"In the end it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are." - Max Depree (ex-CEO, Herman Miller Corporation)

"You will be the same person in five years you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." - Charles Jones (speaker, author, entrepreneur)

While these statements carry tremendous potency, Mr. Jones' statement carries tremendous potency for Christian business owners and CEOs. Think through the relationships that have shaped your career. Consider the books you've read, messages you've heard and talks you've attended that influenced your outlook on life, business, ministry and family.  Such resources are invaluable in applying the truth of God's words as you live out your faith.

Integral to the C12 experience is a structured, topical curriculum divided into three "segments:"

• Devotional - focus on a particular passage with group discussion, followed by prayer requests and corporate prayer
• Working on My Business - in-depth consideration of specific best practice concepts; discussion throughout
• Working on My Ministry in God's Business - challenging thoughts and practical strategies for implementing Christian values in the workplace

Each month you and your peer board work through these segments, discussing the concepts and grappling with the implications. Moderated by your Area Chair, the segments are custom-tailored to serve the needs of Christian Business Owners, CEOs, and Presidents and their teams, serving as the springboard for perpetual learning. Each C12 Segment is written by C12 to target a specific best practice business concept, developed with Biblical perspective and designed to spark group interaction and discussion.

The monthly C12 Segments enable practical, valuable, on-going focus on "best business practices," such as:

• the role of the leader, and deploying vision/strategy/purpose
• organizational development, including hiring and succession planning
• strategy, served market growth and business/product development
• sound goal-setting, accountability and communication
• tactical planning and operational execution within sound business model
• quality assurance, customer intimacy and service
• achieving alignment and linking pay with performance in a sustainable way
• human resources and employee performance management
• financial management (e.g., capital, debt, banks, collections, operational accounting, metrics, etc.)
• effectively identifying/influencing your mission field for Christ

These materials have been developed by filtering years of research and benchmarking of the best of contemporary business thought through the timeless lens of Biblical truth. Many C12 segments have been incorporated into accredited executive MBA curricula and used in senior executive seminars with great impact. 

But the greatest proof of their value has been the evidence of changed lives, enhanced businesses and long-term retention of Christian Business Owners and CEOs in the C12 community! 

Taking the Team Approach to Learning

While the primary C12 meeting is limited to Christian business owners and CEOs, you can mentor your staff using C12 materials and involve your upper management in the C12 process, too. The C12 Key Players group is designed to foster alignment and executive development of leaders at your firm. This monthly session, facilitated by your Area Chair, guides your "key players" through the same materials you cover during your meeting.