BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Faith and the Marketplace by Bill Winston As a young lad growing up in the small southern town of Tuskegee, Ala., I always dreamed of going places and seeing the world. In my vivid imagination, I saw myself being a physician, a firefighter, a cowboy, even an action hero like Superman. The occupation that eventually captured my interest the most was that of being a pilot. In our community, I had the privilege of knowing many of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen in my youth and they were all larger-than-life heroes who worked, worshiped and lived in my hometown. Their sons and daughters were my classmates in elementary school. We all lived, learned and dreamed together in Tuskegee. One unforgettable occasion was when I had my first airplane ride with the man who was an instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Charles A. Anderson, affectionately known as Chief Anderson. After that experience, I knew I was destined to fly. Years later, I graduated from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), and served in the United States Air Force, where I became a fighter pilot. Military service took me around the globe, from the confines of a small, close-knit African American community in Alabama to Southeast Asia, Korea and various parts of the U.S. Preparation for Destiny Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was being prepared for my destiny. While in the military, there were some key leadership lessons that I learned, like the importance of discipline in an assignment, how authority works, mission planning and execution, along with the importance of precision and excellence. I also learned what it means to have courage in the face of threat or opposition, the importance of “no one left behind,” and the art of decision-making and delegation. After being honorably discharged at the end of my military service, I was hired in sales at one of the major international computer corporations, IBM. It was with this company that my life drastically changed. The first major change was in the area of business, where I learned the art of selling, how to handle rejection, the importance of profit, and the importance of providing quality service. The company was big on excellence in customer service and respect for the individual. I also developed the art of servant leadership and how to tap into the hidden potential of others. Many of the sales representatives who joined my marketing team in the beginning were not the highest performers. However, with coaching, encouragement and guidance, they became among the best. Some turned out to be the region’s highest revenue producers and finest marketers. Needless to say, while helping the team to discover their greatness, I also discovered some interesting things about myself. I learned that part of my gifting was that of a motivator and teacher, with an ability to inspire and draw out the best in people. ****** continues on next page ****** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bill Winston Founder and pastor of Living Word Christian Center, a 20,000-member church located in Forest Park, Ill., he is also the founder and chairman of The Joseph Center® for Business Development. For more information or ministry materials go to bwm.org. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BVOV : 23

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