Tag Archive - leadership

What Starbucks has figured out and children’s ministries haven’t, part 1

February 17, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 13 Comments

Over the next few days, I’m going to use my favorite topic (Starbucks!) to discuss some things that Starbucks has figured out that most children’s ministries haven’t.  I’m dividing it up into three parts, this post right here being part 1.

What they’ve figured out #1: Train, train, train.  Then keep training.  Train until you’re blue in the face.

Starbucks obsesses over employee training.  Partners (not employees, it’s a way they make employees feel more dedicated to the company) learn intricate details about coffee, equipment, experience, customer service, product quality, and company history.   Massive regional training centers ingrain the “Starbucks gospel” into their managers.  Periodical checkups are done on every corporate shop.    They’re even closing their stores on February 26 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM to do product quality re-training.  Training is so key, they sometimes spend up to $3000 per employee just on training.

Continue Reading…

I love quotes

February 9, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

I am a quote nerd.  I am simply one of those people that could just spend all day staring at a book full of quotes.  When I go to Starbucks, the first thing I do is look at the quote on the side of my cup.  I write down quotes during speeches.  I visit quote websites.  I know, I’m a nerd.

I’d just like to share a short little quote with you:
“The great use of life is to spend it for something which will outlast it.”
-William James

As you go into your Sunday morning, you may feel exhausted.  You may feel like it’s more exhausting than it’s worth.  But it’s not just about what you’re doing today.  The work you do today is impacting these kids today, absolutely.  Kids you touch today influence today.  Those same kids also form the future.  Who knows?  Maybe that nerdy semi-socially secluded boy will know something that would be of use to you, and might just get a calling to minister to children.  He might end up just like someone who happens to write a very good blog you read.

Harnessing a child’s strength

February 1, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 4 Comments

I was reading an article earlier today on 43 Folders about harnessing a child’s energy towards a specific topic and using it for good. 43 Folders isn’t a ministry blog, and I don’t endorse all of their content, but it does have some great info.

The author of the article was having some trouble with his kids driving him insane while he was cooking.  So in place of just sending them away, he took their enthusiasm and used it as a learning opportunity.  He let the kids learn by teaching them rather than making them figure it out on their own and getting hurt in the process.

Try this in your ministry.  Let’s hypothesize that you have a kid that has some trouble with breaking the rules.  (You don’t have any of those, right?)  Maybe instead of saying “Stop it,” you should harness their energy and make them a rule enforcer.  Have them tell an adult when they see something wrong being done.

Kids are immense little balls of energy.  They desperately want to be “big kids” and help out.  Convert the “distraction” of interruptions into interaction with you on the stage.  Give kids opportunities to move around, help out, and do things.  This certainly won’t eliminate discipline problems, but it’ll help you on your way. 

What are you preaching for?

January 8, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

I just got done reading a post over at the Center for Church Communication’s blog all about getting what you preach for. Go read it, then come back.

OK, good, you’re back now. What is your ministry preaching? What is its primary focus? Are you really preaching those things, or do you just think you are? Examine your ministry today. Look at what you think is your “big thing”. Maybe your ministry’s big thing is outreach. Or family ministry. Or loving kids. Then go and ask your volunteers and parents what they feel is being communicated. Do they feel that your “big thing” is flashy programs or cheesy 1950′s era picture books?

If your idea of your “big thing” lines up with what you’re actually communicating, great. If it doesn’t, look at where your downfalls are. Then go back, fix those things, then resurvey again in a few months. You may find out it’ll make life a whole lot easier.

The Cost of Being Unremarkable

December 30, 2007 in Blog, Uncategorized with 3 Comments

This morning I was reading an article over at Church Relevance, in which he gives this quote from Robert Stephens, founder of Geek Squad:
“Marketing is a tax you pay for being unremarkable.”

To understand the quote, you must realize that by marketing he’s talking about promotion: the ads, flyers, radio spots, etc.

This quote gave me a catalyst to begin thinking about something else.  Recently, Starbucks launched their first TV advertisements here in the US.  But consider what Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks and idol of caffeine addicts everywhere, said just a decade ago:
“By its very nature, national advertising fuels fears about ubiquity.”

Starbucks themselves have said that national ads state ubiquity.  In choosing to run these ads, Starbucks has established themselves as the McDonalds of the coffee industry.  They’ve gone back on their ideals, what made them remarkable.  Starbucks was held up as the poster child that word-of-mouth is better than any TV ad or billboard, especially if you get your words into the right mouths.  They can’t claim that title anymore.  Their rapid growth has caused a decline in quality.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d still choose Starbucks over any other coffee place, and it’s still a very awesome, remarkable coffee shop.  But they’ve fallen below what caused them to be remarkable: being better than everyone else at what they do.  So now they have to pay the “marketing tax” to maintain the hold they have.  They’ve gotten too ubiquitous, and feel comfortable where they are, a dangerous place for any business to be.

A ministry that is remarkable will get people talking, no doubt.  A one time remarkable thing won’t cut it though.  You’ve got to provide a consistent pattern of remarkability, or you’ll get a word-of-mouth blitz, then see a sharp decline.  Find out what works.  What works in LA (Los Angeles) may not work in LA (Louisiana).  What works at the church next door may not work for you.  Don’t become ubiquitous.  Allow yourself to push boundaries, go beyond, and find out your potential.  Do something uncomfortable.  Because the way I see it, remarkable is the only way to keep your ministry alive.

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