Do you remember saying as a kid Sticks and stones can break my bones But words can never hurt me. It’s so catchy, it even rhymes. Very easy for any child to memorize. That’s by design. Teachers knew people would come up to us and tell us lies or mean things, so I was supposed to recite that OUT LOUD to combat the attack with my words instead of letting my emotions get the best of me and attack back. Since kids, we’ve been taught to fight lies with truth. We’ve been told to stand up against our problems by using statements of positive affirmations. But we’ve lost that. It’s as if we think that it’s childish to do that. We’re grown up now and we can handle things more aggressively. Right? Listen, the devil doesn’t want to see us make breakthroughs in our business and marriage. So he’ll get in our head to tempt us into thinking it’s over, the situation is lost, it will never change, you deserve better, you should be happy, you’re weak, you’re a terrible spouse, your business sucks, you’re not smart enough… Etc. This is when we need to recognize that a bully is doing whatever He can to stop us from the breakthrough God has for us. If the devil wasn’t scared of our potential future, he’d leave us alone! How do we combat the lies in our heads about our business and marriage? How do we stand up against the thoughts that keep us up all night? Reciting “sticks and stones” would be a bit childish. We’re grown up, and we have a lot of new phrases we can memorize. They’re not as catchy and will take some time to commit to memory. We fight lies and experience breakthroughs when we memorize bible verses to combat each lie. The bible says: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) When the voices are saying that your business and marriage are over, you need to have a Bible verse memorized to combat it. And you need to say it out loud. I have a list of Bible verses that relate to me and my business that I read every Monday. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5 NIV For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalms 34:10 NIV See, God knows temptation from the devil would intensify the more you are honoring Him in your business and marriage. The enemy wants you to fail and get a divorce. But God made the Bible so that you could have a chance in this invisible fight happening in your mind. Your mind will either stop the breakthrough… Or Breakthrough the stop. It’s your choice because you choose what to combat the lies with. You’ll either agree with the lies and give in to the temptation to quit or you’ll combat the lies with God’s word – the truth about God’s calling of victory and favor over your situation. God has big plans for Godpreneurs. God wants our business and marriage to move forward to conquer new levels of purpose and passion. He knows our future and deems it will be successful! My business and life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 KJV. It states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This is the first verse that comes to mind when I’m being attacked. We all need a fundamental verse that declares victory when the poop hits the fan in our business and marriage. Pick one. Memorize it. Say it out loud when you see the storm coming. It will send the clouds in a different direction. Bible verses beat the devil 10 out of 10 times. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs combat business and marriage lies by proclaiming the powerful Word of God. #BusinessBibleStudy #MarriedEntrepreneurs 21 Days of Breakthroughs in Business and Marriage This course provides needed strength and faith, in the truth of God’s holy Word, for breakthroughs in both your business and marriage. 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 played chess growing up. My high school team took 5th place in the state of Florida. I was 32nd in the state. I still drive around with my chess set in my trunk ready for a game when I’m challenged. Chess is a combination of having strategies memorized from previous games so that you can move fast because you always have to play out 21 moves into the future for every turn. This means that before I make my next move, I had to play out the rest of the game in my head. Sometimes this didn’t work out so well because the clock is ticking and I’m losing valuable time playing all the variations and sequences out. If I didn’t move fast, I could lose on time. This happened to me several times. And when the clock is ticking at the end, I make mistakes because of the pressure of the clock winding down. I’ll admit that I get paralyzed sometimes in business too because I want to understand everything. I want to see the big picture. I play out all the moves in advance, and I get stuck sometimes. It’s probably due to all the chess I played that I developed the habit of thinking so many moves in advance. I want to UNDERSTAND because I want to WIN. I want to put myself in the best position to come out victorious. The problem is that I don’t know what the chess player will do on the next turn. He could do something different than I thought, and now I have to rethink the entire thing. When we entrepreneurs overthink things in our business and marriage, it can leave us stuck, paralyzed, and so much “in control” that we end up doing nothing well. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, and this scares us. But that’s not how God designed things. If we want to experience breakthroughs in marriage, and we’re looking for God’s guidance along the way (which I’m assuming we all are), then we have to learn to give up this insatiable need to understand everything and trust God. The bible says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) When you face issues in your business and marriage, you have to trust that God is working in ways that you have no idea about. Even when you don’t “feel” He’s at work, He is. It’s not your job to understand exactly what He’s doing. It’s your job to stay positive and trust Him. You may EVENTUALLY be exposed to how He took you through the breakthrough. The holy spirit might reveal all the little signs along the way that got you through the storm. God does that AFTER the fact so that you can testify to others about the victory! But even that is not guaranteed. Sometimes it will remain a mystery forever. And you have to be cool with NOT understanding today, tomorrow, and forever. It’s been a personal struggle for me to let go of needing to know everything. I thought I had it all planned out for my marriage. I thought I had the perfect plan for growing my 7-figure business. But the more I tried to control it, the more frustrated I became. Maybe God’s already working, and we may not see it. All we need to know is that the victory is already there. How it comes about is not up to us. We need to do our part – be faithful, be hopeful, and let God do what He can only do. One thing is for certain – the breakthrough won’t come the way we expect it! Ask any successful person today if the way they got there is exactly how they planned it – 11 out of 10 of them will say NO WAY! God expects us to stay positive, be hopeful, keep driving, keep pushing, keep fighting for truth, keep persevering for justice, keep serving, keep leading, and remain focused on moving forward. Leave the HOW to God. We need to put our marriage and business in God’s hands and stand confident knowing we can both trust and depend on Him to bring the breakthroughs. We need to believe He’s working for our good. And when this is all over, He’s going to use our experiences to help so many others! God wants you to understand AFTER He’s done. Then we’ll hopefully never make those same moves in the past, and we’re ready for the next challenges that God wants us to overcome in our business and marriage. Remember how I told you chess is a game of knowing your past so you can make moves faster in the present time? Without knowing the past, it makes it harder to move in the present because we’re stuck trying to understand the future. That was my problem with chess. Similarly, the more we see how God’s worked in the past, the easier it becomes living, loving, and making moves in the present. Today, we need to let God know we trust Him, we thank Him for our past Victories, and we stay present and focused on moving how He wants us to move today and give Him control of the future. God knows all and sees all. He’s the best chess player in the world because He already knows how it will all end! God will be faithful to us when we put all our trust in Him. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs trust God in our business and marriage and surrender every anxiety and worry to His will. #MarriedEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy #GodpreneurAcademy 21 Days of Breakthroughs in Business and Marriage This course provides needed strength and faith, in the truth of God’s holy Word, for breakthroughs in both your business and marriage. 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 had the pleasure of going through pain in business. I had a client include me in a multi-million dollar lawsuit, which propelled me in a new direction for my business. I had a client fire me and request money back, which led me to fundamentally change the way I do business and opened my eyes to a brand new opportunity. When faced with adversity, I know I choose one of two roads: either I internalize it and let it make me bitter, or I give the pain to God (my defender) and let the spirit process the emotions and feed my mind new positive thoughts that lead me to finding opportunities. Based on my own account, God uses pain I experience in my business to do one of 4 things for me: mold my character teach me something important grow me in some way make a difference in the lives of others How can I look at the list of benefits above and not thank God that I go though pains in business? Business is about solving problem after problem.  Nothing happens when you’re jumping from happiness to happiness.  Happiness come from problems being solved. The bible says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV The key for me is choosing to give the problem to God and not keeping it to myself.  God will never waste pain in your business that is offered to Him. When I offer my struggles in business to God, it removes it from contaminating my mind and opens me up to receive the solution.  In the torment of pain, I choose to spend my emotional energy and mental capacity on thinking logically. I need to pass this off in order of move on. #ShareYourTestimony #IncreaseEnergy #SharpenLeadership

We, entrepreneurs, have a battle between choosing God and choosing our business, and this often begins when we wake up in the morning. I've been waking up in the Word every morning for years. It's not easy. If I still struggle to set aside the 100 things I have to do that day for my business, I know others struggle. Today, I want to give you practicals steps; you can take first thing in the morning to help you choose God and make studying His Word your priority. My entire mission with Daily Godpreneur is to guide you to trust, follow, and serve the Lord in your business, DAILY. What's Consuming Your Thoughts in the Morning? Do you use an alarm of some sort? Do you hit snooze once, twice, seven times? Do you lie in bed to “thaw out” for a few minutes, or do you get right up? There are many ways to wake up, but most of us probably lie in bed for a moment to orient ourselves. As you start the process of orienting yourself, do you begin to think about your day and all that is before you? Where do your thoughts go as your mind becomes alert? We have a choice to make every day, every morning when we wake up. Will it be God, or will it be self? It is amazing how quickly we can make ourselves, our schedules, or our to-do lists first in our thoughts and priorities. How often do we think of ourselves first and then maybe later at some point give a passing thought to God whom we proclaim as Lord and Savior? What about you? What is foremost in your mind and heart when you wake up? Who comes first? How do you spend the start of your day? Over the next couple of days, we will look at a practical way we can choose each day to be less self-focused and more God-focused. Begin today by taking a moment to identify the things, the thoughts, the activities, or the emotions that can consume you and keep you from worshipping God and serving Him. Guided by a Plan As we seek to choose the Lord each day, it’s necessary to remember that we all have a desire to follow our flesh and think or do whatever “feels” right or seems easiest. As Paul argues in Romans 8, there is no choice for those outsides of Christ. Their sin entirely controls them. Believers, Paul says, have the Holy Spirit living within them. By the Spirit, we are becoming more and more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome our flesh. As Joshua told the Israelites, we can choose. How might this choice play itself out, especially first thing in the morning? It seems that most people usually spend a few minutes gathering their thoughts for the day before they get out of bed in the morning. In these moments, it can be a temptation to choose to think first about our day, schedule, what we need to do, who needs to be where, etc. Before we know it, we can fall prey to the lies of the enemy, begin dreading our day or feeling overwhelmed by it, and then try to tackle it as soon as our feet hit the floor. What if, instead, we were to choose the Lord? What if, by God’s grace, we would choose to fight our sinful flesh, put it to death as God’s Word instructs us, and set our minds on His way instead of allowing our thoughts to run amok? Practically, how would this look? We would begin by thanking the Lord for the gift of a new day and acknowledge that He alone is sovereign, that He alone is in control—not us. And then, by His grace, we would put aside our thoughts, our concerns, and our agendas and draw near to God by spending time in His Word and prayer. No matter how much we think about our day or our agenda, the reality is that the day belongs to the Lord. If we start each day, intentionally acknowledging this and acknowledging who we are in Christ, this practice could easily transform how we think about and live out the rest of the day's moments. Creating Anchors of Reminders It might be a good idea to write Joshua 24:15 or a similar passage on a 3×5 card and place it next to your bed or on your bathroom mirror so you can be reminded first thing in the morning to choose God. You can even paste the verse in a reminder in your calendar or schedule it as an alarm on your phone. Seeing Scriptures such as these first thing in the morning or throughout the day can help you immediately see and think truth and be able to focus on it instead of the temporary things of your up-coming day. We need God’s grace, and this is a reminder that we can choose to set our mind on God, or we can choose to set our mind on ourselves. As soon as we awake, we allow our thoughts to be focused on ourselves or our circumstances. What would we feel in the end? We'll feel discouraged! By contrast, if we choose to pray and seek the Lord instead, there can be peace, hope, and renewal. Remember, you can choose each day whom you will serve. And though it will take a moment-by-moment reorienting of your mind throughout your day, this choice begins first thing in the morning. So as you enter into this daily choice, trust in the One who created the new day and you. He will provide the grace you need to make each of the days ahead, His. Take a moment now to pray and seek the Lord. Ask Him to help you choose Him first each day and moment-by-moment throughout the day. Write out Joshua 24:15 or copy and paste it as a reminder into your calendar. May God be your all in all! #BecomeDisciplined

I feel “called” to what I’m doing. Not the logo and website stuff that I do.  That’s my “vocational” calling – a strong feeling of suitability for my particular business. My calling is not merely my business plan or what I do as an entrepreneur or my set of skills or gifts. My calling is my identity. Who am I? My Primary Calling My primary calling as a Christian that I’m made in God’s image and I’m known by Jesus and called to be his faithful followers.  Regardless of my business doing good or bad, I’m in a transition between businesses, or I’m very satisfied with the meaningful work I’m doing – I’m called to be like Christ and show that to the world. Secondary Calling (My Business) Like a building is built on a strong foundation, the secondary calling is built upon the primary calling and it is through that calling in which the secondary one can exist. Yes, I do logos & websites.  But if I attach my primary calling to this, then it gets deeper.  I don’t just do logos & websites, I help people find their identity.  When I help someone find out what they are born to do, I develop a relationship with them where God can begin to use me to speak into their lives.  Now I can do my primary calling – be a light to my clients. The bible says "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." I Peter 2:9-10 NKJV It’s in this dual-calling approach where I’m able to truly find my identity as an entrepreneur. When I can combine my primary calling and my vocational secondary calling, I’m more powerful both as a Christian and as a provider of my service to my clients. The two are not separate.  You don’t have two different callings.  You have one calling (vocation) built upon the first calling, your primary calling. Our calling is primarily about our identity. And that is not usually the answer people are looking for when they ask, “What is my calling?” Usually, people want to know, “What business should I do? What product or service should I offer? What skill, what capacity, what gift might be distinctly mine?” People come to me to help them with their secondary calling, but they are going to always get my primary calling because I’ve recognized one can’t exist without the other. I pray that God remind me of my identity in him as I meet with clients. I am a follower and a servant that’s being discipled to best serve my clients. I thank God for calling me to this service. No matter what task I am facing, I always remember my identity as a child of God by his mercy and grace. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling #DifferentiatingMyself

I used to think running a church or non-profit was like the “ultimate Christian work” on the planet. I held these social entrepreneurs up in high esteem for the work they were doing. That being said, I would then look at my business as playing a lesser role in the grand scheme of things, but I wasn’t about to close up shop and start a church, so I’m kinda stuck with this. I’d put in extra volunteer hours and do web and graphic design work for the church so that I could feel I was contributing significantly like these pastors were. Many Christians entrepreneurs have the impression that church workers — especially evangelists, missionaries, pastors, priests, ministers and the like — have a higher calling than other businesses. There is little in the Bible to support this impression. Instead, because of priests and nuns given so much importance back in the middle ages, we’ve been conditioned to think those jobs are holier than non-spiritual work. This thinking is what causes us to think “how do I find significance in my industry?” In the Bible, God calls individuals both to church-related and non-church-related business. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Colossians 3:23 NIV God’s guidance can occur just as strongly in non-church-related jobs and professions. Non-church business ownership is as much “full-time Christian service” as church work. All Godpreneurs are called (that is, commanded) to conduct everything they do, round the clock, as full-time service to Christ. The only businesses that do not have equal status in God’s eyes are those that require work forbidden by the Bible or are incompatible with its values. For example businesses requiring stealing, false witness or greed, usury, damage to health, or harm to the environment are incongruent with God’s heart for the world. This is not to say that people who own these types of businesses have lesser status in God’s eyes. Businesses of this sort might be the lesser of two evils in some situations. If your business is inconsistent with God’s values, you can seek to determine if it is necessary (and possible) to change businesses do your job differently or take action to correct injustice in your current industry or workplace While you should be thankful for all the people God has called to full time Christian work, you should also be thankful God has put you in your industry doing the business you’re in right now and has a reason. We need to continue to hear his call in our business life and learn from other Christian business owners on how to creatively partner with God in kingdom work. #NewEntrepreneurs #FindingMyPurpose #StrengthenIntegrity

I heard about a bus driver that was far from being your typical bus driver. He would pick up people in Manhattan and take them over to Queens.  Same route everyday for years. Before getting off the bus, his passengers would hear him say “Now before you get off the bus I want you to leave all of your problems from the day right here so you can go home whole and complete to your families.” He did this day after day, year after year. Here is a man whose identity is NOT in being a bus driver.  Instead, he has discovered the ultimate secret in finding your calling.  He has realized that his calling is really in being the salt and light to the world.  The bus was simply the vehicle (no pun  intended)) for enacting that calling. My clients want advice on how to hear God’s call for their business lives. I’ve heard people tell me that God may not have called them to the business they are doing every day. I’ve had friends worry that they have missed their entrepreneurial calling. I long for the same sense of purpose in my day-to-day business life. I have to be conscience of choosing to find my purpose and fulfillment in something more important than my role in my organization. I’ve chosen to make the distinction between calling and business. Our business has meaning, yes. God cares about our businesses. Our products and services can benefit the community around us. Owning a business certainly functions as a tool to refine us in God’s image. Through our entrepreneurship, we use specific skills and talents to serve others. But my company is first of all an opportunity to follow Jesus—to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. That’s your calling as a Godpreneur: to love. The bible says "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 NIV God invites us to serve in the ordinary businesses we lead.  What makes a business extraordinary is when we’re able to love our clients like God loves us.  This is when we get to live our the gospel and hopefully share it with partners, vendors, contractors, employees and clients. Let God guide you to be the salt and the light in your niche. #BibleStudy #FindingMyCalling

Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that today my work isn’t significant, but  I’m still building towards that day. A friend asked me “Alex, is there anything troubling your heart?” The only thing that came to mind was that I want to be at a certain point of influence, but I’m not there yet.  Since I feel I’m not there yet, it makes today’s work…well….insignificant in my mind. I am WRONG in this thinking. The Holy Spirit is active and alive in me. From that point of view, I’m called to embody that intersection of heaven and earth. We often think of “significant work” in such grandiose terms that we have trouble imagining today’s work as having an impact. Godpreneurs, I want be absolutely clear what I’m talking about here. God says what I do in the present matters. I’m called to be active, working to change the way the world is through my business.  My brand should be confronting injustice, and building communities of peace and hope for a better way. "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV Paul writes a whole chapter on resurrection. How does he conclude? He doesn’t say, “Since there is a resurrection, look up and wait for this glorious future.” No, he says, “Therefore my beloved ones be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Your business is “not in vain.” Why not? Because everything your business does in the present, in the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, everything that flows out of love and hope and grace and goodness somehow will be part of God’s eventual Kingdom. This is your entrepreneurial calling!. Godpreneurs desperately want affirmation about the significance of our work and the choices we make in business. Now that my choices have significance because I’ve been called to a life of significance. Spirit brings God’s kingdom and his will into every part of my business, open and receptive to the Spirit, overflowing with love, hope, grace, and goodness. #FindingMyPurpose #FindMyCalling

Gaining wisdom is at the top of my to do list on a daily basis.  Having insight and understanding is the most important role I have as a Godpreneur.  It’s this knowledge that provides me the intuition to innovate and constantly be seeking a better way to serve my clients. Where does my wisdom come from?  Experience is one place.  Remembering what I went through can guide me to where I’m going. But the most important wisdom I get is from God himself.  I sit down each morning with my bible and seek out his wisdom on how I should run my business (and my life of course). As a Godpreneur, I’m learning to not overcomplicate my life.  I’ve had to un-complicate things because so many distractions threaten to take me off my focus on the fundamentals of the owning a business. And because my business is involved in Kingdom guided work, I strive to do things right and start with the fundamentals. How do I put God first so that everything falls into place? It starts with humbling myself and admitting that God is the CEO and you are the President. He calls the plays and I execute them—sometimes over and over again, always learning more about God and myself. And you keep at it, always reminding myself that the CEO of heaven and earth has a perspective of my business that I’ll never have. I have 3 priorities in life God Family Business In that order, I’m able to keep my priorities straight and it makes me truly successful at what I do. The bible says These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. Proverbs 1:1‭-‬9 NLT Business is not a game of chance for me; it is serious kingdom work and the stakes are eternally high. I must start with the fundamentals. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs start with the fundamentals and stick with them. #EnhanceFocus

I started my Instagram account @dailygodpreneur as a way to remember all of the little things that God teaches me about entrepreneurship. There are tons of nuggets of wisdom and I have a strange funny feeling I’ll never be done penning all the knowledge for as long as I keep seeking it. I need all of this wisdom because, quite frankly, entrepreneurship is TOUGH WORK!  If you’ve owned a business for 1 day, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The way I see it, by seeking out wisdom and adapting the principles I learn from the bible, I’m putting on a bullet proof vest.  Each month, that vest is able to get stronger and resist bigger bullets. Godpreneurs will succeed by attending to the many seemingly small principles for life’s success offered by God. The bible says "My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord , and you will gain knowledge of God". Proverbs 2:1‭-‬5 NLT These principles will be like the bulletproof vest making it impervious to being overpowered by outside forces. A foolish person relies on individual gifts and personal strength; however, this is the epitome of weakness, because there is no unity of purpose supporting his efforts. Therefore, he stands alone. Godpreneurs find their strength by reinforcing their bulletproof vests. Godpreneur Rule: Don’t look merely to your natural gifts, but focus your energy on marshaling all available resources. #SharpenLeadership #ShareYourTestimony

Ambition had a good and a bad side. The good part is that it’s a strong desire to do or to achieve success in something, typically requiring determination and hard work. The bad part comes when the desire is unmarried to my main mission, my born to do identity. Let me explain. My mission in life is to help 10,000 Entrepreneurs uncover and bring to life what they were born to do, the Business God created them to start. That’s a mission God gave me, so he supplies the ambition I need to go out and get it done. But then a distraction comes along the way, usually at a time where I really need the money.  My ambition, unchecked by God, begins to shift because something “sexier” came along, caught my eyes, and now something shinier is the object of my ambition. This is adultery, for business.  I’m cheating on my mission for something that is actually taking me away from my mission. The book of Proverbs in the bible references illicit sex and loose women more than any other single subject. The writer certainly thinks this is an important topic for us to consider. But for entrepreneurs, the message goes far deeper than one might think. The bible says "Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”  They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.  At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.  I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.  He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house  at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.  Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent." Proverbs 7:4‭-‬10 NIV Anything in business that ignites your desires and passions to the detriment of your good judgment and common sense could be considered a harlot who would potentially steal your heart and fracture your business. Who or what in your company is the harlot that wants to steal your life? What is it that has the potential to bring you to ruin if you give in to its unhealthy attraction? It might be some form of addiction, sex, the lust for power or influence—maybe, like me, it is ambition. It is seen time and again in the lives of famous entrepreneurs consumed by some uncontrolled appetite. If we Godpreneurs have a clear mission in life, we will not be easily distracted by the sideshows along the way. Godpreneur Rule: Focus your business on a meaningful mission that inspires your personal discipline and single-mindedness. Don’t give in to your unseemly passions. #EnhanceFocus #StrengthenIntegrity #SharpenLeadership

What on Earth is my business here for? This was a question I struggled with for a while back in 2014.  Back then, my identity was all wrapped up in being the owner of an agency that serviced nightclubs with websites, graphic design, and marketing. Although the industry is exciting and ever-changing, deep inside I felt no “purpose” behind the work I did.  Sure, I was making money and feeding the families of my employees, but that wasn’t enough. In November of 2014, I made the scariest decision of my life and fired all of my clients and let go of all of my employees to start over on a new road that would fulfill my desire to find meaning and purpose behind my business. It was in the state of nothingness where God was able to reveal to me why on Earth I was created to be an entrepreneur. We do not all have the same abilities, businesses, or circumstances. But we do all have the privilege of deciding the purpose to which we will dedicate ourselves. There are only three big decisions that most of us entrepreneurs will ever make in life Who is my business going to serve? What product or service am I going to provide? What is my business going to exist for? It’s that third decision that seems to stump most of us, business owners. I had the first two solid and established.  I was missing the third. For 3 months of my life, I lived in depression and agony as I scrambled for money and meaning.  I turned to God and established a deeper relationship than I had ever had before, seeking wisdom in this area as if looking for water in the desert. In my bible reading, referring to wisdom, I read “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,  “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” Proverbs 9:4‭-‬6 NIV As I sought God and looked to restart my company, I looked back at all the work I had done and tried to find the clients and work that had given me the most joy and fulfillment.  In my reflection, I realized that I loved helping people discover the entrepreneur within them and help them launch that business.  I also loved helping guide existing business owners towards recreating their business with a new sense of passion behind it, helping them identify their business’s purpose. At that point, I realized I have become my own client, and I was really the one going through the rebranding. That’s when my company officially switched to being a branding agency. I determined right then and there that I would ask God to help others find a purpose in their business that could live for each day. This new sense of “working for God” wakes me up every morning and I thank God for letting me be alive. Have you found a worthwhile purpose in your business? Success for an entrepreneur has been defined as “the progressive realization of a worthwhile, predetermined goal.” Establish a handful of worthy goals in your business and give yourself fully to accomplishing them. In establishing your business purposes, start with your relationship with God, your family, and at work with clients and employees. These top three areas of your life need the most urgent attention. What are you living your business life for? Godpreneur Rule: Settle on your business’s purpose and set out to accomplish it each day. #FindMyCalling #EnhanceFocus #NewEntrepreneurs

Have you ever been pitched something in your business that, half way through the call, you know you’re not going to purchase, and you let them finish the entire presentation and at the end say “let me think about it?” I’ve done this, I believe, my whole business life.  I feel bad saying “no thank you”.  In reality, I’m a liar. I just told a big, fat lie.  I’ve made up my mind already, I don’t want that product or service.  In fact, the conversation should have ended minutes ago, I wasted both of our time. I guess I’m trying to be polite and let the man finish.  I think maybe my mom engrained in me that it’s rude to cut someone off or to say no. But now I’m learning the opposite is true, and in fact, it’s biblically true. Little white lies are often told to preserve the peace, as if telling the truth would in some way destroy peace. Yet the Bible presents truth and peace as existing together: “Love truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). Tellers of white lies believe they are speaking lies out of “love”; however, the Bible tells us to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Sometimes telling the truth in business is not easy; in fact, it can be downright unpleasant. But we are called to be truth-tellers. Being truthful is precious to God (Proverbs 12:22); it demonstrates the fear of Lord. I’m working to become a lot more confident in myself.  Not arrogant, confident.  Franklin Roosevelt said “Confidence…thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance.” A dishonest businessman is full of rot and will be exposed, causing you great embarrassment. It is not a question of “if” but “when” you will be exposed. The writer of Proverbs exalts the virtue of honesty. Where does honesty rank in your set of values? I am ashamed to admit that I have often struggled with being honest. Maybe you have failings in this area of your life too. This salesman I tried to fool called me out on it the next call we had.  He straight up told me that if I wasn’t interested, I should not have lied and said “I’ll think about it.” He was right.  I felt so small, so dishonest. I vowed to change that from that conversation on. What an embarrassment when the truth was revealed.  I choose to never let that happen again. Once you are proven to be dishonest, it is difficult to regain the trust of others; difficult, but not impossible. Confess your lie immediately or take back what was stolen. Don’t let it go uncorrected or it will fester and become a “rotten stench” in your character. Face up to your sin and admit that it is wrong. That is the pathway to healing and restoration. There is nothing so pure and strong as a man with a clear conscience. Godpreneur Rule: Determine that honesty will be a hallmark of your business life and pay scrupulous attention to maintaining it at all times, no matter what the cost. #StrengthenIntegrity #SharpenLeadership

When I first started my entrepreneurial career, I didn’t get rich quickly. In fact, I suffered for over a decade (yes, 10 years). I struggled to pay bills, keep up with school loans, and hire and keep good talent. I changed business models almost every year trying to get out of debt, enjoying life and feeling like I’ve succeeded. Maybe I could finally pay for my parent’s dinner instead of them paying for mine. Although I struggled, I refused to accept that a 9-5 job was what I needed to do. I refused to give into the comfort of a steady paycheck. As a maturing entrepreneur and growing born-again Christian, I learned to trust God, and his promises, one of which says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). And there are more promises where that came from. I meditate frequently on God’s promises. Why? Because nothing is for certain, and nothing in business lasts forever. What has been and always will be is God’s promises. During my entire entrepreneurial life, I spent much time looking for certainty and fulfillment in and through my business when in reality God is asking me to find that certainty and fulfillment in Him. He’s given me promises that say so! Praise the Lord, He brought me (and continues to bring me) through times of uncertainty and feeling purposeless. The Bible says "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." 1 John 4:4 NLT There are times when God gets you out of debt and flourishes your business and times when He allows suffering for His glory. But no matter what, you need to trust in His promises for rest, peace, and victory in Jesus’ name. Because it’s in His promises that you can find hope no matter what you go through. Our minds need to be set on God’s promises for our lives and business, in order for us to continue living in purpose and passion, even through the storm. I pray the Lord to give entrepreneurs full hope in His promises for rest, peace, and ultimate victory through Jesus Christ today. #EnhanceFocus #FindingMyPurpose VIDEO COURSE AVAILABLE! 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! TAKE COURSE TODAY

I’ve noticed a crazy phenomenon in my entrepreneurial career. When I get an idea to come up with something great (a marketing campaign, a new product release, a new business venture), the success of that new thing depends 100% on whether I’m 100% in or not. Let me explain. At one point I wanted to turn my business into a shared workspace. I approached it half-heartedly because I really didn’t want random strangers at my office. But I needed the money, and it sounded like I could make it work if the conditions were right, so I set out to launch it. Guess what. It started, and then it stopped. Although I went through the entire process of doing a logo, a website, emails, and even paid for advertising….my half-hearted approach yielded halfway results, and I pulled the plug. In contrast, when I started my venture Launch in 2 Days, I was 100% committed. I thought it was the best revolution in branding in our generation. And guess what? It’s been wildly successful! The difference was in my FAITH. I wasn’t “all in” for the shared workspace idea, and the results showed it. But with Launch in 2 Days, I was totally sold out to the cause. Through thick and thin, I kept on digging deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. And guess what happened the deeper I dug? THE MOUNTAIN MOVED! Time and time again, I’ve witnessed firsthand how God can use an entrepreneurs faith in big ways in my business. In the Bible, Jesus said “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NIV Your business idea, when starting, is a small mustard seed. You have faith that, with water and God’s nature shining on it, it will grow. The key we need to have is that we need to believe 100% that this tree will grow. Any doubt at all will prevent the tree from growing big enough to move mountains. God will use the little you have to do great and extraordinary things in and through your business. Godpreneurs ask God to give us the confidence to be bold with faith. #FindingMyPurpose #GainConfidence VIDEO COURSE AVAILABLE! 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! TAKE COURSE TODAY