The advent of cryptocurrency billionaires and successful tech investors can make us feel like everyone else is obtaining untold riches in weeks, if not days. A sense of “FOMO,” or Fear of Missing Out, can make us feel like maybe we’re not working hard enough or not taking the right risks to get ahead. But God’s economy is different. God’s ...
Prior to 1871, America’s retail stores relied on individual price negotiations with each customer. In October of 1871, Philadelphian merchant and Quaker, John Wanamaker, instituted the one price system. Wanamaker started his department store with a desire to build his store on Christian principles. He created many innovative ideas in alignment with his faith that led to him growing the ...
In this series we’re addressing some root problems of struggling businesses and how to respond. The second common problem is when the economy, or your industry, is in decline. When you’re experiencing an economic downturn, you can assume that your only response is to persevere. But a proactive response is critical. Managing expenses is important, but downturns can be a ...
When I was young, I remember shopping for school clothes. With five kids needing clothes, my mother often used a “layaway” program. We selected the clothes we liked, then she paid a deposit to hold them. From each paycheck, she made payments until we could take our clothes home. This was a debt-free way to make large purchases, but delayed ...
When we catch ourselves putting too much focus on our finances, scripture recommends generosity as a way to restore balance. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians to be a conduit for giving to others as a form of service and gratitude. “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity ...
I was excited when I reached the savings milestone that I had pursued for years. Accumulating those funds felt like fulfillment of Psalm 128:2: “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” But the month I reached that milestone, a significant market drop caused a big loss in my portfolio. Proverbs 23:4-5 came through: “Do ...
If you’ve ever rented a vacation home, you’ve probably experienced the lack of price transparency. You see a reasonable nightly charge, only to discover that as you go through the process, they begin adding hidden service charges and cleaning fees. Last month, the state of California passed a law that requires more transparency in lodging and restaurant fees. The ...
When my wife, Kathy, and I work together on a project we’re a good team. Kathy’s a great catalyst to get a project going, while I make sure all the details and pertinent information is gathered. When we were receiving bids on a home project, Kathy secured multiple bids. But before the final selection I asked to see all ...
In the mid-1990s, I started a consulting practice. I started hearing about this new sensation called the internet. Everyone began talking about “websites.” Having America as my prospect list instead of just Kansas City seemed like a great idea. Eventually, I hired a company to build a website for my business. I lost my investment in that website when ...
As a young impatient professional, at times I strived to get rich quickly. This led to foolish decisions that set me back rather than forward. An activity that exceeded my expectations, however, was when a stockbroker talked me into investing $25 per month into a mutual fund. As a teenager, it was painful at times, especially during college. But, ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
