Resources

Action and Commitment

Choose roles and act out the following.

NARRATOR 1: We believe in making and keeping commitments. In our self-reliance groups, everything we do is built around making commitments and reporting.

NARRATOR 2: At the end of a group meeting, we review our actions for the week and add our signature to show our commitment. We also choose an action partner for the week. The action partner signs our workbook to pledge support. And each day during the week, we contact our action partner to report on our actions and to get help when needed.

NARRATOR 3: During the week, we mark our progress in the workbook and use the tools provided, such as worksheets or other forms. And if we need extra help, we can call on our families, our friends, or the facilitator.

NARRATOR 4: At the beginning of our next meeting, we return and report on our commitments. This should be a comfortable, powerful experience for everyone. Think about how these people were helped by making commitments and reporting.

GROUP MEMBER 1: The first time I reported on my commitments, I thought, “This is strange.” Why would my group members care about what I did? But then I found out that they did care. And that helped me.

GROUP MEMBER 2: I realized that I didn’t want to let my group down. So I really worked hard to keep my commitments. I’m not sure I would have made progress any other way. Reporting each week really helped me with my priorities.

GROUP MEMBER 3: When I thought about my path to self-reliance, I was scared because it was such a big thing. But the group meetings helped me break it down into small steps. And I reported on each step to my group. Then I made real progress. I think this success resulted from building new habits.

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How do I use the business success map?

Every day this week, observe, reflect, and ponder on the principles of business success. Visit businesses for one to two hours each day to observe them. Take your notebook and this workbook with you when you visit local businesses so you can use the following questions and the Business Success Map (on the last page of this workbook).

DAILY ACTIVITIES:
Day 1
Customers
Watch what, when, and how much customers buy. Review the customer principles shown on the map. Record your thoughts here:
Day 2
Sales
How do businesses sell their products or services? Could they improve? Review the sales principles shown on the map. Record your thoughts here:
Day 3
Costs
Think about the costs the businesses have. How do they reduce costs? Review the cost principles shown on the map. Record your thoughts here:
Day 4
Profit
Did the businesses keep track of their income or costs? If it were your business, how would you track your money? Review the profit principles shown on the map. Record your thoughts here:

For the next two days, ponder and pray for assurance that the Lord will bless your efforts to serve a holy purpose in your own business. Record the impressions you receive each day as you think about each section of the Business Success Map.

DAILY ACTIVITIES:
Day 5
CUSTOMERS
SALES
Day 6
PROFIT
COSTS

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