Dollars and Sense: Start with "Yes"
Starting with a "yes perspective" allows for creativity and possibilities
by David Washburn, BGAV treasurer
The arc of my professional life and calling has been just that—an arc. I graduated from college with an economics degree and was hired by a large bank headquartered in North Carolina, whose footprint spread across the southeastern US and was quickly expanding into the northeast. The environment was fast paced and forward-thinking. I was making personal and business loans and acquiring the necessary security licenses to sell investments.
Six years into my banking and investment career, I was called into vocational ministry. My wife and I moved our family to Virginia, where I earned a Master of Divinity and pastored two churches in central Virginia for a total of 16 years.
One thing I learned early when cultivating business in my banking career was to start with yes. When listening to a client’s goals and objectives and their question, “Can you help,” I began with yes (unless, of course, the request was obviously illegal, immoral, or unethical). I was careful not to commit to anything I couldn’t deliver, but starting with a “yes perspective” allowed space for creativity and possibilities.
I brought the principle of Starting with Yes with me to the pastorate. In conversations with staff and laity about Kingdom dreams and goals, starting with yes meant more ideas and initiatives to evaluate and prioritize. We didn’t implement everything, but we gave everything a chance.
When I came to BGAV 11 years ago, Starting with Yes came with me again. My default posture is to figure out how to make something work, and when I’m approached with a good idea that requires funding, I’m thinking, Yes! But “Yes, go for it,” isn’t usually the end of my response. Instead, I often say, “Yes, and how can you do this more efficiently?” Or, “Yes, let’s talk about doing this with 75% of your funding request.” Or, “Yes, what about beginning in 3rd quarter, once we’ve completed…etc., etc.”
I encourage you, as ministry stewards, to begin with yes. Yes does not mean you don’t ask the difficult questions. Yes does not mean you abandon a thorough examination. And Yes does not mean you can’t say no later. But starting with yes gives time and space to discover if an initiative has life. For those of us on the financial side of things, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?
David Washburn can be reached at david.washburn@bgav.org.
