WHAT IS THE MUSTARD SEED PRINCIPLE?

Dr. Phillip Phinn’s Book “Success Principles”

 The following passages are taken from Dr. Phinn’s book.

It is written, "Despise not the days of small beginnings..." It is also written, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." The poorest man is a man without a vision.  Once you can determine where you would like to go, the first step is to begin.  Begin with what you have. With hard work and determination you will be able to fulfill your dream.

The Mustard Seed Principle seeks to give everyone a chance to fulfill his or her dream.  The traditional method of acquiring capital to start a business for most people is by way of a Bank Loan.  However, in order to qualify for a loan, one has got to have collateral or get someone who has collateral to stand security for the loan. Many dreams fail to materialize as dreamers waited in vain to acquire the starting capital to launch out into their enterprise.  The Mustard Seed Principle says, START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. Don't wait, move ahead today, now.

The Two-fold Purpose of Money

Money that we earn should be used basically for two purposes: (1) To provide bread to eat. (2) To provide seed to sow. If one, however,, eats everything he earns, he is sure to remain poor. In order to overcome poverty, we must not only work for money, but we must let money work for us, We must therefore set aside a specific amount of money for investment.

We have advised those using the Mustard Seed Principle to make great sacrifice in the first three years in order to have capital to plough back into their business, thus ensuring continuous growth and expansion.

Many of our members who were running their business on the side were able to switch from their place of employment, pay themselves a salary, take care of their overhead expenses and still have profit left over to plough back into their business for expansion and growth.

The Mustard Seed Model - Based on the following principles

1) The Principle of Vision and Purpose

The poorest man is a man without a vision. Where there is no vision, people perish. Vision helps us to overcome the crippling effects of mental discouragement. Your vision empowers your life and gives you the faith and passion to go after your future focus.

Your vision must be specific and clear so that you can see yourself living in the reality of that vision.  Every major event in my life was envisioned before the fulfillment of the reality.

In summary -

• (a) You must have a dominant vision. You must have a vision that is the major purpose of your future.  You must have a vision that represents what you really want.
• (b) You must see yourself already living in the reality of that vision, the vision fulfilled,, visualized.
• (c) Visions must be specific.  You must know exactly what you want.

The Principle of Work

The order that we have today as it relates to ownership and employment is still one of slavery.  It is far from the divine order of God whereby He created man to have dominion over planet earth. Man is not supposed to be dominated by his fellowman,, but there should be a working together in mutual submission and respect.

Essentially what we have is an educational system that says Work hard, study hard and get a good job.  Such a system has done nothing more than to facilitate our transformation from chattel slavery to wage slavery. We have also been trained in our Colleges and Universities to manage other people's business.  A new economic order is calling for more joint ownership of the means of production. A salary spells limitation.  Often your salary can barely meet your basic needs. This system causes people to see money as their chief motive for work. Our forefathers were whipped to work and the system of slavery continues, though modified somewhat.  The masses have grown accustomed to hate work, as it reminds them of the whip of the past.

But work is good and should be enjoyable.  Our chief motive for working should be to fulfill our purpose. I thoroughly enjoy what I do, as I am proud of what I do and work is like play to me.

There are volumes of books offering shortcuts to success and financial freedom, but the truth is - there is no true success without hard and smart work.

• Thomas Edison, the greatest of inventors, went through hundreds of experiments that were failures before he achieved success with the electric light. He attributed his success to two percent inspiration and ninety-eight percent hard work (perspiration), a formula indeed for incredible accomplishments.

The Principle of Investment

The masses are caught up working for money.  We have just finished looking at the Principle of Work.  The chief reason why the masses hate work and are bored with their job is because they are only working for a living; they are working for money.  It was never God's intention that the primary reason for work was to earn money.  We were ordained to good work, so we must work to fulfill our divine purpose.

Investment is money working for us, money must become our slave,, it must work for us. So whilst we are caught up working to fulfill what we were born to do ( which of course will bring us money as a benefit) we should have money working for us.

The masses are trapped working for money and regret that they don't have the time and the means to do all they would like to do. Through investment we can get to that place where we have money working for us so that we will be free to work in the areas that we really enjoy.

Investment and re-investment is the key that will break the vicious cycle of just working to merely meet our basic needs, paying our bills, etc.

If you consume everything that you earn, you are bound to remain in poverty. You must invest, re-invest and diversify your investment to break the vicious cycle of hand-to-mouth living.

The Principle of Perseverance

The story is told about the American violinist, Fritz Kreister, who at the end of a concert went backstage only to hear a lady say, "I'd give my life to play as you do!" He turned and looked at the woman and said,, "Madam', I did.

The masses don't want to give themselves two or three years,, much less a lifetime,, to accomplish something, they get discouraged after a few months and give up, but-if you are going to succeed you must hang in there and exercise the Principle of Perseverance or what some of my folks would called the good old "stick-to-it-tiveness". Opposition, criticism and rejection you will meet face to face on your road to success.

Consider the Wright brothers.  On the lonely sands of North Carolina's outer banks they battled the elements, the ridicule of men, the lack of resources.  They built, they failed, they rebuilt and failed again.  Finally, they flew and literally changed the world. You must develop a passion to fulfill your vision so that nothing or nobody should stop you. In the time of trial keep your eyes focused on your vision.

Thomas Edison,, the greatest of inventors, had such a passion to fulfill his vision that he went through hundreds of experiments that were failures before he achieved success with the electric light. He attributed his incredible accomplishments to "two percent inspiration and ninety eight percent perspiration."

The Principle of Faith

Faith is the victory that causes us to move mountains and accomplish the impossible. Faith generates the power') the know-how and the strength to do what we want to do. When you believe you can do something,, the how to do it develops.

Having a dream and believing that that dream can become a reality generates the steps to take to bring that dream to pass. In other words the how to do always comes to those who believe they can do it,

Faith generates the power to do. It was faith in the possibility that man could go to the moon that caused it to happen.  It was faith that a tunnel under the English Channel to connect England with the Continent could be built that made it a reality today.

Faith is the motivating force behind all great books, plays, scientific discoveries, successful businesses, churches, governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Faith in the negative is called doubt- faith in the positive is called real faith-The story is told of two women who turned seventy years old, yet each focused their faith in two different directions.  One said "My life is coming to an end."

To her seven decades of living meant that her body must be breaking down and she had better prepare for her grave. The other woman,, however, believed that a person is capable of accomplishing what he believes he can do at any age, and thus set a higher standard for herself. She decided that mountain climbing might be a good sport to begin at age seventy.  For the next twenty-five years she devoted herself to this new adventure,, scaling some of the highest peaks in the world, until today, Hula Crooks has become the oldest woman to ascend Mount Fuji.

Faith is what makes the difference between a joyous, victorious life and one of frustration and misery.

Great achievers have an obvious trait in common goal-setting.  Writing down their goals is a part of their lifestyle. Goal-setting is the step by step process towards having your vision turn into reality.

You will never leave where you are right now until you know exactly where you want to be.  You must know what you really want before you can obtain it. You will never change your location until you determine your destination. What you see is what you get.

Faith is what makes the difference between a joyous, victorious life and one of frustration and misery.

The Principle of Goal Setting

Great achievers have an obvious trait in common - goal-setting.  Writing down their goals is a part of their lifestyle. Goal-setting is the step by step process towards having your vision turn into reality.

Dr. Myles Munroe says, "If there is no goal in front of you, you'll check the hazardous holes behind you.  If there is no vision in front of you to pull you on, you will be dragged back to the path you know well.  If your imagination does not become documented, it will soon ferment into vapor and disillusionment."

Examples of the application of the Mustard Seed Principle

Janice Maxwell told her story how she became the National Spelling Bee Champion. She put up a banner in her room long before she became the National Champion.  On that banner she wrote: JANICE MAXWELL - NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION.  She was spelling and looking at this banner months before the competition. She had no doubt whatsoever that she was going to win.  She saw herself winning - then she worked towards winning.

Someone gave me a sticker once.  It said "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.

Jack's dream was to own and operate his own supermarket. He grew up in poverty. As a result he did not do well in school. and as a grown young man was barely making ends meet. Nevertheless he had a dream and was determined to see the fulfillment of his dream.  He started off by selling newspapers, then from the profit he added hot dogs, bread and cheese, and soft drinks. It was not long before he established his own grocery shop.  His grocery shop eventually grew into a supermarket.  Jack, however, did not stop at the supermarket. He went on to own a chicken farm, a bakery, a garage, and an insurance agency.

After discovering this principle eight years ago, I decided that I would put it to work in my life first before I started to teach it to others.  In 1986, I started with Eight Hundred (800) dollars, selling books and audio cassettes. At the end of the first year I turned the eight hundred (800) dollars into eighteen thousand (I 8,000) dollars.  Now a seed of $18,000 can do much more than $800. 1 used $7,000 to establish an acre of coffee, $3,000 to plant an acre of cocoa, and $2,000 to start a school supply business (selling pens, rubbers, exercise books, etc.)

By 1989 1 had enough to publish my first book, "How To Be A World Overcomer".  By 1991 1 had three books published. My dream as a Businessman and a Self-Publisher is being fulfilled without having to borrow one cent.

Zorima Story

In the book "Give Us Credit" by Alex Courts (Pages 46-47) the Zorima Story is proof that the Mustard Seed Principle is a major key for poverty eradication. Zorima Becum, a beggarwoman thrice deserted by husbands, came to know about the bank loan (i.e. the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh that gave loans without collateral).  Overcoming her fears, she took a loan of 250 taka (US$6:00). She invested the money in trading grocery goods in the neighbourhood. She paid off the entire loan in weekly installments. She did not have any problem. As soon as the first loan was repaid she took a second loan. This time she was bold.  She borrowed I 000 taka (US$25:00).  Now she is an independent businesswoman.

An Alternative Approach to Welfareism

We discovered that it is usually the unskilled that are poor and unemployed. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "Give an hungry man a fish today and he will be hungry mantomorrow, but teach him to catch a fish and he will never be hungry again."

In our approach to helping the poor and the unemployed, we have always sought to find out what they can do and want to do. We would help train the untrained, and to those that are skilled we make available interest-free loans.

Traditional welfareism have robbed people of their self-worth  and often exploited their labour.

In 1986 1 met a young man, 18 years old, who was getting $40:00 per week from his church.  I knew that their intention was pure, but in reality they were doing more harm than good to this young man. I stopped the payment immediately and then asked the young man to go home and write a letter stating what he wanted in life. In his letter he outlined that he believed that he had a gift in fashion designing, and would like a career in this area. I worked along with a businessman in the church to get this young man in the Government garment manufacturing school.

The school gave him a little money while he learned. A year later he graduated with a skill, and today he is producing and selling his products not just locally but internationally. They would have destroyed this young man's future if they had continued to give him the forty dollars ($40.00) each week.

I believe even the cripple and the blind can be trained and helped to make an honest living for themselves.

Testimonials

Aglow Fashions

In 1986 I started selling ice-pops at 50c each.

In 1987, having been taught the Mustard Seed Principle, I used the profit of $1,200 from selling the ice-pops as a deposit on an industrial sewing machine costing $7,000.  This machine was paid for in three (3) months from the sale of garments made. Another machine (serger) was purchased for $8,000.  This also was paid for in three (3) months. A second industrial machine (second hand) was purchased for $6,800 and a domestic machine for $31,000. This business was being done at home while I held a full-time job. In June 1988 1 resigned my job, moved the business from home and rented a shop for $1,200 monthly.

In 1989 as a result of worker problems,, I was forced to give up the shop and move the business back home to save it from total collapse. All the funds were now depleted and I had to take another job. From home the business was gradually rebuilt; the Lord provided an excellent and honest worker who managed it in my absence.  In 1990, I received many orders from a co-worker who liked my own clothes. These were delivered promptly.

In 1991 1 again began to realize a profit. Between 1991-93 the business expanded rapidly. A non-withdrawal account was opened; some of the profit was used to help needy children and to assist two other individuals to start their own business.  Tithing was always done.  After six (6) years the business is now operating successfully.  Cash in bank and assets total J$ 105,000. YW.

• King's Kid Nursery

In November 1987 we began trading informally.  The initial capital investment was J$7,200.-This purchased US$1,000 and two (2) tickets to Miami and back.  At the end of the second trip we had J$17,700 in the bank (profit J$10,500).  This was reinvested.  At the end of the fourth trip, we had purchased a refrigerator, a stove and deposited J$4,400 on furniture for our next venture - a Day Care Centre and Nursery.- We suffered a setback as the stove and refrigerator were stolen in November, 1990.  Nevertheless, in January 1991 the doors of the Nursery were opened with three (3) children and a weekly income of J$350. At the end of that year there were twenty-five (25) children and a weekly income of J$3,250. At the end of 1992 we had forty (40) children and a weekly income of $8,000.  Presently we have forty-five (45) children and a weekly income of J$13,500.

There is now J$30,1000 in the bank and an asset base of approximately $100,000.

• Three points need to be noted here:
• (1) Tithing was systematically done.
• (2) The Mustard Seed Principle was practiced.
• (3) The Nursery operates debt free.

The Clarion Call

The clarion call in this hour is for another Industrial Revolution.  This Revolution must emerge from the Third World. In fact, the reason why we are called "Third World" is mainly because we did not benefit from the First Industrial Revolution.

As we continue to inspire our people and help them to discover their innate gifts and to become creative, many marvelous discoveries will take place.

Dr. George Washington Carver created a revolution for Southern Agriculture and Industry in the U.S.A. when he discovered over 300 products from the peanut. I am convinced that there are thousands of industries and products in the foods, plants, minerals and other natural resources that we have in our Third World nations waiting to be discovered.

Over the last decade we have begun to see a little breakthrough here and there.  For example, two doctors in Jamaica discovered the cure for glaucoma from the marijuana plant They produced a drug called "Canasol".  Another local company made a drink from the gapefruit called "Ting".  This drink has brought in millions of dollars in foreign exchange.  It won four Gold Medals - (1977 Luxemburg; 1978 Geneva; 1979 Paris and 1992 Amsterdam). The aloe vera plant which is gown almost wild in Third World nations is a source of many products.  It is mind staggering.  Garlic is another plant that many products are being derived from.  I am persuaded that there are more products and industries in garlic than Carver found in the peanut.

We should also take note of what the Israelites did with the barren,, refused, desert land that they were given.  They have become totally self-sufficient in food and are the world's largest supplier of flowers.

Let us not forget too, the potential that we have in the field of music,, sports, the arts and technical skills.

There is much talk today about recovery and growth in our economies. I tell you, indeed there is no recovery and growth except that which will come through DISCOVERIES,