把雞蛋放在同一個籃子裡的隱患
By Rick Boxx
你聽過「不要把所有雞蛋放在同一個籃子裡」的警告嗎？這個原則適用於生活的許多層面，尤其是工商業界。無論是營利公司只有單一大客戶，或是非營利機構僅有一位主要資助者，如果你的大多數收入只有單一來源，這個組織就是在玩火自焚。這種關係只要出了任何差錯，就可能引發嚴重的後果。
有時候，一些小型企業只開設一個主要帳戶。事情原本進展得很順利–銷售額很高、現金穩步流動–直到有一天，無論甚麼原因，那個唯一的帳戶失效了。突然間，原本看來相當可靠的收入來源消失了，所有人開始需要掙扎求生存。
過度依賴單一客戶的另一個隱患是該客戶的潛在影響力。一旦你的收入過度依賴單一客戶或捐贈者時，你會發現自己被迫要在生意上做出不合理的讓步。有人大量投資你正在進行的工作，當然會讓你覺得很開心。但是這可能會誘使你在做決定時，傾向順應他們的要求，而不是忠於你的使命–特別是在情況可能會危害到你們關係的時候。
解決之道是什麼？答案其實很簡單：多樣化。我的經驗以及許多專家都證實，單一客戶的投資額最好限定於總收入的15％以下。尤其是在面對一個相當可觀的潛在收入來源時，你或許會覺得很難說「不」。然而，下定決心透過發掘更多元化的資金來源「拓展財富」，會比失去占有你絕大多數營業額的單一大宗客戶所帶來的不利後果要好。
這也是我們可以在聖經中找到的另一個偉大永恆智慧。所羅門王特別針對這種狀況如此建議：「你要分給七人，或分給八人，因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。」（傳道書11章2節）另一種翻譯是這樣說的：「但是你的投資要分散在許多地方，因為你不知道未來可能會面臨甚麼風險。」
還有其他應該多樣化經營我們的工作和財務的原因。其中一個是作為上帝的使者，我們渴望在自己的社區、城市乃至全世界有更大的影響力。詩篇的作者寫到：「敬畏耶和華，甚喜愛他命令的……他心確定，總不懼怕，直到他看見敵人遭報。他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮；他的仁義存到永遠……」（詩篇112篇1,8-9節）
上面這段經文特別談到如何滿足弱勢族群的需求，但原則都是一樣的。當我們多樣化地運用時間、精力和資源時，我們可以更有效地服務別人，上帝也能更有果效地使用我們。
我聯想起耶穌在馬太福音25章14-30節中所說才能的比喻：一個主人在遠行之前把他的資產委託給三個僕人來運用。其中兩位僕人明智地做了投資，反饋給主人一筆可觀的回報。第三位卻只是把委託給他的資產藏起來，當主人回到家時，他沒有任何可以回饋給主人的好處。如果一個企業或獻給上帝的服事要成長，我們需要多樣化，並在這個過程中成長茁壯。
版權所有2019 非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊物主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站:www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx 最新出版的書提供用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業
反省與問題討論
你的公司或組織是否有一個讓其他人都相形見絀的主要大客戶或捐贈者？如果是這樣，當這個收入來源突然消失且無法恢復時，會發生什麼事？這對你的從事的工作和提供的服務會產生什麼影響？ 另一方面，如果你的公司並不仰賴單一的收入來源，背後的原因是要實現業務多元化嗎？這樣的原則是否容易堅守？請解釋你的答案。 你的投資又如何呢？你是否已經開始嘗試多元投資，而不是把所有資源都放在一個看起來投報率最高的地方？請解釋你的原因。 如果把這個原則應用在靈性的追求上，你覺得多樣化對服事神和人的好處與潛在的缺點是什麼？
備註：如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多有關這個主題的更多信息，請參考下面的經文：
詩篇37篇25-26節
37:25 我從前年幼，現在年老，卻未見過義人被棄，也未見過他的後裔討飯。
37:26 他終日恩待人，借給人；他的後裔也蒙福！
箴言10章4節
10:4 手懶的，要受貧窮；手勤的，卻要富足。
箴言12章24節
12:24 殷勤人的手必掌權；懶惰的人必服苦。
箴言15章22節
15:22 不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。
哥林多後書9章6-9節
9:6 「少種的少收，多種的多收」，這話是真的。
9:7 各人要隨本心所酌定的，不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人是 神所喜愛的。
9:8 神能將各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，能多行各樣善事。
9:9 如經上所記：他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮；他的仁義存到永遠。
THE PITFALL OF HAVING TOO MUCH GOOD IN ONE PLACE
By Rick Boxx
Have you heard about the warning against “putting all your eggs in one basket”? This applies for much of life, especially the business world. Whether it means one large customer at a for-profit company, or a single major donor for supporting a not-for-profit entity, when your revenue comes significantly from one source, your organization flirts with danger. Real trouble can arise if anything goes wrong with that relationship.
Sometimes small businesses open with one primary account. Things go well – sales are high and cash is flowing steadily – until one day, for whatever reason, that single account is lost. Suddenly the stream of revenue that had seemed so dependable is lost and everyone is scrambling to survive.
Another pitfall of having too much dependence upon one customer is the influence they might have. Whenever your revenue becomes overly reliant upon a single customer or donor, you can find yourself feeling pressured to make unhealthy business concessions. It can be flattering to have one source that invests so heavily into the work you are doing. However, that can present the temptation to make decisions focused on accommodating that source, rather than remaining faithful to your mission – especially if it could jeopardize that key relationship.
What is the solution? The answer is fairly simple: Diversification. My experience, and experts would confirm this, is that it is best to seek to limit any one customer at 15 percent or less of your total revenue. It may be hard to say “no,” especially when the potential for a very significant revenue stream is presented. But making a determination to “spread the wealth” by cultivating a wider variety of resources may be better than adverse consequences that could result from losing a single customer that comprises a majority of your business.
This is another example of the great, timeless wisdom we can find in the Bible. King Solomon addressed this particular issue when he advised, “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:2). Another translation states it this way: “But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.”
There are other reasons for diversifying our work – as well as our finances. One is the desire, as God”s ambassadors, to have a broader impact in our communities, our cities, and even around the world. The psalmist writes about “the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands…. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever…” (Psalm 112:1,8-9).
This passage talks specifically about seeking to meet the needs of people who are disadvantaged, but the principle holds true. We can serve more effectively – and be used by God in more fruitful ways – when we diversify the use of our time, energy and resources.
Which brings to mind Jesus” parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. It speaks of three individuals entrusted with their master”s resources while he was gone. Two of the servants wisely invested the money and gave their master a substantial return. The third simply hid what had been entrusted to him, and when the master returned home, he had no increase to offer. If we are to grow – as businesses, as well as in service to God – we need to diversify, and grow stronger in the process.
Copyright 2019, Unconventional Business Network Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments emails, visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God”s Way.”
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Does your company or organization has one customer or donor that dwarfs all others? If so, what would happen if that source of revenue were suddenly lost and could not be restored? What impact would that have on the work and services you provide? If, on the other hand, your company is not reliant on one single source of revenue, is that because of a deliberate decision to diversify business? Is it difficult to maintain such a commitment? Explain your answer. What about financial investments – have you developed a practice of seeking to diversify where you invest, rather than putting all of your resources in one place that seems to be most productive? Why or why not? Shifting to apply this principle to spiritual pursuits, what would you see as the benefits – and potential shortcomings – of diversifying our efforts to serve God and those who sends our way?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:25-26; Proverbs 10:4,12:24, 15:22; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
