Any given activity could be work for one person, and leisure for another.

I personally teach you the method. 

There’s a whole bunch of reasons why people partner together to form a business. It could be a husband and wife that are looking to work on their own terms. I’ve seen complementing partnerships between two realtors wanting to handle separate parts of the same transaction each is more suited for. I’ve branded best friends, brothers, and partnerships of 5 entrepreneurs coming together to form a conglomerate. Although we come together in business for a variety of reasons, God has established 3 main purposes for business partnerships. Regardless of the circumstances, relationship, industry, or opportunity, God had already established even higher purposes for the coming together with our partners. All business partnerships exist for the same exact reason under God’s eyes. The Bible says: "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen". (Romans 11:36 NLT) See, from God’s point of view, He’s looking at the bigger picture of how our coming together relates to His purposes established by Him and for Him. For you and me, it’s important to understand that there are 3 main purposes God established business partnerships for. God intended for every business partnership to make Him known to employees, clients and all those that will do business with you guys. As Godpreneurs, we are light to the business world. That light will start in our own place of business and then radiate from there. The Bible says: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 NLT) It all starts with the way you treat each other and your employees. What happens behind closed doors at your office will eventually be revealed to the marketplace. How you respond to each other, and your employees will be a clear indication of what prospects, vendors, contractors, and clients will get. God wants to use your partnership to be a light to the marketplace. When you understand this principle, you realize that your coming together was much bigger than the widgets and gadgets you sell. God Intended for every business partnership to bring Him pleasure in as you succeed (and fail). When you are living out your purpose, and giving back to Him through tithes or donations to charity, we are bringing God pleasure. The Bible says: "for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him". (Colossians 1:16 NLT) This is why the husband and wife leading a church or a real estate office can both bring the exact same pleasure to God. Neither is above the other because God isn’t looking at what they are doing, God is simply asking that we are doing the thing we were born to do and pouring back into our communities. God Intended for every business partnership to show the world what His unconditional love looks like. Every business partnership starts off fantastic. There’s usually a high level of respect and love (brotherly love) for each other. But our love has conditions going into the partnership. Our past hurts, previously failed partnerships, and expectations for success all muddy the concept of showing unconditional love. We all have conditions entering partnerships. But your individual expectations will obstruct the ability to show unconditional love to your business partner. And this directly opposes one of God’s greatest to love as He loves us. The Bible says "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other". (John 13:34 NLT) Our business partnerships serve as another relationship where we can practice and perfect the greatest commandment Jesus left us: love one another. As we continue to seek out the purpose and meaning behind our business partnerships, remember: every joining up of two or more Godpreneurs to do business together will make God known, bring Him pleasure, and give us the opportunity to show unconditional love. Imagine a marketplace where all we sought to do was to live for God’s purposes, and through that, find our specific partnership purposes. #BusinessBibleStudy #BusinessPartnerships Finding Purpose In Your Business Partnership You and your business partner are unique individuals and God is creative in the way He wants to use both of your gifts together. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

People who aren’t entrepreneurs that hear about the suffering that business owners go through and might be confused as to why they would put themselves through the torture. We’ve heard the saying “No pain, no gain.”. This is true for small business owners as well. We need the trials so that we can mature in our business lives…and in our spiritual lives. The bible says in Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” I used to think that suffering was some kind of punishment. That’s one way to look at it. But I choose to look at it as an opportunity to grow because I have a great teacher to learn from. I have this mentality because I’m no longer running a business alone. I’ve partnered with God in my business. So when the suffering comes – and it will come – I can walk with Christ in assurance that I’ll be taken care of and a great lesson will come about. He will never leave us and never forsake us. We entrepreneurs may still suffer at times, but we have “the power that raised Christ from the dead” to enable us to overcome (Rom. 8:11). #SharpenLeadership #EnhanceFocus

The other day I sat with an entrepreneur that told me “I don’t go to church, but I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing because I feel it in my heart.” What a great feeling…when you know you’re in the business that your heart tells you to be in. Maybe you haven’t been so lucky…and you’re stuck in a job or business that your heart isn’t that into. Jesus came so that we might have “Life to the Full” (John 10:10). In my experience, starting my relationship with God, and truly following Jesus Christ has led me to the center of my heart…His heart. I’m discovering the joys of doing what you love to do! The vision has been revealed to me, and I’m living it to the fullest I can today! #FindMyCalling #WorkLifeBalance

I’ve been through my shares of ups and downs in my business. And when the downs come, it seems like everything around me is crashing down. Bills get backed up, confidence is lost, a feeling of failure sets in, and the will to give up starts to creep into your mind. When we go through these times, it seems like we’re all alone. But we’re not alone. In Deuteronomy 8:6-9, Moses writes “Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.” You might not see it because your mind is clouded with the problems of the business and where the next checks will come in to pay the bills. You might not have the faith built up yet to immediately turn to prayer when troubled times come. But we have a God who has made a promise to us entrepreneurs….for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land. #SharpenLeadership

I love consulting entrepreneurs about their businesses. I love getting very focused and clear on their vision and purpose. You could say that VISION is my strength…but it’s also my weakness. See, because I know I’m so strong in the area of vision, I tend to rely on my own strength to get the visions. What ends up happening is I get too many visions, I want to do too many things, I end up unfocused and doing the exact opposite of what I consult entrepreneurs. And that’s where God will test us the most. God doesn’t test me much in my areas of business weakness because he already knows I call on Him for those challenges. Remember the story when Jesus calmed the storm in the Sea of Galilee? Mark 4:39-40 says “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Those disciples on the boat were professional fishermen. This wasn’t their first storm. Sailing was their greatest strength. But God tested their faith in that storm. Any area of our business where we have a tendency to become prideful about our abilities can hinder a strong relationship with God. Through entrepreneurial trials, God may be testing you in the area of your strength as well in order to encourage total dependence on Him. When you are overwhelmed with the challenges of business, He lovingly asks: “Why are you so afraid?” Trust God to calm the storms of your everyday business life. #ArticulatingMyIdeas #WheretoStartFirst

I used to go to Gold’s Gym and pump heavy weights. I’d get up to 275 pounds on the bench press. When you’re lifting heavy you inevitably get to a point where you need a spotter in case you get stuck. In a moment when you’re weakest, the spotter comes in to save the day. As a business owner, there are situations that make us feel inadequate because there is nothing we can do to “fix” the situation. Insults being hurled at us by employees who think they can do it better, clients persecuting us for any little mistake, and the hardships that come around with the bank account has $25 left in it. There is nothing you can do because what’s done has been done. But you’re strong enough to get through it on your own. After all, it’s us against them, right? Wrong. Our own sense of strength wants to kick in at these times, and we feel like we need to fix it all….all alone. But the truth is that this is when God wants to partner with us the most. This is when God wants to spot you at the gym, help you lift the heavy burden so you don’t do it alone. I like troubled times because its when I can embrace my need for God. Its when I feel God the most. Its when I can experience His presence in my business. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Let your weaknesses become an opportunity to call towards the real source of strength: dependence on Christ. #EnhanceFocus #SharpenLeadership

My graphic design company used to do flyer designs for strip clubs. Hey, they need to promote too! And business was good. They spent a bunch of money. But as I began to walk in my faith, I felt a conviction about doing work for gentlemen’s clubs. Not so much my own conviction, but the example I was setting for my team. Your team, customers, vendors or contractors will learn more from our actions than they do from our words. It shouldn’t surprise us that this is a biblical concept. James said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (Jas. 1:22 NIV). And although nothing in the bible says don’t do graphics for strip clubs, I felt that by taking a hard stance against having them as clients, I was letting my team (and the client) know that my business didn’t need that money to continue to succeed. This applies to how you speak and act towards others. Are you a jerk? Do you lose your patience easily? Do you curse a lot? Yet you go to church on Sundays and want to invite your team with you?! Our actions demonstrate what we really believe and our team looks at our example when weighing the truth of our words. Model godliness for your employees, vendors, contractors and clients. #FindMyCalling #AttractingRightClients

I can’t tell you how many times I wished I wouldn’t have taken on a certain client.  Some of these clients have made my life miserable.  I’m always Mr. Positive and I’ve bought into the ‘client is always right’ mentality, but have learned this isn’t true. The client might always be right, but it might not always be the right client for you. Let me say this again: not every potential prospect is for you. So how do you fire clients that SUCK the life out of you?? You know that funny little feeling you get when you’re in negotiations, and it just doesn’t feel right?  You know that tug at your heart that tells you that this could end up disastrous? That’s the FORCE within you…the Holy Spirit…telling you to walk away. Do you have the FAITH to trust that by walking away from this prospect, you can walk into another prospect that is the one God wants you to do business with…a prospect that will take 1/2 your time and pay you twice as much your worth? Do you have that kind of faith yet? You can! The spirit works for picking employees, choosing vendors, negotiating with contractors, forming partnerships, and acquiring clients.  God wants to guide His Godpreneurs to the people He wants you to work with. “Trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on your own understanding . . . and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5,6). So how do you fire clients? You don´t hire them from the start! It’s that simple. Listen to the force within you more during the beginning than ever before. God has equipped us with such a great power through this FORCE that guides us. God the Holy Spirit, comes to live within the hearts of all entrepreneurs when they are baptized. The Spirit is power from God for thinking of business solutions, saying the right things to your team or clients, and doing things that are pleasing to God (your boss). Every morning I wake up and ask myself to be receptive to the spirit.  The Spirit brings me God’s wisdom from heaven through morning bible reading, meditation and prayer. More powerful than anything we could do on our own, the Spirit brings us entrepreneurs God’s power to act on what we know. #AttractingRightClients #HiringtheRightPeople

What does God have to do with a website and logo company? From my perspective, the people making a real difference in this world were doctors, teachers, preachers and anyone working in a charity. At some point I started to think to myself that I should let this business go and just start working at a church. My desire was to serve God, my heart was becoming more captivated by His cause. We entrepreneurs can sometimes second guess our businesses and our ideas. We can’t really find the connection between what we do and what God wants done in the world. We think that in order to be used by God we have to stop everything and start working for the church. Thinking like this, it’s going to be difficult to find our calling and pursue it. Why? Because we’re thinking about things from our limited perspective. We don’t see the big picture like God does. I believe one of the greatest reasons we don´t have more Godpreneurs in this world is because we think that God cant use us right where we are in our businesses. We feel it’s cool that God has called others, but it wasn’t in our cards to be used by God. We think that He’s forgotten us, or worst, that He’s disappointed in what we have become. Can I tell you something amazing?  God has already been using us, right where we are. The problem isn’t that God forgot about us, the problem is that we haven’t gotten to know God good enough to see His amazing, individual plans for us. The key is to tap into God’s GPS and try to zoom out to see the whole map with the course laid out before you.  That takes training and discipline over years. The Bible says “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:13‭-‬16 NLT It was hard for me to see what a branding guy could bring to the table of ‘difference makers’ until I started to see my profession from God’s perspective. What I learned about God by going to him daily was that he also cares about branding, logos and websites. I learned that God is big on us finding our identity, and that’s exactly what I do as a branding expert. I wouldn’t have been able to find this out had I not been coming to God in the mornings and really asking Him what my purpose was. By reading the Bible, all of the sudden I started to see everything from His perspective of identity, purpose and calling. All of these things I’ve now taken and applied to my business life and it has made it meaningful again!. The calling within your entrepreneurial venture is just as big as mine is, but you wont know it unless you come to God and ask him to reveal it to you.  You must go to your CEO daily and ask for your orders. While you’re there, you can talk about your bigger purpose and He’ll reveal it to you. You likely wont hear an audible voice.  Instead, others will tell you and things will happen throughout the day.  Your antenna needs to be up and waiting for the response because God does respond. He called us to entrepreneurship before we could spell it. He didn’t want us to start a church, he wanted us to be the church, right where we are. Imagine a world where all Godpreneurs went to God every morning to ask for his or her orders for the day! Godpreneur Rule #59: Godpreneurs seek God every morning for their daily bread…the calling of God that day. #WorkLifeBalance

I’m addicted to my cell phone. If I’m in the car, waiting for the doctor, in line at the grocery store, or during TV commercials, I’m checking my phone. I’ve created a whole bunch of ‘triggers’ in my life that are associated with me checking my cell phone. At this point I have no control over this habit. That’s scary!  Especially while I’m driving!  It’s terrible. Checking our cell phones is pretty harmless (unless we’re driving), but what if the thing we turned to was much more serious. The same way we turn to our phones when we hit a trigger, we turn to work when we hit other triggers. Have you ever found yourself in a situation in your business where you felt out of control so you turn to working more? We entrepreneurs have many things that trigger our sense to need to do more! We turn to many things to relieve that stress. But what are those triggers?  What are those things we turn towards? What brings us comfort? Do we even know and fully understand this?. The Bible says “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NIV I believe this bible verse had the two steps to help us identify and overcome the triggers of our work addiction.  I like the watch and pray parts.  Those are 2 actionable steps. First, watch. We must know and understand these triggers.  Watch out for them.  Avoid them. If debt is a trigger, then you need to focus on getting our of debt. If marital problems are the trigger, then focus on doing the little things in your marriage to make it right.  If clients send you into a stressful situation, then dump the bad clients. Let’s point out some potential triggers that send us back into work mode Bank account low Sales numbers down Launch went wrong Conflict with client, vendor, employee, or contractor Home issues Competition envy: seeing them win a contract or launch a new service Nothing better to do at home Thinking of your long to do list Our addiction to working has 4 major parts Trigger – the situation that triggers you to want to work Role – work promises to escape, relive or fix that stressful situation Object – the ‘gring mode’ that we turn to instead of God to meet our needs in the moment Goal – comfort, because we don’t like feeling the pressure or stresses that triggered us to work So now that we know and understand these triggers that send us into work mode, how do we break the cypher? Then, Pray. The second part of that bible verse, Jesus has us pray. What does it cost you to associate a stressful trigger to a quick little prayer? Maybe at first it will see disingenuous because you know that immediately following the prayer you’re still going to fall into the addiction. But over time, any small prayers in sincerity start to have an effect over the work addiction and you’ll catch yourself sooner or get yourself our of grind mode faster. You are addicted to working or you wouldn’t be reading this blog post. You’re addicted to comfort and you and I find things that will silence our pain and bring us peace. But the peace you’re searching for in work is a fake, a fraud, an imposter. The real peace is found by seeking Jesus more. In him you will find purpose and passion, which will then give you a Godly understanding of what your vocational identity really is, which then will put your work into its rightful place in your heart. We often don’t rank work addiction as “bad” because we see people overdose on heroin and thing “well, at least I’m not shooting up, instead I’m working more.” The only problem is that God sees all addictions the same: competition to Him and imposter solutions for something He can only truly provide. Godpreneur Rule #86: Godpreneurs find releif and comfort in God during stressful times in their businesses. #WheretoStartFirst #WorkLifeBalance #EnhanceFocus

If we can do this daily, I believe we can develop the habits of the most important lesson I’ve learned

I get frustrated because I want to do them all, but I’m the first person to tell my clients that they The mystery only comes if you’re not walking close to the person holding the map. Our personal calling is not a command but more of a prompting to fulfill.  

We are all going to face accusations in our business and in our personal lives.