Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Bryan and Shannon Miles are the husband and wife team behind BELAY. Bootstrapping their business with no outside funding, BELAY has generated over $100M in revenues since its beginning and has exploded to over one thousand team members.Without an office, BELAY has graced the Inc. 5000 list five times and was awarded the number one spot in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Best Company Culture and been featured in several top-tier media outlets over the years.With a company focused on providing virtual support staffed entirely by people who work from home, we couldn’t think of a better duo to walk us through working under the same roof as your spouse.

Today’s guest is one that needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Michael Hyatt is the former Chairman & CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the current Founder & CEO of a fast-growing, Inc. 5000 leadership-development company. He is also a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of multiple books. With a top-rated podcast called Lead to Win, bestselling physical products, and an executive group coaching program, his business reaches over 1 million people a month. He is an influential voice on leadership, business growth, goal-setting, and productivity. And today, we’re going to talk about his newest book, The Vision Driven Leader, and how the content applies to you, the Faith Driven Entrepreneur.

At 14-years-old, Peter Irvine took a job at an advertising agency and then worked his way up to the top. Then, someone in his church small group pointed him toward a business that he should get involved in based out of Chicago.Well, one round trip between Australia and America later and Peter Irvine found himself as an international franchisee for GLoria Jean’s Coffee Shops. His story is amazing, and the work he’s doing to maintain a redemptive culture when his businesses are literally in dozens of countries around the world is fascinating.With 1,050 coffee shops in 48 countries, few people better understand culture than Peter Irvine. You won’t want to miss this.Useful Links:Peter Irvine Shares the Gloria Jean’s StoryPeter Irvine on Faith CollidesOur Story - Gloria Jean’sKingdom Momentum Resources

Well, would you look at the time? It’s another Tuesday with Faith Driven Entrepreneur, and today’s episode is for all you old-schoolers who check the time by looking at your wrist. That’s right, we’re talking about watches, not phone screens. Today’s guest is Hamilton Powell of Crown & Caliber. He buys and sells used luxury watches, and today he’s going to share with us how he got started on this entrepreneurial venture and what it means to “kill the good idea fairy.” It’s a fascinating conversation, and we’re glad you’ve decided to join us today. Let’s listen in…Useful Links:Hamilton Powell at NOAH 17 LondonHow Hamilton Powell Learned to Say NoCrown & Caliber | Inside the Lab

Today, we’re talking about love languages. Now, you may have heard of the five love languages, but that’s not where we’re going today. Instead, we’re talking to Dr. Paul White, co-author of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, to hear how the principles that are so useful in our marriages and relationships can also apply to our work and how we lead our businesses. Dr. Paul White is a licensed psychologist who has worked with individuals, businesses, and families in a variety of settings for over 20 years. He consults with successful businesses and high net worth families, dealing with the relational issues intertwined with business and financial wealth. As work continues to move toward virtual and remote platforms, the principles shared on this episode are even more important. As always, thanks for listening.

We are SO excited for today’s episode and for what it means for you, the Faith Driven Entrepreneur. As you know, our mission is to equip and encourage you along the journey. Obviously, we hope this podcast is a part of doing exactly that, but we also know that there are more ways to create and share resources to help you live out your faith in your work. One of the ways we’ve done that is through our new 8-part video series in partnership with RightNow Media on what it means to be a Faith Driven Entrepreneur. On today’s episode, you can hear from the man who helped make them happen, J.D. Greear. He’s the lead pastor of The Summit Church in North Carolina, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and a fountain of wisdom. Listen in to hear why he’s passionate about the Faith Driven Entrepreneur movement.

If you’ve never heard of Scott Harrison or Charity: Water, you’re going to be glad you tuned in today. His story starts when after a decade as a nightclub promoter, Scott declared spiritual, moral, and emotional bankruptcy. As Scott shares, he tried every vice imaginable before he found himself looking for something more. In a search for meaning, he spent two years on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, taking photos and experiencing the effects of dirty water firsthand.In 2006, he came back to New York City on a mission. Having seen the effects of dirty water, Scott turned his full attention to the global water crisis and the (then) 1.1 billion people living without access to clean water. What happened next is worth hearing for yourself...

Today’s guest was once recognized by President Barack Obama during a speech at the White House, and she was named one of Forbes’ Most Powerful Women Changing the World with Philanthropy. As the CEO and Co-Found of Rising Tide Capital, Alfa Demmellash is working to help underserved entrepreneurs get the recognition and investment capital they need.In this podcast, she took us on a journey to Ethiopia, Harvard, and Rwanda, and we think you’ll love every step of the way...

For today’s episode, we brought back one of our favorite Faith Driven Entrepreneurs and Investors, Pete Ochs, and with him today is David Simnick, Founder of SoapBox Soaps. They both shared their entrepreneurial journeys with us, but what we spent most of our time talking about was the way they both had to adjust quickly in the face of Covid-19. Their ability to nimbly pivot their businesses sets a great example for anyone wondering how to respond to uncertain times. We can all learn a lesson from these two men. Let’s listen in…Useful Links:Multiple Bottom Line Investing with Pete OchsJailhouse Business of GenerosityDavid Simnick | HalcyonSoapBox Soaps

If you grew up collecting baseball cards, you’re going to love today’s show. We sat down and talked with Jim Beckett, creator of Beckett magazine, the gold standard for valuing trading cards. He shared with us his personal story, gave us some insight into the memorabilia collected in his office, and also told us about how he stewarded his influence to be a further encouragement to aspiring Faith Driven Entrepreneurs. Our time with him was fun, interesting, and educational, and we think you’ll enjoy it!Useful Links:Dallas’ Importance to the Sports Card WorldJim Beckett Lifetime Achievement Award

Today’s guest is thought-leading writer and recognized champion of the Multiethnic Church Movement, Mark DeYmaz. He’s the author of several books and is on the show today to talk to us about his latest, The Coming Revolution in Church Economics. Mark shared how churches can respond to the steady decrease in tithes and donations happening around the world—especially in light of recent events. He has some radical and creative ideas on how church leaders and business leaders can work together, and we think you’ll be interested in what he shared.At the end of the episode, Henry and Rusty go back and forth on this topic, and we invite you to join in on this conversation as well. Feel free to comment, contact us, or reply to the newsletter. As always, we love hearing from you and making this show your show.

Today’s episode features two entrepreneurs who have created a product that has saved more than 5,000 lives. Seriously. Eric and Evan Edwards are entrepreneurial twins who created pocket-sized auto-injectors that help those suffering from a severe allergic reaction or opioid overdose. Their ingenuity is changing the game for easy-to-use, accessible healthcare, and they’re on the frontlines of the current battles facing the American healthcare system. Recently, a new Company Eric has co-founded was awarded a contract from the Government for over $300 Million to lead one of the country’s efforts to build up our ability to respond to Covid. Tune in to hear how they’re working to help America—and the rest of the world—response to our current crisis.Useful Links:KaleoTwins Create Life-Saving Allergy DeviceElite Entrepreneurs - Eric and Evan Edwards

In the midst of a global pandemic, healthcare workers have become modern day super heroes—risking their lives every day for the health and safety of their patients. Today’s guest is Jessica Kim, Co-Founder of IanaCare, a passionate team of caregivers, supporters, patients, and medical professionals. They’ve been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle faithfully working with the hopes that all 43.5 million caregivers in America will feel the love and support they deserve. Jessica shared what life looks like for IanaCare amid this global crisis, as well as her entrepreneurial journey—including raising $1mil for a business she started in college—and all the stories that led her to where God has her today.

We’re so excited to share our conversation with April Anthony. April is the founder and CEO of Encompass Home Health. Her entrepreneurial journey started when she took over a company in her 20s and then grew it into one of the most successful home healthcare businesses. Today, she shared with us what that journey looked like, and she also gave us insight into what it looks like for healthcare workers who are currently on the frontlines fighting against COVID-19.Useful Links:April Anthony CEO ChapelEncompass Home Health Video

Today’s podcast is the first time we’ve ever heard two guests return to share one episode. And it’s going to be awesome. Andy Crouch and Dave Blanchard are two of the leaders of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur conversation and both have a lot to say that’s worth listening to. But today, we’re specifically talking to them about an article we recently featured on the site titled, “Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization is Now a Startup.”In an uncertain future, these two are going to help us look ahead and get ready for what’s to come. As always, thanks for listening.Useful LinksA Rule of Life for Redemptive Entrepreneurs with Andy CrouchHow to Discern Your Calling with Dave BlanchardDesigning for a Different Future

Today’s episode features a Super Bowl champion. And while his NFL career is illustrious, it’s what Benjamin Watson has done off the field as both an author and leader that he’d like to tell you about. He’s written two books—Under Our Skin, which addresses the racial divide in America and The New Dad’s Playbook, which is a must-read for any father with a newborn. He’s known for speaking truth and saying the tough things that need to be said in the moment. And in times like these, we’re grateful for his willingness to have an honest and real conversation. As always, thanks for listening.Useful Links:The Watson 7Under Our SkinThe New Dad’s Playbook

Why? It’s a big question, regardless of the context. It’s something we hear little kids ask all the time, and many of us never grow out of wondering why things are the way they are. We want to know what things are for, and going one layer deeper, we want to know what we are for. That’s the question at the heart of today’s podcast featuring Jeff Henderson, a pastor out of Atlanta and author of a book titled: Know What You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life.Jeff has been operating in the faith, work, and leadership spheres for a while, and we think you’re going to love what he had to share. As always, thanks for listening.Useful Links:Gwinnett ChurchKnow What You’re For - Video Bible StudyWho is Jeff Henderson?

If you’ve ever tried gardening before, you know that it is some hard work. You’ve got to plant, water, prune, get rid of weeds, watch for varmints sneaking in, and a whole host of other problems. It really is no joke. And today’s guest knows a lot about gardening and the value of hard work. Her name is Lara Casey and she’s the author of multiple books, including Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap, Live on Purpose, and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life. Her story of building and then leaving Southern Weddings Magazine is a testament to what can happen when you take a leap toward God. Lara is full of wisdom, pep, and one heck of an entrepreneurial story. If you want to learn more about putting in the work and taking big risks, you’ll want to hear what Lara had to share…Useful Links:A New ChapterLara Casey WebsiteCultivate What MattersPruning to Grow

Today’s guest comes from a group that you almost certainly have heard of. Their values are faith, family...and ducks. Not sure if you guessed that third one, but if you did, then you’re probably a fan of Duck Dynasty, the television show about the Robertson family and their business. What started as a one man job making duck calls out of Louisiana Cedar trees has now exploded into a multi-million dollar business and cultural sensation. And today, we’re talking to Al Robertson to hear the story of how it all started.Hear Al talk about Duck Commander, his life in ministry, and the power of forgiveness. As always, thanks for listeningUseful Links:In the Woods with PhilAlan & Lisa Robertson on Duck DynastyOur Story: Alan and Lisa RobertsonA New Season

Today’s guest has argued in front of the United States Supreme Court. Now, normally we try to list multiple accolades and interesting facts about the guest, but do you really need anything other than that? Kelly Shackelford is the President & CEO of First Liberty, the largest law firm in the country dedicated exclusively to protecting the first amendment rights of Americans—that is, freedom of religion. Kelly came on to talk to us about his entrepreneurial journey in starting First Liberty, how business leaders can better understand their constitutional rights, and yes, what it’s like to argue in front of the Supreme Court.Useful Links:First LibertyThe Shackelford SessionsJudge Rules in Favor of Kentucky Church

Do not skip this episode. That’s all we have to say. We have a lot of great stories on this show, but today is a powerful story told from the perspective of two parties. On one hand, you have an entrepreneur who finds out one of his best friends and business partners has stolen six figures from the company. And on the other hand, you have a man who has made a series of personal decisions that have gotten completely out of hand. The story of Rob Thomas and Jeff Parker tells a powerful tale of deception, confession, repentance, forgiveness, redemption, and all the messy steps in between.It’s the long, tough road of what it looks like to walk through our brokenness and how each of them stewards their stories to point others to the Gospel. Listen in to hear them both share their side of the story and then talk about it together…

We spend a lot of time on this show talking about entrepreneurs. Duh, right? That’s the name of the show. But today, we want to veer off our normal business strategy conversation and talk about life outside of work—primarily, time with our family. Today’s guest is Les Parrott. He works alongside his wife Leslie who shares the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. The Parrotts have been featured in USA Today and the New York Times, and they have also appeared on CNN, The Today Show and Oprah. As #1 New York Times best-selling authors, their books have sold over two million copies in more than two dozen languages. In addition to all of that, Les is a professor of psychology at Northwest University, and together they are founders of the Center for Healthy Relationships. Today we had Les on to talk about one of their new releases—a video project with RightNow Media, called “The Time Starved Marriage.”It’s a fitting topic for entrepreneurs. Listen to Les shared with us some of their relationship wisdom, talked about the importance of time management, and gave us insight into what makes a great marriage tick. Let’s listen in… Useful Links:Les and Leslie Parrott WebsiteYour Time Starved MarriageBetter Love AssessmentYada Assessment

When Adam LaRoche, Golden Glove Winner and Standout for the Chicago WhiteSox decided to retire from professional baseball, his decision seemed like one of the most unexpected moves in sports. But for those who know him, this move aligned perfectly with the integrity of his character. In today’s episode, you’re going to get a peek behind the curtain of the life of Adam LaRoche—his MLB career, the factors surrounding his decision to retire, and his journey as a Faith Driven Entrepreneur. Hear all about how he’s making an impact through his E3 Team along with other friends like Willie Robertson, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. We love talking to faith-driven athletes and faith-driven entrepreneurs, and Adam gave us a little bit of both! As always, thanks for listening.Useful Links:Adam LaRoche Goes DeepAdam Laroche Speaks White Sox ExitBuck CommanderE3 Ranch & Co.

Today’s guest is a special one and someone you’re probably already familiar with. Patrick Lencioni is a renowned business consultant and the author of 11 books—including The Ideal Team Player, The Advantage, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team—which have sold over 6 million copies. Today, we got to hear him talk about his new book, The Motive, that dials into the why behind every great leader. Few people have more expertise on the subject than Patrick Lencioni, so stop reading this and start listening!Useful Links:The MotiveThe Motive VideoTable Group

What could Scott Drew, the Coach of Baylor Men’s Basketball have to do with entrepreneurship/investing? Well, we’re excited to announce that we’re launching a new initiative—The Faith Driven Athlete. Our passion is to show how God moves in all of our work, as entrepreneurs, investors, athletes and this is the next step in that.We’re bringing you this special episode because, had it not been for COVID-19, this weekend would’ve been the start of the NCAA Final Four. And Baylor is one of the teams who likely would’ve been competing for a title. In our conversation, Scott Drew let us in on the challenges he faced early in his career, the faith that carried him through it all, and how he’s responding to life’s most recent curveball.So if you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Faith Driven Athlete podcast to hear from athletes like Kirk Cousins, Jeremy Lin, Adam LaRoche and more in the coming weeks. As always, thanks for listening...Useful Links:Scott Drew’s Long Journey to SuccessFCA Recognizes Scott Drew with John Lotz AwardScott Drew Remains Focused on Faith as Baylor Remains #1

Today’s guest is one that needs no introduction, and we’re so excited we got to have a conversation with him and that we get to share it with you. Horst Schulze is co-founder of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. He is also partnered with Arch + Tower, a customer and employee experience consulting group, in order to produce a comprehensive masterclass of employee and customer experience training content.Horst is the author of Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise. He is full of insight, wisdom, and experience that is ripe for any Faith Driven Entrepreneur, so don’t let me keep you from him any longer. Let’s listen in…Useful Links:Horst Schulze RightNowMedia Leadership SeriesExcellence WinsRitz-Carlton Founder Horst Schulze On Creating A Gold Standard

We’re combining the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor audiences today to continue to address the current events we face. Todd Wagner joined us to speak into how we as believers can respond to the fear and worry surrounding COVID-19. Todd is the lead pastor at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas. If that name sounds familiar to you it’s probably because you’ve heard Henry mention it in the intro to this podcast as the location for where we will be hosting our Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor Conferences this fall. In addition to being our host and a speaker at the event, Todd is also a great voice in the faith-driven conversation. His words of wisdom—or as his Twitter handle calls them, words from wags—are encouraging, challenging, and uplifting to all who hear them. And with our current events, we could all use encouragement. Like Todd shared, “worry is not our friend and panic is not our way…”Useful Links:Should Christians Be Anxious About Coronavirus?Coronavirus is redefining the words Church and WorshipReal Truth. Real Quick@wordsfromwags

It’s no secret that everyone’s day-to-day lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus. So, in light of current events—the pandemic, along with its economic and social effects—we wanted to bring on a guest to speak into what we’re all experiencing. That’s what brings us to Mark Sears, Founder and CEO of CloudFactory. CloudFactory is using technology to create meaningful work for as many people as possible by building the best on-demand digital workforce known to man. Early on in Mark’s entrepreneurial journey, he faced a global crisis and the way he led his business during that time is an example for Faith Driven Entrepreneurs everywhere. And today, as he leads a company with thousands of employees who live all over the globe, he’s living and working right in the heart of this crisis.So, if you’re feeling a bit lost, overwhelmed, confused, or scared during these trying times, let Mark’s words be a source of encouragement.As always, thanks for listening and stay safe out there!Useful Links:Mark Sears - PraxisCloudFactoryRising Above the DebrisNepal Earthquake

It’s Tuesday. Which means it’s time to gather. Or, as you might say, it’s time to Convene. And that’s exactly what we’re talking about today. Our guest, Greg Leith is from the greater Los Angeles area, and he leads a ministry to Christian CEOs and Entrepreneurs called Convene. His work there has taught him what it means to be a healthy leader, as well as what we as entrepreneurs can do to foster and encourage our growth as both leaders and people. Listen in to catch the wisdom and insight Greg shared with us…Useful Links:ConveneGreg Leith WebsiteHow Do You Grow as a Leader?

We are so excited to share our interview with you today. Diane Paddison is the Founder and President of 4Word—a group where she is a leading advocate for the professional Christian women community. She is a Harvard MBA graduate, the former global executive of two Fortune 500 companies and one Fortune 1000 company, and she serves as an independent director for two corporations and four not-for-profits. She’s also the author of Work, Love, Pray: Practical Wisdom for Professional Christian Women and Those Who Want to Understand Them. Her insight into the experiences of Christian women in the workplace is unparalleled, and we think you’ll be glad you heard it.Diane Paddison is the real deal, and we loved getting to talk with her and hear the incredible things they are doing to mentor businesswomen in the marketplace. So, tune in to learn about the work she does at 4word and why women mentorship matters. As always, thanks for listening!Useful Links:Work, Love, Pray: Practical Wisdom for Professional Christian Women and Those Who Want to Understand Them4wordwomenFind a 4word Local Group

Today features one of our first repeat guests! Vic Ho is the founder of Fivestars—a business with the mission of “transforming transactions into relationships.” He shared a little about what they do, but he also talked about what happened when the start-up hit a rough patch and needed to lay off 50 people. We all hit rough patches, and how we handle those is a unique opportunity for us to be different. Vic felt compelled to take a different approach, one that was consistent with the company’s values: humbly admitting his mistakes, honoring the workers’ contributions, and mobilizing the entire firm to help those being displaced. Tune in to hear this story, as well as lessons he has learned along the way. As always, thanks for listening!Useful Links:Faith & Co Video with Victor HoFivestarsWhat is the Lifeblood of a Business? Previous Podcast with Vic HoUp in the Air - George Clooney shows how NOT to fire people

Today’s episode features a unique entrepreneurial journey that includes 3-D printing of homes. Yeah, you heard that right. Printing homes. Brett Hagler is the CEO and Co-Founder of New Story. He’s a Y Combinator alum, Praxis fellow, author, cancer survivor, and a 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur. The list goes on and on.Under his leadership, New Story was recognized as one of Fast Company's 2017 and 2019 "Most Innovative Companies In The World." Brett and his team are currently working with their partner ICON to 3D-print the world’s first community in Mexico. Forbes recently featured a story about how they are building a whole village from 3-D printing. His story is a fascinating one, and we’re so glad we got to sit down and hear it. We think you’ll be glad too. As always, thanks for listeningUseful Links:About New Story3-D Printed Village3-D Printing for the Developing World (Video)The Power of Purpose: How to End Global Homelessness

We have another entrepreneurial adventure story for you today—this time, featuring Brian Mosley, President of RightNow Media. If you haven’t already heard of them, there’s a good chance someone in your church has. They’re basically the Netflix of Bible Video Studies. Their website has thousands of videos and resources from many Christian leaders, which they use to serve over 20,000 churches, schools and businesses. They’ve produced, curated, and published resources on everything from marriage to faith and work to inductive Bible studies and everything in between.We’ll talk more about the work they do on the episode, but before then, you’ll get to hear the story of how their team stewards the mission they’re on. Let’s listen in to hear Brian’s entrepreneurial journey... Useful Links:RightNow MediaSseko StoryHobby Lobby Video

Today we put an end to an age-old question—can a business itself have spiritual meaning? For years as Entrepreneurs, we’ve been called to live out our faith in our individual work activities and relationships. But we are fundamentally about building business enterprises. Can we take it a step further to conceive of the enterprise—the organization itself—as having spiritual significance?Curtis Chang is our guest who’s recently come out with some work that makes the case for all organizations—including secular organizations—as having a deeper spiritual meaning than what Christians have typically been taught. Curtis straddles the world of secular organizations and Christian thinking. He is the Founder and CEO of Consulting Within Reach, a management consulting firm serving secular nonprofits across the country. He has won national recognition from the White House for innovative work in the social sector and teaches on the faculty of American University. At the same time, he is a former pastor, is a Senior Fellow at Fuller Seminary, and is a professor at Duke Divinity School. He’s a deep thinker and someone who we found engaging, encouraging, and challenging, and we think you will too. As always, thanks for listening.If you have thoughts or questions from today’s show, let us know!

If you’ve followed the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast for a while, today’s guest won’t be a stranger to you. Tom Nelson is one of those visionary pastors of a multi-site church called Christ Community, and he’s been widely recognized in the Faith Driven Entrepreneur community for his book, Work Matters. He also serves on the board of The Gospel Coalition and is President of Made to Flourish.Today, we had him on the show to talk about a recent article that appeared in The New York TImes—something many of you have read. We were honored to be mentioned alongside some great groups like Praxis and Made To Flourish. But this got us thinking—what does this small piece say about the bigger puzzle of what’s going on in America with faith, work, and entrepreneurship? We’re grateful we had Tom Nelson around to help shepherd this conversation. Hear why he thinks the NYT article is reason for hopeful realism and optimism when it comes to the Faith Driven movement. As always, thanks for listening.Useful Links:What Would Jesus Do About Inequality?The Call - Os GuinnessEvery Good Endeavor - Tim Keller

Too often in business circles, the word Christian can be an adjective for “subpar.” One of the Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur is a realization that excellence matters and it earns us a right to be heard in our industry and the world around us. Today’s guest is Glen Jackson, author of Preeminence—a book based on 30+ years of working with brands like Chick-fil-a, Delta, Coca-Cola, Interstate, Toyota, Lexus, and others. He uses his experience to share what it means to be the preeminent brand that others look to emulate. In this episode, we’ll look at what preeminence means, how to get there, and why this matters to Faith Driven Entrepreneurs looking to impact the world around them.Useful Links:Preeminence: What It Means and How to Sustain ItControl Your Destiny or Someone Else WillInvictus Poem

In the golf industry, there are few more recognized names of excellence than PING. For today’s show we go out to Phoenix to interview today’s guest, John Solheim. He’s the second generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1959. As recently as a few years ago, John had the unique opportunity to pass the baton to the third generation of leadership with his oldest son stepping in as company president. Today we take a look at their family’s journey to become a preeminent brand and what faith looks like in such a publicly recognized company. John said it best when he said that business is like the game of golf. It doesn’t matter what happened on the last shot that got you to where you are. You just have to hit the shot that’s in front of you and keep going to make your best score. For those of you used to hitting a lot of uncomfortable golf shots (fore left!), this episode will be a fun one. Useful LinksGolfing for God’s GloryPING’s New President Talks About Family BusinessExcellence in Innovation

Today we’re talking to Steve Graves. For the past 25 years he's worked with hundreds of organizations from Fortune 100 giants to small bootstrapping start-ups. He’s a regular contributor to the blog site where we love to share his wisdom and he’s also very involved with our friends at Praxis, coaching other young entrepreneurs. Steve’s written some great, practical books that we highly recommend. We like to think of them as Operators Manuals for startups. Today we get to kick off this new year spending time talking about his latest work “The 5 Tasks Every Entrepreneur Needs to Do.”If you’re looking to treat this new year as a fresh start, or if you want to get a jump on continuing the success of last year, this episode is a great place for you to start. As always, thanks for listening! Useful Links:Steve Graves WebsiteBooks by Steve Graves3 Stages of Business Growth

Today we are talking to Toby Kurth, lead pastor at Christ Church San Francisco. Toby has been a faithful voice inside the Faith Driven Movement, a friend, pastor and even Chaplain to our team. We’re excited that we finally got to have him on the show today—feels like this episode is long overdue. We’re going to hear a bit of his story, and we’re also going to dive in with him on the 5 Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur, which he was instrumental in shaping. If you haven’t read those yet, we suggest you check them out, but if you want to hear more about what they are and why they matter, this episode is for you.Toby also forced us to ask a great question—what shapes your desires? Asking this is key to aligning our values and desires with the way God wants us to do business. And as Toby shared with us, when our desires match God’s desires, there’s no limit to what He might do through our work. Useful Links:The 5 Marks of a Faith Driven EntrepreneurDo You Know What Is Shaping Your Desires?I Am The Light of the World - Toby Kurth Sermon

Too often we think there are just one or two roads to being an Entrepreneur. We think of the lemonade stand kid who hits it big, or maybe we think of the “accidental entrepreneurs” like Mark McLain who shared his story on a previous podcast. But not as many know about the idea of a Search Fund, where an entrepreneur enlists investors with the purpose of acquiring a company and dropping in as the new day to day leader. There's a whole unique set of circumstances with this approach that we’re going to talk about today. And what makes this episode special is that we look at this idea through the lens of brothers. Nick and Giovanni Gallo have gone about this together through their business, ComplianceLine in Charlotte, North Carolina, and their experience is one we think you’ll be fascinated to hear more about. If you’ve never heard of a Search Fund but are interested in learning more, or if you’re already familiar with this approach and eager to hear the ins and outs of how it works, today’s episode is for you.As always, thanks for listening!Useful Links:ComplianceLineiHeart Radio Interview with Giovanni GalloMartech InterviewOnePraetorian

Today we’re talking to Norm and Scott Miller. Norm is the Chairman and Scott is the CEO of Interstate Batteries. They steward a company that for the past 6 decades has been leading its industry with outrageous dependability. You may know Interstate batteries from their logos on the side of NASCAR winners, but you may not know that they offer over 12,000 different batteries and have sold more than 300 million units. They’ve also been innovating in discovering ways for their faith to lead them in caring for their team and developing an award-winning culture. One of the growing trends in the Faith Driven Entrepreneur movement is seeing a generation of faithful leaders looking to pass the baton to the next generation. Interstate is one of the looked to brands that has gone through this recently, and today Norm and Scott are going to share what they’ve learned through the transition.As always, thanks for listening!Useful Links:An Interview with Norm Miller - RightNow Media @ WorkJack of All Trades - An Interstate Batteries StoryInterstate Batteries: Our History2018 Most Admired CEO: Scott Miller (Video)

Today’s episode takes us to jail. Well...not exactly. But we are interviewing a man who owns and operates a business that is run out of a high security prison. His name is Pete Ochs, and in addition to working as founder and chairman of an impact investing company, he’s also working to make Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Kansas the best prison in America. How? Well, we’ll let him tell you…But what you should know is that Pete’s approach to business, and to life, has less to do with leadership and stewardship, and everything to do with Lordship. You’re not going to want to miss this one… Useful Links:Jailhouse Business of GenerosityInmate Confesses God’s Love at Seat KingWork as Flourishing in PrisonEnterprise Stewardship

Today we’re talking to Jon Collins, the co-founder of Epipheo—a cutting edge video production company that is passionate about getting to the heart of why things matter. The name of their company comes from the combination of the words “epiphany” and “video.” And from Jon’s story, it seems like those are the two things that have defined his life’s work.In addition to talking about Epipheo, Jon also shared with us the entrepreneurial journey of The Bible Project, an incredible work that breaks down the context of pieces of scripture in a powerful way. They’ve been viewed over 100 million times in over 200 countries around the world through the Bible App, YouTube, RightNow Media and more. Throughout this episode, Jon shared why he’s passionate about the Bible, and why devoting daily to studying God’s word is important, especially for entrepreneurs. We hope you enjoy this episode. As always, thanks for listening.Useful Links:Epipheo: Animated Video ProductionWhat is the Bible Project?The Bible Project - GenerosityWhat is Google Wave?The Gift of GenerosityThe Advent ConspiracySkatechurch in PortlandBible in Five

Today we’re in the Bay Area talking to Jena Nardella of Praxis. You may know Jena from some of her work improving clean water access around the world and her book titled One Thousand Wells: How an Audacious Goal Taught Me to Love the World Instead of Save It. Today she works on building the durability and sustainability of nonprofit organizations and leaders with Praxis and recently their team wrote a book called The Redemptive Nonprofit.We invited Jena on to share some of her story and also to walk us through some of the points from The Redemptive Nonprofit. If you lead an organization or nonprofit, you’re going to find both her story and her advice to nonprofit leaders incredibly valuable!We’re so grateful for her willingness to share from her own experience, and we hope that her entrepreneurial journey will encourage you on your own. As always, thanks for listening!Useful Links:The Redemptive NonprofitOne Thousand WellsBlood: WaterSix Commitments of a Redemptive Nonprofit

“If a man steals your farm, teach him how to farm.” We’ve all heard sermons and messages on forgiveness and turning the other cheek, but the story of Craig Deall takes these truths to a whole new level. Craig actually lived this. Under the rule of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe forced thousands of industrial farmers to give up their lands. In a moment, generations of family wealth was gone. But rather than seeking revenge or restitution, Craig chose the path of reconciliation—actually working for the very men who stole from him!Craig shared his story, starting from when he loved the land more than God—a struggle for any entrepreneur enamored with their own venture—to when that land was taken away from him. Throughout the whole journey, Craig lets us into what God did with his faith through hardship, what it really looks like to forgive our enemies, and why storing treasure in heaven and not on earth is no longer just a sermon point anymore.Talking with Craig was truly inspiring for us, and we think you’ll be glad you listened in.Useful Links:Foundations for FarmingThe CEF Community in Action Around Craig Deall and Foundations for FarmingHarvest and Heart Change in Zimbabwe

Everyone has a story about receiving a gift they had no interest in, but do any of us know if we’ve ever given a gift that someone else didn’t want? This is exactly the situation John Ruhlin wants to help you avoid. John is the author of Giftology, a book that teaches the science of “radical generosity.” He has helped countless companies boost their referrals, retention rates, and ROI, and our interview with him was a gift in and of itself!John has helped people accelerate relationships with their teams and the people they serve, and he has gifted on behalf of everyone from Forbes Magazine to Fortune 500. His principles lead to appreciative responses and oftentimes a relational and ROI impact that is well beyond what any of us could have imagined. Having been the recipients of John’s gift-giving in the past, our hosts were excited to talk to him, and we think you’ll enjoy all he had to share as well!Useful Links:Giftology PlanHow John Ruhlin Became Known as the Gifting ExpertIt’s Likely That Your Favorite Nonprofits Want ‘Gifts,’ Not Just Checks. Here’s the Difference

There are 7 million jobs in America that will go unfilled in 2019.This means that even if every unemployed person in America got a job tomorrow, we’d still have a labor gap of over a million people. So, what’s the solution? Well, Chris Chancey has some ideas that come from the value of the refugee workforce.On this episode, he shares with us the importance of the immigrant and refugee workforce—a group that is behind so many of the products we use. In addition to sharing the story of Amplio Recruiting, Chris also shared some amazing stories about the radical effect something as simple as employment can have on a person. In doing so, he makes the case that hiring refugees isn’t only a socially responsible decision but a profitable one that can have lasting spiritual impact for faith driven entrepreneurs and their employees alike. We think you’re going to love this episode. As always, thanks for listening. Useful Links:Amplio RecruitingRefugee WorkforceRefugee Workforce Book Launch Video

Last year, on a single porn site alone, people watched 4.6 billion hours worth of pornographic videos. That’s around 5,000 centuries worth of time.Clearly, sexual Brokenness is a problem. But that’s not new. What is new is how Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, is helping us understand this subject. Instead of looking for new techniques of “lust management,” Jay is working to encourage people to address their sexual brokenness and the core issues surrounding it.Jay has found that facing what is difficult in our own lives helps us move down the path of healing. And if you’re an entrepreneur who wants to better handle difficulties in your professional life, you have to deal with the difficulties in your personal life. Even if sexual brokenness doesn’t sound like a primary struggle for you, the statistics Jay shares will make it clear that if you have more than one employee, odds are you know someone who is dealing with this issue. And that’s why we wanted to talk about this.We hope this conversation helps you open the door to address the things you’re struggling with, and also to have conversations with those around you. We are firm believers that, as Jay says, “When God sees us, He moves in toward human brokenness, He doesn’t remove Himself from it.” We want to be people who do the same. Thanks for listening and for being on this journey with us.Useful Links:Jay Stringer’s Personal WebsiteConfronting Unwanted Sexual Behavior: The Spiritually Healthy LeaderThe Heart of Man Journey

Entrepreneurs know what it’s like to be uncomfortable. Yet, there’s something in modern/Western Christianity that expects comfort. We often act as though God has called us to a life of comfort and ease, not one of stress and sacrifice. But as Casey Crawford points out, Jesus didn’t exactly live an easy life! And this is just one way he gave us a great perspective alongside a paradigm shift in this podcast episode.As you’ll hear, Casey came out of the gate firing, and we hope you can keep up with him for the whole episode. He covers stress and Christianity, the role of money in the life of a believer, and what it was like to start a mortgage company amidst the financial crisis of 2008. And every one of these topics was covered with his passion and enthusiasm, which we think makes this episode a great one.We loved having Casey on the podcast and are so grateful for the way he rejuvenated us just by discussing what he cares about. And as you listen in, we think that the passion with which he shared his story might energize you as well.Useful Links:Movement MentoringMentoring the Whole Person

On today’s episode, we invited Max Anderson to come in and help us tackle a difficult yet important topic—depression among entrepreneurs. Max is an entrepreneur and a writer. Each week, he writes something called The Weekend Reader, where he explores one big idea from culture with a handful of suggested articles. Recently, he dove into how depression affects entrepreneurs, and what he found was staggering—entrepreneurs are anywhere from 2-10x more likely to suffer from mental challenges. It’s a topic that’s extremely important, yet remarkably under-discussed, so we thought that with Max’s help we’d push the conversation forward today... Our hope in bringing this topic to light is that if you, or someone you know, is suffering from depression, that you could take the necessary steps to get help. We know this isn’t easy, and we also know that it’s not necessarily a fun topic to talk about. But it matters. And we’re grateful to Max for bringing this topic to our attention and for also helping us talk about it We follow a God who cares deeply about His Creation, and that includes you! While much of this podcast is dedicated to stories of success, failure, and everything in between, we hope this episode meets you where you’re at and gives you some encouragement along the way. As always, thanks for listening. Useful Links: The Weekend Reader Entrepreneurship and Depression WSJ - Beyond the Confetti: The Darkside of Startup Success