The Secret to a Successful Business, Part 1

I've been working in our family business, papemelroti, since I was 11 years old. And that is a loooong time ago! What do I know about business?

Every time we're asked what is the secret to a successful business, I always answer "Prayer!" I think our business is a miracle, and I emphasize this when I give talks to students about our business. We don't do business analysis or any financial reports, we don't even study the financial statements. What I do look at is if there's money in the bank, then I know we're alright!

My mom is such a great role model for timid women who want to go into business. When she started 42 years ago, she didn't have money, she didn't have any business degree or even experience, she didn't have a brilliant marketing strategy. What she did have was a love of making things with her hands. She was industrious, she still makes all sorts of things today which we sell at the store. She had a faith in herself and more importantly, God. Plus my mom was thrifty, had a good intuition and had a lot of practical sense. And so in spite of all she didn't have and the little she did, our family was able to build a business with an identifiable brand.

Another important factor in being successful in business is recognizing your gifts and using them. Some people say, "Follow your passion!" or "Use your core competence!" or "Be in the circle of your anointing!" God gave each one of us gifts and talents, blessings, passions, an anointing. He was not stingy in His giving. We just have to discover what that is and use it. We should never be selfish with this gift. If we are generous, it will grow, it will come back to us in the form of fulfillment, satisfaction, meaning and purpose, and also financial blessings.

Have you discovered what your gift is?