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The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5 NIV) Financial planning in business is about keeping track of 4 things How much money you owe (debt) What you own (assets) How much money you make (sales revenue) What your costs are for making that money (fixed and variable expenses) Having an excel spreadsheet that you look at almost DAILY is the key to developing amazing financial management skills. If reading the Bible every morning is the most important thing you do, then reading your financial status needs to be the 2nd most important thing you do daily. YES… IT’S THAT IMPORTANT! See, if you only glance at your money once in a while, it will be gone before you know it. The Bible says “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:5 NIV) If you aren’t sure how to budget for your business, see an accountant or pick up a book on accounting for business. Maybe reach out to a successful Godpreneur and take them to lunch and ask them what they do daily, weekly, and monthly to manage the books in their business. We can’t just glance at money. We have businesses. We Godpreneurs are passionate about our calling, but we need to be more passionate about selling our calling!! How much further can our calling get if we focus on being financially responsible every day! Godpreneur Money Rule #17 – Godpreneurs tell their money where to go and what to do by keeping strict financial accounting. #BusinessBibleStudy #MakeMoreMoney #GodpreneurAcademy The 19 Rules of Money Management for Christian Entrepreneurs This course will help you develop a better sense of money management God’s way. 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

I’ve suffered in my entrepreneurial career from the frustration of unrealized dreams. There’s so much more I want to do and be, and at times I let my mind get stuck in a pattern of anger, disappointment and failure because of where I’m at now and where I want to be. I am naturally an ambitious visionary, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s actually my gifting. What’s wrong is when I allow my mind to live and exist in that space in the future. It’s fine to go there in your mind in terms of vision planning; it’s not fine to stay stuck there. Why? Because it’s fake. It’s not reality. It’s not today. It’s tomorrow, and today has its beauty. God never guaranteed us tomorrow, only what we have now. When we live in ambition, we rob ourselves of what’s most important: serving the people that He’s put around us today, TODAY. The Bible says: "A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished." (proverbs 28:20) Again, there is nothing wrong with healthy discontent of where we’re at financially or in rankings, but we cannot always live in the world of our aspirations; sometimes we must live in the world of our present circumstances. Has your ambition gotten you down? Are you angry with God for the realities you face from day to day? Do you need a way out of your failure and disappointment? What is your greatest ambition? Are you willing to let it go to serve God fully and wholly today in and through your business? You are masterful and wonderful today. You are doing better than you think you are. The only reason you don’t feel good today is because you’re trying to live in a non existent future version of your business, and that’s not God’s design. Today, there are clients and employees that believe in you most. Gaining their approval and satisfaction is more important than your aspirations. Godpreneurs always do their best TODAY, knowing that God will lift us up and never let us fail. #NewEntrepreneurs #EnhanceFocus

Entrepreneurs are plagued by FOMO - fear of missing out. Stock traders probably go through this. I wouldn't know; I don't trade stocks, but I could imagine if I were, every day I'd be like, "oh man, I'm going to get this stock because I don't want to miss out on the value going up." If we're honest, we do the same thing in business. One reason we get in a hurry and ignore the spirit's nudge for us to wait is that we think we’re falling behind. A competitor is coming out with a similar product or service. Our friend got this big piece of software, so I probably need it too. The guy in the office down the hall is expanding to take up two more suites, and I better call the landlord to get another suite too before there are no more. We have to get into eCommerce, or we are getting behind, left out of the wave. Well, here's what my grandma taught me: what has your name on it will not go to anyone else. What belongs to you will not go to another person. I'll never forget preaching I heard about King David. David was out in the shepherd’s fields when the prophet came to his house to anoint one of the sons as the next king. David’s father Jesse didn’t even bring David in. He thought, “there’s no way it’s David. He’s too young.” When Samuel went to pour the oil on the other seven sons, the oil wouldn’t flow. What I took from this as a business owner was that no matter how hard someone tries to get what’s mine, they may manipulate, connive, ignore, leave me out; the oil is not going to flow to them. Godpreneurs, what has your name on it is coming your way - the employee, the partner, the contract, the opportunity, the invention cannot go to anyone else. God called YOU specifically to something; it’s your birthright. That's how a calling from God works. This is why we don’t have to live jealous or envious of other business owners. "Well, Alex, my former business partner took my idea and ran with it, and that's not fair." Listen, Godpreneurs, if that product, service, or invention were supposed to be yours, you would have it. #WaitingOnGod

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Normally, this Bible verse is used to help new mothers and fathers understand their role as parents. In this case, I’m showing it to you to reinforce the fact that YOU were trained as a child the way you should go with your finances, and you’re not departing from it because that’s how God designed us. What if we were trained WRONG? Then we have some UNTRAINING to do. Unfortunately, for the 80% of the world that lives paycheck to paycheck, you’re not able to get out of the pattern you’re in because you were taught from a very young age to invoke wrong money thoughts and habits. Whether you have thousands, millions, billions, your income hardly ends up deviating from the levels that were set for you in your childhood. Why? Because your mind regulates your money habits like a thermostat. If your thermostat is set too low, as soon as you get your hands on some extra cash, you throw your money around. But, if your thermostat is set on high, that is, on wealth, you immediately offset a money shortage by saving and usually make sure your wealth grows. The sad reality is that most Godpreneurs are programmed from childhood to earn a low income, which means we all have the potential to be trusted with a lot of money – but very few of us manage to keep the money and accumulate lasting wealth. In contrast, billionaires (Christian or not) may lose unspeakable quantities of money at times, but they always regain their wealth because they think like billionaires. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs learn to disregard our old thought patterns and overwrite them with Kingdom thinking. #MakeMoreMoney #BusinessBibleStudy Secrets of the Millionaire Mind A Christian entrepreneur’s book summary of the New York Times best-seller Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. 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

Sometimes I wish I worked for a big advertising agency where leads were handed to me, the operation was already a well-oiled machine that others manage, and I just had to come in with the big idea, say a few words, drop the microphone, and be on with my day. What a dream! For those of you that aren’t in the Marketing world, I pretty much laid out the perfect situation that almost anyone would want to be in. Lately, I’ve been experiencing this wonder in my businesses around the concept of “You don’t have to do marketing if you’ve been marked by God.” What’s been happening to me is that if I stay in line with what my purpose is in business, and I’m able to pick up on the opportunities that are all around me already, I don’t have to struggle with finding clients…they come to me! We all have a “dream scenario” we wish was the case in our businesses. And I believe we all have the opportunity to make this dream come to life, but there are a couple of things that need to line up. First, we need to be doing what we were born to do. When I consult my clients in finding their brand identity, I’m trying to find what they were “born to do” and help them adjust their business towards that higher purpose. Write down your perfect dream scenario, your perfect client, your perfect prospect. That’s likely to be what you were born to do. Second, you have to see the opportunities around you. God isn’t trying to make life hard for you, we do that to ourselves. There is plenty of money in this world, plenty of people that need what you have to offer, but we’re the ones not obeying and responding to the opportunities. Yes, that means calling back that person that’s been wanting to work with you, that you’re passing off in your mind as a non-opportunity. That’s God, knocking with opportunity. In the book of Acts chapter 10, we see Peter being guided by God to go visit Cornelius. But before that, we see Cornelius being instructed to go get Peter. They didn’t have Internet, there was no way of Peter knowing Cornelius's men were coming, and there was no way Cornellius knew his men would be well received. They were both responding to the spirit. In the same way that Peter and Cornelius were open to the opportunity that God was lining up, he wants to do the same in our entrepreneurial lives. But realize that both Peter and Cornellius 1) were doing what they were born to do, and 2) responded without question to the spirit. As a Godpreneuer, you make yourself available to God for anything. He’s the boss, you’re the superstar employee that follows directions. He’s the visionary, you’re the executor of His great plan and purpose. He has people He needs you to be in a relationship with because He needs them to see Him in you. God could send anyone else to sell Him the service or product you provide, but instead, He wants to use you. Are you ready to answer the call? Godpreneur Rule #46: Godpreneurs pursue spirit-led opportunities. #BusinessBibleStudy #MarketingMyServices

Business is something I can control. I can hire and fire, change prices, go in a new direction, implement a new system. Life doesn’t seem to be so “controllable” for me. I feel more need for God in my LIFE than in my business. But this is a LIE. If we allow, a business can be a veil we can hide behind. Yes or no: Business can equal Busy-Ness. Right? 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: "So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord." I’ve decided that there is more distinction between business and personal. It's all God’s, and the veils we hide behind need to be lifted for the world to see. #WhatBusinessIShouldStart #GainConfidence

I remember wanting to know God’s will for my business life in very specific areas: who to hire, who to fire, what niche to serve, what business partner to joint venture with, what personal development coach to hire. I wanted to know what God wanted me to do in particular situations, and I wanted to know NOW! While there were times when the message came loud, clear, and immediately, most of the time God doesn’t work this way. Instead, knowing God’s specific plan for my business became a matter of digging into a deeper understanding of HIS specific plan for the world. What I’ve come to realize is that this is God’s movie, and I’m an actor. I’ve been cast the part of coming up with this business because He’s directing a big blockbuster hit. The problems come when I go off the script. Even worse problems arise when I don’t even know what the current scene is all about and how it ties into the movie. Imagine that sometimes I forget I’m even in the movie! I use this metaphor to make my point: I understand what the Lord’s will is in the entire world, not just my business. Understanding is more than superficially knowing that I’m here to do logos and websites for people. The Bible says: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms," Ephesians 1:18‭-‬20 NIV From these verses, I see that God’s ultimate purpose is to unite all things in Christ. I am called, first, to follow Christ. From that calling, I then begin to see the secondary calling (my business) and all of the decisions I need to make. Seeing my secondary calling through my primary calling helps me understand my business, expands my mind, shapes my heart, moves me, and gives order to everything else I think about in my business. The more I understand, truly and deeply, God’s will for the entire world, the more I understand His will for my clients. The brand story that I come up with for my clients is shaped by God’s own story for their lives, His purpose becomes their purpose, and my heart becomes His own. It’s through this beautiful exchange that I’ve come to understand my own secondary calling: to help rid the world of an identity crisis by revealing to my clients what they were born to do. I pray God continues to give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so I can know Him better. In knowing Him better, I know my clients better. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindingMyCalling

For me, the worst part about being an entrepreneur is the times when I’m suffering from not knowing where the next contract is coming from,  no money to pay the bills, and total loss of clarity and focus. Suffering sucks. Especially as a Christian that loves God. Why wouldn’t God just bless me already?! I know I’m not alone here. We’ve all been to the point of suffering where we’re ready to hang up the towel. We start questioning whether this is our calling. We think maybe God is moving us to a 9-5 job. Today I read in Genesis 15:13-14: Then the lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth God gave Abram a promise of blessings, but He also promised suffering and delay. When I’m suffering is when I’m drawing the closest to God. It's when I realize He’s all I really need and have. When I’m suffering I’m being sanctified and cleaned of all moral and ethical failures I may be committing. When I’m suffering God wants to know if I have what it takes to be a Godpreneur in this world. He wants to know if I’m going to remain strong and that my faith GROWS because of it. You are suffering because God allows entrepreneurs to suffer so we GROW. But when you go get a loan from the bank or a friend or family member, you’re rescuing yourself to fill your life with material blessings, depriving yourself of important lessons that are supposed to help you grow. The only reason you should get a loan is because you’ve figured out the formula to turn $1 into $3 and you need the $1 to do it. Godpreneurs know that God’s blessings are found not only in “good times,” but also in suffering and delay. Once we grasp this concept, we are more likely to grow in a way that benefits our businesses eternally. God is walking beside you when you experience the blessings of entrepreneurial suffering. He just took me out of a crazy season of suffering and I’m still standing with my business to tell the story! #BusinessBibleStudy #GainConfidence #FindMyCalling

This is a touchy subject, and very personal for me. I was making tons of money selling graphics and websites to nightclubs. From 2005-2014, we pretty much led the industry in this niche. I was speaking at nightclub conferences, writing nightclub marketing books, and leading nightclub marketing blogs. But anyone will tell you that the industry is unstable and, at times, abusive. They didn’t always pay on time, they closed down from one day to the next, and always needed everything yesterday. I became tired of it all, but…my identity was wrapped in it. I was Alex, the nightclub guy. Also, my employees received their pay from these clubs, and I did too. How do we let go of things that aren’t bringing us joy anymore? How do we transition from a business we USED to love, but now we hate. It’s not easy. Killing your old identity to start a new one isn’t a ‘snap your finger’ event and poof, everything is all good. Like death, there are stages you will go through until you’re out. How long does that last? Well, that’s up to our ability to know one important question: If this other business isn’t for me, then what is?!?! I believe God has a purpose for us all, a business we’re supposed to be in, a service we were gifted to provide, a product we were talented enough to create. Step 1 is seeing the new opportunity, the ‘born to do’ path.  You have to see how you’re going to get back to the same revenues, and MORE! In the book of Acts, chapter 19, there’s a riot that ensues in the city Ephesus because of…well, businessmen that were about to be out of business because of Jesus! Let me explain. The city of Ephesus worshiped this certain goddess. Everyone in the world at that time knew that Ephesus was all about this particular goddess. People would travel there to witness this. Naturally, savvy entrepreneurs set up shop. Craftsmen made figures to represent the goddess. Can you blame them? I would have too! Business is business. But when Paum and his disciples come into the city to tell them the REAL God and, essentially, debunk their current God, you can imagine the businesses that profited from this goddess were none too happy. They formed a huge mob and got the entire city behind them. These businessmen couldn’t see how life would be if they weren’t doing their current business. They were so attached to this one thing that they were blind to using their skills for anything else. You might be in a situation where the industry is changing. You might be encountering a shift in your own mind about the services you provide because you don’t think it’s a good industry anymore. But you can’t think of any way out. You have to realize that God has plans for you that are so much greater than what you think. Think of your biggest plans, now multiply them by 10. You STILL fall short of God’s best for you. But it all starts by recognizing that you won’t be able to achieve this on your own. You can’t know your ‘calling’ in life without going to your ‘caller’ and asking this question: what would you have me do next? This complete surrender is what I had to go through in 2014 when I completely dropped the nightlife. From one day to the next, all of my clients were put on notice that this would be the final round of designs. I sent everyone to new clients. 2015 turned out to be the biggest, most profitable year of my business. Everything turned around. I found joy in what I really wanted to do. I didn’t need to deal with the nightlife anymore. We all have things in our business we want to move away from. We all have clients we wish we didn’t have. So what’s stopping it from happening? You. Godpreneur Rule #17: To know your calling in life, you must go to the one who has called you into existence. #FindMyCalling #BusinessBibleStudy

I know I was called to a specific type of work: to prophesy into the lives of entrepreneurs and help uncover, discover, and recover their business calling. By “calling,” I mean a direct, unmistakable command from God to take up the particular task of helping people discern what God has called them to do in business. My job is to bring that to life through logos, websites, and key messaging that will express this purpose. My profession is branding and my specific type of work is consulting people to find their purpose in life and express that through an inspired brand. Many in the Bible received an individual call from God to an exact job. God called Noah to build the ark. God called Moses and Aaron to their tasks. He called prophets such as Samuel, Jeremiah, and Amos. He called Abram and Sarah and a few others to undertake journeys or to relocate. He placed people in political leadership including Gideon, Saul, and David. God chose Bezalel and Oholiab as craftsmen for the tabernacle. Jesus called the apostles and some other of his disciples, and the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to be missionaries. The word “call” is not always used, but the unmistakable direction of God for a particular person to do a particular job is clear in these cases. The Bible says: The word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4‭-‬5 NIV The evidence of calling in the Bible is why I know there’s something I was born to do. So how did God guide or lead me to this particular type of work? God opened my eyes, ears, heart, and spirit to be filled with the knowledge of His will. I prayed for wisdom to follow me in my office and in my strategy sessions. Simply put, I walk in obedience to the things that God shows me. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling

I had a feeling that we are all entrepreneurs…kind of like how we are all salespeople. Being an entrepreneur is a huge honor, especially when you aim to please the Lord through your business. Work harder than ever before, focus on your goals, pray away any overwhelming thoughts, and let God lead your way to success. #NewEntrepreneurs

The other day my wife and I went to the grocery store. She was hungry, I wasn’t. I think you know where I’m going with this. All diets, dietitians, and nutritionists say that you should NEVER go to the grocery store when you’re hungry. Makes sense. When I go to the store hungry, I stock up on Star Crunch and Funyuns. But when I’m in a clear state of mind due to not being hungry, I can make better decisions on what to fuel my body with. Is it possible that in an effort to be the best entrepreneur we can be, we sometimes neglect our own spiritual growth? When the demands of our business require us to be on the go from dawn until late at night, we may be tempted to sacrifice our quiet time, prayer, or other spiritual disciplines. The Bible says: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28 NIV). Notice he warned them first to keep watch over themselves; then their flock. What a valuable lesson for us as business owners. You will have a hard time leading and giving of yourself to anyone from an empty spiritual “cup.” Even Jesus had to take time away from the crowds and His disciples to talk to the Father. Your relationship with God is your first priority, you are in a better position to serve your family, friends, and business. When we forget to give God the best of our day, we may begin to see issues like anger, bitterness, resentment, and moral dilemmas arise in our office, in meetings, and around clients and vendors. We are not doing our business any favors when we are spiritually exhausted. #BecomeDisciplined #StrengthenIntegrity

Sometimes I wake up so frustrated at the things I’m doing or NOT doing in my business. I know the power of focusing on one industry, one service, one product, and one message. But there’s just so much to do! So...what’s my mission?! All entrepreneurs go through foggy stretches where we get confused about our mission in life. When this happens, I turn to the Bible for peace and clarity because ‘fog’ is a very frustrating place to be, especially for a guy like me that’s into ‘vision’ so much. We’re all managers in God’s company. So first step is realizing that you’re not the ultimate owner, you’ve just been trusted to be the President of a certain division of God’s huge company. Knowing this, then we can understand that fundamentally our great purpose as Godpreneurs is to GIVE God GLORY in our business, receive and reflect his LOVE to our TEAM, and act as His agents in bringing BENEFIT to the lives of our CLIENTS. That’s why you were created to be a Godpreneur. That’s why you were redeemed. So when you wake up foggy, and you get that frustration of “What’s my life’s main purpose?", I want you to remember: “In all your ways acknowledge him” (Proverbs 3:6). What if we all woke up saying “God, I am working for you today. Thanks for letting me into your company.” How much easier would our daily decision-making get if we began each day like this? Try it out. #WorkLifeBalance #TimeManagement

Shared workspaces are all the rage! I’ve owned a shared workspace for 5 years now. In fact, the original intent of my company 11 years ago, Creative Complex, was to be a complex (like a compound) of creatives working together. That dream came true when I began renting desks out to designers, developers, and music artists. There’s something amazing that happens in shared workspaces. I get to feed off of others. We all get to come to each other in good times and in bad, consult with each other’s businesses, even collaborate on projects. As humans, we were created to be in a community with others. We fulfill that need in many ways: attending church, BNI groups, happy hours, tailgating, masterminds, conferences, and more. These groups provide support, accountability, entertainment, and other indulgences. But one of the biggest human needs we have is the need for security. Humans need a number of essentials to survive. We need food, water, and shelter. These are followed by the need for safety and security, then belonging or love, self-esteem, and finally, personal fulfillment. Shelter. Next to food and water, we need SHELTER. As I was doing my Bible reading today, I was reminded how God wants us to be fed from His word, but he also wants us to find shelter in Him. God wants us to share in His big office space, in His amazing shared workspace, and find shelter with Him! Psalms 91:1‭-‬2 says: "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” There are times in your business where you will feel alone. Maybe it’s a day you’re working from home, there are no meetings, and the next community event you’re having is days away. Your bills are due, your vendors are knocking for payments, and you don’t know where the next check is coming from. Can I encourage you to SEEK SHELTER? Yes, act like a Tornado or Hurricane is coming and you need to take refuge! The Psalmist continues to write: "If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent." (Psalms 91:‬9‭-‬13) Imagine if we all sought shelter in God’s shared workspace! How can we remind ourselves that our office, our building, our car, our home office…anywhere can be a place where we seek shelter if we do it intentionally to meet God there. Godpreneur rule 91: Godpreneurs seek shelter always. #AgencyOwners #HiringtheRightPeople #FindingMyPurpose

In the last 9 years of owning a business, I’ve probably lost it all and gained it back about 5 times. It’s been a hell of a roller coaster ride. At one point, I had an office on South Beach, 8 employees, and I was on top of the world with a fast-growing marketing agency. We had the backing of some major money; everything was awesome. And almost overnight, it collapsed in my face. And then I rebuilt. New employees, new direction, but a smarter me. A couple of years later, I was rocking and rolling again. This time I had several businesses, and I was managing to make all of them happen. Momentum was great! And almost overnight, it collapsed in my face. As Entrepreneurs, we live on this roller coaster of highs and lows. And if you’re like me, the lows are DREADFUL times, and you’ve had times when you lose great employees, huge contracts, valuable clients, strong partnerships, and big bank accounts. For me, it's almost a pattern, but the most recent case has been very different. The low doesn’t have the devastating effect that it used to have on me. I’ve learned something amazing that I want to share with you entrepreneurs to minimize the low blow. One of the things I’ve learned is that God comes from the story of Job in the Bible. Here is an entrepreneur that owns 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 5,000 oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large number of servants. He had 10 children. Even in today’s economy, Job would be considered a pretty big farmer….imagine back then. I’m not an economist, but if I did some math, he’d probably be a BILLIONAIRE, or close to it. But in one night…it was all stripped away. His animals, his servants…even his children. You and I have probably not experienced what Job went through. Granted, his experience was probably the most recent extreme of examples of having it all taken away. But God’s lesson is still valuable for us. The same night of losing it all, Job kneeled and prayed.’ “Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” What I’ve learned is to lessen the blow of the low, our hearts need to be set on God daily, our minds need to be focused on the vision that God has for our business life, and our immediate reaction to blow off the low needs to turn to God and praise Him. #BusinessBibleStudy #EnhanceFocus