EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

1. Faith and business belong together.

1. Historically, churches have struggled to incorporate business principles into their operations, afraid of being “too corporate”. That fear can lead to unsound business decisions. FiveTwo refers to their training as Mother Teresa meets a friendly Mark Cuban: bringing the presence of Christ into the community and at the same time applying lean business principles. This philosophy makes for a more unified venture.
   
2. FiveTwo uses a business tool called the StartNew Canvas, mirrored from a traditional Business Model Canvas. With 9 core questions, the StartNew Canvas facilitates building a successful business model that clarifies WHO God is calling you to serve and  WHAT are you offering this person. FiveTwo’s training results in a unified sacred starter and venture under one sacred umbrella. We never tire of hearing, “I use this in my business. I never thought I could use it in ministry.”

2. The most important qualities of a successful sacred starter. 

FiveTwo’s proven process takes leaders through an assessment process designed to highlight strengths and point out weaknesses. While the assessment covers over 20 different traits, we’ve found these three are the leading indicators of a successful starter.

1. Cause-Driven. The number one trait to look for when identifying someone who will launch something successful. Ideas flow from passion. Your cause and values will be reflected in whatever you start.
   
2. Collaborative. Can you be part of a team? When a venture launches with a team, they have a much higher success rate than those going it alone. A team brings a holistic batch of gifts, rounding out any weakness you might have as a leader. 
   
3. Ability to influence. Can you convince others of your cause? 
   
   

3. Common mistakes we see sacred starters make.

Certainly almost every sacred starter begins their journey passionate about their idea. But the reality is some ventures fail. Some fail due to circumstances beyond their control. But these are the mistakes we often see leaders make that can be the downfall of their mission. 

1. Lack of self awareness. This is why it’s so important to have crystal clear clarity on what God has put on your heart, where your gifts are and where you lack strengths. 
   
2. Lack of customer-centric creation. Oftentimes sacred starters know WHAT their idea is but fail to clarify WHO the idea is for. We’ve found when starters go through the FiveTwo process and put themselves in their customers shoes, what they actually end up starting is different than what they originally thought. 
   In startnew training’s Build module, sacred starters walk through a practice in customer jobs and pains and gains. We teach how to think through the jobs of your customers. In an example of a  homeless ministry, this might be “Where do I sleep?” “ How do I take care of my stuff?”. 
   

3. Missing out on an additional revenue stream. For financial sustainability, FiveTwo highly encourages two revenue streams: both earned AND donative. With an earned income stream, even the clients have skin in the game. Leaders have to be prepared to answer “How will you fund this?”. “Money’s not the mission, but where there’s no money, there’s no mission.” 
   
   FiveTwo’s StartNew Fund module teaches starters how to pitch and ask for funding. Crafting a good pitch allows you to recruit people for your cause. A homeless ministry used our StartNew training to develop their pitch and was able to procure a benefactor and a quarter million dollar gift to launch their ministry. Money flows to vision. God’s work done God’s way is never going to lack for God’s supply
   
   Click-to-Tweet: Money flows to vision. God’s work done God’s way is never going to lack for God’s supply
   
   

Listen to the entire podcast here

We’re sharing tips from our StartNew Course. In this article, you’ll learn how to write a fundraising pitch for your startup.  

ABOUT FIVETWO

FiveTwo clarifies, equips & activates Christians who are created to be sacred starters.