Business On Purpose Conversations

Business Talk For Curious Christians. Business On Purpose Conversations are discussions that aim to inform and encourage Christian business owners who want to grow and run their businesses in a distinctly biblical and God-honoring fashion.

Capital is plentiful, great business partners, not so much: with Clint Park 10/26/2022

Capital is plentiful, great business partners, not so much: with Clint Park Capital is plentiful, great partners or co-owners, not so much. In this conversation, Clint Park is back to offer biblical perspective on how to add, when to add and who to add into your business as an ownership partner. What are the big mistakes to avoid and what principles can guide our thinking? We parse the potentials and pitfalls of co-owners and whether your business is ready to have additional owners. Clint offers six ways to evaluate potential partners or co-owners, along with a wealth of wisdom drawn from God’s Word. If you have business partners or are considering that ownership path, you don’t want to miss this conversation. Conversation highlights: –What are the table stakes for Christians who are thinking about bringing in a new partner (owner) into their business or who are considering starting a new business with partners? –If you want something to be done for God’s glory you need to apply his principles. –A biblically and practically wise approach to forging partnerships. –The truth embedded in Psalm 24:1 and Job 41:11 (classic stewardship passages) inform how we view potential business partners/co-owners. Will the average non-Christian embrace these truths? –The role of values alignment in selecting our partners can’t be overstated. Bonus pre-marriage advice too! –Why does traditional private equity have such a black eye? …perhaps because of a lack of values alignment. Capital is not the best starting point for partnerships! –Capital has influence. Are you inviting conflict in your partnerships with other owners? –Evaluating partners: 1. Values alignment 2. Define the ideal steward 3. Completing your team & complementing your weaknesses –We discuss how to evaluate character to ensure your future partner has the depth of character to be an effective partner. –What is forward stewardship? Why does it matter for the future of your business? –What are the red flags of a partnership that is not going to work? –Clint addresses a really tough issue: disentangling a partnership that is not working. –Faith integration will be stymied when your co-owners are not values and faith aligned. –Be ready to take the low place. Luke 14:10-11 –Belief drives values. Values drive actions. Continue the conversation: Connect with Clint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintpark/ Connect with Aaron: /episode/index/show/bizonpurpose/id/24811533

The Gift of Disillusionment with Peter Greer and Chris Horst 09/30/2022

The Gift of Disillusionment with Peter Greer and Chris Horst How is disillusionment a gift? Christ Horst and Peter Greer talk about their latest book in which they show how Christian leaders from around the deal with setbacks, trials, suffering and failures in a way that demonstrates the hope of the gospel. If you want to lead your business in a Christ-honoring way through both good times and hard times this conversation is for you. We’ll explore the meaning and value of disillusionment, the tension of suffering, the danger of comfort and the hope experienced by people like the prophet Jeremiah even in the midst of crushing disappointment or suffering. Conversation highlights: --Why is it important to reflect on the reality of disillusionment? What is the antidote to disillusionment? --Headlines and social media are dominated by bad news and disillusionment. But the world (and history) is also full of leaders who live with hope despite deep suffering and trials. --What is the biblical vision of hope? --The prophet Jeremiah as a guide for modern Christian leaders. Jeremiah did the opposite of “building a platform.” Where did Jeremiah find his hope? --Jeremiah 29:11 is the most quoted Old Testament verse. Oops. What is the real biblical narrative surrounding this passage? --“Meme-ified Christianity” doesn’t actually address the frustrations and suffering in the world and in business. --An illusion about leading and serving is that you won’t suffer, or that suffering isn’t bound up with great leadership. However, many global Christian leaders demonstrate lives that move towards suffering and away from comfort. --Jeremiah 17 is the centerpiece of the book, and it calls out the idol of self-reliance and calls every leader to trust in the LORD. An important warning to Christians from a culture like the world of American business. --“Comfort can become an idol when good things are happening and you are unable to see it or thank God for it or recognize it is not of your own doing.” --Christian leaders who have navigated great difficulties and trials and who demonstrate great resiliency point to God as the source of their endurance, not themselves or their ‘grit’. --“Don’t miss prosperity when it comes.” --“The gift of presence in pain is so much better than prescription.” --Watch out for the kind of busyness that crowds out actually experiencing God and hearing from Him. Connect and Learn More: Connect with Peter: Learn more about Peter: Connect with Chris: Learn more about Chris: Get the book: Connect with Aaron: /episode/index/show/bizonpurpose/id/24548118

Solving the puzzle of remote work with Rick DeJarnette 05/09/2022

Solving the puzzle of remote work with Rick DeJarnette Is remote work here to stay? Will it make your company and your employees more effective or less effective? Rick DeJarnette, executive coach and executive in residence at the University of Richmond, joins us to provide a framework for how Christian business owners and entrepreneurs can think about remote vs. hybrid vs. on-site work. Listen to the end to hear Rick’s top lessons for Christian entrepreneurs from the world of mountaineering. Conversation highlights: -The debate over remote work is a debate about a “complex” problem, not a “complicated” problem, which means trying to get to the one “right” answer may be the wrong way forward for your company. -Sometimes solving problems requires more wisdom than expertise. With “complex” problems “it is less about finding the right answer it’s about trying to get to a best answer.” -Succeeding in decision-making involves discerning what sort of issue you have and what sort of environment you are working within. -What is the role of humility in business decision-making? “You need to surrender the hubris of knowing everything and believing that you can determine the outcome.” -You have to be humble in environments filled with uncertainty (which is most environments!). -Are you able to distinguish between productivity and efficiency in your business and how you evaluate remote work? What is the relationship between hours worked and output in your business? -You can’t make a good decision about what metrics related to remote work matter for your business if you don’t also have an iron grip on the mission of your business. -“We have a responsibly and duty to create.” But the tension enters in when we are tempted to do so with hubris. Sometimes we don’t have all the knowledge, the perspective or the wisdom needed to nicely solve the problems we face. COVID realities present us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to step back and acknowledge just how little control we have. -Don’t miss Rick’s top lessons for confronting COVID-related business disruptions from his mountaineering experiences. Connect and Learn More: Connect with Rick: Learn more about Rick: Rick’s Book Recommendation: Cynefin decision-making framework: Connect with Aaron: /episode/index/show/bizonpurpose/id/23049287