Your Positioning

Does your reputation precede you? When people discuss you or your business, do they see you as a person of integrity? The only thing we truly have control of in life is our name. When the chips are down, can you be counted on to do the right thing even if it costs you money?

Recently we were contact by a road course group. We studied the situation and came up with a plan to stream their events. I sent the quote to the group and started to plan. As we looked at all of the aspects of the event we realized we really had no idea of how we would integrate certain aspects of the race less alone how we would follow the cars since they run numerous classes at the same time. It was at that point I knew we had to observe a race before we could stream it.

I sat down and composed an email to my contact and expressed our concerns. I explained we needed to observe an event in person before we could ensure our plan would work. He appreciated and understood our trepidation. Instead of showing up and collecting a check, we will spend the funds to watch the race so we can be prepared to do the job right the first time.

We live by our core values. I borrowed these from my military days and have made them the foundation of our company; integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. It is the bedrock of who we are as a company and more importantly as individuals and representatives of our Lord. Do we mess up? Sure, but when we do, we make it right to the best of our ability. We honor Him in everything we do, how about you?

Blessings

Your Positioning
by Os Hillman

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. – Proverbs 27:2

Many years of owning and operating an ad agency taught me that positioning was defined as a place or position that a product, service, or person held in the mind of the audience. We knew that often perception was reality for people, regardless of the truth. For years, I spent time and money seeking to position our company in the minds of our prospective clients. Although it would seem that is a natural and logical marketing function, I later discovered there is a dangerous flaw when we attempt to position ourselves by promoting our own attributes. I discovered that positioning is a by-product of who we are and what we do, not an end in itself.

King David was my first biblical lesson in coming to understand the difference. Here was a man who had committed adultery and murder, and failed many times in his family life. Yet, God describes David as a “man after God’s own heart.” Isn’t that interesting? Why would God describe someone who had obviously failed in many areas as one who was after God’s own heart? Throughout David’s life, we find frequent descriptions made by God: “So David’s fame spread throughout every land…” (1 Chron. 14:17). Although David did make many mistakes, his heart was soft toward God and sought to praise Him. David wrote the majority of the Psalms. God honored what was in David’s heart, not his perfection. I believe that God’s strategic placement of David was so that we may learn from and be drawn to the attribute of David that God primarily wanted him known for — a heart bent toward Him. His positioning was a by-product of who he was, not an end in itself. In our business and personal life, our positioning among those who will know us should be a by-product of our life and service, not an end itself.

What is your “position” today among your peers? I once asked my Bible study group to ask others, “What do you think of when someone mentions my name?” This exercise can bring some interesting revelations. It might motivate us to make some changes, or it might confirm that God is doing a great work in you.