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I’ve known about Jesus my whole life. My parents brought me up Catholic. I eventually came to have a more personal relationship with him. That’s when I began to scratch the surface on who he really was. As an entrepreneur getting to know Jesus, here is what I saw. I saw a man with tremendous influence. I saw him praised for his message, yet punished. I saw him desired for what he was offering, yet despised. I saw him as chosen and called, but beaten and condemned as a criminal. We entrepreneurs all have our view of who Jesus is. Even different religions see him in different ways. The people of his day saw him a totally different way. Heck, his own family saw him a completely different way. But who we say Jesus is has a profound impact on every level of our business. From the financial to the strategic and personal aspects of our ventures, our understanding of who he is will either make our business life rich with him or full of our selves. And although everyone has an opinion on who Jesus is, Jesus isn’t concerned about public opinion. He is concerned about how we (me and you individually) say he is. The bible says When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:13‭-‬17 NIV) Here we see Jesus is less consumed about what the public thinks and more concerned about who his own followers think he is. Peter says “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” and gets the answer right. For me and you, our entire business lives hinges on this question too. And getting to the place in our lives where we can only know Jesus as the Son of the living God will change every aspect of the way our businesses, products, and services minister in the marketplace. Your pastor can reveal truth, my blogs can teach business ethics, inventors and creatives can bring about change, but only Jesus who came to save the world can offer you the hope of eternal life. Leading up to Easter, I wanted to get to know more foundational truths about the identity of Jesus. I think all of us entrepreneurs should consider how his identity transforms us, and thus affects our businesses. I know my business is completely different today than it was back in 2008, but I still feel I’m scratching the surface on and how this change occurs. If you too do not yet know what you believe about this man named Jesus, I invite you to take a small step of faith with me and ask God to make the truth about him plain for us: Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, We are hungry for your truth. We have been called to lead businesses and minister in your marketplaces. We want the truth about who Jesus really is. Use your word to convince us and change us as we seek the truth. Amen. #NewEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy #GodpreneurAcademy

Uncertainty can be unsettling. You do not know what lies ahead or what is going to happen next. The pandemic has caused many to face uncertainty, which has caused anxiety to build up within you, and its weight can be heavy to carry. You may try and think positive thoughts about your tomorrow, but the heaviness of anxiety cripples you. If you are facing anxiety or struggling with it, here are two prayers to help you through: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this beautiful day. I thank You for the gift of life. Where would I be without You? Where could I go without You? My God and My Lord, I am struggling with anxiety where its weight is too heavy to carry. Your word says that I am to come to You when I am weary and heavily burdened. Here I am, Lord. Bless me with Your peace that surpasses all human understanding. Let Your peace saturate every area of my life. Bless me with Your rest and refresh my soul from all anxiety. My God and my Lord, forgive me where I have doubted You and held onto my unbelief. Help me cast my burdens onto You; Your yoke is easy to bear, and Your burden is light. I know I can face any situation because You are with me, and You will never leave me nor forsake me. I pray this, in Jesus’ name, Amen. Dear Heavenly Father, I praise Your Holy Name. You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are faithful. You are good. You are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. I ask that You replace the spirit of heaviness that is upon me with the garment of praise according to Isaiah 61:3. O Lord, divinely exchange my heaviness with praise to have thanksgiving upon my lips regardless of the situations I am living through. You are able, and nothing is impossible for You. O Lord, I surrender my will for Yours; let Your will be done in my life. You are Alpha and Omega. My beginning and end. You know what lies ahead. You have already prepared good works for me to do in advance. Guide me and lead me on straight paths. O Lord, I thank you in advance for this answered prayer, and I pray that Your face shines upon me now and forevermore. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. #DifferentiatingMyself

I could have chosen to write about so many things. I’m pretty good a lot of stuff, and excellent at a few things. Although I’m excellent at some things, I’m uniquely talented in being able to read something biblical and interpret it for entrepreneurs. I have the gift of teaching in metaphors and bringing a practical application to complicated concepts. Now, even within a business, there are many things to talk about, so you’ll notice I love to focus on discovering your calling and launching your business. My teachings are becoming even more aligned with my calling – to help people uncover what they were born to do, and bring it to life. Even this blog post about writing blog posts is aligned with my calling because it’s having my readers zero in on a niche that’s their calling. We all have a purpose and design. The God who manufactured us gave us an intended use that, if we can align ourselves properly too, will support us personally, financially, and strategically as we journey into the world of blogging and teaching. But, we can become unstable and lose our integrity if we were designed for one purpose, yet are doing a different thing. To keep integrity, we need to write ‘on purpose.’ When a blogger is in his or her zone, we can count on them to share amazing revelations and communicate in a way that brings about change in the readers’ minds. Why? Because we are in alignment with our calling. God designs and builds us to write for to a specific audience, about a specific subject, for a specific purpose. The bible says: God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are. Ephesians 2:10 You and I have hearts with unique passions and certain spiritual gifts and natural talents that differ from every other blogger on the planet. And He’s going to continue to shape you even more unique as you begin your writing journey. This means that the way you’ve built, your design, and your purpose are always aligned. God did that on purpose. He’s not trying to hide anything from you. You’re the one that has the choice whether you’re going to be in alignment or do your own thing. All we need to to do is ask the holy spirit to reveal to us what he wants us to teach about. This process of searching, listening, and discovering is the exact relationship God’s been seeking with us. He’s dreamt something up for us; now it’s time to allow ourselves to be used in the way He intended. We bring our blogs into full alignment when we search, and He answers. Just begin writing, the spirit will do the rest. Start small. Come up with something practical that you always find yourself helping others with. It’s probably something you just had a conversation with someone about. You’ve had this conversation 100 times. That’s the one. Even if someone else has written about it, your testimony is different than theirs. You’re going to say it uniquely. Plus, the reader doesn’t know that other person, they know YOU, and will relate to you more. Don’t wait. Get going on it. P.S. If you need help launching your blog, take my course in the Godpreneur Academy called 3 Steps to Launching your God-First Business. #BusinessBibleStudy #ChristianBloggers #GodprenerAcademy Keys to Successful Christian Blogging In this course, I'll give you some keys God taught me about how to write a successful Christian blog. 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

When a friend or family member asks me ‘how’s business’, its a natural reaction for me to say ‘GOOOOOOD, thanks for asking’! But if I was being honest, I’m replying with that because either I’m not interested in engaging in conversation or I just don’t want this person knowing what I’m REALLY going through. We’re entrepreneurs. There’s ALWAYS something wrong. Either internally in myself or externally in the business or world, there’s always something to improve upon. But if we were to just admit that we have some kinks here and there to fix, I believe that God can begin to work in our hearts and in our business through others. Proverbs 22:4 says, "The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." Humility is having the courage to show that you’re not perfect and you don’t have it all together.  Its admitting (and admiring) your faults. As entrepreneurs, its the most underused tool to excel your business because it’s contrarian to what we want people to know about us. I learned years ago to humble myself in business because I realized there’s a whole world of people out there that have been through my struggles and can share their experiences of how they withstood, overcame and triumphed. When someone ask me how business is, I say a positive and then follow up with a current struggle. This way I’m not all bad news, but I show my real strength and weakness. Here’s the problem with always putting on a fake reply:  you don’t give others a chance to possibly say some encouraging words and maybe offer some timely advice. Godpreneur rule #73: showing humility will be much more influential to your business growth than hiding behind a false sense of self-sufficiency and perfection. #FindingMyPurpose #ShareYourTestimony

How many of us enjoy waiting? A delay makes us wait for a while, which stirs up uncomfortable emotions within us. An unanswered prayer makes us discontent and impatient. Many situations can be relayed here; however, we all know that waiting can be difficult. As business owners, we seek opportunities for business development and growth. These opportunities are beneficial and profitable. Unfortunately, some opportunities come quickly, while others seem to be out of our reach. Some feel like sealed doors that we have been knocking on for a long time. Therefore, what does one do when faced with closed doors? Five things to do while waiting for doors to open: Pray and ask God for fresh revelation: we often use old methods to get something new. Old ways cannot lead you to new paths. Old mindsets cannot enable you to think new thoughts that lead to new strategies. (Romans 12:2) Repent: repent for making the desired opportunity or blessing an idol. We can find ourselves elevating the blessing above the Blesser. God is the only One who takes the highest position in our lives. (Revelations 2:4) Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our guide, and He knows the way. Let us humble ourselves before God and allow Him to direct our paths. We desperately want our way to be fulfilled, but God’s purposes for our lives will prevail. (Galatians 5:16) Be joyful: be grateful and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up with joy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and if we find ourselves lacking joy, let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up to the overflow. (Galatians 5:22) Learn: waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. We can take the time to learn and gain more knowledge about our industries. We can take a course to upskill and develop ourselves further. Additionally, we can spend more time in the word of God and learn more about Him and His Kingdom, which ultimately grows, matures, and perfects us for His glory and Name’s sake. The Bible says: Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life.Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long! (Psalms 25:4-5, TPT) As you let God direct your steps, you will navigate your waiting seasons with more peace, joy, and contentment. You will start seeing your waiting seasons as lessons to grow, mature, and become more like Jesus Christ. Additionally, waiting seasons deepen your trust in God because He knows where you are, what you need, and whom you need to connect with. He is our beginning, our end, and everything in between. #DifferentiatingMyself #WaitingOnGod

I've noticed that much of the focus about praying for men often focus on helping me be a better husband and father. There's a lot of praying for us as a protector and provider at home, but we can go a step further for the men leading God-First businesses. We all know a father, brother, son, cousin, friend, client, vendor, pastor, and other men that are kingdom-building in the marketplace right now. Praying for the ‘businessmen’ in our lives can be such an enriching experience. This way, we are taking a positive step towards their spiritual well-being, which is tied to their feeling of success and accomplishment. We can all stand in prayer for marketplace ministers, telling God that these men matter to us, they have a purpose, and we want the best for their businesses. Praying for these men can rain down God’s mercy and grace over their entrepreneurial journey. WHY ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN? Businessmen face many problems. We are burdened by societal expectations and pressures to provide. From little boys, men have been taught many unhealthy things about what it means to be a ‘man’ and how they should live their lives. No matter what trauma or bad parenting, men who are not experiencing life in the truth of what God says about them will have struggling businesses and often fail as entrepreneurs under the burden of conformity. Personally speaking, the expectations that fuel shame for me are rooted in childhood trauma and fed based on society's perception of a successful man of business – what should an accomplished man be, look like and act like. HOW TO PRAY FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN From my research and personal experience, I decided to focus this post on seven areas of prayer for men because I believe they are integral to a man’s business life. However, there are many more areas. If you feel led, please leave comments to pray for as many areas and in as many ways as you are led to. Let's pray for: Purpose Direction Humility Wisdom Strength Provision Love SEVEN PRAYERS Before beginning to read these prayers, make a list of men in your life that own businesses. Think about men at church or in close circles. If it’s your husband, father, or brother, for example, then just focus on him. 1) PRAYER FOR PURPOSE God, your word says that many are the purposes of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s will that stands. Lord, we pray that your entrepreneurial sons will put you first in their businesses and be attuned to your will. May they understand that their true worth, completeness, and the purpose of their business life can only be found in you. Father God, reveal your plans along their entrepreneurial journey and enable them to find meaning in all the products and services you set out for them to bring to the marketplace. May they no longer wander the business world without focus or meaning but look to you, the author and finisher of their faith. Amen “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV “And we know that all things work together for good to those who over God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 2) PRAYER FOR DIRECTION Father God, I thank you for giving us your Word, which is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Lord, may your entrepreneurial sons experience your divine guidance and direction in their businesses. Lord, lead him to launch products and services that serve others and bring you glory. Guide his thoughts and actions at the office and let him hear you when you say to him, ‘this is the way; walk in it”. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5 3) PRAYER FOR HUMILITY Father, thank you so much for your entrepreneurial sons whom you created in your image and likeness. Lord Jesus, I pray that you teach them to be like you. To take on the mantle of service to their employees, vendors, and clients as unto the Lord. May they do nothing in business out of selfish ambition or need to impress others but focus on pleasing you and doing your will. Lord help them to run businesses out of humility every day. Teach them to continually deny the pride, greed, lust, and materialism of the flesh and to take on your spirit of patience, contentment, gentleness, and passionate love for others. Amen “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 NIV “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 NIV 4) PRAYER FOR WISDOM Lord, you are the source of all knowledge and wisdom. You created the world out of nothing and made man out of clay. Father, your Word says that we should ask for wisdom, and you will give to us without reproach. Oh, Jesus, I pray that you pour out your wisdom and grace on your entrepreneurial sons. Build them up in the power and knowledge of your Word. Give them the gift of discernment in their businesses, that they may be able to understand the times and seasons. Help them to remain responsive to your truth and your voice in the marketplace and set them on the path to true fulfillment in you. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NKJV “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV 5) PRAYER FOR STRENGTH Lord God, thank you for your care and protection. You are our fortress and strength and the lifter of our heads. Father, we pray for your power and strength over your entrepreneurial sons. God, we know many of them are burdened by the pressures and demands of the business world upon them. They are struggling to do so much but can’t seem to catch a break! Lord, I pray that they cast their business burdens and cares on you. You are the one whose burden is light and yolk is easy. Oh Jesus, may they choose to live life on your terms. May they choose to hide their businesses under your shadow and lean into your strength, knowing that true strength comes from you. Like King David, may they be overcome by your power and strength within them. Amen “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” Psalms 46:1-3 (NKJV) “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) 6) PETITION FOR PROVISION Lord, you are the source of life and all good things. You are the generous and benevolent One who gives to all who ask. Lord, today I pray for the entrepreneurial men in my life. I pray that you meet them at the point of their needs. Father God, your word reminds us that you already know what we need even before we ask. Father, I may not know what they need in their business, but you do. Lord, provide bountifully for them, and more than anything, may they ascribe all glory and honor to your Holy Name across marketplaces globally. Amen “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT) “For the lord shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19(NKJV) 7) PRAYER FOR LOVE Father, you are love! You are the epitome of all that is loving and good. You showed your love by sending your son, Jesus of Nazareth, to die for us. Lord, may your entrepreneurial sons forever experience this love. And may they never doubt how much you love them, how proud you are of them, and how much more love you want to show them through their businesses. More so, Father, I pray that your marketplace ministering sons become love. May they take on this image and likeness of their maker in interacting with their employees, vendors, contractors, clients, prospects, and even competitors! May they give your brand of love into their products and services without holding back – generously and unconditionally. May these kingdom-building men learn to love their wives as you love the church, to love their children, their friends, and especially their enemies. Let your love grow more abundant in their personal and business life, and help them shine the light of your love wherever they go along their entrepreneurial journey. Amen “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV. FINAL THOUGHTS ON PRAYING FOR THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN IN YOUR LIFE I have faith that the above scripture verses and prayers will encourage you to pray for the businessmen in your life. Remember: these are suggested prayers. In the comments below, please add and amend as necessary. #DifferentiatingMyself

Before giving my life to Christ in 2014, my approach to business was self-reliance and self-centeredness. Back then, when fear, anxiety, and doubt ruled my thoughts, I thought self-control and “positive thinking” were the answer. I wish I could tell you that making Jesus my Savior eliminated those thoughts, but I’d be lying. Because the enemy seeks to get us drifting from purpose and swirling in distraction and doubt, and his battlefield is our mind! Today, I still struggle with “taking every thought captive,” but I find peace in the Lord’s instructions about our thought life in the Bible - and you can too! Do a google search for “mindset,” and you’ll find thousands of “self-help” resources available at your fingertips. Read any business or entrepreneurship book, and you’ll quickly find that 80% of success is based on how we think. Having more time to think, ponder and plan in 2020 was a gift for some, but for many, including myself, the space to think led to anxiety and worry. Sound like you? God’s goal is for us to transform into the likeness of Christ, to reflect His love and light to a broken world. As Romans 12:2 tells us, we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. For us Godpreneurs, the instructions for learning to manage our mindset are found in God’s instruction manual: The Bible. Struggling with some stinking thinking in your business? Here’s a map to find the treasure in God’s word to help: Caught up in the world’s thinking? Set your mind on things above, not on the earth (Colossians 3:2). In a mental fog of distraction, discontentment, and doubt? Meditate on His word (Joshua 1:8). Are you feeling anxious at decision crossroads? Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). That’s precisely why God gave us His Word (and instructs us to meditate on it day and night) - he’s not surprised by that swirling! I encourage you to memorize one of these scriptures and store it in your heart and mind for when you need to get a handle on your thoughts. Having that verse handy will give you an immediate sense of peace that clears the mind so you can focus on the next right action. In his book, Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado puts it this way: we get to pick what we ponder. And what we think about - pray about - meditate on - contributes to our finding calm and operating our businesses God’s way! The greatest action God gave us - the one over which we have the freest will and which plays the biggest part in our success - is up to us. I find that when I’m most anxious, repeating my favorite scripture - Psalm 25:4-5 - immediately calms me and gives me space to think clearly. It’s like taking a deep breath or as a fog clearing. While it doesn’t change the circumstances around me, it does change my perspective of the circumstances, allowing me to take the next right step for my business. Imagine the impact that a calm, peaceful, even joyful mind can have on your business. Now think bigger: imagine how differently we can show up to the world and reflect Christ’s light in the marketplace when our thoughts align with His! #TrustOnGod #DifferentiatingMyself

I run an identity agency. This means my company creates brands. Logos, websites, and all that jazz. In the “marketing and advertising” industry, the measure of success is how much money you’re charging your clients. He who bills the most is seen as the “top” of the industry. I’ve fallen prey to this mentality at times. It's easy to get wrapped up in it. I would make decisions based on who is going to pay me the most. My marketing becomes about attracting the highest paying clients. My prayers become about bringing in the big fish. Sometimes we ask God to give us wisdom in making business decisions, but we really just want Him to rubber-stamp our plans and desires. Unfortunately, we may not realize the degree to which our desires are influenced by an entrepreneurial culture that glorifies money, power, beauty, and fame. The key to knowing God’s will is knowing God. Therefore, the first step is to learn about His character and purposes. They are usually in direct opposition to the character and purposes of the world! "Keep in mind that our hearts are deceitful." (Jer. 17:9) And we Godpreneurs must lean on the Holy Spirit, speaking to us through prayer and Bible study, to expose areas where we may be rationalizing selfish motives. You may be in the same situation I’m in, chasing after the cultural norms of our industries. But we are called to be different, called to be the light. And if God takes care of the birds in the sky’s, won’t He take care of our businesses…His businesses, really!. Here’s the plan. Stick to the morning bible readings and continue getting to know God every day. Don’t worry about chasing the money dream, it will take care of itself if you do the work God is assigning to you. Godpreneur Rule#57: When you know the character of God, His will for your business will become clearer. Suggested reading: God As He Longs For You To See Him by Chip Ingram. Write any other suggested readings on the character of God in the comments below. #AttractingRightClients #WritingGreatCopy #HiringtheRightPeople

As entrepreneurs, we’re constantly being tempted to go after money, power, beauty and fame. That’s what is portrayed to us by the media, society and culture. Chasing after these things will never bring out your true entrepreneurial purpose in life. Why? Because you’ve made these things your god, and so these things lead your decision making, and therefore they produce your identity. Deuteronomy 32:12 talks about the Israelites being led by God and gives us direct instructions for success when being led through the dessert "The lord alone guided them; they followed no foreign gods." Godpreneurs chase after God and His will for your business life, and the fruit of that is purpose and abundance in the promised land. I chased false gods for 9 years in my business until 2014 when I started letting God be the CEO and personal business coach development trainer and I would allow Him to shape who I would become today. Today, God alone leads me through the good times and the bad (because the bad times don’t stop, they just become more manageable). Be diligent to watch over things (foreign gods) that could be taking the lead in influencing your business. One way I protect myself is by starting every morning off reading the bible, a devotional, and prayer to listen to God as to what He wants me to do that day.  This way I’m being led from the start. #StrengthenIntegrity #WorkLifeBalance #AgencyOwners

My wife and I are not business partners. I wouldn't be able to imagine having to work side-by-side with her at my office to come home then and, still, be together! I'm blessed to have my space. However, I could also see the tremendous opportunity to have my wife as a partner in the business. Like the Bible says, two is better than one. My study of boundaries in business partnerships wouldn't be complete without addressing that some of my readers are in business with their significant other. What I do know that translates across all romantic relationships is that COMMUNICATION is the most important element to success. Statistics show that poor communication is the leading cause of break-up and divorce, and it’s the top reason couples seek therapy. I haven't done official research, but I can only infer, then, that the leading cause of business shutdown of couples in business together is...poor communication. And as I've been studying, poor communication boils down to an inability to assert boundaries. When couples in business together can’t assert their boundaries explicitly, they end up resorting to more conflict-prone methods of communication, like sarcasm and passive-aggressiveness. Husbands and wives working an entrepreneurial venture together often avoid making direct requests in the business relationship out of fear of pushing the other one away. However, this fear is entirely baseless. Studies show that couples in relationship therapy who learn to make clear, direct requests usually show a reduction in the intensity and frequency of arguments. The Bible says "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Proverbs 25:11 (ESV) Here's a beautiful picture of the value of communication. Words have value, and they must be spoken. They are meaningful when spoken at the right time. Unfortunately, just the opposite is true for sarcasm and passive-aggressive talk. Not only will they hinder the partnership, but they may even destroy opportunities for advancement and success of the business as a whole. The key message is that you have a golden opportunity to set proper boundaries by clearly communicating your needs and your expectations for the future of the business to your romantic partner. Don't be surprised just how receptive your significant other is too honest and direct communication and how willing they are to meet most of your needs in the business. Ideally, setting clear boundaries and expectations will be one of the first things before starting the business venture together. By being honest and upfront about roles and responsibilities, how you expect to be treated in front of the employees, and what you want to get out of the business, you’ll both be spared a great deal of heartache and wasted time in the long run. Unfortunately, many of us prefer to avoid these tricky conversations with our husbands and wives. Most of us never discuss our expectations around things like money, time spent working in the business, vacation time, and the management of people. My wife and I can't be in business together (yet) because we would want completely incompatible things from the business. Right off the bat, conflict-prone topics that should be dealt with before starting the business include how you intend to share finances, how you’ll divide up admin responsibilities, and what your stance is on taking on debt by using credit cards. If you're already in the middle of the business partnership and are just now bringing this conversation up, it’s time to suck it up and have the difficult conversation. You might find it uncomfortable, but uncomfortable conversations save business partnerships. And based on conflicts you've already had, you should already know where boundaries and expectations need to be discussed. The good news is that by inserting a bit of distance and separateness into the business relationship, you may even find that boundaries breathe some fresh romance into your love life. #BusinessPartnerships #MarriedEntrepreneurs

I’m one of those entrepreneurs that has bought into the mentality of “nobody can do it better than I can.” So when someone did or handled something differently, it was often less trouble for me to just go ahead and do their task for them! The problem with this is that I’m enabling my employees or contractors to ‘slack’ if I continue on like this. They will know that I’ll come in to fix things up, so they perform with such expectations. The bigger issue comes from my reading today in proverbs: PRO 18:9 says “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” So not only am I wasting time doing work I shouldn’t be doing, I’m also putting my employees in a vulnerable position of being a slacker. Although it may require more from us as entrepreneurs, we are doing our employees a far greater service when we resist doing something they need to do for themselves. I’ll admit that most of the times I take over a project or task, its my own fault because I didn’t give enough training, instruction or deadline. We are serving our employees best when we are pouring into them, teaching them our “secrets” and spending extra time with them when we notice they did something we would have done differently…not just taking over the task. I need to redefine what it means to serve our employees. God instructs leaders to teach their followers how to handle responsibility. Let's serve our team by teaching them how to be the best. #SharpenLeadership

On a previous blog I pointed out that we can bring God into our businesses if we can make a habit of asking for His help in business decisions. But let’s talk about motive. If I ask you for $50 to help me go on a medical missions trip, you might help me out.  I’m going to help others out, and that feels good to you. But if I ask for $50 to go play golf, you’re going to look at me funny.  You’ll be thinking “dude, go pay for golf yourself.” The motive for the money was different, so it changed your response. In James 4:3 we read: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) I used to want to make a lot of profit in my company so that I could buy nice things, live in a nice place, drive a nice car, take tons of trips, and eat out a lot.  Those were my motives. I even created a Vision Board of all of these material things and would look at it constantly! But those aren’t motives at all.  Those are REWARDS for hard work. Motives are things that would please God, therefore he would grant them to us. For example: -Getting out of debt -Paying for children’s college -Spouse not have to work -Tithe more -Support a charity If you set your vision and motives on things that would please God, then the rewards will follow with profits that God will bless you with. Changing your motives changes your money. I went back to my vision board and changed up the order of things. I created a rewards column because I want to visualize my rewards, but the first columns were my motives for profits. #FindingMyPurpose #WorkLifeBalance #SharpenLeadership

All you have to do is ask? Well, if you believe in the Bible…then YES! MAT 7:7-8 says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” The law of attraction is very real. I know some aren’t comfortable with that law because ‘The Secret’ hijacked it and removed God. But the reality is that its God’s very own law and promise to us. So what business should you start? Ask God. He created you from before you were in the womb. He had plans for you already. So why would you waste any time trying to figure it out on your own? If you need help with this, take my Entrepreneurial Vision Experience. Who is going to help me? Seek counsel. When I was looking to move in a new direction, I prayed for counsel to surround me. All of the sudden, courses and teachings started appearing on Facebook that weren’t there before. Who will buy my service? Knock on doors. This is where you’re going to get your money. Most people think they need a loan to start a business. Nope, you just need ONE person to give you cash, check or a credit card. Then you start. My first business (The Creative Complex) started when I collected $500 from a drywall contractor to make their website. I didn’t even have a business account yet, but I told them to make the check out to The Creative Complex. Then I went and opened the account and deposited the check and got to work. It’s that simple. If you start by asking God, then the seeking and knocking will be revealed as a result of the first, and you’ll have a business in which you’re fulfilling God’s vision for your entrepreneurial career. #WhatBusinessIShouldStart

I need money. I need money to pay for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc. My business needs money. It needs money to pay my employees, overhead, cost of goods sold, etc. Although I need money, I’m careful not to LOVE money. Instead, I choose to focus on loving what money can do in my pursuit of loving God and loving others. For us entrepreneurs, the difference between needing money and loving money comes down to the question of “what master are we serving?” Our hearts are like a love tank. There’s only 100% amount of love in it. God designed it for us to give all the love to him, and then he’ll show us how to distribute the 200% return back that He gives us. We were designed to love others with His love. No doubt that we need money for our businesses to grow. But money flows from God to those business owners that will understand its great uses, and manage to put it to great use. In our capacity as business owners, we were designed to love God and love our employees, vendors, and clients. That’s all we got in the tank, that’s all we can handle. But the enemy wants us to think we can love both God and money. The world culture creates a desire in our flesh to pursue money more than God. But the truth is that we can’t fully surrender to Christ and still love money. The bible says “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]." Matthew 6:24 AMP You need to understand that money isn’t evil. You need it to grow your business and help more people with your service or products. But your technical focus should be on learning how to manage more people and profits, and our love focus should be on God. The Bible (and many movies you’ve seen) shows you exactly what happens to entrepreneurs that give their love tank to money: "But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery]." 1 Timothy 6:9 AMP Business people kill for money, get divorced over it, destroy partnerships and burn bridges because of it. But when we stop giving it the power we’ve given it and start focusing our attention on what God wants us to do with the money, we begin to see that it’s more important to learn how to love our people and manage the profit. In order, to bring in more people to love and serve more clients with your products and services. We Godpreneurs understand that the greatest commandment is that we would love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all our soul, all of our strength, and all of our might. We put God first in our businesses and He gets all our love. Godpreneur Rule:  God is the CEO, our only master, and we choose not to let money into our hearts and take His place. Let’s pray: Father, search my heart and show me where I love money and the material things of this business world. I confess that I see success on social media and in culture and I often want to serve that master. Let the power of Your Spirit and the wise sayings of your Word free me from the shackles of Money so that I can freely follow you in full, true love. Amen! #BusinessBibleStudy #MakeMoreMoney #SharpenLeadership 5 Lies of Money and Business Instead of reading the blog posts, take the video course!  I personally teach you the method.  You get: Workbook 5-Video Teachings Access to dozens of courses in the Godpreneur Academy! 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

We Godpreneurs have in seizing risky opportunities is that big risks equal big returns, and we have a God that created heaven and earth and has us in the palm of his hands. I’ve got a few clients that are millionaires. A couple of them are total jerks. I mean, these are ruthless guys that you don’t want to be around if they’re having a bad day. These guys are also pretty flashy. They drive nice cars and live in expensive houses with golf courses in their backyards. They pick up the tab at any restaurant, and have no shame in sharing their net worth at the country club with all the other good old boys. I’ve been conditioned my whole life to NOT be like them. I’ve been told that if you’re like that, then you’re not the right person. So guess what…I instinctually don’t hang out with them much, and shy away from being like them because I’ve been pre-conditioned to think that money will turn me in to that. We Christians often hold too many negative thoughts about wealth. We’re afraid that somebody would only like us because of our money, or even worse, that wealth could turn us in to bad people – like my millionaire clients. Or maybe we’re afraid of the work and responsibility associated with wealth. We know that the Notorious B.I.G. taught us “More Money, More Problems,” which is right, in many areas. There’s a lot more responsibility when you handle more money, that’s for sure. Somehow, we Godpreneurs have been taught that righteousness and wealth can’t co-exist. It’s a thought that’s widespread in the Christian community …but not amongst millionaires! See, millionaires understand that to get rich, you also have to like money. And I believe God wants us in the same mindset as millionaires and their money. We must change our minds from negative thoughts to positive thoughts. It reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a master (likely a Millionaire) who left his servants (likely inferior) to manage some of his investments while he was away. One of the servants took some risks, invested the money, and doubled his return! The other servant hid the money so he wouldn’t lose it. When the master returned, he rewarded the servant that took the risk and penalizes the servant that was too afraid to do something with it. If you only see the obstacles blocking the path to wealth, and feel plagued by past entrepreneurial failures, you’re missing a lot of chances to make money. Like rich people (or people poor people that think like rich people – like servant number 1), you must sense good opportunities and business’ potential profits. Like the good servant, you must be prepared to take calculated risks, and always optimistic that you can earn back your money, even after you’ve lost it. We are Godpreneurs and made in God’s image. The bible says: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17 NIV The advantage we Godpreneurs have in seizing risky opportunities is that significant risks equal big returns, and we have a God that created heaven and earth and has us in the palm of his hands. Our wealth will grow if we optimistically jump on opportunities and give potential obstacles the cold shoulder. Remember I told you about my two Millionaire clients that are ruthless and flashy? I don’t see them that way anymore. I see them from God’s point of view. They have been entrusted with great wealth and are helping so many families by supporting their salaries. They have great products and services that are of tremendous value to the marketplace. We must like rich people because we want to get rich. We must see them the way God sees them. We need to remove judgmental, negative feelings. Our deprivation stems from mistrust and envy that we non-millionaires have been holding in against millionaires. If we despise rich people (like our parents or significant others may have imparted on us), we will instinctively never become one of them. We’ll never want to associate with rich people who could give us valuable advice about being financially successful. Imagine if all of us Godpreneurs adopted a Millionaire way of thinking – a positive view about money. If we value what we’d like to have ourselves – in this case, wealth, we’re more likely to achieve it. Godpreneur Rule – Learn to admire rich people and become like them when we don’t begrudge them because of their money. #MakeMoreMoney #FindingMyPurpose