Podcasts about strategic importance

Find us at www.crisisinvesting.com In this episode, Michael Yon provides a detailed update from Panama, discussing the geopolitical struggles for control of the Panama Canal, and the larger global context involving China, the United Nations, and the United States. The conversation covers the ongoing migration crisis, particularly through the Darien Gap, and explores the impacts of global power plays on Panama and other key naval choke points. The discussion also touches on economic issues in China, the significance of historical events, and the potential for large-scale conflicts and famines in the near future. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:42 Discussion on China and Global Politics 03:51 Panama and the Darien Gap 06:06 Historical Insights and Canal Construction 27:48 Mosquitoes and Disease in Canal History 33:20 Trump Administration and Immigration Policies 36:31 Alex's Journey from HIAS to Homeland Security 36:47 HIAS's Role in Immigration Camps 37:02 Alejandro Mayorkas and the Expansion of Camps 37:38 Criticism of HIAS and Donors 38:30 Comparing Deportation Rates: Biden vs. Trump 39:06 Trump's Border Policies and Their Impact 39:44 The Role of HIAS in Lake and Riley's Murder 40:51 Global Immigration and Colonization Trends 42:44 Colony Ridge: A New City in Texas 44:03 Governor Abbott's Border Actions 46:18 The Threat of War and Global Conflicts 50:48 Trump's Military Actions on the Border 57:37 Zionism and Global Power Struggles 01:07:53 Historical Context and the Path Between the Seas 01:09:38 Historical Layers of Panama 01:09:55 Current Political Influences in Panama 01:11:10 Geopolitical Tensions and Travel Concerns 01:14:01 Potential Global Crises: Famine and Blackouts 01:19:23 Strategic Importance of the Panama Canal 01:39:38 Historical Insights and Personal Anecdotes 01:46:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Send us a message or question! *** (Part 2 of 2) SummaryJane and James continue their discussion about Bomber Command minelaying operations, to mark the publication of Jane's book, The Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command Gardening Operations 1940-1945. In the episode the team consider the strategic importance of these operations, their impact on the Battle of the Atlantic, the Channel Dash, the U-boat campaign, and personal stories from those involved. Jane and James compares the effectiveness of mine laying to direct attacks on enemy shipping, emphasizing the significant disruption caused to German naval operations. The conversation concludes with reflections on the historiographical neglect of mine laying and its crucial role in the broader context of the war.You can order Jane's book here: https://mortonsbooks.co.uk/book/the-invisible-campaign-bomber-command-gardening-operations-19401945If you'd like a signed copy, email the team at nmtdambusters@gmail.comTakeawaysMine laying operations were crucial in disrupting enemy naval activities.The impact of mine laying on U-boat operations was significant.Personal stories from mine laying crews highlight the dangers they faced.The Channel Dash operation illustrated the effectiveness of mine laying.Bomber Command's mine laying was more effective than direct attacks on shipping.Statistics show that mine laying sunk around 750 vessels during the war.Mine laying was a strategic component of Bomber Command's overall strategy.The historiography of mine laying is often neglected by historians.Gardening operations were considered successful but overlooked in narratives.The resource allocation for mine laying was well integrated into Bomber Command's efforts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mine Laying Operations00:52 Impact of Mine Laying on U-boat Operations01:16 Personal Stories from Mine Laying Missions04:35 The Channel Dash and Mine Laying's Role11:27 Comparative Analysis of Allied and Luftwaffe Mining Operations16:40 Mine Laying in Preparation for D-Day23:59 Evolution of Mine Laying Strategies Throughout the War25:45 Wider Implications of the Mine Laying Campaign28:27 The Journey of U-127329:46 Disaster Strikes: The Fate of U-127331:47 The Impact of Mines on German Logistics33:35 Assessing the Success of Mine Laying Campaigns36:08 Statistics of Bomber Command's Mine Laying Efforts37:54 The Strategic Importance of Mine Laying41:08 Historians' Perspectives on Mine LayingSupport the showPlease subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams. Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

In this episode, we sit down again with Keith Coghlan, Executive Chairman of European Metals Holdings, to discuss the latest strategic developments surrounding the Cinovec lithium project in the Czech Republic. Recently designated as a strategic project by both the Czech government and the European Commission, Cinovec is gaining significant momentum. Keith shares insights into what these classifications mean, including streamlined permitting, substantial financial backing, and increased investor confidence. We also dive into the critical role of EMH's partner ČEZ, the company's path toward securing funding from the EU's €2 billion critical minerals fund, and how shifting geopolitical dynamics are shaping the future of lithium supply in Europe. CHAPTERS

Rogers for America with Lt. Steve Rogers – Since Greenland doesn't have the military power to repel an attack on itself, which could result in a direct attack on the United States, it may not be a bad idea for the United States to annex Greenland. This past week, a listener of my broadcast sent me a letter about Greenland. I am going to share it with you because it is highly informative...

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a message or question! *** On general release on 2 April 2023*** (Part 2 of 2) SummaryJane and James continue their discussion about Bomber Command minelaying operations, to mark the publication of Jane's book, The Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command Gardening Operations 1940-1945. In the episode the team consider the strategic importance of these operations, their impact on the Battle of the Atlantic, the Channel Dash, the U-boat campaign, and personal stories from those involved. Jane and James compares the effectiveness of mine laying to direct attacks on enemy shipping, emphasizing the significant disruption caused to German naval operations. The conversation concludes with reflections on the historiographical neglect of mine laying and its crucial role in the broader context of the war.You can order Jane's book here: https://mortonsbooks.co.uk/book/the-invisible-campaign-bomber-command-gardening-operations-19401945If you'd like a signed copy, email the team at nmtdambusters@gmail.comTakeawaysMine laying operations were crucial in disrupting enemy naval activities.The impact of mine laying on U-boat operations was significant.Personal stories from mine laying crews highlight the dangers they faced.The Channel Dash operation illustrated the effectiveness of mine laying.Bomber Command's mine laying was more effective than direct attacks on shipping.Statistics show that mine laying sunk around 750 vessels during the war.Mine laying was a strategic component of Bomber Command's overall strategy.The historiography of mine laying is often neglected by historians.Gardening operations were considered successful but overlooked in narratives.The resource allocation for mine laying was well integrated into Bomber Command's efforts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mine Laying Operations00:52 Impact of Mine Laying on U-boat Operations01:16 Personal Stories from Mine Laying Missions04:35 The Channel Dash and Mine Laying's Role11:27 Comparative Analysis of Allied and Luftwaffe Mining Operations16:40 Mine Laying in Preparation for D-Day23:59 Evolution of Mine Laying Strategies Throughout the War25:45 Wider Implications of the Mine Laying Campaign28:27 The Journey of U-127329:46 Disaster Strikes: The Fate of U-127331:47 The Impact of Mines on German Logistics33:35 Assessing the Success of Mine Laying Campaigns36:08 Statistics of Bomber Command's Mine Laying Efforts37:54 The Strategic Importance of Mine Laying41:08 Historians' Perspectives on Mine Laying44:Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams. Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Emerald's Strategic Acquisitions in the Luxury Travel and InsureTech Sectors   In this episode, Herve Sedky, President and CEO of Emerald, discusses the company's recent acquisition of This is Beyond, which adds several B2B luxury travel events to Emerald's portfolio. The acquisition bolsters Emerald's presence in the luxury market, which is known for its resilience to economic fluctuations.   This strategic move also solidifies Emerald's international footprint, particularly in the UK. Additionally, Herve sheds light on another recent acquisition — InsurTech Insights, which focuses on the insurance and technology sectors, further expanding Emerald's international reach and growth in technology-focused events.   00:00 Introduction and Announcement Overview 00:35 Details of the Acquisition 01:17 Strategic Importance of Luxury Market 02:08 Acquisition Process and Competitive Bidding 03:39 Emerald's International Expansion Strategy 06:46 InsureTech Insights Acquisition 09:50 Conclusion and Future Outlook  

We're excited to share highlights from the Leadership Succession Planning and Masterclass webinar featuring Christine MacKey-Ross, President of Leadership Solutions at AMN Healthcare, Richard Ani, Leadership Development Consultant, and Lukas Voss, Content Writer at Becker's Healthcare. This episode of Elevate Care dives into the strategic importance of leadership succession planning and development within organizations.The discussion explores key considerations for hiring, growing, and transitioning leadership roles to align with organizational goals. Topics include the pros and cons of hiring internal versus external candidates, the role of organizational culture, and the value of mentorship and onboarding programs. The speakers also address the importance of intentional development processes, the influence of generational differences on leadership expectations, and the cost implications of leadership development. They emphasize that investing in future leaders is essential to reducing turnover and driving organizational success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Leadership Succession Planning01:27 Strategic Importance of Leadership Development04:12 Organizational Culture and Leadership Readiness08:19 Internal vs. External Candidates11:55 Onboarding and Mentorship for Internal Candidates16:52 Mentorship Roles and Their Importance21:38 Assessing Leadership Readiness26:53 The Role of Intentional Development30:33 Generational Differences in Leadership Development35:39 Cost Considerations in Leadership Development About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare

- Breaking News and Special Reports (0:00) - Vaccine Depopulation Conspiracy (5:12) - Health and Nutrition Strategies (9:02) - Book Review: A Guide to Understanding Herbal Medicines (34:18) - Special Report: Energy and AI in Geopolitical Shifts (41:08) - Book Review: Our Occulted History by Jim Mars (1:01:54) - Interview with Michael Young on Global Politics (1:10:12) - Panama's Strategic Importance and Economic Challenges (1:21:33) - Military Capabilities and Global Conflicts (1:26:59) - UK's Military and Economic Vulnerabilities (1:33:17) - Europe's Military and Political Landscape (1:34:26) - Migration and Security Concerns (1:44:56) - Trump's Role and Potential Actions (1:59:56) - Globalist Agendas and Depopulation (2:18:23) - The Role of the United Nations and International Organizations (2:27:29) - The Future of Global Security and Migration (2:27:43) - The Impact of AI and Automation on Global Systems (2:28:49) - Israel and Genocide Allegations (2:30:56) - Historical Context and Bonds (2:35:05) - Geopolitical Struggles and Future Projections (2:37:13) - Jewish Communities and Future Migrations (2:40:50) - AI and Human Replacement (2:45:07) - Cultural and Technological Shifts (2:50:18) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information (2:56:03) For more updates, visit: http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport NaturalNews videos would not be possible without you, as always we remain passionately dedicated to our mission of educating people all over the world on the subject of natural healing remedies and personal liberty (food freedom, medical freedom, the freedom of speech, etc.). Together, we're helping create a better world, with more honest food labeling, reduced chemical contamination, the avoidance of toxic heavy metals and vastly increased scientific transparency. ▶️ Every dollar you spend at the Health Ranger Store goes toward helping us achieve important science and content goals for humanity: https://www.healthrangerstore.com/ ▶️ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html ▶️ Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport ▶️ Join Our Social Network: https://brighteon.social/@HealthRanger ▶️ Check In Stock Products at: https://PrepWithMike.com

I recently sat down with Dan Snyder, CEO and co-founder of Lower, to discuss the evolving landscape of mortgage lending. Lower was founded in 2014 and has grown into one of the largest venture-backed home lenders in the United States. Dan is driven by a commitment to simplifying the home financing process through technology. “We're not just building a mortgage company,” says Snyder. “We're creating a comprehensive platform. It will make homeownership more accessible, especially for younger buyers.” Fresh off its acquisition of NeatLabs, Lower's new proprietary platform, LowerOS, promises to reduce the cost and complexity of mortgage origination. Snyder bootstrapped his startup and went on to raise Ohio's largest Series A, showcasing resilience and vision. His journey offers valuable lessons in leadership and innovation. It also highlights how to navigate the challenges of a volatile housing market. The conversation explores key topics like the role of venture capital in professionalizing a business, the strategic importance of owning a full tech stack, and the opportunities presented by serving next-generation home buyers. The Big Ideas Venture Capital as a Catalyst for Growth. “Raising money allowed us to professionalize the business and access top talent,” says Snyder. He highlights the impact of Accel's investment. The Strategic Importance of Owning Technology. “We didn't want to rely on third-party software that didn't align with our goals,” Snyder notes. LowerOS is the result of this strategic decision. Challenges in Serving Next-Gen Buyers. “The average income for first-time buyers is over $200,000. We're working to bring that down by improving affordability,” Snyder explains. Adapting to Market Volatility. Snyder highlights that inventory and interest rates are major challenges. But, technology can help reduce costs and improve efficiency. Combining Tech with Human Expertise. “Even with digital tools, a 15-minute conversation can save hours of back-and-forth,” says Snyder. He emphasizes the value of human interaction.

In this interview, I sit down with Andy Schectman, President of Miles Franklin, to explore an intriguing concept: Could revaluing gold to $142,000 an ounce be a realistic solution to the global debt crisis? Andy shares his expertise on why central banks are rapidly increasing their gold reserves, the mechanics of a potential revaluation, and its broader implications for the financial system. We also discuss the strategic role of silver, the risks of hyperinflation, and how these trends could impact investors and global markets. Andy's insights shed light on how gold and silver may play a crucial role in shaping the future of our monetary system. If you're looking for fresh perspectives on precious metals and their role in today's economy, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! ----------- Thank you to our #sponsor FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. TSX & NYSE: AG Find more information at https://www.firstmajestic.com/ ------------

Over the last few years, at least since 2020, in the marketing and communications professions, remote work has become more of the norm than the exception. Connections between and among co-workers remain predominantly digital or virtual, and so many of us fitted out our home offices with comfy ergonomic chairs, standing desks, recording gear, balance boards, and all kinds of tchotchkes. Then, when the economy started to turn, and our jobs started to disappear, we figured, well, we've got the home setup, we've got the years of remote work experience, so starting our own "thing" wouldn't be so scary. But as it turns out, being alone can get pretty lonely. We benefit tremendously from interacting with peers and feeling like someone's got our back. We want people we can reach out to for information, mentorship, and support. It sounds like we want - and maybe need - community. Is community the future of work? In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with strategic communications and PR consultant-turned-entrepreneur Ashley Dennison, the founder and CEO of CommsConsultants.com, to discuss the changing landscape of communications consulting and the power of community in the age of AI. Join Dan and Ashley as they navigate the world of independent communications consulting, examining the challenges and opportunities that come with this career path. From the loneliness of solo entrepreneurship to the strength found in professional communities, this episode offers a candid look at the realities of modern consulting work. Ashley shares her journey in creating CommsConsultants.com, a global directory of pre-vetted communications and marketing consultants. The conversation touches on the importance of specialization, admitting what you don't know, and the critical role of building relationships in the consulting world. The episode dives into the impact of AI on the communications industry, discussing the scramble to understand and adopt new technologies. Ashley and Dan examine the readiness of consultants to meet future challenges and the need for continuous learning in a rapidly changing field. A key focus of the discussion is the ongoing struggle to position strategic communications as a business imperative. Ashley offers a thought-provoking call to action for communications professionals to unite and demonstrate their value to C-suite executives. Whether you're a seasoned consultant or considering the leap into independent work, this episode provides valuable insights into the future of communications consulting. Don't miss this engaging conversation about community, technology, and the evolving nature of strategic communications. Listen in and hear about... Community as the future of work for communications consultants Challenges and opportunities in the evolving landscape of independent consulting The power of authenticity and imperfection in professional communication Balancing AI adoption with core communication skills in the consulting world Strategies for positioning oneself as a valuable resource in a competitive market The ongoing struggle to establish strategic communications as a business imperative Adapting to change and embracing curiosity in the face of technological advancements Notable Quotes On the Value of Consultants: "How could you possibly ever be short of client volume when there are so many opportunities out there?" - Ashley Dennison [04:14 → 04:21] On Networking and Karma: "I totally do that. And I am always 100% sure that at some point in the future, right, there will be a... I'm not gonna say a reward, right. But I will say that there will, there will be a, A karmic sense of goodness happening from that." - Dan Nestle [53:09 → 53:27] The Importance of Specialization: "If you want to commit to your path of specialty, where you truly are an expert, you have to at the same time be willing to say, and all of these other areas are not my expertise, but I know people who can do those things for you. Let me connect you." - Ashley Dennison [56:38 → 56:51] On the Future of Communications: "Until we come forward with a solution to that problem and we all stand behind it, I think that our, our profession and our value and our voice is going to shrink and shrink and shrink. Not to end on a sad note, but that's the call to action I would like to leave people with." - Ashley Dennison [1:11:09 → 1:11:33] The Indispensability of Communications Consultants: "The necessity, the indispensability of advisors, of trusted advisors who are courageous and who are able to put it, put connect dots, put everything together and convey, nay, communicate the ideas that will move and propel a business forward are absolutely golden for the future." - Dan Nestle [1:11:33 → 1:11:55] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Dan Nestle | Twitter/X Ashley Dennison Ashley Dennison | LinkedIn CommsConsultants Website Timestamped key moments from this episode (as generated by Fireflies.ai)

In this episode of Good Morning Liberty, hosts Nate Thurston and Charles 'Chuck' Thompson dive into an array of topics, starting with the current exchange rate of the Canadian dollar before moving onto a humorous discussion regarding former President Donald Trump's ambitious ideas, such as buying Canada, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, as well as the controversial proposal to use military force to control Greenland and the Panama Canal. They reflect on personal stories about visiting Greenland and elaborate on the geopolitical and economic implications of these potential moves. The hosts also exchange thoughts on Facebook (Meta) shifting towards a Community Notes system and transitioning content moderation teams to Texas. They conclude with a brief overview of future discussion topics including potential regulation changes by the Biden administration, Social Security policy updates, and more. (02:00) Renaming the Gulf of Mexico (04:20) Trump's Military Force and Greenland (04:44) Personal Anecdotes from Greenland (10:12) Debating the Panama Canal (15:47) Strategic Importance of Greenland (18:26) Humorous Speculations and Canada (18:51) The 51st State Debate (21:09) Canada's Counter Offer (24:10) Meta's Big Announcement (31:17) The Future of Facebook (38:32) Upcoming Topics and Wrap-Up   Links:   https://gml.bio.link/   Watch GML  on Youtube:   https://bit.ly/3UwsRiv   Check out Martens Minute!   https://martensminute.podbean.com/   Follow Josh Martens on X:   https://twitter.com/joshmartens13   Join the private discord & chat during the show!   joingml.com   Bank on Yourself bankonyourself.com/gml   Get FACTOR Today! FACTORMEALS.com/gml50   Good Morning Liberty is sponsored by BetterHelp! Rediscover your curiosity today by visiting Betterhelp.com/GML (Get 10% off your first month)     Protect your privacy and unlock the full potential of your streaming services with ExpressVPN. Get 3 more months absolutely FREE by using our link EXPRESSVPN.com/GML  

A Note from James: "Couldn't believe it was possible. I thought the reality show of Election 2024 could not be beat, but it turns out that was just season one, and season two is incredible. Right now, I don't know whether this is insane or the smartest thing possible. So we're going to figure this out right now. Trump just announced that he wants to buy Greenland and so many things to unpack there. The deeper I go, the more of a rabbit hole it became, and the deeper I went." Episode Description: In this episode, James Altucher delves into former President Donald Trump's recent announcement to buy Greenland, exploring the strategic and economic reasons behind the move. The discussion revisits Trump's initial interest in purchasing Greenland in 2019 and examines the geopolitical significance of the island, including rare earth minerals, uranium, and oil reserves. The episode also considers China's control over rare earth minerals and the potential ramifications for U.S. national security. Despite Denmark's refusal to sell, the analysis suggests that acquiring Greenland could benefit both the island's residents and the strategic interests of the United States. What You'll Learn: The historical and strategic significance of Greenland for the U.S. Why President Trump announced plans to buy Greenland, citing strategic necessity. The importance of rare earth minerals and Greenland's substantial reserves. China's control over the global supply of rare earth minerals and its potential impact. The strategic military value of Greenland for the U.S., especially regarding rare earth minerals, oil, and gas. Specific mining rights in Greenland and their control by Chinese companies. The geopolitical implications of the U.S. owning Greenland and countering China's influence. The importance of public figures like Ken Howery and Elon Musk in these discussions. The rationale behind Trump's repeated interest in purchasing Greenland. Timestamped Chapters: [00:00] Introduction: The Unbelievable Reality of Election 2024 [00:21] Trump's Greenland Ambition: A Recap [00:50] Crowdfunding Greenland: A Personal Journey [01:37] Strategic Importance of Greenland [06:25] The Rare Earth Minerals Dilemma [14:35] Historical Attempts to Buy Greenland [18:55] Modern Geopolitical Implications [21:02] Conclusion: The Future of Greenland Additional Resources: James Altcher: Greenland - Let's buy it! James Altucher's Blog

Caitlin Long is a leading Bitcoin advocate and the Founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, a pioneering institution focused on integrating digital assets with traditional banking systems. With over 20 years of experience in finance, she is at the forefront of navigating the regulatory landscape for Bitcoin. › Follow Caitlin: https://twitter.com/CaitlinLong_ SPONSORS

Tori Miller Liu, President and CEO of the Association for Intelligent Information Management, discusses the strategic importance of long-term archiving of business data, content and information. We discuss the implications of overlooking long-term archiving, strategies for governance to consider, and the impact of AI. Listen for three action items you can use today.  Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? Do you want to be a sponsor?

Here's the second of our new Byte-Size episodes! These are little natters between our team at Shaped By, on...well, anything really. Mostly related to creativity in B2B, But maybe the odd one about cake or something.In this one, hosts Nick Farrar, Founder and CEO, and Alex Waite, Marketing Director at Shaped By, dissect key insights from the Bring Your Own Bold (BYOB) Virtual Summit. Themes include the importance of authentic and bold branding in the B2B sector, strategies to stand out in competitive markets, and the resurgence of brand investment. They also discuss the pivotal role of AI in business, touching on both the opportunities and challenges it presents. 00:00 Introduction to the podcast00:14 Reflecting on the BYOB Virtual Summit01:37 Defining and Embracing Boldness03:13 The Importance of Authenticity and Differentiation07:18 Key Themes from the Summit09:22 The Renaissance of Brand Focus13:43 Aligning Brand with Audience Values15:13 Unexpected Insights from CMOs and CFOs16:46 Bridging the Gap: Marketing and Finance Collaboration19:57 AI in Business: Opportunities and Challenges22:27 The Future of AI: Navigating Rapid Changes24:41 The Strategic Importance of Brand26:35 Female Leadership in a Male-Dominated World28:32 Conclusion and Where to Watch MoreCheck out all the sessions from Bring Your Own Bold here: https://shaped-by.com/byob-event/Send us a message if you enjoyed this episodeIf you enjoy the chats then there are more ways to quench your thirst for creative inspiration in the world of B2B tech.

Today's empowering moment focuses on the strategic significance of voting in local elections. This episode highlights how local governance is a crucial battleground for enforcing Kingdom principles and making a tangible impact on our communities. We'll discuss the power of your vote as a tactical maneuver in shaping policies that align with divine justice and righteousness.RESOURCES

Unlock the secrets of market sentiment and trends with expert insights from David Keller. Discover how shifts in sentiment and investor psychology drive market movements and learn about the most effective methods for measuring sentiment—from survey data to the VIX and the all-important price action. David reveals the biases lurking in sentiment surveys and highlights the critical role of trend following in making informed investment decisions, essential knowledge for anyone looking to stay ahead of market corrections.Explore the recent outperformance of defensive sectors such as utilities, real estate, and consumer staples, juxtaposed with the strength of cyclical sectors like energy and industrials. We'll dissect how these trends from mid-July to mid-August signal a defensive investor stance and examine the seasonality of market trends, particularly the weak months of August and September. Special attention is given to individual stocks like SMCI, shedding light on recognizing trend reversals and managing the risks tied to market corrections.Finally, gain a strategic edge with our discussion on gold and silver investments during market inflection points, and understand why low-correlation assets are pivotal in turbulent times. We'll highlight the irregular market dynamics of 2024, the dominance of mega-cap stocks, and the evolving relationship between stocks and bonds. David also shares invaluable advice on maintaining a long-term perspective, using inverse ETFs wisely, and counteracting behavioral biases through consistent routines and systematic analysis. Don't miss this comprehensive guide to navigating market sentiment and trends!The content in this program is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information or other material as investment, financial, tax, or other advice. The views expressed by the participants are solely their own. A participant may have taken or recommended any investment position discussed, but may close such position or alter its recommendation at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Please consult your own investment or financial advisor for advice related to all investment decisions. Sign up to The Lead-Lag Report on Substack and get 30% off the annual subscription today by visiting http://theleadlag.report/leadlaglive. Foodies unite…with HowUdish!It's social media with a secret sauce: FOOD! The world's first network for food enthusiasts. HowUdish connects foodies across the world!Share kitchen tips and recipe hacks. Discover hidden gem food joints and street food. Find foodies like you, connect, chat and organize meet-ups!HowUdish makes it simple to connect through food anywhere in the world.So, how do YOU dish? Download HowUdish on the Apple App Store today:

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday that more than 50 tunnels discovered along the Philadelphi Corridor, along the Egypt-Gaza border area, have been demolished by combat engineers over the past week. Fabian drills down into the strategic importance of the corridor, one of the sticking points in the hostage negotiations currently being conducted in Cairo. Two Israeli reservists were killed by a roadside bomb in central Gaza on Saturday afternoon, the IDF announced, as fighting continued across the Strip. We hear about the deadly incident and about the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, which has turned into IDF staging grounds and the launch pad for humanitarian aid. Hezbollah launched a barrage of some 55 rockets at a northern Israeli kibbutz on Saturday in what it said was a response to an Israeli airstrike overnight that killed at least 10 people and wounded five others. We learn about the incident that prompted this barrage as well as other strikes on both sides of the northern border. Two senior Hamas terrorists were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday evening, the IDF and Shin Bet security agency said. The pair of Hamas operatives were involved in planning a shooting attack in the Jordan Valley last week, in which 23-year-old Yonatan Deutsch was killed and another civilian was wounded. Fabian explains the unusual way in which the IDF announced how their whereabouts were discovered. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: IDF: Dozens of tunnels razed on Gaza-Egypt border, 17,000 terror operatives killed in war 2 IDF reservists killed by bomb during logistics supply mission in central Gaza 55 rockets launched at north after IDF strike on Hezbollah arms depot said to kill 10 Two senior Hamas operatives killed in IDF drone strike in West Bank city of Jenin Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ben Wallick.  IMAGE: View of the Philadelphi Corridor between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, on July 15, 2024. (Oren Cohen/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Marketing Technology Podcast, hosts Mark van Horik and Marten Hoekstra dive deep into the world of marketing operations with the insightful Kelly Jo Horton. Kelly Jo is an expert in the field, and she shares her extensive knowledge on how marketing operations play a strategic role in today's data-driven organizations.  Episode Highlights: [00:00} Introduction of Kelly Jo Horton - Meet Kelly Jo Horton, a leading expert in marketing operations and learn about her journey in the industry. [03:06] The Challenges of Learning Marketing Technology - Discover the hurdles marketers face when navigating the complex world of marketing technology and how to overcome them. [06:03] Training and Education in Marketing Operations - Kelly Jo emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and training in the fast-evolving landscape of marketing operations. [08:44] The Role of Marketing Operations in Data-Driven Organizations - Unpack the critical role that marketing operations play in driving data-centric decision-making and strategy formulation. [11:09] The Strategic Role of Marketing Operations - Explore how marketing operations go beyond execution to become a pivotal part of strategic planning within organizations. [13:41] Positioning Marketing Operations within the Marketing Team - Learn how to effectively position the marketing operations function within your marketing team to maximize impact. [16:37] The Role of the CMO in Marketing Operations - Understand the role CMOs must play in championing marketing operations to ensure it receives the attention and resources it deserves. [20:31] The Strategic Importance of Marketing Operations - Kelly Jo discusses why marketing operations should be at the forefront of any marketing strategy, particularly in data-driven environments. [24:57] Tips for CMOs to Give More Attention to Marketing Operations - Practical advice for CMOs on how to elevate the role of marketing operations within their teams. Links & Resources - Connect with Kelly Jo Horton on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the Marketing Technology Podcast on Podbean so you never miss an episode. Don't forget to rate, review, and share the podcast with your network to help others discover the insights shared by industry experts like Kelly Jo Horton. Listen now and elevate your marketing operations game!

The pandemic created a moment of realization and momentum about the importance of wellness at work and employers' role in this. Four years on from the the first Covid lockdowns, it has become apparent that an effective wellbeing strategy plays a vital part in talent acquisition and retention. So, how should employers consider their employees' wellbeing? What support can they offer, and how do the employer and employees benefit? My guest this week is Luke Bullen, VP of Wellhub in the UK. Wellhub connects employees to the best options for fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep. Luke has some fascinating and valuable insights on the latest thinking about wellness and its strategic importance to all employers. In the interview, we discuss: The continuing momentum around wellbeing and why it is a board-level issue The relationship between wellbeing and work Talent Acquisition, Productivity, and Retention The significant ROI of corporate wellbeing investments Are employers harming their employees? Being a catalyst that reduces barriers Thinking about wellbeing holistically What are the small steps every employer can take What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The pandemic created a moment of realization and momentum about the importance of wellness at work and employers' role in this. Four years on from the the first Covid lockdowns, it has become apparent that an effective wellbeing strategy plays a vital part in talent acquisition and retention. So, how should employers consider their employees' wellbeing? What support can they offer, and how do the employer and employees benefit? My guest this week is Luke Bullen, VP of Wellhub in the UK. Wellhub connects employees to the best options for fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep. Luke has some fascinating and valuable insights on the latest thinking about wellness and its strategic importance to all employers. In the interview, we discuss: The continuing momentum around wellbeing and why it is a board-level issue The relationship between wellbeing and work Talent Acquisition, Productivity, and Retention The significant ROI of corporate wellbeing investments Are employers harming their employees? Being a catalyst that reduces barriers Thinking about wellbeing holistically What are the small steps every employer can take What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The pandemic created a moment of realization and momentum about the importance of wellness at work and employers' role in this. Four years on from the the first Covid lockdowns, it has become apparent that an effective wellbeing strategy plays a vital part in talent acquisition and retention. So, how should employers consider their employees' wellbeing? What support can they offer, and how do the employer and employees benefit? My guest this week is Luke Bullen, VP of Wellhub in the UK. Wellhub connects employees to the best options for fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep. Luke has some fascinating and valuable insights on the latest thinking about wellness and its strategic importance to all employers. In the interview, we discuss: The continuing momentum around wellbeing and why it is a board-level issue The relationship between wellbeing and work Talent Acquisition, Productivity, and Retention The significant ROI of corporate wellbeing investments Are employers harming their employees? Being a catalyst that reduces barriers Thinking about wellbeing holistically What are the small steps every employer can take What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Join us at https://www.crisisinvesting.com   Today we're joined by Michael Yon, a former Green Beret and Independent War Correspondent, to explore multifaceted threats confronting the United States and the world. We delve into global migration patterns, the influence of China, and the erosion of Western cultures, with Yon providing on-the-ground insights from his travels to critical geopolitical hotspots such as the Darien Gap, Okinawa, and Panama. The discussion addresses impending civil unrest, the role of information warfare, and strategic global power manipulations, highlighting the urgency of recognizing and addressing these escalating threats. And we examine the dire cultural and societal issues within the United States, focusing on the rampant drug epidemic, its impact on society's susceptibility to control, and the strategies for individuals to safeguard their future through preparedness and organization. 00:00 Introduction: The State of the Nation 00:45 Interview with Michael Yon: Background and Expertise 01:13 Global Hotspots: Key Locations and Issues 02:40 Japan's Health Crisis and Chinese Influence 04:42 Migration and Information Warfare 08:39 The Situation in Canada and Europe 21:58 The Tribal Dynamics of Conflict Zones 41:17 The Strategic Importance of Panama and Colombia 47:59 Understanding Cultural Substrates 48:28 Migration Issues in the Western World 49:08 Election Integrity Concerns 49:51 Border Security and Migration Patterns 53:18 The Role of NGOs in Migration 54:14 Economic and Social Impacts of Migration 01:01:18 Cultural and Societal Changes 01:03:27 The Role of Media and Influencers 01:15:56 Military Perspectives and Leadership 01:20:18 Preparing for Future Challenges 01:28:04 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Does the Vice Presidential pick really matter? The role of the Vice President has evolved from a tool for geographical and factional balancing to one focused on experience, ideological alignment, and demographic diversity. This episode also delves into the concept of a ‘vibes election,' where the overall mood and emotional connection voters feel toward candidates play a significant role.Follow us on Instagram and TikTokResources To Learn More:Trump Downplays Importance of Choosing a Running Mate - The New York TimesVibes and jibes - why Harris picked Walz as running mateWhat to know about Harris' VP pick Tim Walz | AP NewsWho is JD Vance? Things to know about Donald Trump's pick for vice president5 Vice Presidential Candidates Who Made an Impact | HISTORY

I'm Zack Fuss and today we are breaking down Siemens Energy, a spinoff from industrial giant Siemens. Siemens Energy operates across the entire energy value chain, with a significant presence in both conventional and renewable power. What makes this company particularly interesting is its position at the forefront of the energy transition. Siemens is uniquely placed to bridge the gap between traditional energy sources and renewables. However, the company faces real challenges, particularly in its renewables division. To break down Siemens Energy, I'm joined by Mark Hiley, the founder and managing partner of The Analyst, a London-based independent equity research firm. Register for the Business Breakdowns x Founders Conference. Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for information purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. The views expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Business Breakdown Podcast or its affiliates. This podcast is directed only at persons who are professional investors only. The guest is not making any investment buy or sell recommendation or giving any price target on Siemens Energy or any other company referred to in this podcast. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The hosts and guests of this podcast may hold positions in the securities discussed. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Tegus, where we're changing the game in investment research. Step away from outdated, inefficient methods and into the future with our platform, proudly hosting over 100,000 transcripts – with over 25,000 transcripts added just this year alone. Our platform grows eight times faster and adds twice as much monthly content as our competitors, putting us at the forefront of the industry. See the difference a vast, quality-driven transcript library makes. Unlock your free trial at tegus.com/patrick. — This episode is brought to you by Public: Invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more in one place. A High-Yield Cash Account is a secondary brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn a variable interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance. Neither Public Investing nor any of its affiliates is a bank. US only. Learn more at public.com/disclosures/high-yield-account. ----- Business Breakdowns is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Business Breakdowns, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Our Partners: Tegus & Public (00:01:36) Introduction to Business Breakdowns (00:02:28) Introduction to Siemens Energy (00:04:06) History and Spin-off of Siemens Energy (00:07:06) Siemens Energy's Business Segments (00:11:03) Gas and Power Segment (00:21:02) Grid Technologies Segment (00:29:04) Market Overview (00:29:10) Transformation of Industry and Hydrogen Skepticism (00:30:42) Electrification, Automation, and Digitalization (00:31:35) Siemens Gamesa: A Wind Business History (00:35:00) Challenges and Opportunities in the Wind Industry (00:37:02) Future Prospects and Strategic Importance (00:44:37) Financial Profile and Balance Sheet Analysis (00:52:05) Concluding Thoughts and Lessons Learned

In this podcast, Matt Burns and Angela Cheng-Cimini discuss the evolution of HR and its strategic importance in organizations. Angela emphasizes the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key business strategy, highlighting its benefits for both organizations and society. They talk about the shift in HR's focus from purely administrative tasks to becoming a strategic partner that understands business goals and drives workforce planning. Angela also discusses the impact of AI on HR, stressing the importance of leveraging technology while maintaining a human-centered approach. Additionally, she shares insights on how Harvard Business Publishing revised its values to better align with a global and diverse workforce. 

The following article of the finance & fintech industry is: “The Strategic Importance of Data in Modern Business” by Manolo Atala, Co-Founder and CEO of Fairplay

Ever wonder about making money off of your Social Media usage? On todays episode, I (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik) sit down with a CPA who harnessed the power of an audience to build a $3M businessIn this episode, Kurtis Hanni (https://x.com/KurtisHanni), explains how he manages clients with revenues ranging from $3 million to $50 million, charging between $3,000 and $10,000 monthly. He also shares his journey from a conventional CFO role to leveraging social media to build a massive following of 180,000 on Twitter and 40,000 newsletter subscribers. Tune in to learn about the strategic role of a CFO, the importance of the cash conversion cycle, and how Kurtis turned viral Twitter threads into a thriving business. Whether you're a small business owner or interested in financial strategy, this episode offers valuable insights you won't find elsewhere.00:23 Meet Kurtis Hanni: The Unconventional CPA01:27 Understanding the Fractional CFO Model03:29 Breaking Down the CFO Role06:53 The Strategic Importance of a CFO14:43 Kurtis's Journey to Fractional CFO19:45 The Power of Social Media24:01 Turning Followers into Business Opportunities24:26 Exploring the Fractional CFO Business Model25:04 Impact of COVID on Fractional CFO Services27:42 Leveraging Distribution Channels for Customer Acquisition30:13 Monetizing Newsletters and Growing Subscriber Base39:15 Rapid Fire Questions and Final ThoughtsPlease LEAVE US A RATING & REVIEWApple: tinyurl.com/bdxbr284Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yYouTube: tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

Del 1 av 10 i Bob Dylans Amerika. Tio album och en berättelse om 1900-talet. I första avsnittet talar vi om uppbyggnaden till 1960-talet och starten på Bob Dylans karriär. Vi går från kärnvapenskräck, till Kuba och vi frågar oss vad det egentligen är som blåser med luften. Dagens gäst är youtubern Polyphonic. Du kan förbeställa hans bok Century of Song: 101 Songs that Shaped American Music på amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Century-Song-Songs-Shaped-American/dp/B0CLTPTXZL/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GmfMOtSbXGWZg9SVsfLt4w.mdFf7ZOxmRWExprIn8biaM4Pj4BmcAyDtR1V0nBlcS8&qid=1710179613&sr=1-1Du hittar hans youtubekanal Polyphonic på: https://www.youtube.com/c/PolyphonicKällor;The Strategic Importance of Cuba (Emanuel Pietrobon, Valdai 2023)The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Wikipedia, 07.2024)America divided : the civil war of the 1960s (Isserman, Maurice 2008)The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Genius, 07.2024)America, Russia, and the Cold War, 1945-1984 (LaFeber, Walter, 1985)American Society Viewed from Youths' Lens: A Study on Bob Dylan's “A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall” (Fauzan Rodi*, Rahmawan Jatmiko Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia 2018) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: Jehoshaphat was one of the three great kings of Judah who taught the people. He made mistakes and unwise alliances but because he sought Yahweh with all his heart, Yahweh gave him some wonderful victories and for these he never failed to thank his God. # Summary The presentation, titled "G0@ Jehoshaphat #3 'Wilt Thou Go With Me to Ramoth Gilead?'," focuses on the contrasting events in the life of Jehoshaphat as depicted in 2 Chronicles 18. It emphasises the lessons we can learn from Jehoshaphat's alliances and mistakes, drawing parallels to the steadfastness of Jesus Christ. The key message revolves around the importance of prayer, godly wisdom, and the dangers of making decisions based on self-importance and unwise alliances. ### Highlights -

Some of the most underappreciated and overworked people throughout the Christian world are pastors. So, what can the body of Christ do to help and support these church leaders? In this program, two members of the Living on the Edge International Team will give us the answer. Hear about the real-life issues facing believers in Africa and the practical ways you can practically encourage struggling and under-resourced pastors.Main PointsImportance of Healthy Pastors: Healthy pastors are crucial for the health of the church. Living on the Edge focuses on helping pastors achieve spiritual health.Strategic Importance of Africa: Africa is becoming increasingly important for Christianity due to its growing population and the rise of Christianity on the continent.Challenges with Current Christianity in Africa: Despite a large number of Christians in Africa, there is a lack of depth and discipleship among them, leading to various societal challenges.Initiatives to Support Pastors in Africa: Living on the Edge conducts training programs like the "Art of Survival" to help pastors develop resilience and engage in discipleship.Impact of Training Programs: The "Art of Survival" training has reached thousands of pastors across Africa, leading to positive changes in their lives and communities.Success Stories: Stories from countries like Ethiopia and Uganda demonstrate the transformative impact of the training programs on pastors and their congregations.Expansion to West Africa: Living on the Edge's initiatives are expanding to West Africa, with thousands of pastors in countries like Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire.Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3 About Chip IngramChip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways.About Living on the EdgeLiving on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus.Connect 888-333-6003 Website Chip Ingram App Instagram Facebook Twitter Partner With Us Donate Online 888-333-6003

How does your upbringing shape your financial destiny? Can understanding the emotional aspects of finance empower you to achieve financial independence? T.J. Van Gerven, a certified financial planner and founder of Modern Wealth Builders, joins Dr. Felecia to explore these intriguing questions. Their discussion spans the impact of family financial conversations on one's financial mindset, strategies for transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and practical approaches to using money as a tool for building flexibility and independence. The conversation also touches on specialized financial planning for millennials, with a focus on equity compensation and effective tax planning. Tune into 'Money with Mission' to uncover insights into leveraging your personal financial history towards success and discover actionable tips for aligning your financial planning with personal values and long-term goals.   00:00 - Introduction to T.J. van Gerven and Financial Planning 06:21 - The Emotional Dynamics of Finance 11:03 - Why Seek a Financial Planner? 19:34 - The Strategic Importance of Tax Planning 26:58 - Concluding Insights and Listener Engagement   Connect with T.J.! Website: https://modernwealthbuilders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjvangerven/   Be the Boss of Your Own Money and Own Your Future. Connect with us and Discover Investment Strategies Designed to make a Difference. Website: https://moneywithmission.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moneywithmission   Key Quotes: "Understanding your numbers and developing good habits is the first step towards financial freedom." - T.J. van Gerven   "It's not about how much money you make; it's about how much you can do with the money you have." - T.J. van Gerven  

How does your upbringing shape your financial destiny? Can understanding the emotional aspects of finance empower you to achieve financial independence? T.J. Van Gerven, a certified financial planner and founder of Modern Wealth Builders, joins Dr. Felecia to explore these intriguing questions. Their discussion spans the impact of family financial conversations on one's financial mindset, strategies for transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and practical approaches to using money as a tool for building flexibility and independence. The conversation also touches on specialized financial planning for millennials, with a focus on equity compensation and effective tax planning. Tune into 'Money with Mission' to uncover insights into leveraging your personal financial history towards success and discover actionable tips for aligning your financial planning with personal values and long-term goals.   00:00 - Introduction to T.J. van Gerven and Financial Planning 06:21 - The Emotional Dynamics of Finance 11:03 - Why Seek a Financial Planner? 19:34 - The Strategic Importance of Tax Planning 26:58 - Concluding Insights and Listener Engagement   Connect with T.J.! Website: https://modernwealthbuilders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjvangerven/   Be the Boss of Your Own Money and Own Your Future. Connect with us and Discover Investment Strategies Designed to make a Difference. Website: https://moneywithmission.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moneywithmission   Key Quotes: "Understanding your numbers and developing good habits is the first step towards financial freedom." - T.J. van Gerven   "It's not about how much money you make; it's about how much you can do with the money you have." - T.J. van Gerven  

We have to start at the younger ages to teach players the strategic importance of swapping runs for an out. The coaches use a game from the super regionals to show the importance. They stress that we have to train the players so when it becomes important they are prepared.Support the Show.

Josh Dolan is Division President – Consumer Division for the Americas at GXO Logistics, the world's largest pure-play contract logistics provider. He joined the company in 2023.As a member of the GXO's Americas and Asia Pacific Executive Leadership Team, Josh is responsible for deepening existing customer relationships and delivering on the company's divisional growth targets.Prior to joining GXO, Josh built a career of best-in-class supply chain leadership at some of the world's leading companies. He served as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Global Logistics for Cardinal Health, where he led all aspects of supply chain for the Pharmaceutical Segment and integrated logistics for all business units. Before that, he held senior-level leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Target and DICK'S Sporting Goods. At Amazon, he led Global Inbound Supply Chain and Logistics and was responsible for global cross border supply chain and logistics, including product development, pricing, technology, operations, procurement and network design.Josh is an alumnus of Penn State University and Harvard Business School. He resides in Tampa with his children, Connor and Kylie.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode of eCom Logistics Podcast, Ninaad Acharya and Dan Coll are joined by Josh Dolan. The discussion covers Josh's extensive career journey from UPS Supply Chain to GXO, highlighting his expertise in global supply chain operations across various sectors including retail, technology, and life sciences. The conversation delves into the expansive portfolio of GXO, featuring notable clients such as Ikea, L'Oreal, Nike, and Adidas. Josh shares insights into the challenges and innovations within logistics, focusing on the role of automation, AI, and the cultural alignment necessary for successful mergers and acquisitions. The episode wraps up with thoughts on the evolving logistics landscape and the importance of strategic partnerships and tailored solutions for clients.HIGHLIGHTS[00:01:24] Josh Dolan's Journey Through the Logistics Landscape[00:02:50] Exploring the Consumer Division at GXO Logistics[00:13:39] The Impact of Automation and Technology in Logistics[00:28:39] The Strategic Importance of Acquisitions and Cultural AlignmentQUOTES[00:31:03] “It's not just about the physical distribution component. It's also about the technology to your point around visibility and then, flashing availability back of those products on those clients' sites”[00:38:49] “If you take care of your team and you take care of the customer, everything else  falls into place over time”[00:39:49] “So the fact that there is all of this amalgamation of so many companies. I think that's pretty, interesting and just purely from a case study standpoint, something that is worth looking at.”Find out more about Joshua Dolan in the links below.https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajdolan/https://www.gxo.com

David McKay is a former Cold War special forces officer and author of Bubbleheads, SEALs and Wizards: America's Scottish Bastion in the Cold War. His book highlights the Scottish bases' significant role in supporting the US military over three decades. David brings his expertise into play, examining this intriguing story by reaching out to more than one hundred veterans and expert witnesses. Their contributions reveal the personal stories of history, not high-end diplomacy. We also delve into the espionage efforts mounted by the KGB against these bases through trawlers and agents on the ground. Among the many stories that David details are the nuclear missile submarine operations from Holy Loch, the large radio spy stations and reveals for the first time one of America's most bizarre intelligence gathering activities of the early Cold War. Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode345/ Buy the book and support us here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781849955546 The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You'll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you'll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod 00:00  Introducing Cold War Conversations and David Mackay 01:54 David Mackay: From Paratrooper to Cold War Historian 05:30 The Strategic Importance of Scottish Bases in the Cold War 08:32 Project Genetrix: Balloons, Espionage, and Cold War Ingenuity 16:49 The U.S. Submarine Base in Scotland: Strategic Decisions and Local Impact 26:55 Espionage and Security: Spies, Spetsnaz, and Surveillance 33:20 The Soviet Presence in Scotland: Trawlers, Spies, and Local Encounters 41:25 Close Encounters of the Naval Kind 42:09 The Cat and Mouse of Cold War Submarines 42:53 Espionage and a High Seas Emergency 44:13 Gathering Intel 46:21 Signals Intelligence and the Scottish Connection 56:14 The Strategic Importance of Machrihanish 01:04:56 Prestwick Airport: A Cold War Crossroads 01:08:29 Reflecting on the Cuban Missile Crisis 01:11:37 Personal Anecdotes and Cold War Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode listeners will gain insights into the strategic advantages of outsourcing the supervisor position in China. The session focuses on unraveling the significance of this key role, exploring the benefits of externalizing the responsibilities, and providing practical guidance for businesses aiming to optimize their operations.The key points covered are:- Strategic Importance of the Supervisor Role- Outsourcing as a Strategic Decision- Navigating Cultural and Regulatory Complexities- Operational Efficiency and Cost OptimizationListeners will gain insights into how externalizing this position allows businesses to focus on core competencies, streamline processes, and allocate resources more strategically. They will also be better equipped with a nuanced understanding of the advantages of outsourcing the supervisor role in China. The insights provided will position businesses to make informed decisions to enhance operational efficiency, navigate cultural intricacies, and drive success in the dynamic Chinese business landscape. To view the presentation, click here.---------------------------Connect with Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory at Woodburn Accountants & Advisors on LinkedIn here.---------------------------Thrive in China RoundtableGeared towards international companies selling to China who want to systemize & scale their China business. Each week Kristina Koehler-Coluccia hosts a complimentary deep dive into a market entry strategy or implementation guideline that will help you protect and grow your China business.If you are looking to create a solid foundation for your China business and learn how to grow and scale quickly then you can register here. ---------------------------Can Woodburn help you? I am offering a free 30mins call where we discuss the obstacles you are encountering on your China business journey and how we can help accelerate your success. Book a call here.

We love talking about the “Fab Five” here at Chip Stock Investor, and not just because we investors have made some serious coin from owning these top semiconductor stocks. However, while we talk a lot about ASML, Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research (LRCX), and KLA Corp (KLAC), we haven't done a proper video on the other member of the Fab Five: Tokyo Electron (TOELY). Japan is emerging as a top winner from the chip manufacturing race, so it's time that Tokyo Electron gets some attention. For our investor friends in Japan, you are likely already very familiar with one of the country's largest companies. As AI hype continues, this business is only gaining in importance. Let's get the rest of the world up to speed, shall we? Tokyo Electron has been a wonderful investment, and there is a path to further gains. Nick and Kasey delve into the company's history, its critical position as a supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and the stellar financial performance. They also discuss their current holdings in chip equipment, and their current view on Tokyo Electron stock after a massive rally in the last year. Videos referenced: Nick's discussion of Japan's dominance last year: https://youtu.be/HtaQWfYeIHk?si=Qr1baj2_vDpjS6x4 Asianometry video:https://youtu.be/Nk-lBok9_TU?si=Ov_F3mI6L-A4Ta_f Lam Research – https://youtu.be/WYvho6DgPEg, https://youtu.be/1WYtJnXpOC4 Aehr Test Systems – https://youtu.be/GdD1SJrazhQ, https://youtu.be/7eKIEqKOd3E Axcelis Technologies – https://youtu.be/w-fZrhmDU3o Applied Materials and ASML – https://youtu.be/nZs_6AzN6u8, https://youtu.be/uDWP0_aW1Hc

The five key takeaways from this meeting are:  Operations and Service Delivery Focus: This meeting emphasized the importance of operations and service delivery, including processes, systems, customer service, and client retention. It stressed how delivering on what has been sold is crucial for business success. Flexibility in Business Ownership: John highlighted the need for flexibility among business owners due to the diversity in businesses and approaches to operations. This includes addressing various questions and concerns live, acknowledging that not all businesses fit into a strict framework. Strategic Importance of Operations: The group the strategic role of operations in transitioning from a self-employed to a business owner mindset, as inspired by Robert Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant. It underscored the distinction between businesses that depend entirely on the owner and those that operate independently through established systems and processes. Real-World Application and Success Stories: They shard success stories, including a detailed case of a fencing company that managed to operate and grow significantly in the owner's absence, demonstrating the practical application of effective operations and service delivery systems. Emphasis on Systematization and Delegation: John also stressed the importance of systematization and delegation within businesses for scalability and freedom. This included practical tips on how to document processes and the importance of hiring the right people to manage operations effectively, using technology and tools like CRM systems to streamline operations further.

There's only one crew member of the Ghost who hasn't fulfilled their Season 2 recruitment goals, and it's Chopper. Fortunately, he fills his quota this week—so let's give a warm leg of applause to the newest Spectre recruit, AP-5! “The Forgotten Droid” (Rebels S2, Ep. 19) shows the bravery and honor of droids and how metallic brethren become friends. With a bench full of recruits and a safe base at last, we move into “The Mystery of Chopper Base”...which isn't too much of a mystery, tbh. Unless you weren't expecting giant schmonsters.  In our recap, we talk about friendship, the growing divide between Team Rebels and Team Force-Users, tough conversations with your romantic partner, and the ethics of piracy. Join us next week for the Rebels Season 2 finale—it's going to be a doozy! Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We're now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:17:16 Strategic Importance and Themes 00:33:51 When the Rebels Are Also Baddies 00:54:07 Bae Watch 01:03:10 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

This episode provides strategic insights into the importance of trademark registrations in China and Hong Kong for businesses aiming to expand their brand presence in the region.The episode will focus on providing practical guidance for safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring a strong foundation for brand growth. The key points we will cover are:1. Intellectual Property Protection Strategies2. Navigating Trademark Regulations in China3. Strategic Importance of Hong Kong Trademarks4. Enforcement and Compliance MeasuresThe episode covers proactive measures for enforcing trademark rights and ensuring compliance in both China and Hong Kong. Practical tips and case studies will be presented to illustrate effective enforcement strategies, including monitoring and responding to potential infringements.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that trademark registrations play in brand elevation and expansion in the dynamic markets of China and Hong Kong. Armed with practical strategies and insights, businesses will be better equipped to navigate the intricacies of intellectual property protection and establish a strong brand presence in the region.To view the presentation, click here.---------------------------Connect with Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory at Woodburn Accountants & Advisors on LinkedIn here.---------------------------Thrive in China RoundtableGeared towards international companies selling to China who want to systemize & scale their China business. Each week Kristina Koehler-Coluccia hosts a complimentary deep dive into a market entry strategy or implementation guideline that will help you protect and grow your China business.If you are looking to create a solid foundation for your China business and learn how to grow and scale quickly then you can register here. ---------------------------Can Woodburn help you? I am offering a free 30mins call where we discuss the obstacles you are encountering on your China business journey and how we can help accelerate your success. Book a call here.

White Christians are voting to end our democracy and not for War Hawk Curry Meatball. A couple of Navy Seals got lost at sea, but it’s even fishier than it seems. The Middle East is explosive once more. The WEF lists the biggest threats facing our world! All that and more, in the 104th installment of the Millennial Media Offensive. Fiat Fun Coupon Donos: HempressEmilyM Dugitup Carrie ART: Dirty Jersey Whore wins once again! Think you can beat him: Send your art to dan@mmo.show & john@mmo.show   This Weeks Boosters:  •Cousin Vito    | 7,373 | BAG DADDY BOOSTER! •jeromy73       | 5,000 •jimbojm        | 4,999 •trailchicken   | 3,333 •jonmcpain      | 3,333 •ratpoisoncubed | 500 •sandesingh     | 300 •jasper89       | 111   CONSIDER DONATING: http://mmo.show/donate   Tuesday, January 16th 2023   Happy International Hot and Spicy Food Day!   TITLES             Birther’d             Curry/Meatball ‘24             Industrial Data White MLK Day Whitey Vangelicals This Time Its True Our Boy, Biden I Identify As China Tepid World War Cassius Belli Miss and Diss Slap Fight Theyre All Audio Clips, Idiot   Shownotes             Taiwan                         Results - Bloomberg             Southeast Asia                         Papua NG Riots                         Strategic Importance             Iowa                         CNN Entrance Polls                         Biden Our Boy                         NYT Meatloaf Analogy                         WH Senior Living             Middle East                         Missing SEALs             Border                         Shelby Park                         Spending                                 Biden Threat Note from Jack about beat cops taking contracts with NGOs to provide security at Migrant Resource Centers               WEF Ursula on Greatest Global Risks                                                   Ecuador                         War with Gangs             ETs                         Tiktoker on ET Lights

By Jared Samuelson Julian Pawlak joins us to discuss his 2022 report on NATO’s northern flank. Julian is a research associate at the Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg and the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies. His research covers NATO's Northern Flank and the Baltic Sea region. Download Sea Control … Continue reading Sea Control 489 – The Strategic Importance of NATO’s North Flank with Julian Pawlak →

Link:Collective Defence and Bastion: The Strategic Importance of NATO's Northern Flank, by Julian Pawlak, German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies, March 2022.

What makes churches fruitful in a post-pandemic world? During his PhD study in Organizational Leadership, Chris interviewed a variety of churches around the US that differed in attendance, community size, and denomination that experienced ongoing growth over a six-year period between 2016 and 2022. Through this study, he identified SIX qualities & values that contributed to this growth. In this episode, Chris unboxes quality number two: the strategic importance of preaching. Tune in to today's episode to learn more. Show Notes & Resources: https://bit.ly/073PhDParttwo

In this episode of Tap'd Talks HR, Anthony speaks to Siobhan Sheridan, Chief People Officer at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Siobhan shares some insights into her own recent wellbeing research and discusses why it's so important for the HR function to place a strategic importance on its own wellbeing.

Interview with Shaun Bunn, Managing Director of Empire Metals Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/empire-metals-eee-massive-high-grade-titanium-mineral-system-explores-copper-potential-3202Recording date: 21st November 2023Massive Titanium Discovery in Western AustraliaEmpire Metals has announced a major titanium discovery at their 100% owned Pitfield Project in Western Australia. Initial drilling intercepted significant mineralization over a 30km strike length, with exceptional grades up to 20% TiO2 sampled at the surface. This points to a very large mineralised system with world-class potential.As Managing Director Sean Burger stated, “We found titanium we found titanium over 30km strike length, we found it now 300-400m below surface, every meter full of titanium minerals.” The company believes Pitfield has uncovered a unique sedimentary-hosted titanium deposit not seen globally before. The scale and richness show similarities to giant discoveries like the Carlin Trend in Nevada.Strategic Importance of TitaniumTitanium has faced structural supply deficits with accelerating demand from aerospace, defence, automotive, and other key industries. This backdrop provides strong incentives for new projects, especially those with clear scale advantages. With market size expected to reach $26 billion by 2030 and steady 6% annual growth, Pitfield offers exposure to these dynamics.Empire's Focus on Delineating High-Grade AreasWhile the sheer district-scale mineralised footprint is proven, Empire is prioritizing drilling and metallurgical analysis to pinpoint higher-grade zones. As Burger explained, “we need to narrow down our scope, focus on where the grades are...then that translates to metallurgical investigations.” Defining optimised mineralization and processing flowsheets will drive commercialisation plans. By targeting high-purity titanium compounds rather than bulk minerals, Empire can substantially boost potential revenues per tonne of ore.Attracting Strategic PartnersEmpire recognises it will require strategic partnerships and cornerstone investments to develop a project of this magnitude. But they want to control and drive the upside. As Burger asserted, “I don't imagine us as a seller, I don't imagine a situation where we get there and flip it, give it away.” The company is actively building connections across the industry and shoring up technical capabilities to advance Pitfield.The Coming MonthsWith over 12,000m of additional drilling starting in Q1 2023, Empire expects to significantly advance resource modelling and metallurgical analysis over the next 6-12 months. The work programs are fully funded and will feed into initial development planning. As results further validate Pitfield's remarkable credentials, interest from majors and strategic investors is expected to accelerate. Titanium assets this significant rarely come to market. Exposure today represents exceptional leverage as Empire transitions into the development cycle to potentially build a multi-billion dollar project in a Tier 1 location.—View Empire Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/empire-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

How does LinkedIn power relationships and impact companies? Join Barbara Rozgonyi on the latest episode of "Growing Social Now News" as she unravels the secrets behind the influence of professional networks. Barbara highlights results from a groundbreaking Harvard Business School study that maps LinkedIn connections among over 7,700 public U.S. companies.  Listen in and get valuable insights for individuals and businesses looking to navigate the complex landscape of professional networking, leveraging the power of social media, and optimizing LinkedIn connections for tangible business success.Top Takeaway: Companies whose real-world employee connections put them at the center of their professional communities performed better than peer companies whose workforces were less well-connected and, as a result, on the periphery of the same community.Relationships Matter More Than Ever:  A study mapping 2 billion employee relationships on LinkedIn reveals that companies at the center of professional communities consistently outperform their less-connected counterparts.Social Media as a Turbocharger for Networking: LinkedIn connections become a tangible proxy for real-world connections, providing unique opportunities for measurement and study.Size Doesn't Dictate Connectivity: Contrary to common belief, the study reveals that small companies can shine in connectivity, while large ones may lag. Professional Networks Contribute to Company Success:  Companies at the center of their networks tend to produce more patented innovations, driving both scientific and economic value.Strategic Importance of LinkedIn Consulting:  Whether optimizing LinkedIn profiles for trade shows, enhancing company visibility, or providing sales team training, LinkedIn consulting serves as a strategic bridge between research and real-world success.Connectivity Drives Innovation: The episode concludes by reinforcing the idea that connectivity directly influences a company's success, driving innovation and market impact. Barbara encourages businesses to foster impactful communications and connections to achieve organizational excellence.More on the Harvard Business School LinkedIn study.Barbara Rozgonyi publishes wiredPRworks, a top 50 PR blog, and is an international keynote speaker.Thanks for listening, commenting, liking, sharing, and adding Growing Social Now to your podcast playlist!!Cheers to your success,Barbara RozgonyiFounder, CoryWest Media, Top PR Blogger, Host of Growing Social Now, International Speaker and Inspirational Storyteller, Creative Marketing Team Coach, LinkedIn Social Selling Trainer, Avid Hiker, Natural Photographer Barbara Rozgonyi on Facebook Barbara Rozgonyi on InstagramBarbara Rozgonyi on LinkedInBarbara Rozgonyi on TikTokBarbara Rozgonyi on TwitterYouTubeGrowing Social Now wiredPRworksBarbaraRozgonyi.com

So, why should you care about networking in the first place? Well, in the business battlefield, it's not just about having the fanciest weapons or the shiniest armor. It's about who's got your back, who's got the intel, and who's willing to fight alongside you. Think of it as assembling your own Avengers team, but for the world of commerce. In the world of business, connections are like gold. You can have the best product or service, but if no one knows about it, what's the point? This is where your network comes into play. It's not just about shaking hands and exchanging business cards; it's about building relationships that go beyond the surface level. Let me tell you a little secret – successful entrepreneurs don't just rely on their skills and expertise. They leverage the power of their network to gain insights, open doors, and access opportunities that others can only dream of. It's like having a backstage pass to the business concert of life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/frontlinecoachingllc https://www.facebook.com/groups/425608931923856 https://goodpods.com/podcasts/productive-not-busy-do-life-and-business-confident-focused-and-with-a-187542 #sales #success #money #confidence #motivation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support

Why the Jews of Khazaria, the Himyarites and GokTurk Empire are Keys to Universal History https://matthewehret.substack.com/p/why-the-jews-of-khazaria-the-himyarites   St Augustine's City of God and Lessons for Today's Religious Wars https://matthewehret.substack.com/p/st-augustines-city-of-god-and-lessons   Charlemagne and the Ecumenical Principle (online book) by Pierre Beaudry http://www.amatterofmind.us/history-2/history-book-i/   The Strategic Importance of the 1509 League of Cambrai for Today's World https://canadianpatriot.org/2023/10/25/the-strategic-importance-of-the-1509-league-of-cambrai-for-todays-world/   Learn more about Matt Ehret and his work: https://canadianpatriot.org https://risingtidefoundation.net   We The People must stand strong, stay united, resolute, calm and focus on the mission - God Wins!   We at www.themelkshow.com want to thank all our amazing patriots pals for joining us on this journey, for your support of our work and for your faith in this biblical transition to greatness. We love what we do and are working hard to keep on top of everything to help this transition along peacefully and with love. Please help us amplify our message: Like, Comment & Share!   The Show's Partners Page: https://themelkshow.com/partners/ Consider Making A Donation: https://themelkshow.com/donate/   Another way to get involved and find ways to become active in the community is to come meet Mel and many amazing truth warriors at our upcoming live in person speaking events. Together we are unstoppable. We look forward to seeing you. God Wins! https://themelkshow.com/events/   Determined Patriotism Conference Kansas City, KS - Nov 10 & 11   ReAwaken America Tour Tulare, CA - Dec 15 & 13 https://timetofreeamerica.com For ReAwaken America events, use code “MELK” to enter for a chance to win VIP passes and one-on-one meet-and-greets with Mel K and Eric Trump!   Remember to mention Mel K for great discounts on all these fun and informative events. See you there! Our Website www.TheMelKShow.com   Rumble (Video) - The Mel K Show: https://rumble.com/c/TheMelKShow Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelKShow Twitter (Original): https://twitter.com/originalmelk TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@themelkshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelkshow/ CloutHub: https://app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/TheMelKShow Mel K Show Video Platform (Subscription): https://www.themelkshow.tv Bitchute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Iw2kiviwZpwx/ Podbean: https://themelkshow.podbean.com/ Gab: https://gab.com/MelKShow GETTR: https://www.gettr.com/user/themelkshow Locals.com: https://melk.locals.com/ Telegram - The Mel K Show Group: https://t.me/themelkshowgroup Banned Video: https://banned.video/channel/the-mel-k-show Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/themelkshow Odysee: https://odysee.com/@themelkshow:5   If you are interested to explore investing in precious metals please contact below and mention MelK for special offers:   Beverly Hills Precious Metals Exchange Buy Gold & Silver https://themelkshow.com/gold/ Speak with Gold Expert Andrew Sorchini…Tell Him Mel K Sent You!   Support Patriots With MyPillow Go to https://www.mypillow.com/melk Use offer code “MelK” to support both MyPillow and The Mel K Show   Mel K Superfoods Supercharge your wellness with Mel K Superfoods Use Code: MELKWELLNESS and Save Over $100 off retail today! www.MelKSuperfoods.com   Patriot Mobile Support your values, your freedom and the Mel K Show. Switch to Patriot Mobile for Free. Use free activation code MELK https://www.patriotmobile.com/melk/   HempWorx The #1 selling CBD brand. Offering cutting edge products that run the gamut from CBD oils and other hemp products to essential oils in our Mantra Brand, MDC Daily Sprays which are Vitamin and Herb combination sprays/ https://themelkshow.com/my-daily-choice/   Dr. Zelenko Immunity Protocols https://zstacklife.com/MelK   Dr. Jason Dean and BraveTV bring you the most innovative and cutting edge science in Nutrition with Nano-Particle Detoxification, The Full Moon Parasite Protocol and Clot Shot Defense. https://bravetv.store/?sca_ref=3278505.GWvLbyryzv   Dr. Stella Immanuel, MD. Consult with a renowned healthcare provider! Offering Telehealth Services & Supplements. Use offer code ‘MelK' for 5% Off https://bit.ly/MelKDrStellaMD  

Gabe Horstick, the founder of Base 3, is a multifamily expert—having acquired, developed, or renovated over $100M in real estate reunites with Drew to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the current real estate market. They explore the effects of rising interest rates, property taxes, and the intricacies of loan assumptions, especially in a climate of inflation. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode provides a nuanced understanding of the market dynamics at play right now. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:00:06:52 - The Current Hurdles in Selling Smaller Assets00:09:44 - Impact of Rising Interest Rates on Construction Loans00:17:51 - Opportunities in Acquiring Properties Below Market Value00:21:58 - The Role of Property Taxes in Texas' Real Estate Market00:24:40 - Strategic Importance of Loan Assumptions Today00:29:40 - Benefits of Long-Term Fixed Rate Debt in Inflationary Settings00:32:49 - Upcoming Loan Maturities and Potential Market Impacts00:48:47 - Identifying and Acting on Market OpportunitiesFor more insights and to delve deeper into the topics discussed, check out the resources Gabe Horstick has to offer at https://base3co.comBreneman Capital: https://www.breneman.com/investInvestor List: https://www.breneman.com/investPassive RE Investor Guidebook: https://www.breneman.com/downloadsConnect with Drew: https://linktr.ee/drewbreneman

In this podcast episode, host Ole Olesen-Bagneux interviews Dr. Irina Steenbeek, a seasoned data management expert, to unravel the complex fabric of data democracy and its intertwined relationship with data lineage. Stepping into the realms of data democratization, the conversation emphasizes the need for prioritizing organizational objectives over mere tool selection. Irina shares her insights on the challenges of achieving comprehensive data lineage in multi-cloud environments, drawing attention to the blend of automation and manual efforts required. The duo also sheds light on the rising complexities of data mesh, underscoring the need for clarity in its definition and execution. Further enriching the discussion, Irina's anecdotes from her professional journey illustrate the motivation behind persevering in data management projects, while also highlighting the challenges and unpredictability inherent to the field.

In this episode, we're excited to feature Joey Price, CEO of Jumpstart:HR and a respected voice in the Forbes Human Resources Council. With over 15 years of HR experience, Joey has been recognized as a Top 30 HR Professional Under 30 by SHRM's HR Magazine and lends expertise as an Advisory Board Member at UKG. Our discussion centers on the significance of HR and Team Engagement for startups. Discover how HR influences business growth, the advantages of fostering employee commitment, and effective strategies for managing remote teams. Tune in for Joey Price's invaluable insights, offering a roadmap for startups to harness the power of strategic HR approaches. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Who Jumpstart:HR is? 04:19 - Fun Facts About Joey 06:46 - The Strategic Importance of HR Investment 11:04 - Boosting Engagement in Remote Work 13:50 - Employee Impact on Engagement, Culture, and HR 16:31 - Fostering Trust, Ownership and Empowering Employees 18:25 - Engage with Joey //ENGAGE WITH JOEY Joey's LinkedIn Jumpstart HR Website While We Were Working Podcast //BOOKS A CEO Only Does Three Things by Trey Taylor //MENTIONS Stephen Covey //SUBSCRIBE! Subscribe to RevPartners YouTube Channel New "pit stops" every week. Join our growing community!   //STAY AWESOME &  DO IT BIG!! Website: revpartners.ioListen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

The inaugural China-Central Asia summit has just been held in China's ancient city of Xi'an. Leaders from China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan all attended the summit to discuss ways of leveling up partnership among the six nations. At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out his vision for a stable, prosperous, harmonious and interconnected Central Asia. How should we understand the strategic significance of Central Asia amid moves by global powers like the U.S., Japan to set up "Central Asia 5+1" mechanisms? What do Central Asian countries look for when working with global powers? Host Liu Kun is joined by Professor Doug Guthrie, Director of China Initiatives at Thunderbird School of Global Management; Naseem khan Achakzai, Advisor to Speaker Balochistan Assembly (Parliament) from Pakistan; Rong Ying, Vice President and Senior Research Fellow, at the China Institute of International Studies.

A Chinese Aircraft Carrier Blocks Access to the Island of Taiwan. James Carafano, a National Security and Foreign Policy Expert with the Heritage Foundation, discusses the Strategic Importance of Taiwan. The Dalai Lama is Forced to Apologize After a Controversial Video of the Spiritual Leader with a Child Goes Viral. Americans are Worried About a Potential Credit Crunch According to a New Survey and Republican Representative Byron Daniels of Florida talks about the current state of the US economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join the Council for a discussion exploring the energy and other economic aspects of the Middle East and North Africa region's strategic importance. The featured specialist is Center for Strategic and International Studies Emeritus Chair in Strategy Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman, who discusses his recent report on the subject. Mr. David Des Roches and Mr. Patrick Mancino join him for the proceedings. Visit www.ncusar.org for more information.

Julian Della Mattia is UX Research Lead at Kiwi.com and founder of the180 Agency. Based in Spain, Julian helps teams build up research practices from scratch and specializes in Facilitation & ResearchOps. Follow Julian & his work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdelmat/ If you interested to learn more about ResearchOps, we also recommend: The Youtube channel of Kate Towsey https://www.youtube.com/@katetowsey5455 The podcast of Roy Opata Olende https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scaling-research/id1546142497 This podcast is brought to you by UXtweak

On today's show, Laura Shenkar, CEO & Founder of This PKN shares what the product is and how the company got its start. PKN is the most indulgent, nutritious, eco-friendly, plant-based milk on the market today. She goes on to discuss the different factors that can affect distribution at the State level, along with consumer preferences and diet restrictions. Throughout her career journey, she has experienced many magic moments and learned secrets to continually improve along the way. Everything she has learned has led her to becoming an excellent advisor to those with similar career paths and interests. Her expertise in building high-performing senior leadership teams, launching and expanding businesses, and adopting revolutionary business strategies is what makes her so business savvy.Today's episode is hosted by Diana Fryc of Retail Voodoo, connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianafryc/ KEY TAKEAWAYS:The origin story of the PKN brandFactors that affect the food marketplace Key moments that propelled Laura's career forwardWhat's next for the PKN brandABOUT THE GUEST:Laura Shenkar CEO & Founder, This PKNLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurashenkar Links: https://thispkn.com CHAPTERS:0:00 | Introduction04:29 | The Origin of PKN10:45 | The Rise of Food Allergies & Sensitivities15:53 | The Strategic Importance of Texas21:23 | Embracing Startup Culture & Motivation23:52 | The Moment That Everything Changed30:36 | A Personal Crisis Sparked The Solution32:56 | Selling a New Brand & Product34:03 | Water is Now... Finally a Real Concern35:57 | Expanding Across The United States38:54 | Women with Innovative Approaches39:55 | The Indigenous Cooking Trend41:28 | Learn More About Laura Shenkar and This PKNThis episode is brought to you by Retail Voodoo. A brand consultancy focused on building, growing, and revitalizing brands in the food, beverage, health, and wellness industries. If you are ready to find a partner that will help your business create a high-impact strategy that gives your brand an advantage, please visit retail-voodoo.com/contact to set up a discovery call today.Produced by Heartcast Mediawww.heartcastmedia.com

729: Nancy Avila, Chief Information and Technology Officer of McKesson, discusses the strategic importance of operations within the CIO role and how that part of her purview overlaps with technology. She also talks about the company's data strategy, its criticality within operations, and using it to improve the customer experience. Nancy covers the way she organizes her team, creates a culture of innovation, and leverages technology to alleviate supply chain issues that companies across industries face. Finally, she reflects on her career success, describes her pathway to board membership, and looks ahead to trends in technology that she is excited about.

729: Nancy Avila, Chief Information and Technology Officer of McKesson, discusses the strategic importance of operations within the CIO role and how that part of her purview overlaps with technology. She also talks about the company's data strategy, its criticality within operations, and using it to improve the customer experience. Nancy covers the way she organizes her team, creates a culture of innovation, and leverages technology to alleviate supply chain issues that companies across industries face. Finally, she reflects on her career success, describes her pathway to board membership, and looks ahead to trends in technology that she is excited about.

On today's episode of "On the Margin", Leland Miller CEO of China Beige Book joins the show for a discussion on China after their 20th party congress. Markets plunged on Monday after Xi Jinping clearly signalled to the world a new era within China. Leland walks through the paradigm shift in China's growth model going forward and how this spills-over into politics, economics, business and everything in between. Expecting a "slower, healthier" level of growth going forward, Leland helps investors walk through the new landscape he has been identifying for many years to come, but to hear that, you'll have to tune in! -- Follow Leland: https://twitter.com/ChinaBeigeBook Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_ Follow On The Margin: https://twitter.com/OnTheMarginPod Follow Blockworks: https://twitter.com/blockworks_ Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Circle's USDC is one of the most trusted and widely used stablecoins in the digital asset industry. Check out their Transparency Hub at circle.com/transparency that outlines everything from links to USDC weekly reserve reports, monthly attestations, and blog posts written by their executive team highlighting how and why USDC was built the way it is. -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction  (03:06) China's Economic Growth Model Has Changed (10:45) The Evergrande Fallout  (15:02) Targeting "Common Prosperity" The New Social Contract In China (22:30) Circle Ad (23:50) China's Zero Covid Policy  (29:38) Xi Jinping Signals A New Era For China (33:10) Chinese Markets Slide On Monday's Open  (38:20) China vs U.S  (43:52) The Strategic Importance of Taiwan  (51:08) Final Thoughts -- Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on On The Margin should be considered as investment advice. Please always do your own research & speak to a financial advisor before thinking about, thinking about putting your money into these crazy markets. Disclaimer: Scammers are impersonating Blockworks and replying to comments on some of our videos. Please be advised that we will NEVER reply to your comment asking you to contact us on whatsapp, telegram, provide investment advice, or solicit money from you. These are scam impersonator accounts and you should not respond to them.

The post Episode 066: The Strategic Importance of Mission, Vision, & Values appeared first on Rehab U Practice Solutions.

As a knowledgeable executive, Michelle Gadsden-Williams has an extensive career working with organizations and industries of all kinds. She is the Managing Director and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at BlackRock, a fiduciary that offers financial and investment services. BlackRock is one of the world's leading providers of investment, advisory, and risk management solutions. With almost three decades of experience to back it up, Michelle specializes in diversity, inclusion, talent acquisition, talent management, and organizational development. She also recently published her first book: Driven by Intention: Own Your Purpose, Gain Power, and Pursue Your Passion as a Woman at Work. In this episode… More than most leaders, Michelle Gadsden-Williams knows the true value of belonging and diversity. Not only has she faced her share of problems in the workplace, but she has worked with companies of all sizes. Her journey has taught her many lessons that she wants to share with others. Her books, Driven by Intention and Climb, both offer a valuable perspective on what it takes for diverse people to thrive in their careers. Now she expands on those concepts with you. Dov Pollack has a powerful conversation with Michelle Gadsden-Williams — the Managing Director and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at BlackRock — to discuss leadership and diversity. They talk about why your dreams should scare you and the roadblocks that stop many from reaching their goals. They then touch on the gender feedback gap, affinity groups, and turning your wounds into wisdom. Hear the rest on this episode of the Next Wave Leadership podcast!

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Professor Mark Deets from The American University in Cairo about the strategic importance of the Nile River basin.

The strategic importance of Taiwan Should China take control of Taiwan it would represent a breach of the Western Pacific strategic line the US holds from South Korea to Japan through Okinawa to the Philippines. Although the US no longer has military forces on Taiwan, it counts Taiwan as a staunch ally and sells military equipment, including F16s, to Taiwan. This would enable China to more easily project power, both military and economic, throughout Southwest Asia and the western Pacific. Japan would almost certainly feel more threatened, thus remilitarizing. Japan and China have fought multiple wars over the last centuries. With that history it is likely that we would see greater instability in Asia.© William L. Enyart 2022 Email: bill@billenyart.comAudio production by Tom Calhoun, paguytom.com        

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European nations declared their intention to find alternatives to Russian natural gas. One nation that could become a strategically important supplier of gas to Europe is the United States, which has more gas than it can use thanks to the exploitation of its shale gas reserves. Energy economist Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy and professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines explains the implications and limitations of U.S. gas exports.

The Strategic Importance of the Indo-PacificSpanning from East Africa to the West Coast of the United States, the Indo-Pacific is a large and complex region encompassing two oceans and countless islands and maritime powers. In this episode of the China in the World podcast, Paul Haenle speaks with Darshana Baruah about maritime security in Asia as well as recent developments in the Indo-Pacific. Having both recently participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Paul and Darshana discuss key takeaways from Asia's premier security summit. Darshana also shares her perspectives on shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Islands as well as new trends in India's foreign policy.Darshana M. Baruah is a fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where she leads the Indian Ocean Initiative. Her primary research focuses on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy in a new security architecture. Darshana's research on the Indian Ocean can be found here: https://carnegieendowment.org/publications/interactive/indian-ocean-map.

This episode of The ITAM Executive podcast is an excerpt from a webinar hosted by Anglepoint and Converge. View the complete webinar here: https://www.anglepoint.com/blog/software-asset-management-strategic-benefits/ As noted by Gartner, SAM is a discipline that supports strategic business development. Here are the 4 main strategic benefits of SAM: Reduce Risk Data collected from SAM allows organizations to identify IT security risks, finding faulty and/or unsupported software. You'll know which/how many software assets need patches/security updates. SAM reduces compliance exposure. When auditors come knocking, they'll find that you are paying for what's being used; eliminating the need for potential hefty, business-changing fines. The reduced risk from practicing good SAM will save your organization from any and all potential legal, financial, and reputational damages/liabilities. Reduce Spend This is a major benefit! Many of our clients see actionable savings of 20% or more in year one. Good SAM monitors usage on an ongoing basis, allowing you to identify re-harvesting/re-use opportunities. It's (obviously) important that you don't spend more money that needed. Ongoing usage monitoring also empowers organizations to purchase software assets based on their true usage and future needs. - Additionally, SAM helps limit rogue purchases and potential chargebacks. Maximize Investments Through configuration management & standardization and change control & business continuity, organizations get the most out of what they have. Take advantage of IT optimization opportunities, i.e., virtualization, server consolidation, etc. Having the right people and processes in place allows you to realize the full benefits of your SAM tool(s). Many organizations fail to take full advantage of this. Negotiate Strategically If you know exactly what you have and exactly what you need, you can negotiate from a position of power. This gives you confidence and makes life much easier. SAM data allows for dialed-in and precise decision making. Having a SAM managed service provider in your corner gives you the publisher-specific expertise needed to negotiate. This detailed publisher knowledge allows for focus on key contract asks and advantageous terms.

The United States, India, France, and other major players all share interests in the Indian Ocean, making the region geopolitically important. While some of these countries developed policies that prioritized and engaged with the island nations that call the region home, the United States focused its priorities elsewhere. The recent security deal between China and the Solomon Islands only further demonstrates China's growing presence as the main competition for the United States in the region. President Biden's first trip to Asia since taking office starts tomorrow, and the stage is set for him to emphasize the United States' commitment to reprioritizing the region.  Darshana Baruah, a fellow in Carnegie's South Asia Program where she leads the Indian Ocean Initiative, joins Doug to unpack the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean region. Follow Doug on Twitter @DouglasLFarrar. Darshana M. Baruah. (2022, May 2). “The Strategic Importance of the Indian Ocean.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

This week, Jon Olson's guests are Brian Eyler and Alan Basist from the Stimson Center. They discuss the strategic importance of the Mekong River in southeast Asia.

This week, Jon Olson’s guests are Brian Eyler and Alan Basist from the Stimson Center. They discuss the strategic importance of the Mekong River in southeast Asia.

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dennis Wingo, CEO of SkyCorp, Inc. and author of Moonrush. They discuss the strategic rationale for space development and industrialization, the strategic importance of the Moon, the grand strategy consequences of failure, and the proper division of labor between government and the private sector. Dennis lays out a vision for Lunar development, and concrete policy steps to mobilize private capital and accelerate Lunar industrial development. Dennis Wingo: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skycorp-incorporated?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company NDU Towards A Theory of Spacepower (see Chapter 8): https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/Books/spacepower.pdf Moonrush: https://www.amazon.com/Moonrush-Improving-Earth-Resources-Apogee/dp/1894959108 The Early Path Not Taken: https://denniswingo.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/the-early-space-age-the-path-not-taken-then-but-now/ https://denniswingo.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/the-early-space-age-the-path-not-taken-then-but-now-part-ii/ The Lunar Industrial Facilty: https://denniswingo.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/the-lunar-industrial-facility-and-orbital-shipyards-how-to-get-there/ Dr. John Lewis' Mining the Sky https://www.amazon.com/Mining-Sky-Untold-Asteroids-Planets/dp/0201328194 Dr. Paul Spudis The Value of the Moon https://www.amazon.com/Value-Moon-Explore-Prosper-Resources/dp/1588345033 Skycorp: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skycorp-incorporated?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company https://www.skycorpinc.com/

Links1. Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project. In the South Pacific War Zone (1943).2. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform. Kiribati.3. “Soft Power,” by Joseph S. Nye, Foreign Policy, No. 80, Autumn, 1990.4. The Climate Reality Project.5. U.S. House of Representatives. The Strategic Importance of the Pacific Islands.6. U.S. Department of Defense. DOD Climate Assessment Tool (DCAT).7. U.S. Department of Defense. Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request.8. “The Pacific Deterrence Initiative: Peace through Strength in the Indo-Pacific,” by Sen. Jim Inhofe and Sen. Jack Reed, War on the Rocks, May 28, 2020.9. Secretary Hillary Clinton. “Remarks at the Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Dialogue,”  U.S. Department of State, August 31, 2012.

How do venture capital firms inspire design with a point of view? In this week's episode, we learn about the intersection of venture capital and design. Sam is joined by Irene Au, Design Partner at Khosla Ventures. Irene breaks down how venture capital firms work and design that is critical for success. Later on in the show, they are joined by James Buckhouse, Design Partner at Sequoia Capital. Together they chat about the importance of story, their advice for founders, and design that envisions a new type of world.  For links to resources we discuss on this episode, visit our show page:  The Strategic Importance of Design in Venture Capital

A new MP3 sermon from Baldock Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Strategic Importance of Contentment Speaker: Jonathan Northern Broadcaster: Baldock Baptist Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 10/27/2021 Bible: Philippians 4:11 Length: 38 min.

In April, multinational tech and retail giant Amazon announced that it would locate its South African headquarters in the new R4 billion Cape Town development, named River Club. The creation of thousands of jobs was amongst the many benefits to flow from the development. However, the development - owned by the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust (LLPT) - has since come under fire for being ‘profit-driven' and at the expense of cultural heritage. David Maynier, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, joined the BizNews Power Hour during which he discussed Amazon's impending venture, which he believes to be of ‘huge strategic importance to the Western Cape.' Maynier further commented on both Zuma's ConCourt sentencing and the direction of the Port of Cape Town's efficient, which he regards with optimism.

In April, multinational tech and retail giant Amazon announced that it would locate its South African headquarters in the new R4 billion Cape Town development, named River Club. The creation of thousands of jobs was amongst the many benefits to flow from the development. However, the development - owned by the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust (LLPT) - has since come under fire for being ‘profit-driven' and at the expense of cultural heritage. David Maynier, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, joined the BizNews Power Hour during which he discussed Amazon's impending venture, which he believes to be of ‘huge strategic importance to the Western Cape.' Maynier further commented on both Zuma's ConCourt sentencing and the direction of the Port of Cape Town's efficient, which he regards with optimism.

Co-host Mike Doran fills the roll of "guest" this week to detail what he saw and learned during his travels in Central Asia and the South Causasus earlier this month. Mike discusses how a region of the world positioned between Russia and China has been overlooked, and why the U.S. and other international players are beginning to notice its importance.

Think you already know how to manage leads, don't think lead management is important, or don't know how to manage leads? This episode sheds light on the strategic importance of lead management and how top firms do it. The post The Strategic Importance of Lead Management appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.

Think you already know how to manage leads, don’t think lead management is important, or don’t know how to manage leads? This episode sheds light on the strategic importance of lead management and how top firms do it. The post The Strategic Importance of Lead Management appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.

Some researchers and business leaders believe the pandemic has changed the strategic importance of the supply chain. It used to be that the health care supply chain was all about reducing costs. After the pandemic, that focus has shifted to include resiliency.Apple PodcastSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

Some researchers and business leaders believe the pandemic has changed the strategic importance of the supply chain. It used to be that the health care supply chain was all about reducing costs. After the pandemic, that focus has shifted to include resiliency.Apple PodcastSpotifyMore FreightWaves Podcasts

Friday, 03.29.2019: From Jerusalem, Israel, Director Jeff Daube, #ZOA, Speaks to the Vast Arsenal in the Hands of the Islamic Resistance Movement, #HAMAS, as #Jihad Continues Against the Jewish State; J-80 Rockets with a Significant Payload have Fallen Just Outside Tel Aviv; Director Daube also Speaks to the U.S. Recognition of Israel's #Sovereignty Over the #GolanHeights; Why is this of Critical, Strategic Importance?; And Hear Director Daube's Response to Anti-Semitism by Rep. Omar (D - Minn) and Rep. Tlaib (D - Mich) in the #UnitedStates #Congress; #Rep.Omar Holding Secret Fundraisers with Islamists Tied to Terrorism; And, More....

Tuesday, 03.26.2019: From Jerusalem, Israel, Director Jeff Daube, #ZOA, Speaks to the Vast Arsenal of the Islamic Resistance Movement, #HAMAS, as #Jihad Continues Against the Jewish State; J-80 Rockets with a Significant Payload have Fallen Just Outside Tel Aviv; Director Daube also Speaks to the U.S. Recognition of Israel's #Sovereignty Over the #GolanHeights; Why is this of Critical, Strategic Importance?; And Hear Director Daube's Response to Anti-Semitism by Rep. Omar (D - Minn) and Rep. Tlaib (D - Mich) in the #UnitedStates #Congress; #Rep.Omar Holding Secret Fundraisers with Islamists Tied to Terrorism; And, MORE….

This week we talk with Heather McGhee, President of Demos, a public policy organization working for an America where we all have an equal say in our democracy and an equal chance in our economy. She talks about the strategic importance of mainstreaming big, bold ideas that can shift power back to the people, and gives us some hope for what she sees as a watershed moment for grassroots organizing and activism. For our call to action, we focus on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and give the Golden Pantsuit to two women breaking barriers in the entertainment industry. Listen and subscribe!

In our December Mentoring Teleconference, Rev. Fred Hartley, III teaches us the importance of debriefing, a kingdom principle that is rarely used. Debriefing, processing, and reflection following an Upper Room encounter with Christ as a significant ministry assignment is essential to our health and well-being.

The Gift of Conversation Picture in your mind two businessmen sitting in an airport coffee shop, briefcases open, papers out spilling all over the table, earnestly in conversation about something important. Or two women sitting in a charming English tea room over a pot of Earl Grey. Or a young couple walking hand-in-hand down a beach as the sun is setting. So romantic. Or two older men sitting in a boat with fishing poles in their hands. Or two little children playing in a sandbox, making sounds like engines and front end loaders and bulldozers and doing some other things too. Or two older women sitting in rocking chairs on a front porch looking out over a mountain valley, reminiscing. Or two fans sitting together at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park conversing over a Triple-A baseball game. Or two teens with cell phones that just can't seem to stop talking, just something to discuss at every moment. All kinds of exciting things going on. All of these things, reflections of the great gift of conversation that God has given us, and I can't imagine going through a day without it. And it is a deep and theological principle that our desire to converse, to communicate, to have relationships, comes because we are created in the image of God. And as hard as it is for us to imagine, there was a time that there was only God and nothing else. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, eternally existing in three persons and able to have conversations among themselves. Inter-trinitarian conversation predates the creation of the world. And that gift of conversation, of relationship, of communication, one person to the next, was conferred on us at creation and it was discussed first before it was given. In Genesis 1:26 God says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule." And so there's an inter-trinitarian conversation about how we, male and female, are going to be created in the image of God, and part of that would be the ability to carry on conversations, the ability to have relationships with other persons. And I believe the gift of conversation in all of its richness unifies the verses we're looking at today. We're going to talk about heavenly conversation. We're going to talk about conversation between us and God in prayer. Praying about all things. We're going to talk about a different use of the word "conversation," just having to do with daily lifestyle, the way we carry ourselves in the physical world and the fact that we have an audience watching that all the time. And how important it is that we carry ourselves then with integrity. And then we're going to talk about the incredibly vital conversation of the Gospel. Sharing the words of life with those who need to hear it the most, that's what unifies our passage. Now, let's begin with the issue of prayer, conversation with God. Daily devotion and prayer. Look at verses 2-4. It says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us too that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." We come immediately to the strategic importance of prayer. Conversation with God: A Daily Devotion to Prayer (vs. 2-4) The Strategic Importance of Prayer Now, for many years as we have received prayer cards from the church and people fill them out, one mystery brother or sister in Christ has written a single word on the card again and again, and that word is "revival." That brother or sister knows very well, we'll know what to do when we get that card, and we do. And we yearn to pray for revival. Now, you may ask, "What is Revival?" Revival is a moving of the sovereign Spirit on an individual, on people, on a church, usually with two great fruits, personal holiness, and evangelistic fruit, conversions. Lost people brought to faith in Christ, personal holiness and conversions, and that in obvious, open, magnificent ways that only God can get the credit for. Now, those that have studied revival again and again have seen a unifying theme, and that is concerted, extraordinary prayer. Dr. AT Pierson, who was the biographer of George Müller, one of the great prayer warriors in history, once said, "There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer." Edwin Orr, a historian who made his focus the history of revivals, he agrees with this and he documents the prayer movements that are connected with great periods of revival again and again. The First Great Awakening, certainly, the Second Great Awakening. In 1857 there was the Businessmen's Prayer Meeting Revival that happened in Manhattan, New York, if you can imagine that. But there they were, it was 1857 and this Christian businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier sent out some advertisements throughout the city that there was going to be a businessmen's prayer meeting at noon, at a certain time, at the Dutch Reformed Church building in downtown Manhattan. This was advertised widely throughout the city, but the first time only six people showed up. Well, they prayed, they prayed fervently. And the next week 14 people showed up. And the next week after that 23 people showed up and then they decided they were going to meet every day for prayer. Not once a week, but every day at noon. By February of 1858, every church and public hall in Manhattan was filled up at noon with people praying. Imagine that, picture that in your mind. Incredible. Horace Greeley, the great editor of the New York newspaper that urged people, "Go west, young man," that one, published, he wanted to find out what was going on, so he sent a reporter around with horse and buggy, not having telephones or anything like that, they had to physically be there. And so this poor reporter flogged his poor horse and got to as many meetings as he could during the noon hour of prayer. He managed to get to 12. That's really quite remarkable, maybe a record of reporting, at least in New York City. And he found over 6,000 people meeting in those 12 meetings, actually, 6,100. It was a landslide of prayer, a revival, and it moved up the Mohawk River and groups all over in upstate New York, and then it spread throughout New England, and eventually, all over the country. Baptists, in upstate New York along the Mohawk River that winter had to cut holes in the ice to baptize people. Praise God for this baptistery here. I can just say that as one who's had to stand in it, but praise God. But they were so on fire for the Lord, they didn't care what the temperature of the water was, they just wanted to give public testimony to their faith in Christ. And DL Moody, the great evangelist, was converted during that prayer revival. That's what led him eventually to faith in Christ, and to his ministry. Again and again, prayer has been the undergirding and the beginning of revival. 1904, there was a great revival in Wales, the Welsh Revival. It started with a Welsh miner named Evan Roberts, who felt the call to preach, to get out of the coal mines and to preach. And he began training in seminary. And another man came and started preaching along the theme, "O God, bend me." And he began to pray this prayer, "O God, bend me." In other words, bend me to your will, transform me, make my will your own. Let me live only for your glory. "O God, bend me." So Evan Roberts started going around and preaching. And he preached in one Wednesday evening prayer meeting, it was the only slot he could get in that local church, not a well-known preacher at all. But he preached a simple message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then some simple steps to personal revival, four of them. Step number one, you must confess any known sin to God, and you must put any wrong done to others right, make it right. Anything you know that you've done wrong, make it right. Secondly, you must put away any questionable habit. Anything about what your conscience is smiting you, put it away. Thirdly, you must obey the Spirit promptly. Whatever the Spirit prompts you to do, you must obey Him promptly. And finally, you must confess your faith in Christ publicly. These four things. Well, it wasn't long before God was pouring out His blessing on these prayer meetings. And just like happened in Manhattan, New York, now it was in Wales. And it was a tidal wave of revival. Within five months, there were 100,000 people converted throughout the country of Wales. It was interesting, a number of years later, five years later, a skeptic named Dr. JV Morgan wrote a book to debunk the revival, on the grounds that of the 100,000 people that had claimed a faith in Christ, only 75,000 were continuing to attend church regularly. Now, you tell me, is that not a revival, when the skeptic is saying 75,000 five years later are still walking with the Lord, God has worked in a mighty way. Now, it started there in Wales, but it spread all over Great Britain, Scandinavia, Continental Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and in every location it was the same pattern, again and again. It always began with people praying, seeking the face of God. Now, what do we mean by extraordinary prayer? Well, we pray here, worship service every week. I pray, others pray, we had an opportunity to pray. You pray before meals, I would hope, and give thanks to God for the food. You have your daily prayer times, but that's not extraordinary prayer, that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about when people get together at 6:00 in the morning, in large numbers and pray for hours. When people meet together at lunch every day, for months on end, and give themselves to praying for the things of God, or when they spend half a night pouring out their hearts in prayer. Now, that's extraordinary revival. Now, I would contend, that when that kind of prayer is going on, the revival is already happening. It is the revival to move people out of their selfish holes and up into a great concern for the the things of God and the things of other people, the revival's already occurred, but we know it's not going to stay put there. Prayer is strategic. God has ordained prayer as a primary means for advancing His glory and His name to the ends of the earth. Why is it strategic? Well, first of all, it's strategic because it humbles us. It humbles us, and it also empowers us. Isn't that amazing how we can be both humbled and empowered? But so it is. It humbles us in the asking, and it also glorifies God in the giving. And prayer is strategic because through prayer, without moving, we can touch the distant parts of the Earth, to the ends of the Earth, we can reach out with prayer. Now, Paul here in Colossians is calling Christians to a commitment of prayer. Constant devotion in prayer. He says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Now, the word "devote" has a simple meaning of, "Just continue. To keep doing something, to have a commitment to it." The Commitment of Prayer: Constant Devotion Many hear sermons on prayer, they get moved, they get motivated, something changes for a day or so, and then it fades away like the morning mist, like the dew on the grass in the morning. That's not what Paul is calling us to here. He's calling us to a movement of prayer, of commitment to prayer. The Greek word here means, to stand fast in prayer, to be fully devoted to the prayer, to hold firmly onto prayer despite all obstacles. To be immersed in it, to cling to it. David Brainerd, a missionary in the 18th century, a contemporary of Jonathan Edwards, was a missionary to the American Indians, an incredibly godly man, and his diaries have had a revolutionary effect on the worldwide missionary movement. Tremendous devotion poured out in those diaries. And you'd read these entries, April 12th, "Spent the entire day in prayer." January 27th, "Though the day was cold, my body was covered with sweat, simply because of my excursions in prayer." Again and again you get these readings. "Spent two thirds of the day in prayer. Wrestled much in prayer for the Indians." This kind of thing. It's a devotion and a commitment to prayer, and that's I think what Paul's calling us to. Now, it's not easy to do, because faith-filled prayer has tremendous obstacles. Let's take the same old three we always wrestle with, the world, the flesh and the devil. First the devil, he opposes prayer, in individual Christians, and in churches, because he knows that it moves the hand of God, for His own glory. And so therefore, he's going to try to squelch prayer movements as best he can. The world opposes prayer because of its fast-paced achievement orientation, the fact that it's so distracting, so alluring, so enticing, and therefore there are things we'd rather do than spend a bunch of time praying. The world has already captured our affections, and we don't want to give time to prayer. And then there's our own nature. Our own nature. We are very prideful. We want things done in our own way and in our own time. And we tried prayer back then, and God didn't do what I wanted. I was reading, as I was preparing for this sermon, reading about a pastor who came across his school-aged son, a young boy. He heard him praying, he kept praying. "Tokyo. Oh, God, make it Tokyo. Make it Tokyo, oh, God." And he thought, "My son's being called to mission work in Japan." Well, it wasn't the case. He had taken a geography exam, and he had put that Tokyo is the capital of China, and he was saying, "Make it Tokyo, God. Make it Tokyo." Have you ever prayed like that? Not your will, but mine be done, oh Lord. Move that will, that you established before the foundation of the world, that pillar, that unshakable... Move it to suit my needs. That's the way we tend to pray. "Make it Tokyo, oh, God." We're prideful, and so therefore, when we don't get our way we give up in prayer. We are self-centered, we don't really care very much about the needs of others. We are weak, we're easily swayed, we make commitments, and then we give up on them. And we are unbelieving as well and prayer is such faith-filled work. Think about, for example, the battle between Joshua and the Amalekites, when Moses is up on the hill, and he's lifting up his hands in prayer. Joshua's down there on the battlefield and he is fighting with a sword in his hand. Do you think that Joshua took a break in the middle of the battle? His arm is getting tired. He's like, "Amalekites, if we could just have a break for a few minutes?" Absolutely not. He kept fighting, and he knew that he needed to keep fighting, because it was physical, obvious, sensory work. But Moses, many times his hands go down that day. Godly man. But many times his hands go down. Finally he starts to get the cause and effect. Okay. My hands go down, we start to lose. And so, they prop his hands up with stones, and they hold him up so that he can keep his hands extended in prayer. But that's the way it is with us. We don't see the cause and effect, and therefore we don't know why we should keep praying. God's going to do what He's going to do anyway, so we think. These are all obstacles to prayer. But Paul is calling on us to overcome those obstacles and to devote ourselves to prayer. He's calling on us to make it a lifestyle, to weave prayer throughout our day. He says in another place, in 1 Thessalonians 5, that we should “pray without ceasing.” Now, this means, obviously, daily time spent in prayer, your morning devotions. You wake up in the morning, you have your time of prayer. Or concerted times when you get together, you can schedule a time and be with Christians. But, I think it also means weaving prayer throughout the day. Charles Spurgeon was somebody who did this. He just seemed to live and move and have his being in an atmosphere of prayer. He just moved through the day in prayer. I was reading a biography recently of Spurgeon, and Steve Miller was talking about C.H. Spurgeon on spiritual leadership. And he mentioned an occasion in which one of his friends, Spurgeon's friends, came from Brooklyn, a Dr. Theodore Cuyler, to visit him. And Spurgeon went with Dr. Cuyler for a walk through the woods, something they loved to do, just to be refreshed out in nature. And Spurgeon had a tremendous sense of humor, and something struck him as funny, and he shared that with his friend, Dr. Cuyler, and they both just began to laugh. And their hearts were just knit together as they were laughing. And then suddenly Spurgeon stopped him, and he said, "Come, Theodore. Let's thank God for laughter." And Theodore Cuyler reflected on this years later, said, "This is the way it was with Spurgeon. He moved from a jest to a prayer and back again at the breadth of a hair." And so it should be, I think, with us. We are just constantly living, and moving, and having our being in the presence of God. Enoch walked with God. Noah walked with God. We can walk with God, and we immerse our days in prayer. And so, he says "Devote yourself to prayer." But I think we also need to step back and be strategic in our prayers as well. What are the big themes of life? What is the purpose of history? What is God doing in the world? We need to be devoted to that in prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 9, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out laborers into His harvest fields." So we need to devote ourselves to the big strategic picture as well. Not just thanking God for laughter. We should do that. But also praying that God would thrust out laborers into His harvest fields. So devote yourself. The Manner of Prayer: Watchful, Thankful Now, he gives us here the manner of prayer. He speaks of being watchful and thankful. Later in this, he talks about wrestling, we'll get to that, God willing, next week. Wrestling in prayer, it's labor. But here he talks about being watchful. Paul commands us to pray in a state of watchfulness. Now, what does that mean? Well, I think it means at least, can we just agree that it means at least you should be awake at that time? You should be awake while praying? Now, I will confess to you, I've had some very quiet, quiet times. They're like time warps, you know what I'm saying? You know what happened, you know I'm a little too comfortable. You know, it's a little too early. And so I had an incredible time of 75 minutes of prayer with the Lord, don't remember any of it. Just whoosh, right through. And there are times that I literally just need to pace back and forth, just pace, and walk, and talk out loud, because I'm going to fall asleep. So we need to be watchful in prayer and not fall asleep. Imagine setting up a time with the president or some other dignitary, and falling asleep in their presence. This is not a good thing. And so, therefore, we ought to be watchful in our prayers. But I think it involves more than that. I think it means giving diligent attention to our prayer lives. Preparation, I think, is part of it. How do you prepare yourself to pray? Do you have a prayer sheet? Do you have a prayer notebook where you keep records of specific requests, and when they were answered by God? Do you have some sheets to help you in worship, or in confession of sin? Do you have some things to help you? There's nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, I would urge it, because our minds can become blank, and then we'll see a brother or sister, and we had told them we were going to pray for something, and we didn't do it. So I think you take the church's prayer list, you take your own, make your own prayer list. Get the directory of the church and just go through names and things will pop into your mind as you see their names, that's what I do. And so you're watchful in prayer, you're alert and you're preparing for it. Another way to look at it, not just that you're awake, and not just that you have been diligent in preparing the prayer time, but that you're expecting God to answer. You're expecting Him to do something. Prayer is going to move the mighty hand of God, the Sovereign King of the universe. And just one movement from His hand is worth more than any of the other efforts we could put toward something. Recently I was watching a movie, it was done by an outreach, as an outreach by a church in Georgia, the movie's called Facing the Giants, maybe some of you have seen it. It's about an embattled football coach struggling in his life with various issues, very discouraged, and thinks that he's going to lose his job. A lot of things going on for him at home, struggling. And at a key moment in the film, a godly janitor who's spent much of the time just going from locker to locker putting his hands on the lockers and praying for these students. God bless those kind of people, the heroes that you never see, and the prayer warriors that do all these kind of things behind the scenes. But he felt God was leading him not to be behind the scenes anymore in this one area. And he came to the coach and he read some Scripture to the coach that was appropriate for the situation. That God had set before him an open door that no one could close, and that he needed to make the most of his opportunity as coach there. To bloom where it is planted. Well, he said, "God led me say that to you," and then he went off. Well, the coach is just sitting there a little bit stunned. Then he got up and he followed this man, and he said, "Did God tell you to come say that to me?" He said, "Yeah, I think He did, I believe He did." And he said, "Well, I want you to know I have been struggling with depression. I've been discouraged. But I've also been praying." Then the janitor said, "You know, I heard a story once about two farmers, both desperate for rain, it was a drought. Both of them prayed for rain, but only one one went out and prepared his fields. Now, which of those two are you?" That's very convicting. I guess God wasn't done using the janitor that day. Now, which of the two are you? Are you acting like God actually will answer your prayers? Take a step back, are you praying any such prayers that'd be worth answering? Anything specific for His kingdom and His glory. And second step, are you expecting Him to do it? Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours." You're like, "Oh, Jesus, you need to be more careful, you know I was going to leave this to name it and claim it." Jesus just says it. We know in the analogy of Scripture, we are going to be bound in by the will of God, and frankly, we don't want anything but the will of God, that's what believe means. Faith is stepping into God's world as it really is, not creating an alternate universe. But He says, "If you believe you have it, you have it." As I was going over this sermon this morning, I said, "Do I pray like this?" And at that moment, I felt the Spirit just leading me to pray that someone would come here today who needed to hear the Gospel. I mean an outsider, as is mentioned here in Colossians, who's never come to faith in Christ. And I felt that the Lord was leading me to stop right at this point in my sermon and pray for that individual to come to faith in Christ. That they would look to Christ whose blood was shed on the cross for them, that they would receive forgiveness of their sins by simple faith in Christ. Will you all pray with me for that individual? Father, I prayed this morning that someone would come here who needed to hear the Gospel. And that today would be, for them, the day of salvation. And I trust you right now and ask that you would move in that person's heart, and that they would fear Judgement Day, and find in the Savior all of the love, and compassion, and mercy that they need to free them from a life of sin and from fear of death, and that they would come to trust in the Savior. I pray this in your name, Lord Jesus, amen. And I've been convicted by this. Do I pray like this? Do I trust God for actual things for His kingdom? Being watchful in prayer. And what about being thankful? When God answers that prayer, should we not go back and say, "Thank you, God, for doing it"? And when He answers many prayers, should we not in the relationship go back and say, "You did it, Lord. To God be the glory, thank you"? We should. It's part of the relationship. And so we need to go back with thankfulness. The Focus of Prayer: Gospel Success Now, the focus of prayer, verses 3 and 4, is Gospel success. "And pray for us, too," he says, "That God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." This should be the center of our prayer life: What is God doing in the world? Why are we here? What are His purposes? And His purposes are to call out “from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation,” a multitude greater than anyone can count, and save them from their sins, and sanctify them by His Word, and glorify them, and make them just like Christ. And they will dwell with him forever and ever. That's what He's doing, that's big. We ought to pray big like that, then. “Our Father in Heaven, may your name be hallowed, and may your kingdom come, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I want to pray big things like that. And notice how the mighty Apostle Paul asks for prayer for help in this area. Look what he prays for, he says, "Pray for us, too. I need prayer. Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message." He's asking for prayer. He feels his weakness. "When I'm weak then I'm strong," he's not too strong to ask for prayer, he wants prayer. And look what he asked for, he asked for an open door for the message. A fair hearing of the Gospel. Specifically, it's a prayer that God would exert His sovereign power over the wills of unbelievers to get them to be open to the Gospel ministry. Does God have that kind of power? Can He actually turn the heart of a king or an emperor so that there is an opportunity for the Gospel? I tell you He can, He's done it again and again. Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, He directs it like a watercourse whichever way He chooses." It's happened again and again. The Lord granted Joseph favor in the eyes of his jailer. Genesis 39:21. The Lord granted Daniel favor in the eyes of the Babylonian officials so he didn't have to eat the food that would defile him. The Lord granted Nehemiah favor in the eyes of King Artaxerxes so he could go back and rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:11. The Lord granted Esther favor in the eyes of her husband, though he had not invited her, and the penalty for coming in uninvited is death. Still, Esther 5:3, God granted her favor. Does God have the power to change the heart of a potentate? He does. It's happened again and again. I was reading in the church history the story of Columba, who was a sixth century Irish monk whose heart burned with missionary zeal, who established Iona as a training place for missionaries, Irish missionaries going out all over continental Europe. But one place that God had laid on his heart was Northern Scotland, where the fierce Picts were. These people were so tough, the Highlanders, Scots, that the Roman Empire didn't want to mess with them, and built Hadrian's Wall as a result. Did not want to take on the Picts. Well, Columba took them on, and he went into their country, and he went right to the main fortress at Inverness, and wants to see King Brude, and he wants to tell him the Gospel. Well, the king is stunned, and doesn't want to have anything to do with this man, and sends him away. Well, he doesn't go away. He sets up shop right outside the walls of the fortress, and just begins to fast and pray. Well, it isn't long before the king invites him back in, and listens to what he has to say. The door is opened for the Gospel, the king eventually came to faith in Christ, and many of those Picts did as well. Columba brought the Gospel to northern Scotland by fasting and prayer. Notice that Paul also asks for clarity in presenting the Gospel. The Gospel is infinitely deep. Paul was amazingly learned. At one point, someone had said, "You're out of your mind, Paul, your great learning is driving you insane." Some people have gone insane trying to read Romans 9 through 11, and trying to figure out what that means. So there are depths of the Gospel, there are deep concepts and thoughts, there's meat. But Paul is here praying for simplicity and clarity: "Pray that I might make it clear as I should." A similar prayer he requests in Ephesians for boldness. In Ephesians 6:19 and 20 he says, "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly as I should." Again, he's putting his weakness out on the line: “If you don't pray for me, I might wimp out. I might be a coward at a key moment. I might turn away from a great Gospel opportunity. Pray for me that I might be bold.” Well, I think we ought to just apply this to each other. Let's pray for each other that so-and-so would have an open door for the Gospel, and that they would make it clear as they should, and that they would be bold and courageous. We pray this three-part prayer at our staff meetings: God, give me an opportunity to witness today, and give me the clarity to see it, and the boldness to take maximum opportunity of it. Pray that for yourself, that could change your life. God, give me a chance to witness today, and give me the eyes to see it, and the boldness and the heart, to take advantage of it. So that's what Paul prays for. Conversation in Action: A Carefully Observed Walk A Watching World The second aspect of conversation is just our daily lifestyle. Conversation in action, a daily observed walk. Look at verse 5. He says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity." We are living our lives before a watching world. We're on a stage, and the world is watching us. And it's not by accident God has ordained it so. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither does anyone light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it up on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." God has lit a light inside you, the light of the Gospel. You are the light of the world, He's going to put you up on a stand and let your light shine all around. You are on a stage, you are being watched. And what he's talking about here is, be very careful how you live in front of the unbelievers who are watching. Now, I believe, from this point forward in the section we're looking at today, everything that Paul says is geared toward producing, living in such a way that lost people will come to you and ask you about Jesus. That you live in such a way that they will come and say, "Please tell me what's going on in your life, I want to know." And there's a verse behind this. This is 1 Peter 3:15, it says, "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, and always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience." So in other words, be ready for business, open for business. Live in such a way that people are going to be attracted to you, and want to ask you about Jesus, or at least ask what's different about you, what is going on in your life. Like the Philippian jailer who brings Paul and Silas out in the middle of the night, trembling, falls in front of them and asks them this question: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Wouldn't you love to have that happen to you this week? Maybe you don't want the public beating without a trial, or to be in the jail in the middle of the night or any of that, but maybe you would like somebody to fall down in some sense before you and say, "What must I do to be saved?" And how ready would you be to tell them the truth? The Need for Wisdom So that's what I think Paul's getting at. And first he says there's a need for wisdom. Paul says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders," and then he says, literally, "Redeeming the time." You need to redeem the time. Now, last week I preached on slavery, and the idea is of a captive, someone in chains, and you pay redemption money, and get the captive out of chains. Well, how is time then like a kidnapped captive? Well, to some degree, because it says in Ephesians, "The days are evil," you've got to go rescue the day. If you are passive toward the day, you will lose it, it will be gone. You must aggressively go, as the Latin people put it, carpe diem. You have to go seize the day. Like David and his men had to go rescue their wives and children from the raiding party that came, the Amalekites that came, so also we have to go rescue the day. Redeem the day. Redeem the hour, redeem the day, or you will lose it, that's what he's getting at. George Whitefield, in effect, said, "There's no better way that I could obey the Scripture than by sharing the Gospel with somebody." And he said, George Whitefield said, "Woe to me if I should spend half an hour in a carriage with someone without sharing the Gospel of Christ." That's how we redeem the time. That's how we act in wisdom toward outsiders: Share the Gospel with them. The Need for Integrity And there's a need for integrity, because basically, you never know who's watching. Daniel had enemies who were watching him, he didn't know it. They watched him carefully to try to find some dirt on him so they could get him fired from his job. There was nothing to see. And they said, "We'll never find anything against this man, he's always at work, or praying, or doing something. The only way we can get him is with his prayer life," and that's what they tried to do. But they could not find any dirt on him. So we have to be people of integrity, living what we proclaim. Conversation in the Gospel: Speaking the Words of Life Speaking the Words of Life The third kind of conversation he talks about here is sharing the words of life, the Gospel, look what he says in verse 6: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Now, I just said a moment ago, we have to put our Christianity on display, we have to set a good example. But may I say to you, with all due respect, no one is going to get saved from their sins by watching what a good example you are of the Christian life. No one is going to get saved by watching how you live, not at all. God has ordained that it is word and not action that saves souls. Christ's actions, yes, but when it comes to us, we are to share the word of life. We are to speak the words of the Gospel. Romans 1:16 says, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." It is the power. The Gospel message is the power of God for salvation. Later in that same book, Romans 10:17: "Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Or in James 1:21, "Humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you." So we need to be ready to share the message of the Gospel. Now, recently Andy, and Eric, and I went to a conference out at Ridgecrest, a Building Bridges conference, and Don Whitney was there. And he was talking about, how well do we know the Gospel? And he was teaching a Sunday school class, and he asked them, "Do you think you know the Gospel pretty well?" And they said, "We've been hearing the Gospel for years.” Longer than you, sonny! That kind of message. And he's like, "Alright, that's fine." So he passed out some sheets of paper and some pens. He said, "I want you to take 10 minutes, and I want you to write down the Gospel message. Just write it down. And boy, did they struggle. You see, they'd heard the Gospel so many times they could recognize it when they heard it, but they couldn't articulate it, they couldn't speak it. Some time ago, I memorized a quick four-part outline of the Gospel on these headings: God, man, Christ, response. What do we say about God? He is a king, a creator, a law-giver, a judge. He is also savior. What do we say about man? He is sinful, and separated from God, all of us, created in the image of God, but yet sinful. What do we want to say about Christ? He is the eternal Son of God, who came into this world, who shed His blood on the cross, died, was buried, the third day He was raised to life. He is the only savior for the world. And what do we say about response? You must repent and believe this good news for the salvation of your soul. Are you able to do that in your own different style? Can you communicate the Gospel so that when someone comes, your speech is filled with grace, seasoned with salt, you're able to communicate the Gospel. If not, then study. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, but who rightly divides the word of truth.” Gracious Speech Gracious speech. Now, when I think of gracious speech, I think at least it means this: Mannerly, okay? No coarse language, no gossip, no slander, no off-color jokes, no worldliness. Your speech should reflect a heart filled with Christ. So gracious speech, but more than that, filled with the words of grace, with Scripture. Memorize lots of Scripture. Fill your heart with it, and when you open your mouth, Scripture may flow out. Because whatever you fill your heart with, that's what's going to come out of your mouth. So there you stand at a beautiful mountain valley, or one of those scenic overlooks, there's some people, strangers near you. What comes out of your mouth at that moment? "Boy, isn't that beautiful?" Well, that's very common, anybody would say that. Why don't you try something like this: "You know that the Scripture says that ‘God's righteousness are like the majestic mountains?’ What do you think that means, that God's righteousness is like majestic mountains?" "Gee, I never thought of it." "Well, it says it in Psalm 36:6. " Well, there's a conversation starter. They might say, "Woah, what a weirdo!" They might. Or they might come back and talk to you, and be interested in what you have to say. Or perhaps you're discussing a sensational crime, and a trial, and an issue of crime and punishment is the topic. What could you say that would be gracious at that particular moment? You could say something like, "Only the grace of God in Christ could cover a crime like that." Something like that. And a realization that I could, if it weren't for God's grace, I could commit a crime like that, a humility. Let your conversation be full of grace. Or you're standing there at Kroger, at the produce section, or Food Lion. I'm not endorsing one or the other, please. You get into all kinds of difficulties. Harris-Teeter, what are the others? Anyway, you're at a supermarket, and there's the produce. And somebody's there and you're going through. You could be silent, you could grab your cucumbers, whatever, and you could go. Or you could redeem the time. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, and say something about Christ. And you'll say, "They'll think I'm weird!" Well, they might. Is it worth it to you, though, that you might actually get in a conversation with somebody and lead them to Christ? Is it worth it to run the risk that they'll think you're weird? "I'd rather they not think about me at all than that I might actually bring them to Christ and they'd spend eternity in the presence of God." Oh, don't do that. Pay the price. Say something about Christ. Let grace flow out. I love this one pastor who, whenever he was asked by his church people, "How are you doing?" he always answered the same way: "Better than I deserve." Well, that's a gracious answer. Better than I deserve. "What do you mean, better than I deserve? Are you some kind of secret murderer?" Say, "Well, in one sense I am. The Sermon on the Mount says that if you're angry at your brother, it's like murder." Whatever, get in a conversation! Challenge Satan's status quo, go after the lost people, that's what I'm urging. Salty Speech Now, what does it mean, "full of grace seasoned with salt"? Well, I spent a little time learning about salt. Actually, at Barnes & Noble, there's a whole book, a 400-page book on the history of salt. And you're thinking, why in the world would you buy a book like that? Well, you buy a book like that if you're an expository preacher coming to Colossians chapter 4:6 and you know you're going to have to say something about salt. And after a while, you read and you start learning some things about salt like, for example, it's the only rock that we eat. That's an interesting thought, isn't it? Are there any other rocks that you know that we eat? I don't know of any. It's indestructible by water and by fire. It's a fascinating substance, really. I asked my mother, who's a chemist, "What is salt used for in the body?" and she started getting into all these ionic transport systems, and I said, "I'm not going to tell the people that. I don't get it, so there's no point in communicating." But it's essential to the body. And when you sweat it goes out, you gotta take salt back in to live. But what did Paul mean? Now, that's the real question. And if you look at Scripture, salt is used in a variety of ways. For example, it's used to season or flavor food. And there's some kinds of food that are just tasteless without it. I was reading one of those Arabian Nights stories, and there's this sultan, and he's got these three daughters. And he wants the daughters to come into his court and express their love for him. Well, what kind of man would do that? But at any rate, the first two daughters come in, and they give a flowery speech, "You are the... " You know, all this. And then the third daughter comes, and she's quiet and more studious, and she says, "You are the salt in my food." And he's actually insulted, actually enraged, and he ends up banishing her. Well, some time later, he is traveling through, and he stops at a place for a meal. And the meal tastes terrible, bland. Well, guess who cooked it? It was his daughter. And she gets finally to make the point. You bring out the flavor in the food, alright? And so it is there's certain kinds of things, starches, potatoes, whatever, that without the salt, they're totally bland. So there's an issue of flavorful speech, something that's fascinating, something that's worth listening to, not bland. It could be that. Or it could refer to salt's preservative aspects. The fact that salt preserves meat, it's a desiccant, it dries out the meat so bacteria doesn't spread all over it. And back in the days before refrigeration, it enabled people to eat meat for long periods of time after it was slaughtered. And so it was an issue of purity, freedom from corruption. So let your conversation be pure conversation, let it be holy, let it stop gossip, let it stop slander. It comes to the salt block in you, and it just doesn't go any further, because you turn it around with a gracious statement, and then make it a Gospel opportunity. You're a salty person, and you're stopping the spread of corruption, because we're the salt of the earth. There's another aspect, too, it says that all grain offerings, in Leviticus 2:13, should be offered with salt. And so all of the grain offerings were offered with salt. Well, what does that refer to? It refers to a covenant of salt. It says, in Numbers 19, "A covenant of salt that God made with Israel." It says in Numbers 19, "I have made a covenant of salt with my people." He says in 2 Chronicles 13, that, "God gave the kingdom to David as an everlasting covenant, a covenant of salt." And so I think it goes from preservative to eternity. Something that's preserved for eternity cannot change. And so let your conversation bring people's minds up into God's eternal covenant, salvation through faith in Christ. Speak of eternal things, things worthwhile, things that are worthy of conversation. Let your conversation be rich. And so, therefore, I think you ought to ask questions of people. You ought to ask questions. Ask, "Do you ever think what happens when you die? What do you think happens when you die?" Or say, "Let's say you're on your deathbed, you're in your 80s, and you've had a successful life. And you're looking back at a successful life. What elements are in that successful life, how do you count success?" Or ask this question: "Why do you think so many lottery winners end up worse off at the end in their lives than they were before they won the lottery?" Ask a question like that. Or, "What image do you have of Heaven?" or, "What image do you have of Hell?" These kind of thoughts. Or this one: "Why do you think Jesus Christ had such an impact on human history?" Ask those kinds of questions. But let your conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt. Reasoned Speech And why? So that you may know how to answer everyone, this is reasoned speech. Answer what? Well, they're going to ask you questions like this: "Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? What happens to me when I die? How can I get my sins forgiven?" Will you have an answer for them then? When you've lived this kind of life, and you've enticed them into the Gospel, they will ask you to give a reason for the hope that you have. Be ready and share the Gospel then. I want to close just with an exhortation. After worship today, we have a meeting, you heard it already announced. It's in the bulletin, Connection Partners, it is our attempt to reach out to visitors who come our church. We are privileged to have a steady stream of visitors to our church. Some of them that come are not believers yet. This is an opportunity for you, evangelistically, to get involved in the spread of the Gospel. Many people that come are already Christians, but many are not. Those that are already Christians may be looking for a church, they may be new to the area. It's a strategic ministry, but it's also a chance to share the Gospel. The more laborers we have for that harvest field, the fewer, or less burdened it is on any one person. Just like those that take time to pray during Sunday morning worship. So I'd urge you to give consideration to come to a relatively brief meeting, I guess it can't be that brief if there's going to be food. But at any rate, it's going to be brief enough to eat the food, and to discuss Connection Partners. And I would urge you to consider sacrificing some of your time in being part of our ministry to guests and visitors. Close with me in prayer.