day 1130: Growth Hackers

 "Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen."

In the early days of technology offerings from a business to a consumer, investors didn’t want to see money spent on marketing. Instead they wanted the engineering of the product to be responsible for spreading the word and making the product popular. So software engineers came up with clever ideas on how to connect and create cohorts and community.  Over time these morphed into terms like, “Friend” and “Follow”.  And with sophistication and a little slight of keyboarding, services and products would grow almost magically. In today’s age it’s a little harder as lots of people have peaked behind the curtain and learned the early secrets, but every day someone unlocks some way to build on the current to make growth happen.  Today, these people like to call themselves, “Growth Hackers”.  We will see how long the term exists and who really gets to keep the title legitimately but one thing is for sure; if you have a real growth hacker on your team, you can make magic happen!

God was the first growth hacker, not surprisingly really.  When He created us He gave us the instinctual desire to procreate and create our own interpretations of life and the things we need to better our lives.  The movie "The Matrix" had us all as just part of an algorithm, each one of us factoring into the program running, or not. It's not exactly that way. God wants us to be vehicles of growth in the world that He created for us.  He wants us to expand our minds, test our bodies and make the most of all that we are.  But more importantly, He wants us to be "Growth Hackers" for His Kingdom. If we are not expanding His Kingdom, we won’t see growth in our own lives and because He has left this growth up to us, the Kingdom of God could be limited if we don’t do as we are called. When you think about the impact you are having in the office or in life, can you say that you are growth hacking for Christ?

Reference:  2 Peter 3:18 (New Living Translation)

day 1093: Growth Cycles

"...that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give you."

Yesterday, we read of "finding bottom" and how the bottom is part of a cycle and can be a foundation for moving forward and upward.  The growth cycle is always a tricky one to talk about because everyone wants to be able to say that their growth is always up and to the right on the charts shown to analysts and investors.  But, while those charts are great to see and we love to read about them in Businessweek, Fortune and the Harvard Business Review, the truth is that most companies experience a very different cycle.  Most companies feel more like they ride a sine wave than just always the up and to the right rocket or the much sought after "hockey stick".  Let's face it, the sine wave of ups and downs is in our nature and it is nothing to be ashamed of and if you are in business long enough you will see that cycle be manifested.  Ups and downs are normal.  The key is to be sure that the next low is not as low as the low before and that the next high is a little higher than the last peak.  If we can be mature enough to step back and take the long-view we will realize that sine waves can be predictable and manageable.

My pastor taught a series to begin 2013 called Windows of Opportunity.  You can find that series here. One of his messages within that series was about the success and the extraordinary opportunity of life. He got me thinking about our life growth patterns and reflecting about where we can continue to grow as we age and mature.  The sad part is that as human beings we decay physically and mentally, but our souls and spirit can continue to strengthen and grow right up to our death.  This may not be exactly right but I think it looks
something like this:

If this is anywhere close to right then it should become clear to us where our focus needs to be for our long-term "true" growth cycle.  One place we don't want to allow the sine wave to control us is in our spiritual growth and strength.  God is there to grow us each and every day so now would be the time to get on that growth curve and see if a life long learning, deepening faith, trust in God, and total surrender, can't take us all the way up and to the right.

Reference: John 15: 16 (New King James Version)

day 893: Facing Up, Part 4

"I tell you the truth, when you were young; you were able to do as you liked"

Today is the day.  Facebook goes public and we will see if they can garner the $104B market valuation they desire, making it the largest single initial public offering in history.  Where I live here in Silicon Valley there has been a palpable buzz all week. And today is the day.  Today, Facebook grows up.  Today, for the first time in the company's history the focus of employees won't be on the product or the number of users but instead in the number behind the stock symbol, "FB".  From this point on the price of the stock will become an interest for all and an obsession for most inside the company. Back in the late '80's I was a part of PepsiCo becoming the first Fortune 500 company to provide stock options to all employees.  All 450,000 employees, other than those in countries where stock options were illegal, received "Share Power Grants".  The idea was to align the entire company from CEO to Hourly employees with a common measure.  It was exciting and it lasted for many years.  And then over time the stock price stopped increasing, the small number of shares that someone received were not meaningful any longer, employees started to realize that the company and themselves could be performing extraordinarily and because of macroeconomic forces the stock price would stay down, and employees lost hope and faith in the program. It will be awhile before that happens to Facebook employees but all of the ramifications of having a public measure that matters to an employees checkbook is a growing up pain that Facebook is now certain to experience.


Where we establish our measures and fix our eyes for a prize is important as we grow up spiritually. When we were young in spirit, we may not have been able to let go of many of the parts of the of the world that we think establish our identity and self-esteem.  But, if we are growing and facing up to this maturation process, then we will get better and better at discerning those things that are in God's will and are moving the Kingdom forward, and those that aren't. We are bombarded with the messages to care about the opposite. Let's today, as we take measure, be sure that we are fixed on and staying consistent on the things of the Kingdom and the disciplines that He has given us to exercise.


Reference: John 21:18 (New Living Testament)

day 881: Capital: Part Three - Value

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth"

 The issue with lots of investors (and Board of Directors for that matter) is that for what they were selected doesn’t necessarily translate to what the company or organization needs.  Investors what bring capital to the table many times don’t have either relevant industry experience or subject matter knowledge to really help the company along in the early days.  What they bring forward it money and something that they have accomplished along the way that got them into the investor seat.  This could have been that they were part of a company homerun exit for the firm and because of this they brought them inside to the investment firm.  Lots of times though that same very successful person will not have the depth of operating experience that the CEO/Founder craves.  They will certainly have tons of financial savvy and knowledge, connections with other investors and that network can be important for sure.  There are many investors who feel like their greatest contribution is helping the company land the next round of funding at an up valuation. And again, there is great value in that, but it’s not everything.  Founders/CEOs/Senior Team members should really not look to their financial investors to be the be all and end all. Instead they should be sure to look to round out their Board, fill in the gaps and ensure that around the table is a great blend of people who all share the same values, principles and desires for the future of the company.

Paul tells us where it is that we must stay focused and look towards for what we need to grow. How easy it is for us to get “distracted and swayed” by the advice of the world around us.  Look no further than the number of self-help and self-improvement books that are published each year.  Need a new diet, a new attitude, a new outlook, a new look, a new anything, and there is a book for it.  Add in the motivational and inspirational speakers, CDs, podcasts, websites, etc. and there is no shortage for ways to better and grow.  But, Paul tells us not to expect that true growth and value-add to come from these things.  He directs us back to the one always trusted, always relevant and always value-adding voice and that is the voice of God in our lives.  As we look around us to for the value that others can bring to us, let’s not put our faith there.  Let’s be sure and recognize that the truth only lies with Him!

Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:7  

day 880: Capital: Part Two - Ideas

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth"

New investors are exciting because they bring fresh thoughts and ideas to a business.  But, they also bring naive and inexperienced views to a business that they haven't been in the trenches with long enough to begin making declarations.  The smart capital investors will take their time to listen, learn and then begin to express their thoughts/points of view. I have always encouraged anyone who is new into a situation to be sure for a good period of time to end every sentence with a question mark.  Anything other than that, even if it is a soft suggestion that ends in a period, will be heard as an exclamation point and cause the people who are taking the input to say things to themselves like; "What does she know?", or "He hasn't been here long enough to understand our business", or "Who does he think he is?".  These can all be avoided with intelligent and thought-provoking questions, such as, "Have we ever thought about this differently?".  Simple to do, hard to stay to disciplined to do.  But, if we want our best ideas to be listened to and heard, we need to be sure that we have earned our place to provide that input.  Earning is different than purchasing the right, and that is where many new investors get tangled.  It's a good thing to remember that no place in the terms or purchase agreement did it say that the investment provides the ability to have all ideas listened to and implemented.

We must also check ourselves in how we present our own ideas to others.  The same value of listening and learning before we speak can make a difference in our relationship with co-workers, bosses, customers, etc.  I have thought that part of the reason that Jesus taught in parables was because He wanted our minds to be reasoning and thinking while we listen/read His words.  He could have been really prescriptive in His directions but He chose another method, which gave Him so much credibility with so many because those on the receiving end could see and hear themselves in His words.  We should take that model to heart and think about what our words are expressing about who we are, and more importantly, what others are seeing as a reflection from us.  Let's strive today for that reflection to be the face, mind and ideas of Christ.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:7

day 879: Capital: Part One - Input

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth"

I'm working with a number of companies who are are obtaining their next round of capital funding to support their business growth.  It's a funny thing because regardless of the stage, the pattern is much the same.  The company/entrepreneur/founder/CEO puts together a story of the company, sometimes shorter or sometimes longer, then reaches to his/her network of investors who begin to set up meetings.  Then there is a dating thing that happens while waiting to see if someone falls in love with the company.  Once they do then the company tries to get others to fall in love with better terms, finally, hopefully, ending up with the best terms for the company and ones that the new investor feels like they got a bargain. What neither side knows at that time, like the beginning of any relationship, is how well it will go, but on the day of an executed term sheet and wired money, it all about a hopeful and optimistic good future.  How do we make the best decision about capital input, we certainly must do our homework an reference check, etc.  but at the end of the day, we make the decision like we do in many cases, based on how we "feel" about the new people who will be making the investment.  Yes, once again, it comes down to a set of shared values and principles that make us feel like the best capital input is occurring. 

As believers we see out all types of input in our lives.  We look for prayer, encouragement, fellowship, support, etc. We gather in small accountability groups to keep us on course and provide advice and counsel that is beyond that we might receive from those who don't share our same beliefs.  Yet, at the end of the day, there is one place where we must lean, listen and learn, and that is for the voice of God.  Of course, God shows up with words from other believers and from the pulpit, but we also have to do our own listening and only we can read God's word for ourselves and we have to enter into prayer with Him individually, if we want to hear His voice for us. Each and every day we are needing and seeking input for our growth.  Let's today not forget that that growth comes from Him and what He has and will give us.

Reference:  1 Corinthians 3:7
 

day 734: Onward and upward

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor."

I've always said that if a business is not growing, it is dying. While that may not be obvious, it is dying from the inside out if it is not growing. The best people won't stay, the best deals won't be secured, the next big idea won't come to a business where others smell stagnation. This is why, even if incremental, moving upward and onward is important. Sometimes these moves can be scary and risky. Just check out what Netflix did this week with spinning out their DVD business as a legacy business so they can focus on the area of the business they believe will grow. This was about as gutsy as it gets and it certainly burns the ships behind them as they case themselves away from warehouses, envelopes, plastic and the U.S. Postal Service (which is having their own growth challenges). In CEO, Reed Hasting's letter to all subscribers he wrote to us humbly of his misstep and then laid out a growth plan for the company. It takes courage to stay growing and more businesses should be humble and honest enough with themselves to make the changes necessary to keep their growth alive.

We must also grow and we must also be humble. What we have is a promise from God that if we do humble ourselves under His power and we wait on Him that He will lift us up and we will experience our own upward and onward growth. But here is the amazing thing, while we are waiting, we are also growing because if we are humbling ourselves to Him, we are spending time in his Word, in prayer and in fellowship with others. Let's ask ourselves today, are we in an onward and upward pattern right now? And if we are not, then what do we need to do to put ourselves in the position where we can wait on God to lift us up?

Reference: 1 Peter 5:6 (New Living Testament)

day 556: Contentment

This time of the year when we start thinking about our results and progress for the year and more importantly, we start to think about next year's goals, we can start to get tough on ourselves and even more so start to look left and right and wonder why we haven't accomplished enough or more. Especially in the workplace there is the push to beat last year's performance with more, better, faster, and bigger. It is always good to have goals to strive to achieve and good to have goals that cause us to grow and stretch to new levels. Just by doing the assessment and writing our goals down, we become one of the 5% who actually do so. It's a small percentage of people who use goal setting and goal tracking to set their course. So, it is all good when we set those goals and start to measure. Where it becomes tricky is in the comparison of others and their performance, results and rewards. We must remember that the race we run is with ourselves. It is easy to start to look left and right and begin to see how we stack up and then either let that drag us down or sometimes worse, cause us to overcompensate and overreach to try and best someone else. I find that those who start from a place of being content in their own skin, knowing their limitations but still striving to expand and grow into those boundaries are not only the happiest people but also the people who just seem to have it more together than the people who are out there trying to prove to others how they are better. A good rule of thumb is to establish a level of contentment to work from and then push off from that place. Contentment is not always bad if put in the context of still moving and growing. I am not content with my Marathon running times, but I am content with knowing that I am in better shape than most and will never win a race or even place anywhere near recognition or reward. Paul told Timothy to establish his launching off position to be at the most simple level, "So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." From that place and perspective, Timothy grew and became more but he didn't forget that there was a set of basics to be content. As we set our goals for 2011 let us find our place of humility and contentment and then strive to grow from that place.

Reference: 1 Timothy 6:8 (New Living Testament)

day 72: Growth Charts

One of the redeeming things about going to the doctor when I was a kid was the standardized grow charts where I could see how I measured up to other kids my age. I had no idea what a percentile meant back then, but I always liked it when I heard the “top” of anything. Back then it was the top quartile. That changed after 8th grade when I learned that I had my growth spurt before everyone else and like the peloton closing in on the breakaway cyclist in the Tour de France, I could see the pack catching up and by 10th grade I was no longer in the “top” anymore. Just like our physical growth, we each want to grow spiritually and we practice and discipline ourselves to ensure that we are doing the right things, studying, praying, worshipping and fellowshipping. We work hard at it at work too to be the better person and to be the same person at the office as who we are on Sunday mornings. We can take heed and promise that we are growing with this discipline and practice. In Colossians we are told: "Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. " We have no idea how much we are growing until someone puts our back against the wall and puts a mark over our head, or until the aunt we haven’t seen in who knows how long, makes the obvious declaration, “Oh my, how you have grown”. Whether we know it or not, when we are striving and persevering and using all aspects of our lives to live (and work) to the purpose we have been given, we are growing in the eyes of God and of men. Others who we work with may not be able to put a finger on what it is, or even try to do so, but they can see it and if we stay consistent in our growth and the outpourings of this growth it will be more than obvious; others will want what you are having. We can start that growth today and make our own mark on the Kingdom’s growth chart.

Reference: Colossians 1:10, (New Living Testament)