I’m a CrossFit competitor. On competition day, there could be 3-4 grueling workouts I have to perform in 8 hours. Just one of those workouts could have me drained for the rest of the day. Now, imagine that I have to do this three more times! It’s exhausting just writing about it. To be ready to launch into my next working, I have to be restored. I need to eat, drink, rest, and do whatever it takes to be close to 100% within a few hours. There are certain rituals I go through to get back to peak performance. Without restoration, I can’t be at my best for the next workout, and I certainly won’t have a chance at performing well on the leaderboard in the competition. Listen, launching a business is working out. There’s a lot of physical and emotional energy that goes into it. If we’re not restored from a previous attempt at launching or the past pains that hold us back from bringing to life a new idea, we stand little chance against a world that it set out to beat us so that we don’t do the thing we were born to do. While food, rest, and water can restore us physically, we all need someone to restore us emotionally. All types of psychologists and life coaches can help, but God is our original creator, the one who has called us for a specific reason and has the power to restore us to our original form – His image. The bible says For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV) You may have gone through something very tragic that isn’t that easy to bounce back from. Restoring you won’t be a simple replenishing of finances or pep talk of motivation. You may have attempted to restore a broken partnership or mend a relationship that went terribly wrong, but the grime of the incident lingers, preventing you from moving forward. You see, only your original creator that has the blueprints to the business He created you to start can do the work of restoring you to your true glory. The good news is that we Godpreneurs all have a God that’s in the business of redeeming us and restoring us, even if the damage seems beyond repair. We’re a reflection of His glory; He wants nothing more than for THAT light to shine in the marketplace. God wants to show himself through the business we launch. He wants to refresh our soul and guide us along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Psalms 23:3) Under the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus can reverse the damage that had been done to us from a previous attempt at launching or from the fear of launching our first venture. Remember Ephesians 2:10: if we Godpreneurs were created not just as God’s handiwork, but also to join in with God’s work in our marketplace, then we must believe that he can and will work through the launch of that business, product, or service. The damage that has been done in that past is preventing us from stepping out in faith and joining God is bringing to life the business he has called us to. Imagine if we were all willing to partner with Him in His purpose of restoration so we could be free to respond to that calling every time were inspired to move our ideas along. #BusinessBibleStudy #LaunchingMyBusiness Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea Join Us on a 12-Days Business Bible Plan to learn Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea. 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

Back in college, I learned there are two types of investors: risk averse and risk seeking. Risk-averse people are more conservative. Risk seekers…well, it’s pretty self-explanatory…they like to take risks. I’m a risk seeker. I like to go “all in.” If I like a business opportunity, I go after it. But it wasn’t always like this. And there are times that I’m not such a risk-taker. When I’m feeling defeated or fearful, I retreat and sink into a place of comfort. We entrepreneurs all have a level of riskiness in us. By definition, entrepreneurship is to take risks. But many of us take the risk, and at the first sign of a storm, we sink back in fear and doubt. How can we increase our threshold for risk so that we can launch into the unknown, survive through the storms of entrepreneurship, and thrive on the other side? The bible says “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:29‭-‬33 NIV) Jesus was pleased that Peter had joined him on the water because Peter took a risk that required faith. Jesus’s words of affectionate encouragement to Peter served to increase Peter’s faith in the future. The only way to walk on water (be a successful Godpreneur) is to begin by stepping out of the boat (launch your business), but don’t expect it to be an easy ride. Peter didn’t get it right the first time, and neither will you. Seeing where opportunities in the marketplace are won’t come naturally to you. You have to learn how to receive, understand, test, and respond to marketplace revelations, being taught by the Spirit and led into supernatural business ownership. The way you launch and grow a God-First business is through taking small steps and gradually increasing in faith. Remember, Jesus says to be “faithful in the little things” to be entrusted with “greater things” (Matthew 25:21). As we Godpreneurs go on the journey of launching the vision God has given us, our progress in business ownership will depend on the extent to which we allow him to deal with the barriers in our mindset with which we struggle. Launching a healthy, life-long, Spirit-filled business that continues to bear fruit requires us Godpreneurs to cooperate with the renewal of our minds and the restoration of our hearts. We can’t go on the journey of launching a God-First business without the inward journey of healing and transformation. If we’re serious about launching a business, then we shouldn’t settle for an impaired experience of being his ministers in the marketplace. He wants us all to know the joy of launching a business opportunity with him, which once seemed impossible to us. Imagine if we all didn’t let fear prevent us from cooperating. We will need the help of others. This is why Godpreneur Academy exists. We will almost certainly falter and sink into the water from time to time. But ultimately, it will all be worth it to be in business with Jesus. #LaunchingMyBusiness #BusinessBibleStudy Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea Join Us on a 12-Days Business Bible Plan to learn Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea. 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

The times that I’ve drawn closest to God are when I’ve had to depend on him to get me through a season completely. When my brother passed away, it was tragic for my family and me. I latched on to God more than ever, and from that dependence, I had the strength to start our non-profit, Jose’s Hands, which continues to do medical missions worldwide. When my branding agency faced a big lawsuit, I made God the judge of my life and from that scary season, the idea for my company, Launch in 2 Days birthed. The best brands I’ve launched and some of my most intimate moments with God were birthed from overcoming Obstacles that threatened to have me seclude myself into a comfortable place and not take any more risks that could lead to another tragedy. We Christians are born with a desire to have an intimate relationship with Jesus. But this close relationship doesn’t happen in comfortable places in our lives. No. Instead, intimacy comes from dependence, and dependence comes from faith and trust. We Godpreneurs are called to step off the boat and to walk on water with Jesus. Launching a business should feel so risky that the only way to win would be that Jesus was by our side, knowing that he is faithful and able to lead us. We’ll develop a deeper relationship with God once we’ve launched than sitting on the sidelines thinking about it. We’re not called to launch on our own, and we’re called to launch WITH God. It’s this partnership that we Godpreneurs are gifted with. Owning a business is a tool God uses to draw us into the relationship He sent Jesus to restore. The bible says For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:17 NIV) You and your business become God’s stewards and heirs of eternal life. You’re charged with declaring and demonstrating God’s kingdom to your customers, employees, prospects, vendors, competitors, contractors…the entire marketplace! Don’t waste another moment hiding from your calling, afraid of launching your dreams, especially when there’s so much more of God that we could discover by partnering with Him. Jesus comes after us to rescue us back into relationship with him, even those who failed, left bankrupt and lost it all. Yes, I’m part of this group of redeemed. And you can be, too. Jesus says If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me. (John 12:26 MSG) This calling to launch a God-First business, lead 100% by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit is an adventure that many Godpreneurs have yet to discover. If you feel called to launch, I want to help you on this journey. I have 3 Ways. Subscribe to my growing list of subscribers to my daily devotional for Christian entrepreneurs at www.dailygodpreneur.com. Join a tight group of Christian Entrepreneurs and me that mastermind and help each other’s businesses grow at www.godpreneuracademy.com. Launch your business through my company, www.launchin2days.com. I pray that you’re able to overcome the obstacles to launching the business God created you to start. All my best always, Alex Miranda #BusinessBibleStudy #LaunchingMyBusiness Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea Join Us on a 12-Days Business Bible Plan to learn Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea. 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

At one point in my branding agency, I was building my business around trying to impress potential clients with bigger jobs so I charge a whole lot more. I wanted to be dealing with rich, wealthy people that had big budgets. I wanted to be rich like them. After a year, I ended up discovering that the I didn’t like working with these clients. They are a ROYAL PAIN! The richer they got, the more they demanded and the smaller I felt. It was like working with a ‘know it all’ that had no clue at all. The bible says "Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted". Proverbs 23:6‭-‬8 NLT I decided I wasn’t going to build my business around trying to impress those who have power and riches or hoping to become one of the elites of our society. Underneath the surface, we are all equal entrepreneurs before God. So I stopped trying to gauge the success of my branding agency by how big of a fish I could catch, but instead on how deep of an impact I could make. This kept me humble and always in the mindset of trying to figure out how I could help more people, faster, and more profoundly. See, trying to go after the big money accounts was not only more work for me, but it was also misleading from my calling. Instead, I had to brand the REAL ME. I must constantly be bringing to light the identity I was born to be. The One whose appearances are real has chosen to be humble and meek—His name is Jesus. Yes, every knee will bow and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. But He called us friends and laid aside the prerogatives of royalty when He tore down the curtain of separation in the Temple and gave us direct access to His Father by faith through His death and resurrection. Weak entrepreneurs may insist on status, formality, and appearances, but God sees us for what we are. Wise Godpreneurs follow the example of Christ’s humility. You are aware that under the surface you are just like everyone else—no better and no worse. We Godpreneurs look beneath the surface—people and circumstances are not always what they appear to be. #DifferentiatingMyself #SharpenLeadership

I recently had a client that I just wanted to quit on.  Several times I attempted to weasel my way out of the deal. I wanted to quit because they were a real pain in the butt.  I totally underquoted them. I didn’t factor for a lot of things and it costs me.  But to make matters worse, the client was abusive and degraded me. Well, that’s how they made me FEEL. We get into contracts and arrangements sometimes that we regret.  We entrepreneurs sometimes have little patience for this and we escape the problem quickly. But what if there was a reason God wanted you there…under that pressure? Is there any good that can come out of being in a seemingly terrible business relationship? The answer might surprise you. The bible says "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2‭-‬4 MSG God can use any situation to mold and shape you into a better, stronger entrepreneur. Think about a diamond.  It’s under pressure for thousands of years before we get the rock.  Then it needs to undergo cleaning and cutting before you get to put it in a piece of jewelry ready to show the world. In the same way, God is molding and shaping us under pressure. Consider lawsuits, bad contracts, terrible hiring decisions, and mistakes in planning a test…a shaping of your wisdom so you can be a better entrepreneur tomorrow. Imagine a world where, instead of being upset at the bad situation we’re in, we look up and ask God to give us the patience to endure, learn and grow from the trials of entrepreneurship. Godpreneur Rule #152: Godpreneurs see tests and challenges in business as great opportunities to learn and grow. #LaunchingMyBusiness #GainConfidence #SharpenLeadership

In 2014, I launched my blog, www.dailygodpreneur.com. Since then, I’ve had thousands of subscribers to my daily devotional, tens of thousands of followers on my Instagram, YouTube, and podcast channels, and even started my membership program. How did I get to this point I’m at now? It all started with ONE blog post…my first one. I was reading the Bible one morning, admittedly, because I felt obligated to. Reading didn’t come naturally to me. I hadn’t fallen in love with getting my daily bread every morning, but I was committed to just doing what I was told was right, which was to read the Bible every morning. Then, one day, a Bible verse popped out at me that was specifically about me as an Entrepreneur and what I was going through in my business. It was weird. Then it happened the next day too. I was in the application of what I had read to what I was going through. I felt I needed to journal my discoveries, so I pulled out a journal and wrote what I had uncovered. I became a little obsessed and started to look forward to coming downstairs in the morning, making my coffee, and hurrying to my chair to sip my coffee and discover what else God had for me in His word about my business. Then…the spirit moved. I had an inspiring though – what if I took the entire Bible and uncovered everything it had to say to entrepreneurs, and furthermore, put it all on a blog so that other Christian Entrepreneurs could read about what I was learning!? That single thought is what sparked the Godpreneur brand for me, and I now knew what I had to do. What I’ve come to realize is I have a heart that wants to lead Christian entrepreneurs launching and growing their purpose-focused business. I also realized that if these Christian Entrepreneurs were going to succeed, they need to be in God’s Word daily, but that’s tough if they’re struggling to find time to be with God in the morning. That’s when I knew I needed to start this blog and speak to one person: the Christian entrepreneur like me. We entrepreneurs were all hard-wired with a heart that breaks for a certain group of people out there. This is by design. That’s a huge clue God’s given us to reveal the target market we were called to blog to. Like a Shepard that is herding his flock, we also are called to herd a certain group of people. If we want to uncover the target market for our blog, it’s going to come when we realize who the people we’re supposed to be freely helping guide, even without being paid are. Once we can identify this, then the blessings will come to us. The Bible says: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38 NIV) When you run a Christian blog, Jesus shapes our hearts, and a new spirit comes in us to care for a certain group of people. This heart moves and thinks like God. But yours isn’t like mine or anyone else’s. Thank goodness for that, or we’d all be writing to the same person. Your heart and business have a God-anointed individuality. Want proof? Ok. Do you also care to help Christian entrepreneurs making sure they know everything the Bible has to say about business? If yes, then you and I have something in common and hit me up to be a contributor on my blog. But you likely differ in what type of people (women, young men, realtors, Miami-born, etc.). But if you don’t care about what I care about, there’s the proof that we are all different. Godpreneurs, we’re all created for good works, but we don’t have to speak to every person on the planet. Picking a target market for your blog, lets you narrow down your level of burden and responsibilities to only a smaller group of people. If you’re having trouble narrowing down your target market, try these questions Who is one person that comes to mind right now that you want to write a letter to (or even a whole book) so they could fix their life because you feel you have the formula? What could you write to yourself 10 years ago that would have changed you and helped your journey to where you’re at now? What would you write to your child 20 years from now when they read your blog? Who our heart breaks for the most is one way God shows us entrepreneurs who our target market is for our blog. Our blogs are made to notice, to care, to move more for a specific demographic and particular products or services: when their needs are met, our hearts are satisfied, and our bank accounts are filled; when they aren’t, our hearts hurt with their hearts and we need to solve the problem with a new blog post. A blog post is supposed to solve one person’s problem, and you have the answer. Imagine if we all became aware of our hearts, how it feels for certain groups, and begin crafting our blog around that? Our joy would increase, and our readers would be happy and satisfied! Prayer – Father, help us take the focus off ourselves and put it onto others. Reveal a heart that hurts for a certain group of people. Spirit, identify a particular people with particular needs, and help me take steps towards helping them uniquely with my blog. #BusinessBibleStudy #ChristianBloggers #GodpreneurAcademy #TargetMarket Keys to Successful Christian Blogging In this course, I'll give you some keys God taught me about how to write a successful Christian blog. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

I put a lot of pressure on my co-laborers. If you’re working with me, I ask for solutions, not problems. I demand excellence and specialization. And I go fast, so keep up! If I’m going to have these high levels of quality individuals working with me, I need to train and discipline them into this. Trust me, they don’t come born this way. It is in this correcting process where I continue to learn how to be a great leader. The value in owning a business isn’t producing great workers, but that the workers are producing a great leader in me. Leading others isn’t meant to make me happy, it’s meant to make me holy. For me, this was especially true in the area of disciplining and training those that work with me. I was terrible at it. I would ignore issue, sweep them under the rug, make excuses for them, and let anything slide. I probably did these things to save time. I didn’t want to stop and discipline and re-train. The bible says "A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel". Proverbs 29:21 NLT Sometimes there are tricks of the trade that others are willing to pass on to save a little time and energy along the way. But when it comes to leading others, there aren’t any shortcuts. Great training coupled with immidiate corrective disciplining will make your employees, vendors, contractors and even clients into the best partners you want them to be. It is not easy to say “no” to those under my authority, especially if I care about them. But their short-term gratification is not worth the long-term disappointment of a ruined business relationship and a hardened heart. Only God can help you do what is right and pass on a blessing to those you co-labor with in business that will last a lifetime. Trying to take any shortcuts in this process of training will only prove to be frustrating. Dead ends often look like shortcuts, but you can’t get where you want to be by taking them. An effective Godpreneur leader knows how to manage those under his authority and has the will to do what is right for them. #BecomeDisciplined #SharpenLeadership

I think my greatest fear is that my business will not make a difference. I fear I’m not in the right industry, pursuing the wrong niche, or speaking to the wrong tribe. And I know I’m not alone in thinking this way. After working with entrepreneur’s brands for over a decade, I’ve had many conversations about purpose and calling. Some know exactly what they’re going after, most of them have no idea. Rest assured: Godpreneurs have been created by God in his image. Godpreneurs have great worth. Godpreneurs have been given gifts, gifts are meant to contribute something to the family, the community, and the world. In spite of these truths, my clients still fear to live a life of insignificance. Why? Many entrepreneurs don’t see themselves as significant. They do not have a vision for how God wants them to make a difference in the business world through their unique gifts. We have a crisis in calling. The Bible teaches us that we are called out of our own selfishness to love and serve God and others in specific ways, responsible to an audience of One. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, God calls us to glorify him in all we do – which includes our current business and future entrepreneurial ventures. However, many believers miss this concept because there’s an underlying separation of business and God. We see this in a few ways. The evangelical church tends to focus on salvation, evangelism, or basic discipleship – all of which are important. But there is a little or non-specific teaching for entrepreneurs who are working 20-80 hours a week on their visions. While many excellent evangelical churches exist, most of them do not address: Ethical issues in business ; Public affirmation of ministry in and through entrepreneurship; Discernment of the gifts of all church members and how to use those gifts wisely in the church and in the marketplace. People are being equipped for personal faith, but not business life. Further, entrepreneurship is often seen as an antithesis of family life. Working overtime or on the weekend is seen as a threat to the fabric of the family. On the contrary, like Jeremiah’s response to the Babylonian exile, God has called his people to seek the flourishing of the city so it may prosper, and to do so with humility, patience, love, and grace (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 4:1-3). Many idealistic young entrepreneurs set about starting a business with unrealistic expectations about money and success in a future career. Now the “mid-life crisis” is coming earlier. People are starting to discuss the “quarter-life crisis.” People who have been the best and brightest all their lives are feeling bogged down and unfulfilled. Their high expectations of entrepreneurship are dashed. Success has not come as quickly as they had hoped. The central reason for these various problems is a failure to develop a biblical basis for entrepreneurship. The bible says: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11 NIV This being true, then the good news is that we all have a calling. Some have uncovered and recovered it, while others haven’t discovered it yet. In this series, we will explore how to discover God’s call in your business life. Do you fear living an insignificant life? Why or why not? #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling

I used to just think owning a business was just a means to an end: an end to my college debt, an end to my 9-5 career, an end to meet my financial goals of being financially free. At the end, being an entrepreneur is supposed to make me feel significant and accomplished. Sounds familiar? We all have a point where we WANT to be, but we aren’t there yet. This leaves us sometimes feeling empty and depressed because we’re focused on a future that’s not here yet. But God didn’t call us to focus on the future. Instead, we are called to work and create…in the PRESENT tense. Genesis 1:26-28 tells us that we are created in God’s image and that we are called to exercise dominion over the whole creation. Only God was, is, and always will be. Only God can operate on all levels of time, for eternity. He created everything, then essentially said do something with this. Me and you…we’re Godpreneurs and we’re called to make something out of something TODAY. Some have the ability to take a tree and make a table; others to take clay and make a statue; I’m called to take a thought and design a logo and website from it. Yes, I need to work to provide for myself and my families… a means to an end. The problem is that we think that “end” is sometimes while we’re here on earth, but we’re a part of a redemption story. The bible says: "For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets". (Acts 3:21 NLT) The means to an end is restoration. The end is really the beginning. But we’re not thinking this way. The gospel of Christ not only saves our souls but also restores us to what God created us to be. Our businesses today on earth matters for God’s restoration of all things because he restored us in Christ. We have a huge calling to respond TODAY: continue to create. I believe our entrepreneurship continues in the new heavens and new earth – minus the blood, sweat, and tears. In heaven, we will sing a “new song” (Revelation 5:9). Creativity continues. Think of the infinitely creative God coming up with infinite ventures for all eternity. It is not a stretch to anticipate entrepreneurship being part of that “Great Adventure.” A Godpreneur’s business is a means to an end, and that end begins in eternity in heaven. #FindMyCalling #BusinessBibleStudy

Have you ever told yourself the lie “I’m useless. I don’t have any gifts or talents to offer.”? I have. More than once. It often comes after a failed project or business venture. Sometimes it’s a client that emphatically reminds that to me. Sometimes it’s my bank account whispering it to me, as if computer screens could talk. Even the computer screen, too? Many entrepreneurs feel this way. We have lost our sense of dignity and self-worth, blinded from our own inherent creativity and God-given talents because the pressures of entrepreneurship got to our heads. When we fail to believe in the dignity of ourselves and others, we struggle to answer the call to creativity in our businesses and be all who God has created us to be. Made in the image of God, we have worth, value, and dignity that cannot be taken away from us. When we deny that truth, we deny part of God’s design for his people in the business marketplace. Genesis 1:26-28 states that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. James 3:9 rebukes those who worship God with their mouths and yet curse someone else made in the likeness of God. We often fail to see the connection between the worthiness of God and cursing his image. Our value as Godpreneurs is inherent in our design, and we each reflect God’s intended purpose through our businesses. C.S. Lewis maintains in The Weight of Glory that, “There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.” You – and your employees, vendors, contractors, and clients – possess dignity, worth, and value more than you even presently know. Humans are the crown glory of God’s creation, distinct from every other creature on earth. Godpreneurs, as image bearers of God, are given a central task to “rule over” creation (Genesis 1). God is the CEO, but we are like the Presidents of his kingdom. He is the founder of the company, but we are franchisees called to this creative task. With our God-given dignity and worth comes a great responsibility to care for God’s business creation. The kind of leadership and ownership we are to exercise is not to be heavy-handed, as Genesis 2:15 indicates. Mankind was placed in the Garden of Eden to care for and keep it. The mandate is to exercise caring stewardship over the business we create – NOT to use and abuse it as we please. Creativity plays a central role in developing a beautiful and productive garden, metaphorically speaking, in our own business culture and requires fresh, inspired thinking. The call to creativity is everywhere around us. Entrepreneurial gifts and creativity are expressed in building increasingly complex houses, buildings, walls, roads, etc. Genesis starts in a garden, but Revelation ends in a city. This is what we Godpreneurs are made to do – use our creativity, our gifts, and our abilities to develop the potential of the created order in the marketplace. When you figure out what you are made for, how you fit into God’s big picture of restoration, that’s when you truly flourish. Godpreneurs reflect on our inherent dignity, made in God’s image. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling

Knowing my calling in business completely transformed my view on what I sell in the marketplace.  I used to think people come to me for logos and websites.  The more I understood my calling, the clearer I saw that what I really do is help people find what they were born to do, and then tell that story in the marketplace so that the very people the entrepreneur was supposed to help are magnetically attracted to him. I help God in his mission to bring everyone in alignment with what he created them for so that heaven becomes a place on earth because if everyone was doing what they were born to do, we’d live in an awesome place to do business! But I would have never come to this conclusion had I not first understood WHY calling is even important. All of our businesses play a part in God’s plan for the restoration of his kingdom. We have lost sight of (or never found) this perspective and consequently lost our sense of calling. So, why is knowing your calling important, and what does it mean for your business life? First, understand that there are two types of calling for entrepreneurs: Everyone’s Calling: All of us share a general calling in business – God calls us out of an old, sinful way of leading business into a new, redeemed, and faithful way of interacting in the marketplace so we can be the best example of Christ. My Calling: This type of calling to use the gifts and talents God has given us. For everyone’s calling, all of us are called to be faithful to the Lord in all areas of our lives – including our families, our church, and our nation. Particularly for business, we are called to a new way of running our businesses and faithfulness to our Lord. For each of us individually, all of us are also called to use specific gifts and talents God has given only to us. The bible says "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues." 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 When we are faithful to the entrepreneurial callings God has placed upon our lives, we will experience meaning, significance, and wholeness in our business. If our priorities are messed up, we will not. Calling impacts and orients your business life in a variety of ways: A sense of calling gives you perspective on what your business does. Whether you succeed or fail, you can sustain motivation to your calling if you remain faithful. Calling can keep you from compromising. Sometimes in your business dealings you face the temptation to compromise your values. You may be challenged to act unethically in order to advance against your competition or save money. You are called to be good stewards of your gifts. I Corinthians 12:8-10, Romans 12:6-8, and Ephesians 4:11-13, list various gifts in the body of Christ. Godpreneurs are called to know your gifts and to use them vigorously for his kingdom. Your “natural” gifts are your “created” gifts – given to you by God. The Fall has withered, misdirected, or twisted your natural gifts. However, the Holy Spirit can redirect these gifts to benefit both ministry and marketplace. Don’t expect a “perfect” use of your gifts. You live in a business world that is far from perfect. It’s a long and difficult road of refinement and focus to find the business and position within the business that fully fits your gifts. Even if you could land the perfect market to be in, you would find that it wasn’t perfect because your employees and clients aren’t perfect people. Although you shouldn’t expect perfection, you should strive to be a good steward of the gifts you were given. If we all knew our calling and how it impacts our brands and total business outlook, it would orient us to creating the business possible organization with the best products and services that were suited for us to create. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling

My favorite question to ask my clients looking for branding is: If you could do any job or start any business you wanted to do, you had unlimited time to get further training, unlimited money, and you could not fail, what would you do? According to research, the Barna Group reported in one survey that 75 percent of U.S. adults say they are looking for ways to live a more meaningful life. Only 40 percent of practicing Christians surveyed said they have a clear sense of God’s calling on their lives. I see this every day in my office too, these exact numbers. It’s encouraging to me because it fires me up, even more, to help others find their calling (which happens to be my calling). It’s also cool because I’m witness to a quest for meaning that I see many entrepreneurs going through right now. We all want meaning and significance, it’s just not that easy to uncover on our own. We often feel lost in our businesses, unsure of what God desires for our next move and how we can impact his kingdom through the marketplace. How can we know what God is calling us to do in our business? Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be a fruitless quest. We can find our calling in Entrepreneurship and lead meaningful businesses. The bible says "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work". 1 Corinthians 12:4‭-‬6 NIV The calling God places on your business reveals itself through prayer, reflection, and trusted input from friends and relatives. 1. Remember that we are called to be good stewards of our gifts. The Fall can blind us to the very nature of the gifts we have been given, but it is our job to discern our gifts and use them to God’s glory. We need the Spirit’s help and the help of others to gain clarity on how to best use the gifts God has given us. 2. God has made people for every position in the body of Christ. He has also made people for every position on the entrepreneurial flowchart. Some people – relatively few – are made to be CEOs. Some are best as freelancers. Others love to be in business partnerships. Some are made to be inventors. Others love running a small boutique. Remember, you are uniquely made with talents that God specifically entrusted to you. 3. Pay attention to your business history. When discerning your calling, it is helpful to give a thoughtful examination of your business. Note what you have enjoyed doing and feel like you have done well. List at least three illustrations in each period of your life: grade school, junior high, high school, college, post-college. Or do the same exercise but with the last jobs or businesses you had. Then share the details of what you enjoyed with a Godpreneur. Note the following: Any recurring subject matter. What place you play on a team. What kinds of challenges trigger your motivations. How and why you are motivated to learn. What primary gifts you use, and what are the ends and purpose towards which you drive. Paying attention to the way God has created you and finding a wise Christian entrepreneur willing to listen will reap dividends throughout your life as you seek to discover and pursue your calling. Need to meet other Godpreneurs uncovering their calling too? Visit community.dailygodpreneur.com and join the conversation there. Godpreneurs spend time praying for God to reveal his calling in our life. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindMyCalling

I’ve been at this entrepreneurship stuff since 2005. That’s the year I collected my last paycheck and set out on this exciting journey. It wasn’t until 13 years later when I finally realized the definition of success in entrepreneurship. Success is NOT making your first Million Dollars. Succeeding is NOT owning a big multi-national corporation with 100 employees. Finding success is NOT paying off all my college loans. In entrepreneurship, success comes down to one thing: not quitting. We are so easily distracted by what society deems as successful: fancy cars, nice watches, and fat stacks of $100 dollar bills thrown out on a bed to lay in. But all of those things aren’t as powerful as what I’ve discovered to be the anchor of success in business. The Bible says in Jeremiah 23:3-4, “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD. What I’ve come to learn from walking with God and consuming every word from the Bible through the lens of an entrepreneur’s walk is that God gives richer blessings to the Godpreneur that remains faithful. This verse in Jeremiah gives us a good clue: Faithful Godpreneurs will have no fear. Faithful Godpreneurs will lack for nothing. Faithful Godpreneurs will be fruitful. Faithful Godpreneurs will increase. Do you want to feel successful in your business? Stop chasing the things or this world and focus on your obedience to the calling God has called you to: business ownership. If you haven’t quit, if you’re waiting on God, and if you have faith that He will provide, then you are already more successful than 90% of the marketplace. You’re going better than you think you are! We are all interested in increasing. Godpreneurs should all desire to be fruitful – to lend and not borrow. We should not be afraid. God says these blessings come to those who remain faithful and stay the course out of Godpreneurship. No matter what, do not give up on your entrepreneurial dream. Remain faithful, because God promises great blessings to Godpreneurs who stay the course in their business. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs stay faithful, committed, and obedient. #GainConfidence

When I got the inspiration to start my blog for Christian entrepreneurs, I started writing down all of these topics that I could write about. The topics ranged from things I had been through in my business to things I had learned while studying business at Cornell. I also realized that I could write about topics that I personally needed to make improvements on. How? Because I knew that if I was going to teach someone else about it, I’d need to study what the Word had to say about it, learn it for myself, and then be able to guide others. Writing became a way to improve on areas that I needed to work on, too. We Christian bloggers can all move into an entirely new way of life because the blog allows us to work from the inside out as we become more like Him because we’re studying and teaching is Word. A blog allows us to be remade. And the best part is it won’t feel forced! Why? Because we’re asking what He wants us to write about and we’re listening and learning by Him working in us. A blog allows us to do this process continually, because he also won’t reveal every topic all at once. He’s going to drip it out over time, at the right time. God teaches and guides us iteratively, through a process that builds on itself through each blog post we write about our lives. How do we know exactly what to blog about? The bible says: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9 NIV) How you get inspired will be different than everyone else because you’re unique and God wants to use you in a different way than me. But I do know that whatever the topic, when you’re inspired, you have to treat that thought with extraordinary care. You can’t allow it to be forgotten or lost. You need to have a place where you collect them and revisit them. You can Have a Google doc you quickly open that has topics Start a Trello Board with topics Have a journal, or section of your journal, specifically for topics You need to preserve those spirit-led thoughts so you have a complete picture possible of who you are and what God wants to you share with others. So, let’s grab notebook or create a document, one dedicated to the purpose or writing down blog topics (yes, right now!) Let’s record what God’s revealed to us already. Let’s recall moments when we just knew he was speaking to us—maybe a trusted friend asked a question that there’s an answer to; or the story of a particular person in the Bible stood out from all the rest that can be blogged about; or we sensed God showing us something about ourself, in prayer. Gather all of these blog topics. Have a way to add more as more ideas come to mind. Protect and preserve them. Let’s return to them . . . and bless others in the world with them through our Christian blog. #GodpreneurAcademy #BusinessBibleStudy #ChristianBloggers Keys to Successful Christian Blogging In this course, I'll give you some keys God taught me about how to write a successful Christian blog. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

As I write this blog, it’s early morning. I’ve got my glass of water, a cup of coffee, and I’m reclined back in my comfortable chair, legs crossed, and ready to write. I like writing in the morning. There’s a couple of reasons. First, if I don’t do it right away, I won’t do it at all. Second, it sets my heart up to be in a good mood for the rest of the day. Third, I can count on always having the time to write in the morning as long as I wake up early. We all need routine in our lives, especially if we’re going to commit to something. We need work routines, gym routines, eating routines, and of course, writing routines. What’s the perfect routine? And how do we connect to God consistently? That’s up to each of us to uncover individually. God created us uniquely, giving us all the ability to choose what brings us the most joy. Jesus says: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28‭-‬29 NIV) As a Christian blogger, this is your chance to come to Jesus consistently to be relieved of your burdens. The amazing part is that you get to help others at the same time! You were built by God to go to Him consistently. This consistent meeting with God is integral to being a successful helper to others through your blog. God created you to need and receive his loving care so that you could, in turn, love and care for others through your blog. A Christian blog allows us to be restored by him. (Psalms 23:1-6) When we learn to build a routine of meeting with God regularly, we can couple that time with blogging because we’ll be in a state of being abundant. This is where we get filled up, so we can overflow our thoughts and write to our readers. When we receive from God freely, we write freely, and we’re able to write about what we were created to help others with, therefore doing what we were born to do. Therefore, the key to finding the best time and routine to write is uncovered once we figure out the best time and routine to meet with God. If we neglect God time, we neglect the inspiration we need to write. We’re not coming to our creator, and instead, our jars are empty, the gas tank is low, and we aren’t running on all cylinders. And what will happen are we start to take from people rather than overflow into them. So, think about some things. Where is a good place you like to meet with God? Is it your backyard? Is it the parking lot at work? How do you like to sit? Do you like sitting or laying down? Do you like learning from the Bible on your phone, or a physical Bible? Do you like journaling on paper, on your phone, or a tablet? Do you like morning, afternoon while the baby naps, or nighttime? Make a list of things that make you happy. Avoid sad places and things. This list should move your heart, make your heart beat fast, or calm your heart. You should feel at peace. List things that make you feel restored and excite you to connect with God. This allows you to worship him while blogging. Once your list is complete, create a daily or weekly routine of connecting with God and blogging at the same time. #ChristianBloggers #GodpreneurAcademy #BusinessBibleStudy Keys to Successful Christian Blogging In this course, I'll give you some keys God taught me about how to write a successful Christian blog. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account