to take you even if it means passing through turmoil?

Get out there and walk on your problems!

Gold will Rust

As the market turns south, investors turn to Gold as a safe haven. Yesterday, gold rose 2.7% to $967 a troy ounce. It made me look to see what the Bible has to say about gold and God led me to James chapter 5.

"Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you."

Since gold is not iron ore it can't actually "rust" so I can only come up with one of two possible meanings behind this passage it is literal or figurative. As far as the literal interpretation I have read that it is possible that a nuclear fall out could cause gold to rust however, I haven't been able to verify this and I don't think we would survive it to see gold rust so I think we may need to look at this passage as figuratively. Silver and Gold has always been synonymous with money and or wealth. It is clear that the passage is warning not to count on the wealth that you have stored away.

As investors we need to not put our trust in our wealth but put our trust in the Lord. As employers we need to make sure we are taking care of our employees because the verse says, "Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. " We need to expand and not contract. If you don't take care of your employees during this time, why should God take care of you?

Consumption vs Production

We have become a society of consumers rather than producers. Our spiritual and physical growth requires that we actually produce more than we consume. If your body consumes more food than it expends in work you get fat, likewise the more we become consumers of the things the world has to sell us the less spiritually fit we become.

As consumers it is important to keep account of where we are spending our money. In our household we call them buckets. We have buckets that can't be changed like the mortgage bucket, or the groceries bucket, but then we have buckets on things like the vacation bucket or the going out for dinner bucket. At the end of the month we can look at our buckets and see where our money has gone. Where your money goes is where your priorities in life are.

My wife and I made a promise to ourselves that with the exception of our mortgage none of our buckets would be bigger than our tithing bucket. What you consume determines where your heart is.