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 the ...
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, I ...
Justin left teaching to pursue a career in financial services but soon discovered that financial services was not a good fit. Despite Justin’s brief time in financial services, God found ways to use Justin’s abilities. One day, Justin met a widow who had been praying for help with her finances. The account was too small for most financial advisors, but ...
Just when inflation was subsiding, California announced their plan to increase the minimum wage from $16 per hour to $20 for most fast-food restaurant employees. When payroll taxes are added, this will increase restaurant labor costs over 27%. Because businesses exist by making a profit, employees will be laid-off and menu prices will increase. The people impacted the most will ...
When a Kansas City jury delivered a $1.8 billion verdict against the National Association of Realtors’ longstanding commission practices it started a chain reaction. Lawsuits against real estate brokerage firms are surfacing nationally, requiring the real estate industry to take a fresh look at its business model of how buyers and seller’s agents are compensated. In any business, dramatic changes ...
When Kathy and I returned to church, we would throw $5 in the offering plate mostly out of guilt. As our church engagement grew, we began giving about 2% of our income to the church. As I began studying the Bible on tithing, the Holy Spirit began convicting Kathy and I to increase our giving to 10%. Since that time ...
My view on charitable giving was originally limited to giving cash to my church. But when I began accepting donations to UBN, I learned that giving can take different forms. Over the years, we’ve had generous people donate stock, copy machines, IRAs, and even a $20,000 luxury car! Business owners can also donate stock in their businesses, real estate, or ...
Bill’s small-town business was out of cash and owed the IRS a significant amount of money. Without knowing how he could repay such a large sum; Bill had avoided the issue. After a lengthy discussion, I shared with Bill some practical steps to move forward. But the hardest issue was the IRS debt. I urged Bill to call the IRS, ...
When times become lean for small businesses, cash reserves are critical. Business cycles come and go and often leave devastation behind them. Having cash reserves is crucial for surviving those inevitable seasons of drought. If we study history, we can quickly realize that recessions do happen. On average, recessions occur about every seven years. To prepare for these looming downturns, ...
Former Senator Sam Brownback learned the hard way about debanking after opening a bank account for his organization, National Committee for Religious Freedom. The bank closed his account because of its religious nature. Debanking is when a bank closes someone’s account, due to factors that they believe are risky. It has become more common for banks to debank organizations due ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
