What belongs to you will not go to another person.

I confess that I’ve had unhealthy ambitions to create a name for myself, and this temptation still plagues me at times. Deep down, I want to build a big brand with my ventures so I can be recognized as a thought leader, innovative entrepreneur, and build wealth so I can be rich. I’ve created out of a desire to make a name for myself, or, to put it in more worldly terms, to accumulate fame and fortune. If I’m honest with myself, I’m essentially trying to save myself. Let me explain. When I came up with my companies, I wasn’t content simply putting my innovations to work to help others. I wanted to leverage my creations to make a name for myself. Why? What is it about the human condition that causes me to use my work as a tool for proving something to the world? Deep down, I know there’s something wrong with me. I know I’m flawed. I know I’m not “right.” Deep down, we know that I “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Each entrepreneurial venture is me trying to cover up these flaws with my accomplishments. I think that if I write a bestselling book, or sell a business for millions of dollars, or have hundreds of employees, or get 100,000 Instagram followers, or build the world’s largest agency, then I’ll be able to mask my sinful human condition. Essentially, I use entrepreneurship as a means of saving myself. I know better! And every day I’m choosing to transform and renew my mind. I know it’s not that I need a bigger company, it’s that I need Christ to be bigger in me. The bible says I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV) As a Christian, I know that the work of salvation is complete! Because Jesus said, “It is finished,” I no longer have to use my companies as a means of saving myself. What incredible freedom I experience when I let that truth really sink into my heart! Because of the gospel, I am free to work and create not as a means of making a name for myself, but as an act of worship to the One who made me, saved me, and called me to Godpreneurship. This truth replaces my improper ambition with proper ambition that flows out of a love for Christ and a desire to make His name famous throughout this earth and the next. Father, help me to remember this every second of the day as I lead my businesses. (PS – I write self-deprecating blog posts for 3 reasons. First, to confess to others. This helps call out the sin. Second, to process my own thoughts and declare new ones to myself. Third, that it might help you too.) #StrengthenIntegrity #EnhanceFocus

I’m married. But I was a single entrepreneur before, so I can speak as to the “before and after” of having a business while single versus being married. I’m writing this because I have single entrepreneur friends that look at me with envy and think “man, I wish I was married. If I was married, I think my business would do better.” I’m also writing this because I have married friends that tell me they would be so much more focused and driven if they didn’t have a wife nagging everyday about how they feel neglected because they care so much about the business. I’ll just start by saying that neither is better or worse. They are simply a season of your life. If God is present throughout all seasons of my life, then each season has its glory (and challenges). Single entrepreneurs…whoever told you or whatever thoughts crept into your head thay “I can’t be successful and happy unless I’m married” is simply false. Think you have to be married to be whole and happy in business? Get this: Paul spends the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 7 convincing people not to get married. Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” … I wish that all men were as I am [Paul was single]. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried… I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world – how he can please his wife – and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world – how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord". —1 Corinthians 7:1-1, 7-8, 32-35 Do you believe you can’t have a successful business unless you’re married? The truth is this: Singleness is either a gift to cherish or a season to enjoy. And for my married entrepreneurs…. Listen. The loneliest entrepreneurs I know are not single. The loneliest business people are people I know trapped in a bad marriage. Marriage is not the happiness pill a lot of people think it is. If I want to be happy in business while I’m married, everyday I must remind myself that true joy and fulfillment are found only in Christ. Marriage isn’t meant to make me happy in business, it’s meant to make me holy for the marketplace. God’s word says, “in Your presence there is fullness of joy.” Lay claim to that truth right here, right now, no matter if you’re single or married, happy or discontent. Married or single, all of us entrepreneurs should turn our hearts towards God as our source of true fulfillment – filling each of us until we’re full – in “need” of nothing else. #MarriedEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy 8 Lies of Entrepreneurship In this course, I show you 8 lies that keep Godpreneurs bogged down in feelings of inadequacy, insecurities of owning a business, and 8 truths to combat lies. 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

God wants you to have bold faith in your entrepreneurial walk. Bold faith is having no doubt in the power of Jesus in all your business dealings. God can do the impossible, Godpreneurs just have to be bold enough to believe. God commands us Kingdom builders to be fearless and to be strong and courageous in our respective marketplaces and industries. #GainConfidence

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

Bills had piled up, clients weren’t calling, and I was lost in the direction of my Christian personal As Christian entrepreneurs looking to launch a personal brand that will unashamedly put God first, we When we face difficulties in pursuing our personal brand calling, it’s natural to reconsider our huge Am I really cut out to be a personal brand influencer for God? Remember, God made us in His image and He is the author and finisher of our personal brand story!

I have a confession. I’ve had this thing I know I’ve needed to do for a long time, but I struggled to step out of my comfort zone to go and pursue it. I know how to do what I’m currently doing, and I’m amazing at it. But that other thing God is telling me to do… Well, I’m not experienced in. The weird part is that I know it’s what God has called me to. I know it’s in the stars for me to do it, but I’m not doing it. So I keep on doing what I know I’m really good at, and I stay inside my office walls, protected from uncertainty. We all have something God has called us to, but we’re either too comfortable or too afraid to step outside our defense walls. We know God has called us for more. We know God has promised us so much, but we cower away, unwilling to show the smallest faith of taking one step towards His calling for us. We’re not alone. This has been happening throughout the bible. Abraham always wanted a child, but as time went by, his faith in that hope dwindled, and I could imagine by the age of 80 he had lost that dream. But in what is arguably the biggest promise God set in the Bible, Genesis 15 says: Then he took him outside and said, “Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You’re going to have a big family, Abram!” (Genesis 15:5 MSG) If you take a close look, you’ll see that Abraham had to step outside of his tent to see the promise. The tent represents your comfort zone. That’s the place where you feel safe and secure. It’s where you rest and find shelter. It’s your office, your cubicle, your corner, your desk. God is asking you to step outside of that place of comfort because He wants to show you all the promises he has laid out for you, your family, and your future business! It’s going to be dark when you leave, but that’s so that you can rely on God and see the promises more clearly. Stars don’t shine in the day, they shine brightly at night. We Godpreneurs are living in our worldly bodies, and if we only operate from that place, we will always believe the lies of thinking this is all there is, and this is how life is going to end up being like forever. But if we see our next move as a spiritual move – a move to draw closer to God while at the same time step into what we were truly born to do – then God will show you everything He has lined up for you in the rest of your time here. Like the stars in the sky, the opportunities that God has for us to start businesses, rise to the next level and make an impact are innumerable. There’s a specific business calling for every one of us, and for generations to come too! God’s calling us into a fuller relationship with Him, and He’ll use an entrepreneurial venture to accomplish that. The Bible says “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (Psalms 23:6 MSG) Whatever is holding you back right now, whatever is frightening you from stepping outside of your tent, God wants to show you how to overcome that. But to begin that journey, you need to step out in faith, look up, and believe the promise. My prayer for you on this journey: Father, I pray that God would give the reader of this blog the courage to hear you clearly by stepping out of their comfortable tents and into the calling you created them for – into their Born To Do Identity! #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling Stepping into What You Were Born to Do A FREE 3-Day Business Bible Study to help you succeed in the marketplace by listening to God’s calling, trusting in Him, and having faith. 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

My job is to find that person and help mold and shape him or her.

I personally teach you the method. 

friend of mine gets a divorce, I’m immidiately hesitant about getting into a partnership with this person What a person does in his private life is a strong indication of what is going on in his heart.

I know business partnerships are messy. I know two entrepreneurs don’t always get along, no matter what kind of front I see them put on. But I can’t help to be envious of some partnerships out there. They just look so….perfect. I remember one time someone told me that I had the perfect partnership going on. My partnership was far from perfect. In fact, we’re not even partners anymore! But his comments mean something different to me now. Now, I’m a Godpreneur. Now I realize that everything I do, others are looking on. Now I realize that even my business partnerships are a testimony to others of what Christ looks like. Jesus said: "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father". (Matthew 5:16 NLT) Your business partnership could have an impact on others, both good and bad. People out there are looking in and seeing what Christianity looks like in a business partnership. Regardless of the partner’s faith, if they know you are a Godpreneur, and they are too, they are looking to learn and see how to navigate those waters. The best way to be a testimony to others is not to talk bad about your partners to anybody. Always be lifting them up, even when you’re in a crisis, or they messed up. Trust me, there’s more to celebrate than to put down, it’s just hard to see it when there’s conflict. I had a good thing in my partnership, and I should have been more grateful and not focus on our challenges. God has given us Godpreneurs a great blessing in our business partners and in our businesses. We need to focus on the good in our partners and in business, and celebrate that! Your Godpreneur partnership together is more significant than our partners and us. Allow the partnership to be a blessing to other partners out there. We don’t have to be business partnership “experts” to do this. We can help somebody from our unique experiences in co-owning a business. #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

Since developing the habit of reading the Bible daily and journaling my thoughts, I’ve created a mechanism You have to develop the habit of spending time with God every MORNING (Not at night, once the day is When I first started my Daily Godpreneur movement, it came about because I started developing this morning It will help you develop the habit like it has for thousands of others. I pray that they want to know You more, and develop the daily devotion to You that You desire.

As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to have a ‘successful’ week and want to reward ourselves. It’s so simple to look at last week’s amazing numbers and say “let’s go out for a steak dinner.” Rewarding yourself and going out for a steak dinner takes you off the vision you’ve set for yourself. One of the most important positions in medieval times was the night guard, protecting the castle at night in case of an invasion.  It required his vision to be clear, unadulterated by his phone, social media games, sleepiness, etc.  If he closed his eyes for a second, that’s when the enemy could attack. Just when you think everything is fine, and the reports are coming back that the cancer is gone, the weight you wanted to reach is here, the contract you’ve been waiting for was signed, don’t rest.  Stay alert. How many books are you reading this month? How many blog posts have you read about your specific industry? When you get on the phone with a new vendor or prospect today, what NEW information are you going to bring to the table? What will make you look like “Man, this dude is up-to-date on everything!”? Staying alert means keep up with the trends. Staying alert is knowing your competition is on your tail. Staying alert is realizing that your clients are always looking for a better deal, better service, better quality. Why stay alert?  Because not staying alert will produce HURT. Hurt your pocket, hurt your relationships, hurt your reputation, and hurt your ability to succeed. Stay alert….don’t get hurt. #EnhanceFocus

Notes from Joel Osteen Podcast When you put God first, he’ll take care of you. God can bless you in spite of what’s going on around you. You can be in an unfavorable situation, the facts say one thing, but God can reach down and take you where you’ve never dreamed. The conditions don’t have to be right you have to be right. The odds may be against you but God is for you. God controls the environment. He has the final say. Don’t let the facts talk you or if what God put in your heart. When God put a promise in your heart, turn your mind off from the facts. #ChristianBloggers

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:3‭-‬8) So, what is the difference between a spiritual gift and natural talents in business? Gifts are Received, Business Talents are Inherited. President Donald Trump was born into an entrepreneurial family. Generations before him were doing business in farming and real estate. He inherited business talents from his family. You also see this in families that fish, farm, or even do accounting. My accountant is a father, son, and cousins all talented in crunching numbers. Natural talents are inherited from family and passed along through generations. They are naturally occurring in our genetics. On the other hand, spiritual gifts come from the Spirit of God within us. This is why it’s called a gift – we received it when we gave our lives to Christ. It was our gift from God to celebrate YOU and the work He’s going to entrust you to go through your business. Spiritual gifts are given at your spiritual birth, natural gifts come from your natural birth. Why is this important to know as a Godpreneur business owner? Because knowing yourself and your employees will help you put them in the right seat of your business. Spiritual Gifts are for the Saved / Talents are for the Saved and Unsaved When you do business in the marketplace, you’ll either do business with saved or unsaved. They will both be talented individuals, and those talents can be of great use in your business. Additionally, if they are saved, then you can also count on some kind of spiritual gift that they can bring to the business. Gifts of the spirit to look out for in employees, vendors and contractors are: The word of wisdom The word of knowledge Faith (extraordinary trust and surrender) Gifts of healing The effecting of miracles Prophecy The distinguishing of spirits Tongues The interpretation of tongues Service Teaching Exhortation Giving Leadership Mercy Apostleship Evangelism Pastoral care Keep in mind, even non-Christians can have gifts that are on this list of spiritual gifts, like leadership, giving and service. But there’s a major difference in the showing of gifts versus talents. Gifts are a Surprise and Get Sweeter over Time, Talents are Expected, and Get Better over Time I was a talented leader growing up. I was president of my school and served in many leadership roles. When I became Christian, my leadership multiplied, and my influence and wisdom skyrocketed because God transformed my leadership talent into a spiritual leadership gift. I could have gotten better as a leader without God, but instead of me becoming better God made me wiser and more people wanted to be around me and led by me, and I matured in my relationship with God. I was totally surprised when I saw my leadership abilities exponentially grow! The bible says: "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work". (Ephesians 4:14‭-‬16 NIV) We Godpreneurs have been gifted by God to accomplish something great in our industry and marketplaces. This is why we all need to expect the unexpected! But we need to use our gifts wisely because the enemy wants to confuse your gifts for talents for his own purposes too! Gifts have a Purposed-Focused Use, Talents Can be Used Selfishly We each need to use our gifts on business to shine the light of Christ. This is how we’ll experience true purpose and meaning in our businesses. But we need to be careful because many of us don’t use our spiritual gifts (exactly what the enemy wants), and we sit back and expect the other “more spiritual” people to do the heavy lifting of ministering in the marketplace. We Godpreneurs recognize that our gifts are to be used for amazing reasons and we continue to explore that and grow that gift. Imagine if all of us used the spiritual gifts given to us by God, and matured in our faith consistently? We would all see our businesses grow and blossom to glorify God and serve even more clients! Godpreneur Rule – Godpreneurs grow in our faith to enhance our spiritual gifts and serve more in the marketplace. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling The Business God Created You To Start Have you ever wondered why you received the talents and gifts you have been given? We, as entrepreneurs, were born to do. 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