In my new book, “Unconventional Business,” I identify five steps towards developing a healthy ethical culture. The final step is to “Make periodic assessments and adjustments.” A company I consulted with had a fairly strong culture. Subsequently, a partner of the business left and took many customers and employees with him. This change devastated the culture of the organization and ...
My friend, Ron, admitted that he still constantly strives to prove himself. He constantly works to expand his business, even when he doesn’t have the time and doesn’t need the money. Realizing this was a form of bondage, Ron chose to shrink his business and his stress. Then the true test came. His largest client offered him a significant new ...
When I have a project that needs done, I have wrestled with the tendency to think about how I’m going to do it. An effective leader, however, considers who’s best to do that job, and then releases it and empowers them. God created the animals, birds, and fish and could have managed them perfectly. Yet, Psalm 8:4-6 teaches, “What is ...
This week we’re talking about seeking God first. Establishing and maintaining proper priorities is a critical first step. When I began a biblically-centered consulting practice, I knew God had called me to that work. Therefore, in my mind, putting God first meant keeping that business alive, regardless of cost. My wife viewed the business as my mistress, but I stubbornly ...
At a conference I attended last year, I heard Doug McMillon, CEO of Wal-Mart, discuss some thoughts on navigating the conflicts in his family and work calendars. For him, he decided early on to attend his children’s activities as frequently as possible. Imagine having to choose between a business meeting impacting billions of dollars, and his son’s sporting event. A ...
There have been seasons when I’ve been so busy serving God that I haven’t had time to listen to God. Like many leaders I can obsess about tasks or performance, thinking I’m doing what God desires. But what if God had a different agenda for me that day, and I didn’t stop to ask? Times like this remind me of ...
At a Christian business conference an entrepreneur asked the panel of leaders, “Isn’t it better for me to forgo tithing right now to grow the business faster? Then I’ll be able to give even more later.” It seemed that this entrepreneur believed he could get a better return on the company’s money than God can. In Malachi 3:10, God said, ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
