The Disruptors Blog by Paul Wilson Jr. - PAULWILSONJR.COM

Amazing African-American Entrepreneurs Who Disrupted Industries and Made History

2/15/2018

From the inception of this country, black Americans have struggled to make a way out of no way. Confronted with incredible obstacles such as slavery, violent oppression, racism, discrimination, and unethical laws, resourceful and African Americans have repeatedly been able to overcome these injustices to launch successful business enterprises. In honor of Black History Month, here’s a look at some of the earliest — and most industrious — black entrepreneurs, posted in an article at TheRoot.com. Many of these entrepreneurs, who might be unfamiliar to most Americans, but they have major impacts and disrupted several industries, such as...

Anthony Johnson
Paul Cuffee
Christiana Carteaux Bannister
William Leidesdorff
Clara Brown
George Thomas Downing

Haven't heard of these amazing individuals? Then I highly encourage you to take some time to get to know these unfamiliar yet extremely influential entrepreneurs. You might be surprised what you learn and how they are still impact lives today!

Read the full article: https://www.theroot.com/great-african-american-entrepreneurs-who-made-history-1790868437

The Disruptors Episode 10: Disrupting Generational Poverty

2/9/2018

In this episode of The Disruptors Bible study I discuss how the prophet Elisha used an unconventional strategy to break the cycle of poverty for a single mother and her sons. Enjoy!

You can watch it here or listen to the audio of The Disruptors Podcast in my mobile app. I also encourage you to join us for our next live broadcast next Monday at 8:30 PM est.

Your Business Should Create Opportunities for the Poor

6/22/2017

God’s heart is to help people in this world who are financially poor. One of the ways He helps is through Christian entrepreneurs who create opportunities for the poor through their businesses. In today’s podcast, My friend and founder of the Church for Entrepreneurs, Amos Johnson Jr., recorded a powerful podcast about this concept to help you learn how your business can be a part of God’s heart to help the poor. Click below and enjoy!

To listen to the podcast click this link: http://churchforentrepreneurs.com/business-create-opportunities-poor/

Are You More Focused on Making Money or Making Disciples?

5/4/2017

Many Christian entrepreneurs pray the prayer of Jabez, asking God to "enlarge their territory." However, I wonder how many understand the full implications of what they are asking God for and if their heart is in the right place?

God wants your business or ministry to grow exponentially, but it may not be in the way that you were thinking.

A Simple Idea to Generate Jobs for Youth in Urban Communities

4/5/2017

The average cost per prison inmate per year to US tax payers is more than $31,200 and some states are as high as $60,000 (and these numbers are a few years old). In fact, certain states spend nearly three times as much to house prisoners than to educate students. And that's not counting all the negative family, social, emotional, mental, and community impact that's connected to each person who is incarcerated.

Of course we know that unemployment has a strong correlation to criminal activities. Further, studies have shown that youth crimes go down when they get jobs. So why haven't we connected the dots to see that if more jobs are needed in urban communities to help people take the initial and essential steps break generational cycles of poverty, we look to small businesses as a primary source of job creation?

I tackle the answer to that question in my online course, Business as Mission 2.1 Community Jobs Program. This innovative and dynamic online course merges the best practices and ingenuity that missional Christian entrepreneurs have successfully used for years in third world countries and applies them to inner cities and urban areas in America. It is a very unique course in that it combines effective strategies from the areas of 1) economic empowerment, 2) social engagement, and 3) spiritual enrichment. By the end of this course you will have a strategic playbook to make a significant impact in your community by integrating social entrepreneurship and urban missions in a compelling way.

I believe we can be more effective in dealing with crime prevention, in particular strategies to create jobs for at-risk youth and young adults who are most susceptible to committing crimes. And Business as Mission 2.1 will do just that!

We can do more to develop solutions that change lives financially, socially, and spiritually. Let's do it together for the sake of our future!

Just click below to get started...

4 Ways Pressure Can Propel Your Progress

2/15/2017

When starting or running a business, you must realize that pressure is inevitable. So whether the pressure is financial, relational, social, political, or any other, it usually causes one of two reactions. It can cause you to either wilt under it or it can push you forward to your next level. Fortunately, you can choose how you will respond to it.

In the full-length version of this coaching video I share four ways that pressure can propel your progress. You can get exclusive access to this video (and many others) on my free mobile app, Inc My Dream. Download it right now for Apple or Android at www.incmydream.com.

WATCH ON MOBILE APP

6 Issues That Prevent Missional Entrepreneurs From Having A Major Social Impact

2/9/2017

The state of entrepreneurship is at a very exciting stage in history in terms of having significant impact around the world. More people than ever are pursuing social enterprises or business as mission ventures as a way to fulfill their desire to transform communities, change lives, and leave a positive multi-generational legacy, among many other admirable reasons.

The problem, though, is when people of great compassion lack some non-negotiable essentials to run a profitable business that has a major social impact. Compassion is necessary to run a mission driven business, but it can't make up for lack of a business plan, ineffective business practices, or flawed execution.

So let's take a look at six issues that prevent mission driven businesses from having a major social impact in local communities:

Lack of Competencies. Every profitable business - no matter the type - must master certain business practices that are non-negotiable, such as marketing, sales, customer service, financial management, and more. If your business isn't competent in these areas then it won't be around for very long, which means you can't help anybody.
Lack of a Compelling Product or Service. Sometimes social entrepreneurs forget that the number one aspect of the business has to be offering something that people want to buy. People are not buying your product because you're connected to social cause, they're buying your product because it solves a problem for them. The social cause is just icing on the cake not the cake itself. So if you decide to go the route of having a mission driven business make sure your business deals with solving real problems and producing real solutions that people want to pay you market value for.
Lack of a Core Business Model. Without a proven business model, which means that you have a business operation that can consistently turn your product/service into revenues. For example, many entrepreneurs come up with great ideas, but they haven't identified the right target audience, or they don't have an efficient, convenient, and inexpensive model to deliver it to their customers. Your business model must be working before you can have the real long-term impact you're capable of.
Lack of a Concentrated Effort in One Direction. Another way to say this is a lack of focus. It can be very easy for mission driven entrepreneur to get caught up in caring for the needs of the community and not lock in on what is necessary to build a sustainable enterprise. And sometimes the needs in the community are so great and so diverse that the attention of the business owner is now spread out and the lack of focus causes them to not be effective at anything or very few things. Every successful business requires a business owner who can lock in and perform necessary business functions and activities at a high level over a sustained period of time. Without a sustained and concentrated effort, the business may be busy but it won't be productive or profitable.
Lack of Consistency. Mission driven entrepreneurship is a marathon not a sprint. One of the critical things about having a comprehensive core business model is sticking to the execution of the model overtime, and not changing that model on a whim or at every point of adversity. Consistency over time with your business model and serving the community are required for you to have sustained impact. It's better to do one thing well for a long time than trying many things with good intentions and flailing all over the place.
Lack of a Connection to the Community. It's one thing to want to do something "for" a community of people, but it's a totally different thing to do something "with" a community of people. Again, compassion is a wonderful thing but not if it comes off as paternalistic. And just because you generate lot of profits and then donate a lot of money to a community doesn't mean you are having a deep social impact. So get into the habit of developing strong ties to the community of people you desire to serve through your business. The relationships will prove themselves more valuable than money over time.

If I'm honest it takes a while to master all of these areas. And some of these old habits have a tendency to try to creep back into my daily routines. But I realize as I continually get better in these areas I see our business improving and our impact increasing.

Did you identify any of these areas where you can make some improvements? If yes, I would love to assist you where you need some help. Check out my online business course, 7 Week Startup, which will help you launch a new mission driven business or restart your current one in 60 days or less. We will cover all the issues identified above to ensure you are equipped to run a profitable business and deeply impact the community God called you to reach.

Don't let any of these issues slow you down or stop you from fulfilling your dreams and reaching your destiny. I'll see you in class!

*PRE-ORDER NEW BOOK: When Kings Dream

Why You Need to Understand the Real Connection Between Your Vocation and Your Calling

2/3/2017

To live outside of God’s will put us in danger;
to live in His will makes us dangerous.
~ Erwin McManus

In today’s society the concept of vocation has lost much of its original meaning. Most people connect the word vocation to having a job. Interestingly, it originated in the 15th century from the Latin word, vocatio, which means summons or to call. So the essence of this word vocation is not a job, but a calling. Therefore, you should not look at the business God has called you to build as just the work you do. You should look at it as your God-given calling within His Kingdom.

There is no such thing as sacred and secular within the Kingdom of God. Work is sacred, just like what would be considered traditional ministry is sacred. Being a secretary is as sacred as being a pastor. Being an entrepreneur is just as sacred as being a prophet. When you understand working in all you do as unto the Lord, you come to the realization that anything you do for God is sacred. And although there are many different gifts, offices, and roles within the Body of Christ, each one of them is needed and necessary to bring the manifestation of God’s Kingdom to the earth.

Further, while a different anointing is needed to minister effectively from the pulpit versus ministering effectively in the marketplace, one is no more valuable than the other. They are just different. You are the church whenever and wherever you do business, which means you are in full-time ministry whether you knew it or not.

So stay in your lane. Don’t feel pressured to pursue a pulpit in order to find significance in the Kingdom. You don’t have to feel like a second-class Kingdom citizen if God didn’t call you to operate in a church ministry position. God has positioned you right where He wants to get His greatest glory out of you.

Take 30% Off Resources to Help You Connect Your Purpose to Your Work

1/25/2017

Your work is meant to be an extension of the purpose for which God created you. If you haven't yet discovered how to make that connection between your purpose and work or you want to grow further in the process, I have some dynamic ebooks, audio and video resources perfect for you. These inspirational and innovative resources will help you gain the confidence and direction you need to be fulfilled in your work you were designed for.

Also, your purchases help support the work Kinsman Community does in the community to teach at-risk youth how to start businesses as a means of personal and professional empowerment.

Just click here to go to our online store and use discount code DREAM30 to make your purchase and support this much needed cause. Thanks in advance for your support!

GO TO ONLINE STORE

How Dr. King's Messages on Economics Should Inspire Today's Young Entrepreneurs

1/24/2017

Only a "dry as dust" religion prompts a minister to extol the glories of Heaven while ignoring the social conditions that cause men an Earthly hell.

In his latter years Dr. King spent a lot of time talking about the major imbalances of finances and economics in the U.S. His words are just as accurate and relevant today as when he first began to talk about these issues.

Learn more about how Kinsman Community is applying his messages by training at-risk youth to start their own businesses at www.mykinsman.org