The Difference IS One—A strategy developed by Joe Thomas for the corporate world, but applicable to the church.

Mathematical equation—the answer to subtraction is the DIFFERENCE.

Not, “The difference OF one,” which is a slogan for benevolent/philanthropic organizations but “IS one.” I didn’t choose the “power of one” because it may detract from the dynamic of a team.

Two choices, one difference—In the world of customer service, there is a lot of competition. A customer’s choice between two difference suppliers can be determined by many things including price, warranty, convenience, and satisfaction. For most if not all people, their choice boils down to a selection of TWO. By eliminating the competition, you can stand out as the difference and answer to the customer’s needs.

What does the ONE difference mean? It means repeat business and the integrity of all the legs of the proverbial “three-legged stool.” The first leg is the benefit to the customer. The second leg is the benefit to the company. The third leg is the benefit to the employee. If I could add a fourth leg, it would be the benefit of the community by maintaining a retail business with all the benefits that add to the local economy.

A reputation is valuable. If person leaves a place of business with a bad experience he will tell another person when the subject of choice is discussed. The person with the bad experience will likely persuade the other to make a purchase elsewhere. Two people have decided not to patronize your store based on one experience. How can this be changed? Your strategy is to cancel out the one bad experience by producing a positive one.

As I said before, I deliberately chose to use the difference IS one and not the phrase “the power OF one.” A TEAM with common interests as in the above three-legged stool will also be the ONE difference. You can easily find other various differences that conflict and cause a team to be divided. Teams may be divided by a few things, but mostly by policy and management. Payroll, practices, wages, hours, etc., all fall under the umbrella of policy and management. The best resolve to bringing about a positive solution is being the ONE difference. Addressing the situation, finding the source of the conflict and determining the solution will bring unity back. If it’s a policy conflict, the organization must come to an agreement that it rarely, if at all, can change and finding a way to comply, without complaint, is the best solution.

As far as the church is concerned, the basic need of people is the same. Whether or not the expectations are correct, visitors still have expectations of why they came to church. Facilities, teaching, accountability, fellowship, challenge, and direction are but a few examples that most people have. Of course, doctrine is built into all these things and will be understood of all the above expectations are translated properly through the dynamics of a functional church. The worst thing that can happen is for a church to be doctrinally sound with no conviction found. Yes, conviction is probably the highest expectation a visitor has when coming to a church. A reputation is built on the integrity of it’s team. Men of God, integrity IS the ONE DIFFERENCE. It is all you have left after everything else is taken away, as in the story of Job. Consistency with God’s Word is a reasonable expectation. When your life and His Truth are resonating at the same frequency, then the world will know the cost, the worth, the satisfaction, reliability, benefit of godliness and like the pearl merchant of Matthew 13, seek its purchase and own it.

Please feel free to add your thoughts to this strategy.