Do you know anyone who has been talking about starting a business for the past ten years, but they haven't done it yet? Or they have incredible talent, but are afraid or hesitant to use it? They don’t think they are as good at what they do as others or care too much about what others would think if they failed. People always praise them for their ideas or skills, but they dismiss or ignore their compliments.

Maybe that person is you.

          “Just as a person's body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!” ~ James 2:26

We are creatures of habit. Unfortunately, many of the habits we employ are self-sabotaging, which slow our positive momentum. These habits are detrimental to our ability to fulfill our long-term potential and purpose. Not trusting God is a self-sabotaging habit. Another self-sabotaging habit is not believing that He has given you the ability to do what you can do.

While many people say they have faith in God, they don’t necessarily demonstrate that faith with their actions. Your action or inaction is a key indicator of the legitimacy your faith. The truth is you don't need faith if you're not doing anything worthwhile.

It’s not enough to have faith in yourself, because you are flawed and will eventually fail at something that you can’t overcome by yourself. It’s not enough to have faith in your faith, because eventually you’ll run into something that is bigger than your measure of faith can handle. The only true source and object of faith who has the ability to be unfailing and everlasting is God.

                     “Your life is shaped more by your daily steps than by your occasional leaps.” ~ Andrew Morgan

I realize that many people need to take baby steps in order to start applying and stretching their faith. The more you embrace discomfort the bigger your comfort zone will become. Here are some daily suggestions to stride forward in your faith in business and life:

• Activate your faith by reading and meditating on God’s Word. What you focus your thoughts on will either feed your faith or frustrate it.
• Ask yourself everyday: What am I doing to accomplish my goals?
  
• Do something everyday that’s outside of your normal routine, even if it’s driving to work on a different route.
• Do something everyday that you don’t like doing.
• Find an accountability partner who will challenge you to do new things.
  

If you practice these steps, eventually you will begin to stretch your faith. Ultimately you want to be at the place where you increase your faith by intentionally putting yourself in positively challenging situations where God has to come through for you. Most people I know don’t live like that, but I believe that’s the adventurous way that God wants all of us to live.

If you are an aspiring or current entrepreneur and you want your business to count for something significant, stop just talking about faith and really start walking by faith!    

Certain challenges are common to practically all entrepreneurs, such as finding new customers, generating consistent cash flow, differentiating your brand in the marketplace, communicating an effective marketing message that connects with your target market, delivering great customer service, maximizing technology, etc. And while all entrepreneurs must solve these issues in order to become successful and sustainable, I believe Christian entrepreneurs have a competitive advantage that can't be duplicated, replicated, or simulated by non-Christians. He's called the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and 1 John 4:4 let's us know that greater is the Spirit that lives in us than the spirit that's in the world. These scriptures don't just relate to the spiritual matters of our lives, but also the practical areas, including our businesses. The Holy Spirit can help us complete everything God created and called us to do... if we learn how to listen to him.

This is why we're very excited about the quickly approaching Christian Entrepreneurs Summer Boot Camp. We'll be discussing spiritual and practical best practices to help you start and grow the business God put in your heart. If God gave you the business idea, He wants you to succeed doing it. That also means if He wants you to succeed, He already has the perfect plan for you to do so. This boot camp will help you incorporate a biblical foundation and actionable strategies into your business so that it will glorify God, produce sustainable profits, and impact the people He's already positioned you to reach.

If you want to take your business to a higher level - spiritually and financially - then join us Mondays, June 18th - July 23rd. Just go to kbubootcamp.eventbrite.com or click on the image below to register for this boot camp. We look forward to seeing you there and helping you become the CEO God created you to be!

Recently CNN.com posted an article, 'The Demise of Guys: How Video Games and Porn Are Ruining a Generation', in which two researchers concluded:
"The excessive use of video games and online porn in pursuit of the next thing is creating a generation of risk-averse guys who are unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment."

This outlook doesn't bode well for a society that is desperately in need of genuine, effective male leaders who love God and the people He has positioned them to be in relationship with, including wives, children, co-workers, congregations, and communities. One thing that screamed loudly at me from this article was the concern that men and boys who are consumed in the lifestyles of porn and video game addiction lack the understanding and embracing of their life purpose. They yearn for artificial intimacy and intelligence, and neglect the life-giving pursuits, including relationships, that we all need to sustain a healthy, whole, and fulfilling life. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision, people die. Those who have no perspective of the future, or how they should be living their lives for something greater than the continual pursuit of momentary gratification, eventually die from the inside out because they stop nourishing healthy hopes and dreams.

The discovery of one's purpose - as we pursue God - becomes one of the greatest treasures that we can receive in this life. However, it can also be a great factor that leads to one's downfall if they go through life without ever finding "that thing" that drives, guides, and directs them to a productive, prosperous, and satisfying life. Without knowing our purpose (and the Giver of our purpose), how else do we know how to optimally utilize our thoughts, times, talents, relationships, and resources to produce a life greater than what we currently experience?

I am committed to helping reroute the trajectory of our culture from what we see now to an environment that helps men cultivate a healthy life perspective that's centered on their purpose. The book God inspired me to write, Dream B.I.G. in 3D: How to Pursue a Bold, Innovative, God-Inspired Life!, is for those who are unaware or confused about the awesome destiny God has planned for them. It helps people identify and confirm the reasons God gave them life, i.e. their assignment in the earth. This was written as a workbook that guides people through a practical, introspective process of uncovering the person God created you to be, while also providing the inspiration to achieve the greatness for which you were born.

If you have a husband, father, son, brother, cousin, friend, neighbor, or any other man in your life who you know needs help with finding direction in his life, please purchase this book for them. This weekend is Father's Day, so it's a great time to help them, especially if you feel you need to be inconspicuous about it. If you want to learn more about Dream B.I.G. in 3D, please visit www.dreambigin3d.com. An ebook version is also available at www.dreambigebook.com.

I refuse to be part of the generation that stood around and let the "demise of guys" happen on my watch. How about you?

Kingdom Business University presents... Christian Entrepreneurs 6-Week Summer Boot Camp!
“Biblical Strategies to Start & Grow Your God-Inspired Business”

You will learn powerful principles and practical tools that will help you build a profitable business that honors God and makes an exponential impact in your family, community, and ultimately the world. We will explore and engage the word of God to extract best practices that will grow you spiritually, professionally, and financially. You can think of this experience like Vacation Bible School for Christian entrepreneurs! 

Big Benefits:

1. Sound Biblical foundation about business
2. Actionable strategies to grow your business
   
3. Lifelong connections with like-minded Christian entrepreneurs
   
   

Schedule: Every Monday from June 18 - July 23

Time: 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul Wilson, Jr., President of Kingdom Business University, is a "Dream Catalyst" and Marketplace Pastor for leaders and entrepreneurs. He equips leaders with creative, faith-based strategies to flourish spiritually and professionally, while operating from several multi-media platforms, including TV show host, inspirational speaker, and stimulating writer.  He is the author of the life purpose igniter “Dream B.I.G. in 3D: How to Pursue a Bold, Innovative God-Inspired Life!” He is also the host of Passion in Action, a motivational and educational faith-based Internet TV show for social entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community change agents.

Amos Johnson Jr, PhD is the author of amosjohnsonjr.com, the number one “FREE” online resource for Christians to learn about business success from a biblical point of view, which is visited by over 1,000 people per month. Dr. Johnson has a passion for helping Christians develop God-inspired businesses because he strongly believe that financial prosperity comes through faith in God & Business.