In college, I didn’t like my finance and accounting classes. I probably didn’t like them because I wasn’t good at them. I barely scraped by to knock those classes off my list of requirements, knowing I would NEVER become an accountant or be in the financial planning industry. After college, I started my business, and accounting wasn’t my priority. But since I was the “ivy league” graduate of my partners, I took on the accounting myself. I figured since I had just learned it in college, I was the best of the 3 of us. Instead of hiring a bookkeeper or paying for monthly accounting service, I decided I would do it all myself to save money. After all, how hard could this be – it’s not like we were a billion-dollar company. A few years into my company, it came time to files for taxes. I met with a Certified Public Accountant, and he broke the worst news I had ever heard – I owed $15,000 to the IRS in payroll taxes that I had not been paying. I was devastated. The accountant told me that I shouldn’t be trying to do things on my own, especially in an area I’m not good at. That day I sucked up my pride and hired the accountant’s monthly bookkeeping and financial advising services. We all need help in certain parts of our businesses. There are tasks that we need guidance with, but our ego or pride doesn’t let us ask for help. Sure, there are things we can save money on by doing ourselves at the beginning of the business, but the least we could do is ask for guidance, read a book, or follow tutorials. We have to be smart enough to realize this journey wasn’t meant to be walked alone. One problem entrepreneurs can experience is that we think we need to know and do everything on our own since we’re the owners – or else we’d be seen as unqualified to be a business owner. We think that owning a business means we should know it all, so we don’t ask for the help and guidance we need. But doing things on our own is NOT how God designed us. In fact, in the most famous preaching ever given, Jesus tells us that our entire spiritual walk hinges on the concept of humble dependence – our need for God. The bible says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NIV) When Jesus says, “poor in spirit,” he’s talking about people who have come to understand that without God, they are nothing. In other words, the people that are humble enough to admit that they don’t have it all together and need help are the ones that will be blessed. So how does this apply to your journey as a Godpreneur? It’s a blessing for you and your business when you recognize you are in need of God’s grace, you are spiritually bankrupt, and you’re a sinner that will take the whole business down if left on your own. Your realization of this danger to your life is what turns you to God because you realize you can’t do what you’re born to do without Him. One of Jesus’ steps to achieving greatness in business is to have total dependence on God. When you are in a mindset of dependence, it humbles you, and you see that you’re not as good in certain areas as you might think. We stop pretending to be someone we’re not. We get off our throne and let God take His rightful place in our businesses. I could imagine how hard it must have been for my accountant or my partners to work with me, Mr. Know-it-all. I wasn’t willing to learn, grow, or accept correction because I was trying to maintain the inflated image of myself I created because I graduated from an Ivy League school. When I started my journey with God and realized that there was so much more to learn about business, even after graduating college, that’s when I finally humbled myself and committed to being a student again, depending on my new professor – God. When we realize our dependence on God, that’s when He brings a resource into your business that will help. This can come in the form of a person, a new tool, or a resource. Even Jesus, when he started working as a carpenter, must have needed guidance and instruction. God must have brought resources around him to make that happen. We Godpreneurs need to acknowledge that when God is at work within us, we can put Jesus’ teachings into practice across all the areas of our businesses. In a marketplace full of powerful business people, it may seem like a weakness to be dependent on God. This is a lie the enemy wants us to think. The Godpreneur that’s more likely to be successful will be the instills a culture of dependence on God and each other to break through barriers and achieve greatness. As Jesus eludes to, a humble Godpreneur is the first characteristic mark of companies that achieve sustained greatness. Of course, the marketplace is full of entrepreneurs that are stuck in a state of inflated self-appraisal and self-promotion. Instead of being envious, our hearts have to break for them. This is even more of a reason we need to show our dependence on God – so we can be a light in the marketplace and display Jesus’ characteristics and influence others to turn their dependence on God too. Let’s pray. Lord, be merciful to all of us Godpreneurs – sinners ministering in our marketplaces. We recognize our need for help. Please help us to be more humble and have a true view of ourselves in our businesses. We thank you in advance for the greatness we will achieve as we do Your will through our products and services. Amen! #LaunchingMyBusiness #NewEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy Jesus’s 8 Steps For Achieving Greatness in Business Achieving greatness starts when we learn about humble dependence on God and trust that He will always bring new resources into our business. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

I witnessed a lot of miracles in my business. I could write blog posts for days on this, but the best ones I remember came in the area of finances in my business. There would be times when we needed to make payroll and by some miraculous way, a client that owed money for a long time ends up paying the day we needed it. This happened a lot! I understand that it's difficult to think straight with looming bills and uncertainty. We all have a tendency to forget the miraculous ways God has worked in our businesses. In the midst of difficult circumstances, we doubt Him instead of focusing on His faithfulness in the past. Ultimately, this lack of trust could potentially cost us the privilege of leading a team and having a successful business. God can shut us down unless we learn to trust God. Do you really trust God? Most of us find it much easier to trust when things are going well, but when things are difficult, our faith in Him can be tested. In these times, it is important to remember when God sustained your business through difficulties. I think about the times sitting down with the accountant who is trying to figure out where monies will come from. My faith was strong, and I would tell them that my God comes through for me. The next week I’m smiling at the meeting because God came through. Psalms 143:5 says “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” Remembering those faith stories will help your business maintain an attitude towards God that is positive and anticipatory. #GainConfidence

I started out my company with 2 other partners. Along the way we made deals with 7 other people to take pieces of the company in exchange for shares in the company. The money was very enticing. We got a new office on South Beach, new computers, hired a lot of employees. It felt good to be in control and growing an agency! But after a while in business, I began to notice that we all believed in different things and wanted to go in different directions. They had their own lives and goals, I had mine.  They had their own ethics, morals, standard and habits while I had developed different ones. This became a wedge that split the relationships. As entrepreneurs, the idea of partnerships and investor money sounds so great to us. We get more help, and we feel like a real business ready for the NASDAQ! But what happens when the excitement of the beginning partnership fades away and people start being real. What happens if half way through your business you have a spiritual awakening that changes every way you handle business? God only has one solution for us…. Proverbs 6:1-5 says, "Dear friend, if you’ve gone into hock with your neighbor or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger, If you’ve impulsively promised the shirt off your back and now find yourself shivering out in the cold, Friend, don’t waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess. You’re in that man’s clutches! Go, put on a long face; act desperate. Don’t procrastinate— there’s no time to lose. Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper!" Over the next 6 years God disassembled the entire team, removing anyone and everyone that I could be unequally yoked with. In November 2014 the final remnants of the past were totally removed, and now God had a clean slate to work with. Now I wait on God for pretty much everything and every partnership opportunity in my business. I patiently wait for God to open up doors to walk through instead of forcing myself in. I don’t just hire any regular Joe off the street or partner with the next guy who has a great idea. I make sure God brought the circumstances for that person to be there. You might be in a bad partnership.  ou might owe money you borrowed.  Pray for God to create the circumstances to get out and focus all attention on the opportunity that will free you from this. Imagine if we all just waited patiently for the plans God already created for us to succeed?  But in order for that to come to pass, we must be emptied of our past. Godpreneur Rule #67: Patiently wait on God for your partnerships and He will give you results greater than you could have done on your own. #HiringtheRightPeople #BusinessPartnerships

Back in 2014, I received a letter from the attorney of one of my clients saying my company was being named as a party in a lawsuit. The letter threatened that I could be sued for millions because of our involvement in their lawsuit. I was so afraid. Where was I going to pull money like this from? How was I going to pay the legal fees to help me defend myself from this terrible situation? I called some lawyer friends. Some suggested I send a letter. Others suggested that I needed to shut down my operations. Others said I need to hire an attorney to represent me. Finally, one of my friends and brother Christ told me that I just needed to do NOTHING. He said that these things usually settle in court and that chances are, I won’t hear about it again. I took his advice, but the letters kept coming, and I kept getting more and more afraid that I’d be bankrupt and be forced to shut down my operations. But then I listened to a great sermon that talked about putting my trust in God, and that He is our great defender! I started repeating this to myself over and over. Each new lawsuit updated letter came in, I’d look at it and say “God is my defender, I did nothing wrong here, God will vindicate me and guide me to move forward.” It’s been years since I received any information about this. It’s almost as if the entire thing went way. Not a peep. We Entrepreneurs are always faced with challenges that will test our trust in our great defender. We might be waiting for a huge financial break. God will guide us. We might be in the middle of a huge fight with our business partners. God will protect us. We might have lost our direction and need to center ourselves again in our calling. God will guide us. But what do we do when we’re trying to find a way to trust God, but it’s more difficult said than done? If you’re like me, this is sometimes the difficulty we face; mustering up the trust to keep pressing on. Listen, trusting God isn’t easy at first, but it will be necessary for staying on track in our businesses for the rest of our lives. The Bible says: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you". Psalms 56:3 NIV When you’re afraid in your business, your flesh naturally wants to kick into survival mode. Do the UN-natural thing: trust God. There is no other way to fight fear than with the fear of God Himself. I’ve learned to associate the feeling of being afraid and fear to other thoughts that serve me and my business positively. Memorize verses of Trust – This is a great verse to associate to when faced with an unknown situation in business: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV). For a Godpreneur, there’s nothing stronger to fight the enemy of fear and doubt that the Word of God in the name of Jesus. Repeat Affirmations – another tactic I use is to repeat over and over “I trust in God’s process.” When you begin to repeat it enough times, you start to internalize it and believe it. Remember the Past – the only way these works is if you document all the times you trusted in God, and He came through for you! In times of difficulty, I often go back to my list of accomplishments and sprinkled in there are victories that came about because I trusted in God. When we’re shouldering deep in our business struggle, and we’re having to wait for something, trust that God will protect, defend and guide you. Imagine if all Godpreneurs trusted in God’s process as we grow our businesses. Imagine a world of people praising God, even as we wait because God hasn’t brought us through yet. Godpreneurs turn to God in our fear. Godpreneurs call out to Him when the trust is fading. Godpreneurs put our trust in Him; He gives us peace in our businesses. God wants to honor that kind or trust and He will not forsake our business ventures. There’s nothing stringer for our entrepreneurial career that God’s almighty promise to protect us, defend us, and guide us. #BusinessBibleStudy #GainConfidence #SharpenLeadership #FindMyCalling

I’ve been doing CrossFit since 2010. Beyond the physical pain, I’ve also grown in my mindset through the workouts. Lessons like discipline, competition, finishing strong, pacing, focusing, dieting, and more! One skill that I’ve seen serve me well time and time again is RESTING while in the middle of a workout. I’m not talking about a long rest, so the clock expires. I’m talking about short rest to regroup, reset, take a breather, get back up, and hit it hard again. If I go, go, go, then I’m going to burn out and not be able to finish. But when I rest for a moment and take in a deep breath, I can see clearly and attack the workout once again. In our businesses, especially while we’re launching our new idea, we could start out enthusiastically with a lot of fire and energy. The momentum begins to build as excitement for calling being released to the world builds. But if we’re not careful to rest, fatigue could get creep into the mind, and we stop seeing straight. We begin to make the wrong decisions because we don’t have enough oxygen (holy spirit) running through our bodies. We start to tap into our own strength (never a good idea) instead of staying hooking on God’s GPS. The enemy of “business” can disguise himself as productivity, and before you know it, we’ve exhausted ourselves, our vendors, and our team. But God’s word should give us hope that rest is actually something we need to discipline ourselves to do. In Psalms, King David writes: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name". (Psalms 23:1‭-‬3 NLT) When you’re a sheepherder, you purposefully stop your flock and go by one by one and make sure they sit down. Some go down without a fight, others are stubborn and still, want to run around. They eventually rest because of the good shepherd that cares for their long-term health and knows there’s a long journey ahead. You need to take a day of the week (Sundays?) and close up shop. Physically and mentally, we need to sit down and rest. I love Chick-fil-A because that’s the exact reason they close on Sundays. For 6 days they place is a madhouse. On the 7th day, they all rest. The Bible says: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord , will keep me safe". (Psalms 4:8 NLT) Maybe you’ve never experienced true “rest.” Maybe you’re reading this and thinking “are you kidding me, I can’t turn my brain off.” Trust me, I go through it too. Jesus says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT). You need more rest, but don’t focus on that, focus on the reality that you need more Jesus. God wants us Godpreneurs to rest. When we rest, it allows us to replenish our physical, mental, and emotional strength that keeps us fighting the battle of bringing our callings in business to life. Just as a good mother cares for their kids and makes them take a nap, God cares for us business owners. He knows the journey that lies ahead for us and the holy spirit with nudging us when it’s time to rest for a moment. Taking a rest break from “launch mode” doesn’t mean we are losing ground; it just means we are getting prepared for the journey ahead into greater things for our businesses. #BusinessBibleStudy #EnhanceFocus

In my studying of “giving” as a Christian Entrepreneur, I learned that giving wasn’t always about giving money. Sure, some people were compelled to give money, but many were giving property, crops, wagons, clothes, food, etc. The famous Bible verses that are used at the time of the collection in our church don’t mention what kind of gifts we should give. For example, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬7 NIV) Nowhere in 2 Corinthians 8 or 9 does Paul mention anything about money. It’s all about giving a gift with the right ATTITUDE and MINDSET. See, giving isn’t about giving money. Giving is about developing the attitude of understanding that God’s given us something, and we should want to give that to the world. For some, giving will come in the form of Money. And not because they feel guilty about giving, but because God has moved their spirit to want to contribute towards something amazing. For others of us entrepreneurs, giving will be about giving our services or products because they will benefit a need. We can also give free resources, ebooks, blog post teachings, and video courses so we can share with the world what God has given us as specialized knowledge in our field. And when we give, we get back. It’s the law of reproduction. When a farmer plants a banana tree, it produces bananas. That’s the law. And when I plant that one banana sprout, it produces dozens of other bananas. That’s the law of multiplication. We know reproduction and multiplication are gifts from God because when Jesus gave himself to us, he reproduced himself in the disciples, and it multiplied to millions everywhere. We’ve been talking about the 21 Laws of Money Management for Christian Entrepreneurs, and most of the laws are all about mindset and attitude. The mindset of the cheerful giver has an incredible impact on our financial management as we seek to be stewards of God’s gifts over our lives. The bible says "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." (Proverbs 11:24 NIV) The most financially successful entrepreneurs out there have been people who have figured out that they need to give something to receive more of it. They give of their time, knowledge, products, services, and yes, sometimes money, because they are doing it out of love and charity, not out of obligation or guilt. I believe that if we Godpreneurs going to be great financial managers, we need to make sure we have our attitudes and mindset about giving in line with how God wants us to think. He wants us to give as much value as we can to the marketplace. The more you can give, the more will come back, and multiplied! Godpreneur Money Rule #11: Godpreneurs are cheerful givers – we sow generously and reap generously. #BusinessBibleStudy #SharpenLeadership #ShareYourTestimony The 19 Rules of Money Management for Christian Entrepreneurs This course will help you develop a better sense of money management God’s way. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

Albert Einstein said: “My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.” That’s exactly how I felt as I began my relationship with God. I graduated Cornell University with a Business, Economics and Marketing degree. I thought I was the wisest man in the world. I started my own business shortly after college and began to take on really big clients and partnerships almost immediately. It wasn’t until 3 years into entrepreneurship that I started going back to church to begin my relationship with God as an adult. One of the first things I discovered about myself was that I had other things in the “first place” position in my business life. Things like money, partying, and notoriety were at the top of my list. So I made the switch. I put God first in my business. The craziest stuff started happening. First off, I started reading business books again. Once I had graduated college, I thought all of that was over. Nope. The spirit was moving me to educate myself more, humble myself to knowing that I don’t know anything at all. Secondly, I started attending a monthly business growth group where we learned the latest and greatest in “what’s working” strategies for growing a business. I believe the spirit was moving me to be in community and grow with others. The Bible says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine." Proverbs 3:5‭-‬10 NLT After God took care of my pride of wisdom, he was then able to reveal to me that not even those things are as important in my business as helping others find God. I can’t be revealed newer and greater things until I’ve been revealed other smaller things that I needed in order to truly understand and appreciate higher level thought. And I look forward to 10 years from now looking back to today and saying “wow, I know so much more now!” I have found God in my business. He has been searching for me all my entrepreneurial career. God was a gentleman and didn’t barge in. I invited him in. Then, through wisdom and understanding, we developed an intimacy and friendship beyond the superficial level. I now have an intimacy with God in my business. One that allows me to trust Him to look out for my best interests so I don’t have to. Granted, I still struggle with establishing priorities and sticking to them. But I wake up every morning with the Bible in my hand, ready to receive and subsequently share a message to Godpreneurs because I have articulated this priority in my life. The wisdom of Proverbs indicates that if God is at the top, every other aspect of my business life will fall into place. I have put this promise to the test in my own business and can vouch for its reliability. God always keeps His word. I will fail, but He never fails. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs Decide to put God ahead of everything else in our business life. #FindMyCalling #FindingMyPurpose

Gaining wisdom is at the top of my to do list on a daily basis.  Having insight and understanding is the most important role I have as a Godpreneur.  It’s this knowledge that provides me the intuition to innovate and constantly be seeking a better way to serve my clients. Where does my wisdom come from?  Experience is one place.  Remembering what I went through can guide me to where I’m going. But the most important wisdom I get is from God himself.  I sit down each morning with my bible and seek out his wisdom on how I should run my business (and my life of course). As a Godpreneur, I’m learning to not overcomplicate my life.  I’ve had to un-complicate things because so many distractions threaten to take me off my focus on the fundamentals of the owning a business. And because my business is involved in Kingdom guided work, I strive to do things right and start with the fundamentals. How do I put God first so that everything falls into place? It starts with humbling myself and admitting that God is the CEO and you are the President. He calls the plays and I execute them—sometimes over and over again, always learning more about God and myself. And you keep at it, always reminding myself that the CEO of heaven and earth has a perspective of my business that I’ll never have. I have 3 priorities in life God Family Business In that order, I’m able to keep my priorities straight and it makes me truly successful at what I do. The bible says These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. Proverbs 1:1‭-‬9 NLT Business is not a game of chance for me; it is serious kingdom work and the stakes are eternally high. I must start with the fundamentals. Godpreneur Rule: Godpreneurs start with the fundamentals and stick with them. #EnhanceFocus

There's the way the world does business, and there's God's way. How do you grow a successful, profitable, meaningful God-first business? You have to learn what the Bible says about your entrepreneurial journey and apply it to every business situation. This devotional guides high-achieving Christian entrepreneurs who want an efficient formula for drawing closer to God, improving their Bible reading habits, AND grow their businesses God's way. Plan Devotional Here TAKE PLAN HERE #BusinessBibleStudy

I am a “seeing is believing” kinda guy. I grew up in the Catholic church but didn’t continue after high school. I spent all of my university life and into my late 20s totally away from any kind of relationship with God because I didn’t see Him in anything I was doing. He wasn’t relevant. His power wasn’t present. I was large and in charge and taking the reigns of my future. I didn’t see God anywhere in my college life, so I didn’t believe. I started my business as a non-Christian. My buddies and I got together to start a web and graphic design company. Things were great. We made a bunch of money and had tons of fun…without God. Life was good. I didn’t see God anywhere in my business life, so I didn’t believe. Then, my mother tells me to read a book called “The Secret” and my mind was opened up to an “unseen” world of power that’s all around us. Shortly thereafter, a friend shares the gospel with me and explained that this power has been there all along and we have access to it 24/7 and that God is the source of that power. And around the same time, a girlfriend of mine invites me to church and something stirred deep within my soul and I felt that this was the life I wanted to live. I began to see God in everything in my personal life, so I began to believe. A few years into my walk with Christ is when I realized that my business was an extension of myself and it was also in need of saving – my business needed Jesus to be in charge. It was the only area I had not let God fully control. It’s like I was holding on to a piece of my dark past. But the conviction was too great and I finally let it go to God. That’s when my business was completely transformed and I uncovered my true calling in business and in life. I began to see God in everything in my business life, and I believed even more! My faith went on fire! Jesus can save us personally and professionally. We entrepreneurs are really good at separating business from our personal life, but Jesus wants it all. I believe that there are Christian entrepreneurs out there that have given their personal life to God but haven’t surrendered their business lives. I know this is true because I was one of them. Maybe you don’t believe God can come into your business. Maybe you think it’s easier for others, but there’s no way God would care about you’re doing. The bible says Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 NIV) Not seeing Jesus, and yet believing is a blessing from God. If you’re being convicted of sin in your business and the spirit is showing you the truth about Jesus being able to take control of your business, then let’s pray to save your business and turn it over to God. Pray this with me. Say: Lord Jesus, You are Son of the living God. You saved me and you save my business too. You mediate between me and God and you provide me the perfect example of how to lead my business. You offered yourself for the sins of my business and take that guilt from me. You are sinless and rose from the dead and are seated at the right hand or the father and are CEO over my business. Today, I repent of the sins I’ve committed in my business. I repent of the pride of ownership I have in trying to lead and fix everything on my own. I repent of looking at my products and services to save me. You alone can rescue me. I believe you lived, died, and rose to save me and my business from sin and death and replace it with passion, purpose, and a calling to witness you through my products and services. Jesus, I desire to lose my business to find a true venture in you. I place my faith in my business in you. Impart your power in my business so that I can Triumph over the enemy that doesn’t want me in my calling. I want to walk in my “Born to Do” identity. Empower me and my business for your mission to be a minister in my marketplace and that my products and services would witness to all nations that you are Lord over all. My friend, if you prayed this prayer, then I believe you’ve saved your business and are ready for Godpreneurship! Make sure you keep Jesus at the center of it all, read the Bible every morning before starting your business day, and get in a good Bible-based church. Welcome to being a Godpreneur. #BusinessBibleStudy #NewEntrepreneurs #GodpreneurAcademy

I have a gift from God to analyze and rationalize my business ideas. I can put business plans together quickly. I can launch a company in 2 days! But this strong rational mind can also get me into trouble because I take control, act on my behalf, and sometimes trick myself into doing or NOT doing something. In the years since I started personally developing myself and my relationship with God, I realized that everything is controlled in the MIND. The reasons I launch or fail to launch will all come from my mind, therefore working on my mindset becomes one of the most important parts of my walk with God. We Godpreneurs have a gift from God to use our minds in amazing ways. It can be a strength because it helps us come up with the idea. It can also be our weakness because we have strongholds that bring in fear, doubt, and resistance. If we’re going to launch a new endeavor, we need to learn how to use the gift of the mind in a new way… God’s way. How do we learn how to properly apply our minds to our entrepreneurial ventures so that we can succeed? The bible says: Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.(Romans 8:5‭-‬8 NIV) Your mind is your biggest partner in launching and growing your business. But the Bible warns several times that there’s spiritual warfare going on between your ears that needs careful attention. Notices in this Bible verse from the book of Romans the emphasis on the mind being governed. Your mind is either governed by yourself, or by God. This truth will make all the difference in overcoming things that are preventing you from expanding your mind into new territories in business. How do we renew our minds? The frustrating part is that you can’t READ your way to a better understanding of God. Head knowledge won’t change anything. What we need to do is continue to develop a very personal relationship with God. The more real God becomes in our hearts produces more love we gain for God, which develops our faith, which makes it easier to launch into the unknown. Now that we know our minds play the biggest part in overcoming barriers to launching our business ideas, we have to take on the mindset that there’s a spiritual battle going on for control of our minds and we need to suit up for war. If we partner with the spirit, we can heal our minds of anything holding us back. The spirit gives our minds power, love, and self-disciple (2 Timothy 1:7). A mind turned over to God will be the weapon that will give us the mental discipline to let God lead us into entrepreneurial expansion. We need to surrender our minds to God. It’s hard for us Godpreneurs who crave knowledge and need to understand everything we’re doing, but we need to surrender our minds to God like we surrendered our lives to Jesus. We need to submit and be responsive to guidance. Imagine if all of us Godpreneurs laid down our minds at God’s feet for His service in the marketplaces we’ve been called to?! Our minds may have gotten us far in life, and now God wants to take it to places it could have never gone alone. #BusinessBibleStudy #LaunchingMyBusiness #GodpreneurAcademy Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea Join Us on a 12-Days Business Bible Plan to learn Overcoming Obstacles to Launching Your Idea. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

All the major financial teachers out there recommend to take 10% of your income and put it into an “education account.” Like tithing and saving, personal development through education is an essential component of solid financial management. I’m guilty of spending money on things that comfort me instead of educating me and make me wiser. I’ll easily purpose to save money to go to Disney World, but I won’t intentionally save money to go to a business conference. We all do this. We easily spend money on things that comfort us, but it’s a chore to invest in something that will make us wiser. But if we want to grow our character and truly make God first in our businesses, we need to grow wiser. The Bible shows us that it’s wiser to invest in our personal growth. "Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well." (Proverbs 23:23 NIV) God wants you to take some of your money and invest it into yourself and your spiritual growth. It’s why the major financial teachers have you take 10% of your income and put it into an education account. This could be used for attending seminars, buying books, taking courses, and joining membership platforms like GodFirst.Biz to increase your knowledge of business AND God. “Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 God wants you to educate yourself ALWAYS, even after college is over. I’m part of a monthly group of Godpreneurs that gathers to talk about “what’s working now” strategies in our businesses and our walk with God. The investment in time into attending and being part of the group counts towards my education fund. I also pay for monthly subscriptions to 2 different online membership platforms that help me to grow in specific business areas I lack in. We can’t become the Christian business owners God wants us to be without investing time and resources into leveling up our skills and education. When we Godpreneurs invest in anything that helps us grow, we’re telling that our mind is set on knowing and growing closer to Him. He blesses that obedience and brings more resources and opportunities around us. Godpreneur Money Rule #12: Godpreneurs become to God wants us to be by investing in ourselves, and God smiles because we use our money the right way. #BusinessBibleStudy #DifferentiatingMyself #BecomeDisciplined #SharpenLeadership The 19 Rules of Money Management for Christian Entrepreneurs This course will help you develop a better sense of money management God’s way. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

While finishing dinner at Olive Garden with my wife, it came time to pay the check. Our server comes back with the bill and a handful of Andes mint chocolates, my wife’s favorite! Normally you’re only supposed to get two, one for each person. My server J.P. brought us like 8 little magical delights of delicious, minty goodness. My wife asked her: “wow, so many??” To which J.P responded, “I like to give more.” She probably broke the company policy of giving one candy per person, but her giving nature got the best of her and she was compelled to give more. I haven’t forgotten about that experience at Olive Garden. I haven’t forgotten about J.P.’s generosity. As entrepreneurs, sometimes we’ve been conditioned to only give clients what they paid for and not a drop more. We’re trained to watch the bottom line, not let customers ‘take advantage’ of us, and keep costs low and profits high. But if we’re smart about things, being generous can create a sticky moment for our brand. Like the fact that I can’t forget my Olive Garden experience, we should look to create unforgettable generous moments in our businesses. The Bible says: One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray Godʼs blessing on the one who is willing to sell. Proverbs 11:24‭-‬26 NIV If you are not generous by nature, ask God to change your heart and add members to your team who are strong where you are weak. Then empower them to be generous on your behalf. Effective entrepreneurs strive to be generous with others. We understand the boomerang effect of generosity—it always comes back to us. Godpreneur Rule: Work to develop a generous heart in your business and in doing so, give to yourself. #SharpenLeadership

To talk about attracting money into our business, we first have to talk about giving. Why? It’s the natural order of things. To receive fruit from a tree, a farmer must give seed to the soil and toil the land. It’s the same way in business. I’ve also experienced that to receive from my clients, I must first give them something of value whether it’s my time, a free resource, or educational information. When I do this, it makes my customer more likely to give me their business. I’ll admit that I was one of those guys that didn’t take giving seriously. It was a combination of lies that I told myself like, I don’t have enough to offer, I have my bills to pay, and maybe next month I’ll throw a few bucks in. It wasn’t until I started giving from my business that I realized how stingy and greedy I was. I saw how selfish I had become, and how diametrically opposed my mindset was to the way God wanted me thinking. What I learned was that God wasn’t interested in my money, but instead, he has commanded me to give so that my heart would never be attached to the money of my business, but instead to serving others. You see, God wants to be the one to support us on our entrepreneurial journey. Our products and services are meant to support others, not us. God gets the credit for filling our bank account, not our clients. But we can’t come to that understanding without completely disconnecting our minds from the selfishness that money draws out of us. Listen, tithing and donations are all a touchy subject. It’s touchy because it’s the biggest tool the enemy uses to divide us from God…because money could be the biggest tool God can use in your business to do the most good in the world for His kingdom. You might be thinking, “But Alex, I can’t even pay for a website, how can I afford to give?” Listen, you’re not alone. We’re not alone. We entrepreneurs all go through the same issue of not having a stable income. It seems easier for the 9-5 guy to give because he’s only got to give from his account, and he can easily calculate the amount and have it automatically deducted. Us entrepreneurs sometimes don’t have that luxury, especially when the credit card company would like to get their payment…FIRST. Maybe you do have it all together in your finances and you’re a regular giver at your church, but you want to learn how God wants you to steward your money in your business so you can attract more of it in. The lesson is the same for both the giver and inconsistent giver: If you want to attract more, you must give more. Now wait, before you send your guilty tithe into your church, you have to understand the types of giving there are and some commandments on giving. In my studying to prepare for this touchy subject, I too learned the Bible explains four types of giving that we, including our businesses, can offer directly related to our finance departments: alms, first fruits, offering and the tithe. Each type of giving we do has a return to yourself and our businesses. The commandments for each are important to understanding because these are non-negotiables, especially the tithe and first-fruits. When we really understand these, then our mindsets will be ready to attract more because, in the end, if you want more, you must give more. The ROI of Tithing to Your Church Tithing (giving of 10% to your church) shows God your obedience and that your money isn’t really yours, you’re simply managing it for Him while you’re here. He takes the 90% you keep and blesses that to do more than the 100% would have. The bible says "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10 NIV)" The way I see it, tithing is a weekly reminder that the money my business produces is not mine and that I need to be careful I how I manage it (budgeting) and what I spend the rest on (financing). And since tithing is what supports the church and its growth, my tithing encourages me to go out and get more business so I can bring more to the church (investment). Grow an Area of Your Business with an Offering While tithing helps you in your budgeting and financing departments, offerings cover sales and marketing. Let me explain the way I see it. We come out with products and services. We work hard to research, develop and market them. God opening rewards those efforts of your business when you give offerings. Giving an offering is us recognizing a specific thing in our business is totally out of our control and in God’s hands, and it implies, whatever resource is sown-the giver shall see a return of 30, 60, or 100-fold. When we entrepreneurs participate in an offering, we must have something we’re asking God to reward; a new partnership, a new marketing campaign, or a big proposal you pitched. Giving is a spiritual act but it translates to the natural through the demand for your efforts. The bible says "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV By giving an offering, you are purposing your money to a specific thing and so you give with a cheerful heart. This is setting up your mindset for victory and receiving abundantly from that act. Your mind and heart are ready for the success of that business move you’re asking for blessings over. So, tithing is an act of obedience and offering is an act of letting go and letting God. We must know the difference because it directly affects all of the cash flow in our businesses. What First Fruits Can Your Business Bring to the Table? Imagine you’re a farmer. You’ve invested all the money and time in hopes of a good crop so that you can go and sell it, make your money back and some profit as well. Since you’ve invested all you got into the crop, you’re probably very excited when the first fruits come out because you get to go and sell it and start paying some bills, maybe take your spouse out for dinner from all the hard work you’ve just put in. Not so fast! The bible says "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9‭-‬10 NIV God is asking the farmer to bring the first part of his crops to the church, not sell it at the market right away. Why? It’s another mindset training. When we entrepreneurs give our first fruits, we’re training out the selfishness and ungratefulness that is holding us back from receiving all that God has for us. We’re demonstrating to God that we’re so grateful for what he’s done, how far God has brought us, and where he’s taking our business. Ok, so you’re not a farmer, you’re a web development company, for example. Here are first fruit offerings you can make You develop software and finally release it in the marketplace. The first sale is the first fruit. You take the first sales of the year and give it as first fruits to thank God for last year. This prepares your business to be blessed for the entire year. You launch a new product or service. The first sale is the first fruit. You start a new business partnership. The first sale is the first fruit. It should be a celebration! You should do it with joy and thanksgiving for what God has provided and one step closer to your own Promised land. How much is a first fruit? How many fruits do we give? Good question. You can offer the first sales, the first week of sales, or some other measure that feels right for you. The important thing is to feel the celebration. So, tithing works on your obedience mindset. Offerings works on your letting go mindset. In giving firstfruits; it is a measure of faith and heart. Giving of Alms to Charity through Your Business We’re called to be compassionate and good humans here on earth. The bible says "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord , and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17 NIV I do medical missions every year through my charity, Jose’s Hands. This is me and my family’s efforts to give to the poor and underserved in other countries. I and my staff give in money and volunteer time, and expect nothing in return, and allowing God to become the repayment plan. I pray this teaching blesses you and your business. Imagine a marketplace full of cheerful givers in all areas of giving; alms, first fruits, offerings, and tithing. What kind of abundance would be flowing through our businesses if we reprogrammed our minds to this money mindset instead of the one culture has us wrapped around? Wow. #BusinessBibleStudy #FindingMyPurpose #DifferentiatingMyself Attracting Money In Your Business, God's Way Educate yourself and prepare your business to steward the financial blessings God has in store for you. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

In November 2014, I made a radical move in my business. I stopped serving all nightlife clients. I felt God leading me in this direction. But with that move, I had to cut everyone from my team, leaving just 3 of us. I didn’t just randomly do this. I prayed long and hard on this decision. But I felt God telling me that this was the move to make. As much as it hurt some families that relied on a paycheck from me, I was obedient to God. I had to have faith. It reminds me of a time in the bible when God instructed Gideon to reduce his army to 300 to fight an army of 135,000 Midianites (Joshua 7:7). Seems unreasonable. Why would God do this? God wanted Gideon to know that victory does not depend on strength or numbers, but obedience and commitment to Him. As proof, the Midianite army fell without Gideon’s men even having to fight. I’m not telling you to fire your staff today and start over. That’s what God was leading me towards. What I’m saying is, what is there in your business that seems too hard to conquer? “Midianites” sometimes come in the form of employment challenges, market volatility, or competitive scares that make us feel outnumbered and overwhelmed. Whatever you’re facing, remember that the battle is God’s. Don’t let fear overcome your faith. I had to let go of the nightlife, and it was a huge battle internally. Make your choice for faith and trust that God will fight for you. To read more articles about starting over, click here. #WheretoStartFirst #FindMyCalling