June 17

15 comments

100-Fold Return: The Feasibility Factor

By Michael Q. Pink

June 17, 2014


In nature, everything finds the route of least resistance. Rivers don’t flow uphill but neither do they go straight in uneven terrain. They try to avoid any form of resistance, which is why so many rivers are so curvy. People instinctively are the same way. They search for easy and avoid the difficult. The journey ends up being longer than the life they have to accomplish it with.

Zigzag river. Aerial view.

Easy is the suckers bet if the goal is to become wealthy or even financially independent. Easy is a 2% interest rate on a bank certificate of deposit, but that doesn’t even keep up with inflation, so putting your money in there is akin to having a slow leak in your front tire. It will eventually go flat!

Easy is what everyone is doing, so avoid their path. You’re not looking for the difficult because you want difficult. It’s just that the easy path simply doesn’t have the reward you’re looking for.

Here’s a stat for you:

90% of businesses fail which means only one in ten succeed. Rather than be intimidated by that, just plan on going into business until you succeed. It might be your first try, but it could be your tenth. Bear in mind, your losses have a limit in size, but a success can be huge and dwarf all your previous losses.

In previous blogs we’ve discussed four of the seven factors I know of for generating the 100-fold return. The 5th one is feasibility. When evaluating the feasibility of a new business or a new strategy, you will likely find a number of reasons why it won’t work. These are factors that could disrupt or end your business in a worst-case scenario. That’s normal. You should actually brainstorm those reasons and do your best to think them through. If you still proceed, you should have a plan prepared for how you will deal with them, in case they happen.

What you need however, is one very good reason why it can work.

Emphasis on the phrase very good reason. So brainstorm the reasons your business or strategy can work. What is good about your line of thinking? Are your positive reasons feasible?

Let me give you an example. More than 25 years ago, I had the idea for my first book ever, The Bible Incorporated. At the time, I had just gotten out of a failed business and had no cash on hand. Grocery money was a challenge. Know what I mean? But then I got the idea for that book. Here were three intimidating reasons why it was a bad idea…

  1. I was not a publisher, had never published anything and had no distribution outlet for a book. Didn’t even know who or where the distribution channels were.
  2. I had no money, no job, and no collateral to offer for credit and I didn’t know where my next bag of groceries was coming from. The first print run was priced upwards of $100,000.
  3. 80% of the books published in America by established publishers never sell more than 5,000 copies and I needed to order 25,000 to get my price down. (This was because they were leather bound.)

How many of you would undertake that project? Well, let’s take a look at the reasons it was a good idea… Well, actually, it was only one reason, but it was a very good reason…

  1. God spoke to me in a church service that blessed are those who publish the gospel. I believed I was fulfilling a directive from Him. I even asked Him for the specific book idea so I could get started and the Bible Incorporated was it.

As you can see, I only had one very good reason to proceed, but in my opinion it outweighed all the reasons not to proceed. The danger in what I am saying is that many times folks can’t tell the difference between their own voice and God’s and so they launch out with their agenda, claiming it is God’s. But that’s for another blog discussion.

As a mitigating factor, I had a friend who offered their line of credit to pay for the books when the bill came due if I needed to use that. However, I was determined to not use their money and was able to take care of the bill by selling enough books in advance to pay the printing and binding in the agreed upon time frame.

So listen… The odds are usually against you. But you can tip the odds in your favor, by learning how God does business, discerning and following His lead, and emulating Him and His ways. That’s what this site is all about; passing on the wisdom of God as it applies mostly to work and business so you can succeed financially and make a difference in the world.

In your feasibility analysis, don’t forget the God Factor.

Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that believes.” For me personally, I do much better at believing when I’ve waited on Him, heard His voice and confirmed it in His word. When that happens, the feasibility just tips in my favor and I can proceed with confidence despite the uncertainty.

When you don’t have a clear word from the Lord, then do a thorough analysis and use good judgment. For reasons I don’t fully understand, it seems God likes us to have the element of risk in our lives. When we take risk and lose, we are instructed and wiser. When we take risk and win, we are exhilarated and encouraged. Either way, and in all things, we give thanks. It’s good for the soul and prepares us for the next challenge.

Thanks for reading my blog. I am looking forward to sharing with you the details of the MPI Business Institute that is designed to help you win in the marketplace without sacrificing your convictions, so you can take good care of your family and advance God’s agenda on earth. Be looking for an announcement this month.

Michael Q. Pink

About the author

Michael is America's leading authority on applying Biblical Wisdom and Natural Law to sales and business and has authored 19 books including The Bible Incorporated, Selling Among Wolves and God's Best Kept Secrets. Using that knowledge, he has helped thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs experience radical transformation in their lives and careers, including helping a start-up with 3 struggling sales reps turn the corner and become the 16th fastest growing company on the INC 500 list. 

    • Greetings Jose… Thank you for your encouragement and for sharing my blog with others. God bless you!

  • Thank you- this IS encouraging, a facilitator in cutting through confusion, cultivating clarity. I will need to read the other parts….

  • Well Steve;

    It’s a long and glorious story, but suffice it to say, we sold out of our first print run of 25,000 copies in about 8 months and the book went on to be a big best seller with sales in the 400,000 range. A lot of God stories along the way for sure!

  • Thank-you Michael,

    My conviction, like yours, is that as you acknowledge and seek the LORD
    in the secret places, and ask the Holy Spirit of God, to lead, guide, direct,
    enable and bless mightily…

    the things and activities He inspires you to put your heart, mind and hand
    to daily, he will then direct your paths in the right ways of his will.

    Proverbs 3:5-6

    He also promises that if we wait upon and delight in Him and be attentive
    to His ways, He will put His desires into your heart, and make them come to
    pass in due time.

    Psalm 37:3-6, Habakuk 2:1-2

    Be encouraged saints, for His desire is that you bear much fruit, and that
    that fruit remain. For it is the Father’s good pleasure to see you prosper.

  • Wise advice, Michael, that I will ponder and apply as I have some decisions to make with regards to my own business’s direction at the moment.

  • Michael, Your words are rich in hope ! I love the resources that you wrote your book on ! Today I declared a change in career (Homeschool mom) as I once again pursue the business person that I am, and follow that which God has put on my heart. . Lord willing I will have a similarly awesome testimony in a few months.

  • Thankful, ( as a pastor who also running a church school ) your advice/article was very helpful. I’m from the Philippines…

    • Hi Ben; Thank you for posting your comment. I appreciate that. May I suggest you read all seven articles in the series. If you look at my most recent blog post, you will see that it is the 7th, but it also hot links the other six. I think you will find the series helpful. If you do, I would appreciate you sharing them with others.

      Blessings, Michael

  • Dear Michael,

    Quote:
    “When you don’t have a clear word from the Lord, then do a thorough analysis and use good judgment. For reasons I don’t fully understand, it seems God likes us to have the element of risk in our lives. When we take risk and lose, we are instructed and wiser. When we take risk and win, we are exhilarated and encouraged. Either way, and in all things, we give thanks. It’s good for the soul and prepares us for the next challenge.”
    Unquote:

    Just like the Parable of the 10 Minas…we are called to a life of risk taking and right investing!

    Need not say more….just a strong Amen to this, my brother and Sensei!

    ForHim, BenjieC./Manila, Phils.

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    Join My Exclusive Notification Group

    Be the First To Get Notified Of New Blog Posts

    >