What Entrepreneurs Need To Know

Have you noticed how many business and organization startups there are today? It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur these days. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s terrific to see motivated people step up and go for it if you have a strong enough internal constitution to handle failure if your startup should fail. 

Take it from a fellow entrepreneur: the risk may be higher than most people are willing to take, but the reward of moving from dream to done is worth it if you have a strategy and don’t allow your venture to become your whole life.

So, what is your strategy? Will you be a ‘meaningful specific’ or a ‘working generality?’ Just because you might make good coffee doesn’t make your coffee business successful. Believe me, success generally comes from many things, not just one thing. You might have a great product, but it's useless if you cannot get it onto the market or into circulation, and vice versa. 

Let me ask you entrepreneurs a question: How would you like an entrepreneurial initiative in which very significant customers come to you rather than you going to them? 

Today, let’s explore an extraordinary true story of an Israeli king who strategically built a city and a temple, which brought him and many of his people influence and affluence. His reign marked a period of great significance in Israel's history.

Here’s a brief biography of Solomon to help you understand his strategy. King Solomon, a prominent biblical figure, reigned as the third king of Israel around the 10th century BCE. Known for his legendary wisdom, he is celebrated for constructing the First Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of Israel’s devotion to God. He authored Biblical texts, such as Proverbs and the Song of Solomon, leaving a legacy in literature and wisdom teachings. 

His wisdom was admired within Israel and neighboring nations, leading to alliances and the exchange of gifts with other rulers. Under King Solomon's reign, the Kingdom of Israel experienced a remarkable period of wealth and prosperity. This prosperity was mainly due to Solomon's administrative skills, wise governance, and strategic alliances. 

So, let’s explore Solomon’s strategy in hopes that it will help you, emerging entrepreneurs, even if it happened 3000 years ago. In the Scriptures, Jesus said the “Queen of the South” came from afar to hear Solomon's wisdom. Most Bible scholars think this was Queen Sheba in 1 Kings 10. 

Why did the Queen of the South (a potentially good customer) travel 1000 miles north to Jerusalem to meet Solomon? Consider these three points. 

First, Solomon had ‘Something to Say.' (Revelation/Wisdom). Queen Sheba came and then heard Solomon's wisdom, and she got answers to the deepest questions in her heart. He had real insight and tangible solutions to her needs, not just hype and false hope. Solomon was a ‘solutionary.’ She heard from God through Solomon. Think of it. Travel was long and hard in those days. Queen Sheba heard about wisdom and then came to see what wisdom produces. Somehow, she knew Solomon’s God-given gift possessed the power to effect change.

Second, Solomon had Something to See. (Model). She saw a real and tangible ‘sample and an example’ of what revelation and wisdom produce in real life. Wisdom begins with vision but ends in reality. Solomon had a model for others to see and be amazed by, potentially causing them to get on board. The model serves as this exchange's 'closer,' 'convincer,' and 'behavior-changer.' When Queen Sheba saw the model, she fainted. The model, combined with the revelation, caused her to faint.

Lastly, Solomon had Something to Share. (Platform). After you have the mission and the model, you can start sharing the revelation and model with others. Your mission and model (gift) are for others. Like the Queen of the South, people hear about the model and then come from miles away to see the finished product. Queen Sheba returned to her own country and shared what she heard and saw. 

Look at Sheba’s response when she sees what wisdom has built. “Then Queen Sheba said to King Solomon, ‘It was a true story that I heard in my land about your words and your wisdom. But I did not believe the stories until I came, and my own eyes saw it all. And behold, half of it was not reported to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and prosperity the report that I heard.’” 1 Kings 10:7 That’s what I call a satisfied customer. 

So, there you have it: Something to Say, Something to See, Something to Share. When building a business or organization, make sure you have something to say (a vision, wisdom, or idea) that is distinctive from or unique in some way. Scratch someone's itch. Then, build something to see. Your 'something to see' could be a building, an internet page, a product, a book, etc., but make sure your business gets out of the idea stage. Work on your model because that is where the power to effect change is. Once you get your model going, you have something to share with others. The idea is to get everyone better, not just you.

Every entrepreneur needs to know this. Great things can happen when all three parts of Solomon’s strategy come together. I’ve used this strategy from God to grow a substantial business, a sizable church, and several ministries. 

And this, fellow entrepreneurs, is how you make queens (customers and future customers) faint.