In Part I of having a market plan for your ministry, as a stay at home mom, or for business, I talked about identifying your passion, what you really enjoy doing, and finding ways to turn that passion into profit. It is a true blessing to make a living doing what you enjoy and what you may feel is part of your God given destiny.

The next “p” has to do with dealing with the people along that journey.

People

How well do you deal with people? You will never be successful in any market plan in business if you don’t serve and help other people. The most successful entrepreneurs understand that business is more about what they give than what they get.

As a mom, you can understand this well in dealing with your children. You often have to “die” to your own needs to raise your babies to be children, your children to be teens, and your teens to be…adults!

Those in ministry realize this servant’s heart also. Just as Jesus came to serve, to the point of stooping down and washing His disciples feet, the example has been set. This amazingly simple but sometimes difficult to perform act is rooted as a basic Biblical principle.

Check out Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Again, the principle is seen in Romans 12:10: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…”

I think you understand perfectly. The Bible is full of verses relating to thinking more of others than yourself!

This quote from Mike Dillard, one of the powerful leaders in the home business marketing arena, struck a chord with me in regards to this focus on the importance of people and relationships:

“A REAL, life-long business that is completely immune to attrition and market trends can be built, but it can’t be centered around an opportunity or a product. It must be built around you, your name, and your relationships. That’s your true asset because it cannot be taken away. Networking is a people business driven by marketing.”

Finally, the final “P”!

Perseverance in priorities

I slipped an extra “p” in this market plan. Persevere in what God has called you to do. Stay committed, passionate, diligent…without losing your faith, family and friends. Be consistent with the basics of your market plan all the while keeping your priorities in line.

Serve and maintain your relationship with God. Serve and love your spouse, your children, your family and friends. Stay rooted in God’s word using the power of prayer. Your time with Him should never take second place no matter how busy your schedule can be.

And yes, persevere through the peaks and valleys! Don’t let your longing (financial freedom. money, material things) for something in the future slay your appetite for enjoying the now!

Amidst your working at home, in a ministry or business, stay on a schedule that keeps you productive in the activities which makes the profit, and still leave time for your family. It can be done!

What God has called you to do, He will more than enable you to walk there with His grace and wisdom as you lean on Him. The Lord will perfect that which concerns you! (Psalm 138:8)

Having a market plan is essential whether you are in the ministry trying to promote your gift, a stay at home mom working a computer based business,or a businessman striving to provide financial freedom for your family.

The market plan consists of four “P’s”:

Passion

What are you passionate about or what do you enjoy doing? If you find something that you enjoy where the time just flies by when you are in the midst of doing this, you probably have found a passion.

I have a brother (the oldest of four brothers) who gave me some valuable wisdom at a young age. He told me if I found something I loved, and could make a living doing it, I needed to pursue it.

After a failed golfing career, I remembered his advice and thought about what I really enjoyed. Well, I loved Christian Music. I used to make mixes of Christian music on tapes with my voice as a “dj” speaking encouragement in between the songs. Time flew by when I was in the midst of one of these creations as I considered the theme of the tape, pondered which Christian songs to select, and what order to have them arranged as I produced the mix. I’d give them out to my golfing friends so they could listen in their cars as they traveled all over the country on the golf tour. I called it the KYSS tape series. KYSS standing for: “Know You’re Someone Special!

So one of the first jobs I applied for after my golfing career was finished was at an FM Christian Music Radio Station as an announcer. I got the job! The only demo I had for the station manager to listen to was one of those home-made KYSS tapes. I was making a living, making a profit, while at a hobby,now turned into a job, which I loved! (Needless to say I had a passion for Christian Radio! I spent 15 1/2 years at that same station!)

That passion leads to the second p: profit. Will your passion profit you? I don’t just mean this in the sense of money. Will your passion promote personal development. Can you learn a new skill. As Dani Johnson says, “The marketplace pays for value. Your value is your skill.” If you can learn a new skill or enhance one centered around that passion of something you enjoy, you have the ingredients to making a profit.

Maybe you are in the ministry. You love to write, speak, and minister God’s love. Can you find avenues to publish your work? Is it possible to have a video ministry and on-line presence?

Yes you can use a ministry marketing plan to find ways to profit from your God given gifts!

You could be a stay at home mom that has a passion for writing greeting cards or encouraging people with thoughtful crafts.. Can that love for being an encourager be turned into a computer based home business?

Yes! There is a company called Send Out Cards. I love the motto of this home based business: “Changing Lives One Card At A Time.”

Maybe you are that marketplace man, businessman, who enjoys people and serving with excellence in advertising, business building, or construction. If you enjoy it, you don’t dread getting up in the morning but look at each day as an exciting opportunity to grow, do business, and impact those around you positively!

Ken Blanchard,the co-author of the “One Minute Manager” states: ”Profit is applause for taking care of customers and creating a motivating environment for employees.”

Employees, clients, co-workers….which leads us to the third “P”….PEOPLE!

Part II coming soon.