My first job after college was with a large CPA firm. After my first performance review and raise, I decided I deserved a reward. So, I bought a new Chevrolet Monte Carlo, borrowing every dime the bank would lend. The net result was my monthly car payment far exceeded my monthly pay increase. I parlayed prosperity into poverty. Corporate America seems to ...
Bill Gates once stated at a TED conference that his most fulfilling act has been to establish The Giving Pledge. Mr. Gates has encouraged at least 120 of the wealthiest people in the world to give away at least half of their wealth. These wealthy philanthropists are discovering causes to which they are pledging large sums of money. True generosity ...
One of the unconventional concepts in the Bible is generosity. Imagine when the Israelites first learned of God’s requirement to give the first ten percent of their harvest to God. I can imagine one of these farmers saying, “Let me get this right. I planted seeds, cultivated the ground and worked hard to harvest my crops and, now, that I’ve ...
A recent article from the Small Business Chronicles states, “cash scarcity is common for small businesses.” Due to capital expenditures, supply chain disruptions, competitive labor costs and more, cash flow in many cases can be lean. When things get tight, there may be a temptation to withhold paying what is due. Proverbs 11:24 says, “One gives freely, yet grows all ...
An article by Small Business Trends claims, “a bit more than half of all startups actually survives to their fourth year.” With this staggering statistic, it is no wonder that the initial years of a start up business can feel like a drought financially, emotionally and spiritually. A season of financial drought can mask the fruit that is growing in ...
At the time of writing this article, unemployment claims hit a 50-year low. There are now more jobs available than we have people to fill them. With strong employment it would be a great time for consumers to pay down their debt, freeing themselves from bondage. Instead, the American Banker claims household debt hit a record high exceeding $13.5 trillion ...
While coaching a young entrepreneur I was reminded of several common mistakes made by new business owners. The third most common mistake I’ve encountered is “the lack of a clear purpose.” When one starts out in business, the pursuit of cash is so pressing that many entrepreneurs do whatever job that pays the bills. This practice expands the original business ...
While coaching a young entrepreneur, I was reminded of several common mistakes made by new business owners. The second mistake I see frequently is inadequate bookkeeping. For many business owners, bookkeeping and administration is a bother. New business owners often intermingle personal and business monies in the same checking account. Some rarely keep track of their income and expenses, and ...
While coaching a young entrepreneur recently, I was reminded of several common mistakes made by new business owners. The first mistake I’ve seen many times is the impact of taxes on a small business. When you collect money from customers, it’s easy to assume it’s all yours. But it’s not all your money! The biggest mistake for many is to ...
Recently, I met with a retired businessman. While discussing his future this man shared, “I’ve made enough money to care for my wife and I, my kids, and my grandkids for their lifetime.” He continued, “God’s made it clear that He wants me to give away my excess to advance God’s kingdom.” Jesus told a parable about a rich man ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
