Dreams with a chance to succeed have two ingredients: a plan to create wealth and the necessary help to implement them. People in poverty tend to miss both the money and the support system. They tend to think in terms of working alone. Wealthy people navigate the money issues and have an extensive support system in the people around them.
Wealth – A dream without a financial plan, cash flow, and a practical means to create wealth is just an unfunded liability. As time passes, the dream gets further into the future instead of closer. By contrast, a dream with a strong wealth creation ingredient tends to multiply in terms of productivity and ministry. Bottom line – dreams cost money and make money, and we have to learn to manage the cash flow.
A Team – People who are successful in life are very careful to surround themselves with the help they need. They find those with a similar heart’s desire and work with them to multiply the effect of their mutual dream. It’s a powerful dynamic, both spiritually and practically.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matt 18:20
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Eccl 4:9-12 NASU
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1 (see also Acts 1:14, 2:46, 4:24, 5:12, 8:6, 15:25, Rom 15:6)
In the Greek, homothumadon is translated “with one accord,” meaning unanimous in passion. When we find people with a passion in their hearts that matches our own, it feels like we found a family member. There is chemistry: a relational bond that easily forms, and our mutual dream is greatly encouraged. There is something about “working together” on a shared goal that is pure joy.
Finding your team – How do I find those kindred spirits that overlap in my own heart’s desire? It’s a great question and holds a key that will unlock your dream. Here are a few examples of the roles they can play.
Friends – When our dream is young; the support we start with is the encouragement of our friends and spouse. Never underestimate the power of encouragement. The greatest gift you can give a friend or your husband or wife is permission to pursue their dream. Imparting the prophetic sense that the Father is granting that permission is even more powerful.
Mentors – A coach can help you find your “what” and “why.” A mentor is someone who has done it before himself and can show you “how.” They strike a chord deep inside and we long to emulate their heart and their work. These services are so valuable that business people often pay for them as consultants. You may enjoy several past newsletters: Relational Mentoring, From Spiritual Covering to Practical Mentoring, and A Case For Mentors.
Board members – All of us have weaknesses. A board can be a group of people with strengths that we don’t have. So when we pick them, we are looking for these missing pieces who can give us better ideas about implementing our vision.
Partners and Affiliates– Partners or affiliates are people who have enough synergism with your dream that they can naturally fill a role in making it happen. In some cases they may support you with their time and talents. In other cases they may be investors in your vision.
Staff – Every successful company soon reaches a size when it becomes cost effective to hire like-minded people who share the vision, and multiply its vision for a salary. We can increase the staff’s sense of sharing the dream with tangible concepts like stock ownership and employee ownership or with the intangible benefits of owning or sharing the vision.
Customers – Every dream needs a beneficiary. These might be the most important people because they are willing to “buy” the product or service that our dream provides in order to facilitate their dream. Here’s an important aspect of “my” dream: it has to bless people and make their dream come true.
Unanimous Passion – Hearts on the same page is a spiritual high for me. I love divine appointments with like-hearted people who reveal Kingdom synergism. We find the presence of God, a sense of team, and success in business in the same place, with the same people. That spirit sets my heart into a place of liberty where I can be myself and experience doing what I was created for, and feel the glory it brings to me and to God. I am a steward of His glory. It’s my job to play my role and to do something great, and bring greatness to my team.
Action – Take the time to write down the names of the folks on your team. Thank God for them and thank them as well. They are helping you reach your destiny. It’s built into our EXCEL Coaching Module.
