In the work world, we often succeed by creating something of value for others. We are rewarded when we identify a need and then create a solution to meet it. We credit success to our efforts. In his book, “On Being a Servant of God,” Warren Wiersbe encourages a different focus when we serve others. Instead of adopting a “manufacturer ...
Michael desired to cash in on some of his gains in his stock portfolio. But if he did, he knew selling stock would trigger significant tax consequences. Michael usually makes a significant cash contribution to UBN at year end, so he decided shrewdly to combine the two transactions by gifting stock instead. The result was Michael avoided paying capital gains ...
The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life conducted a recent study, revealing that 40% of British Christians prefer not to disclose their religious beliefs. More specific to the workplace, only 42% of those surveyed view religion in the workplace positively. The bright spot in this study, however, is the younger generation. Only 30% of the 18- to ...
Recently author, Bob Shank, shared about succession planning with a small group of Kansas City leaders. Bob stated that our choices include lingering, committing larceny, or leaving a legacy. The final and best choice Bob proposed is leaving a legacy. Focusing on what’s best for the future of the organization will lead you to investing in those leaders who follow ...
Years ago, my friend, Mark, with wise counsel, donated 20% of his stock in his family business to a donor advised fund. This action resulted in a significant tax refund that he used to fund God’s work! Furthermore, every year when his company distributed profits, his donor advised fund would receive 20% of the dividends tax-free to give to charity! ...
When I speak with business owners about mission statements, I often hear hesitancy about referencing God in any public statements. Although many know their purpose is to glorify God through their business, they fear proclaiming Him publicly. Some steer the conversation to a famous saying credited to St. Francis of Assisi that says, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use ...
Small business owners know that customers are the life blood of their organization. So knowingly angering one of them is risky. A new friend who owns a martial arts academy took that risk recently. After developing his mission statement and core values, he put them on a plaque by the front door of his business. His mission statement states ...
Jesus was innocent of all charges against him, yet on the original Good Friday, He was whipped, mocked, nailed to a cross and tortured to death. It must have broken Jesus’ heart to realize that most of His disciples scattered in fear, rather than standing with him to the end. Many people who proclaim to be Christians on Sunday also ...
Over the years, I’ve seen many unique strategies implemented by savvy business leaders to leverage their generosity. The first strategy is donating appreciated assets like publicly traded stock to charity. Mike had been giving cash gifts to our ministry when he discovered a better way. He owned some stocks that had appreciated greatly that he considered selling. Instead, Mike donated ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
