Faith Driven Entrepreneur

In this episode, the hosts tackle the balance between godly contentment and entrepreneurial discontentment. They discuss the importance of deriving identity and joy from a higher source, as well as the challenges and benefits of working with family and friends. The significance of prior relationships and compatibility in the workplace is also explored. Lastly, they delve into addressing and resolving conflicts in a leadership setting through open communication and seeking input from the team.

Mike Sharrow is back for Part 2 of our interview. As you likely gathered from Part 1, Mike leads C12 one of the largest and most successful organizations that put together groups of like minded, and similarly staged groups of Christian CEOs for local community, fellowship and best practices. Think about all the things you've heard about YPO, but imagine something better :). If you're only going to listen to one of the parts of the interview (but why would you??) , listen to this one. The team asks Mike to share his observations on what’s happening in the marketplace from a faith perspective. Mike shares the fact that the Post-Christian era has people desiring authenticity in faith expressions. In fact, according to him, they hunger for it. C12 is seeing a tide lift in activity across the globe of more people wanting to live authentic lives for Christ at work as well as at home and in church. Mike goes on to share how C12 seeks to guide members towards accountability and integration. According to him, it’s not just what you’re doing but how you’re doing it. Jesus taught through disequilibrium. C12 is about keeping members in a healthy state of disequilibrium so that they can learn continuously, a key skillset for any business person. C12 really assists in the personal transformation of individuals as it addresses the whole person – all of one’s life is bought together in one place under Christ. We hope you enjoy this week’s podcast and we’d love for you to tell us how you are pursuing the integration of your work, faith, family and community in your daily lives at Faith Driven Entrepreneur.

The first of two parts, this week’s episode finds the team speaking with Mike Sharrow, President and CEO of C12, an organization that provides a confidential and intimate environment where like-minded peers share ideas, discover and plan for areas in their business that need improvement, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another to conduct business in a God-honoring way. Mike gives us a little of the history of the recent resurgence of faith in the marketplace during the last century that provide the foundation for what C12 has been doing since 1992. He shares with the team some of the most interesting impact stories of how leaders’ decisions to pursue relationship as a key driver of culture led to incredible levels of employee engagement and satisfaction as well as increased supplier commitment. The formula was as simple as finding out what was going on in the lives of direct reports that led to transformative changes in the lives of team members, including two saved marriages. We think you will be greatly encouraged by part one of our time with Mike Sharrow and we ask that you share your stories of marketplace transformation with us at Faith Driven Entrepreneur.

Jason Johnson, serial entrepreneur and founder of August Smart Homes, talks to Rusty and William about when the entrepreneurial itch first hit him while working at a large tech company. From humble beginnings, Jason explains how receiving a scholarship to Pepperdine University introduced him to the responsibility of calling and that entrepreneurship was a natural expression of that calling. He goes on to tackle tough questions around how to live a faith driven life while heading up a VC-backed company where culture and purpose to often clash. He shares on the ways he maintains his commitment to instilling culture in his company that is reflective of his faith. The team asks Jason to address the question of money, something on every entrepreneur’s mind (and naturally so). He responds with some very practical advice on how to begin living a generous life because that too, is part of an entrepreneur’s call. The team ends this week’s discussion with wisdom on how to stay grounded and focused on the things to which God is calling you. As always, you have our permission to thoroughly enjoy this episode. Please send us your thoughts, especially those around how you deal with the culture clash of the kingdom within versus the world without. Until next week!

In part two from the Alpine Inn, Henry, Rusty, and William field more questions from our guests but first give some background on Inklings, the gathering of faith driven entrepreneurs in the Bay Area who meet regularly in the same vain of the original Inklings gathering of faith driven thinkers C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, Dorothy Sayer and others. The team moves on to walk an entrepreneur who is struggling to find his place in the local church through why the institutional church is a necessary part of community, with some ideas as to how his entrepreneurial talents could even serve the local church. The team shares a bit on how diversity of walks and experiences within the church is actually the key to its success because it creates a place from which collective wisdom can be shared. Another entrepreneur, currently a student, asked about what great books the team were reading and we found out Henry is more of a people guy while William and Rusty had to confess to maybe over doing it in the book buying department. All gave a few of their favorite and highly recommended titles. Finally, the team calls Josh Banko over, one of the co-creators of the iPad, who shares a bit about how God led and fed his drive to innovate by speaking to the desires of his heart, sending mentors to him to point him in the right direction and choosing to make His presence known in Josh’s life every step of the way.

In this week’s episode, we take the show on the road. In the first live broadcast, Faith Driven Entrepreneur sets up at the Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California. This Q&A took place before our Inklings gathering of faith driven entrepreneurs. We tackle questions about how to honor family and loved ones with prescene, our individual learnings from our own entrepreneurial journeys and how the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) can follow you anywhere. Tune in as we answer these questions and more from entrepreneurs in the Bay Area!

This is a special episode for us. One, we think, definitely worth hearing. Why? Well there are few things more important in our lives than effective story telling. There are few better people (maybe no one??) that do a better job at helping people tell their stories than Nancy Duarte from Duarte Design. They help CEOs of Fortune 100 companies tell their stories, and maybe something more impressive: they are the “go-to” firm to help TED presenters tell their stories well. As you might imagine, they’ve got a great story, one based in their faith and firmly rooted in Scripture. We think you’ll like it and that it will be a blessing for you. Also, we did something a bit different this time through. William and I (Rusty was on the East Coast) took the podcast on the road to the offices at Duarte Design.

Explore the significance of generosity for entrepreneurs and the transformative power it holds. Learn about the concept of net worth and the importance of being faithful stewards of resources. Discover the challenges of maintaining identity in entrepreneurship and finding validation in God's love. Dive into personal experiences, reflections, and the significance of setting good examples in generosity.

The podcast explores expressing gratitude in the workplace, discussing the importance of recognizing and appreciating employees' contributions. It highlights the power of recognition and personalized gifts, sharing heartwarming stories. The hosts discuss creative ways to show gratitude, such as taking rubber chicken and cheesehead photos, and acknowledge the contagious nature of gratitude in organizations.

In part two with Vic Ho of Fivestars, Vic expands his thinking with regards to how faith and work come together in his life. We discuss Vic's observance of the Sabbath and how it transformed his personal and professional life.  How he changed from a constant worrier to a man of peace that knows God has Fivestars' destiny in His hands - the successes and the failures.  Then, stay tuned as Vic describes how he thinks Gideon is the best biblical story concerning customer acquisition (worth the price of admission alone here!).  Vic's personal journey reminds us that God’s yoke is easy and his burden is light.  Additionally, he needs nothing from us but surrender of all things, including our work! Join us to hear the rest of Vic's story, I am highly confident you will be challenged and encouraged.