2025

February Edition

Welcome to the February 2025 edition of A Few Good Things.

Last month, we asked the question:

What would it look like for your business to start with the “why?” To see itself as an extension of God’s kingdom?

If you don’t have a powerful “why,” your organization will not only be in a tireless rat race, chasing every opportunity instead of forging its own, but it will also have a workforce depleted of purpose and passion.

Today, most leaders are familiar with Simon Sinek’s powerful premise that the most influential companies start with the “why” of their business before ever addressing the “what” and “how.” At The Good Place Institute, we believe Sinek is correct. Identifying and solidifying your clear and compelling “why” is an essential foundation for one’s organizational mission or charter. (We also appreciate that he did a fantastic job of commercializing a concept over 2000 years old 😊.)

However, before addressing this necessary “why,” we believe you first must go further back. To get to the “why behind the why.”

Why creation? Why us? Why work?

Answering these questions first has powerful implications for the core foundations you build for your organization.

When we realize that our eternal God didn’t need to create the universe to be God or to be fulfilled, it reveals a scandalous gratuity that repositions our posture to that of a humble recipient. This perspective shift creates a team of servant leaders, realizing each interaction with a staff member or customer is a gift to be grateful for. 
 
Understanding that we are created to give God glory and enjoy him forever shapes the intent behind our hearts and hands, reflecting his image for good works, justice, and love. We see our organizations as agents of God’s glory and goodness, lavishly spilling favor onto our staff, clients, and surrounding community.
 
When we comprehend that work is a God-given gift to co-create with God, we direct our leadership and organizational efforts toward stewardship—enhancing and developing God's creation, which He has entrusted to us. As stewards, we welcome sound strategy, intentional structures, and functional systems to monitor and ensure a Kingdom culture of Trustworthiness, Humility, Curiosity and Innovation, Eagerness, Belonging, Effectiveness, and Excellence.
 
When we address an organization's deeper-rooted "why," the impact can be profound. It can catalyze breakthroughs in fulfilling God’s purpose for the organization and achieving Kingdom success in God’s economy.

The Good Place Institute is launching Leadership Cohorts as a new opportunity for Kingdom-minded organizational leaders. Join a Cohort Group to receive equipping and empowerment to build and steward Good Place organizations!

KEY DETAILS:

1. Peer Cohort Group options: CEO, Non-profit Executive Director, Entrepreneurs/Solopreneurs, COO, Leadership Teams (from one organization), and potentially others based on affinity.

2. Cohort Group tiers: Three tiers (Basic, Standard, and Premium) are available, with features tailored to each group. 

3. Cohort Group topics: Each meeting will center around the content and curriculum of The Good Place Institute, mainly the why, what, and how (GPOS) of building and stewarding Good Place organizations. 

Learn more about GPI Leadership Cohort Groups and apply today:

FCCI Pathway to Purpose – Webinar
Date: February 18, 2025
Webinar: Building and Stewarding Kingdom Organizations

I had a wonderful experience participating in FCCI’s Pathway to Purpose webinar series. Over 60 attendees learned more about Building and Stewarding Kingdom Organizations and explored Kingdom success—the why, what, and how of building and stewarding Good Place organizations!

Thank you to Ken Powell and FCCI!

CCO Jubilee – Pittsburgh, PA 
Date: February 22, 2025
Workshop: Building and Stewarding Kingdom Organizations

I had a wonderful time speaking at the 2025 Jubilee Conference (Christian Coalition Outreach) in Pittsburgh, PA, this month, sharing with over 75 college students and non-profits about our workshop topic, Building and Stewarding Kingdom Organizations! I was thrilled to be with so many attendees who were excited and passionate about holistically integrating the Kingdom into their work and building organizations where God is glorified, creation thrives, and humans flourish!

Thank you to everyone at CCO who made the conference event so fantastic!

Name: Rob Hildreth
Title: VP of Organizational Development
Company: UTD
Location: Muscle Shoals, AL and Ringgold, GA

United Treating & Distribution, LLC (UTD) is a Christian-owned company specializing in pressure-treated wood and building materials. Founded in 2006 by Chad Epperson, UTD consists of 90 employees catering to more than 450 customers across 18 states. UTD is committed to upholding its values, delivering on promises, and pursuing growth opportunities aligned with their faith-based principles.

Why did you decide to work with The Good Place Institute?
GPI helped us put the pieces together.  There is a graphic on their website that shows the 10 areas of stewarding a Good Place organization.  We had many of those pieces and wanted to learn how they better fit together.

What has been your most significant impact experienced from the application of the Good Place Operating System?

So far, the training of our new team members using the GPI Training Matrix has been much better than how we trained in the past.   Our new team members know how their job fits in the big picture, how to do the job and why it matters.  It has made a positive impact while opening our new plant location in another state.

As other Leaders of organizations desire kingdom transformation for their organization, what would you tell them regarding taking the next steps to engage with GPI?

Partner with like-minded experts.  The more we can build each other up with proven business practices built on Biblical truth, then we can continue to run companies that love people for God's glory!

Are you passionate about empowering organizations and leaders to thrive while making a positive impact on the world? Do you have experience in consulting, training, or coaching and want to help build organizations that flourish?

We’re seeking a GPI Consultant to join The Good Place Institute team!

We’re thrilled to add a new Certified Good Place Ambassador to the GPI Team. Welcome Adrian Keogh!

Through our certification programs, we equip and empower like-minded leaders who share the vision of multiplying Good Places. These leaders participate in foundational certification training workshops and become certified to market GPI services and products to external clients through their organization or as independent contractors. 

Do you want to join the mission to multiply Good Place organizations? Visit our Get Certified page to learn more. 

Thank you for checking out our newsletter. Our purpose at The Good Place Institute is to help leaders multiply Good Place organizations! We are thankful for you and your leadership of organizations to reflect God’s Kingdom!

Chris Young

President

The Good Place Institute