I want to help build and be part of sustainable churches and organizations. So do you. The real question becomes how do you create something which is lasting? Something which lives beyond you? Something which impacts both this and future generations?
In the July/August edition of Inc. magazine I was introduced to the website TheDistance. This site is dedicated to “stories about hard-working, long-lasting businesses and the people behind them.” Written by Wailin Wong, this month’s story chronicled the history of Horween Leather Company, Chicago’s last remaining tannery.
The following are 10 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Sustainable Ministries And Businesses we learn from this incredibly successful organization:
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Have Consistent Leadership – Constant turnover in leadership results in dysfunction and a lack of sustainability. Founded in 1905 by 30-year-old vice president Nick Horween’s great-great-grandfather, five generations of Horweens have led the organization.
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Prioritize Excellence – Bill Hybels famously said, “Excellence honors God and inspires people.” The Horween Leather Company have developed “customers who are championing a revival of consumption based on quality.”
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Eliminate Short Cuts – While all competitive tanneries moved operations overseas for lower-cost labor, Horween evolved into the luxury maker of high-end leather products.
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Never Lose Their Sense Of Urgency – Andy Stanley has said, “The greatest enemy of future success is past success.” What Andy is warning us against is the dangers of complacency. Nick said, “If the customer can’t tell the difference and you charge a premium, you’re out of business. So it just has to be the best you can make it. You put all the best stuff into it so you can get the best out of it, and get your price or don’t sell it.”
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Embrace Change While Staying True To Their Core Values – Horween’s first product was strips of horsehide used to sharpen razor blades. The tannery then pursued new customers and markets when safety features changed. Horween’s business is currently 40% footwear, 40% sporting goods and the remaining 20% a variety of other leather products.
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Leverage Their Expertise – CEO Steve Bock of Shinola, one of Horween’s top clients, says, “This is a 100-year-old company that has really built a tremendous amount of expertise over that period of time.”
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Develop A Culture Of Hard Work – Success often smells like sweat. The philosophy of Horweens leaders is”you don’t make leather at a desk. You have to be out in the plant.”
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Have A Competitive Advantage – The Horween Leather Company’s competitive advantage is their quality. Skip Horween said, “It needs to be the best it can be because that’s really our competitive advantage. We’re not cheap. If you came to me and said, ‘Wow, I need a million of something in a really big hurry,’ you’re probably in the wrong place.”
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Develop Deep, Long-Standing Relationships – If you are a football fan, you deeply appreciate the Horween Leather Company whether you realize it or not. Their consistent excellence helped win and build a long-relationship with the Wilson Sporting Goods Company, the official maker of NFL footballs. Their client list also includes Chrysler, Studebaker and John Deere.
- Sustainable Ministries And Businesses Stay Relevant – The Horween leadership has consistently made modern upgrades to keep pace with such items as environmental regulations.
Consistent Leadership, Prioritize Excellence, Eliminate Short Cuts, Have A Sense Of Urgency, Change, Leverage Expertise, Work Hard, Use Your Competitive Advantage, Develop Long-Standing Relationships and Stay Relevant. If you maintain these 10 practices, you too may have a sustainable ministry or business.
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