Faith Driven Entrepreneur

In this special episode recorded at SXSW in Austin, Texas, hosts Justin Forman and Richard Cunningham sit down with Brent Beshore, founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, to discuss what it means to take a long-term, cathedral-like perspective in business and investing.Brent shares his transformation from an achievement-driven atheist to a faith-focused entrepreneur, highlighting how his approach to private equity challenges industry norms with long-term capital, zero debt, and transparent fee structures. Throughout the conversation, Brent reveals how vulnerability and authentic relationships have been crucial both in his personal faith journey and in building a successful investment firm.Key Highlights:Brent's journey from atheism to faith and how it transformed his perspective on business, family, and achievementThe dangers of "acceptable sin" that starts small but eventually leads to devastating consequencesWhy living in the light through authentic relationships is essential for both personal healing and business successHow Permanent Equity's unique model of 30-year capital and no debt creates true alignment with business ownersThe concept of "cathedral thinking" - building something that may take generations to completeThe importance of community and authentic relationships in combating isolation, especially for successful entrepreneursWhy achievement, control, and self-reliance can be more dangerous addictions than substances

In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, to discuss his remarkable journey from Wall Street executive to nonprofit leader. Unlike the typical path of chasing wealth and status, Steve shares how he made intentional decisions to prioritize purpose over prestige throughout his career.After starting at Lehman Brothers, Steve felt a tug that his faith was calling him toward a different path. He made a deal with God that he would "never make a decision for money, for prestige, or for power," which ultimately led him to leave banking on the cusp of making partner. His journey continued through corporate America, government service (including running the Small Business Administration during Hurricane Katrina recovery), and eventually to Goodwill, where he now leads one of America's most recognized nonprofit organizations.Key Highlights:Steve's countercultural decision to leave Wall Street's wealth and prestige to follow God's callingThe rich history of Goodwill beginning as a church-based ministry to help Boston's poorest residentsHow Goodwill provides holistic support to help people overcome barriers to employmentThe innovative prison education programs helping reduce recidivism rates to just 5%The power of corporate partnerships in scaling social impactHow writing a personal mission statement helped Steve identify his callingThe importance of seeing potential in people that they don't yet see in themselvesQuotable Moments:"I felt like God said, I've taken you thus far. Will you really go where I'm taking you? And worse, most of the people in my close-in circle said, you're crazy... And I had this moment where I thought to myself, I have been like every other American watching these horrific stories on television and wondering what I could do.""Our founder's story and our founder's vision 125 years later is still very much a part of who we are... It was all deeply based in the conviction that every human being has embedded potential.""I often say, when somebody comes through our door, we often see more in them than they see in themselves."

Mark McClain, founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies, shares his non-traditional path to entrepreneurship after 10 years in corporate America. He discusses building a successful tech company with faith-based values, navigating multiple funding rounds (VC, PE, IPO, and back again), and balancing business ambition with family priorities.[Chapters]0:00 - Introduction2:10 - Mark on South by Southwest and Austin's tech scene6:08 - The evolution of faith in the workplace10:26 - Mark's journey from corporate career to entrepreneurship15:32 - Understanding SailPoint's identity management technology18:47 - AI as both threat and opportunity in cybersecurity20:34 - Navigating different funding methods as an entrepreneur24:15 - The value of community vs. coaching for entrepreneurs29:01 - The importance of staying connected to church community31:40 - Building a successful business without sacrificing family35:29 - Four S's of Christian leadership: Son, Sheep, Stock, and Stewardship39:02 - A biblical perspective on retirement and stewardship44:23 - Closing thoughts on community and faithIn this authentic conversation, Mark reveals:Why success rates increase for entrepreneurs who start after age 35The value of both peer community and expert coachingHow to stay connected to your faith while scaling a businessA biblical perspective on stewarding resources and opportunityPractical advice for staying present with family while building a company#FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurialJourney #BusinessLeadership #FaithAndWork #ServantLeadership

Travis Penfield, Founder and CEO of 49 Financial, shares his extraordinary journey of overcoming a brain tumor and supporting his wife through cancer. He discusses pivotal lessons from meeting sports legends, emphasizing family over accolades. Health crises reshaped his identity, leading to a transformative approach in business. Travis highlights his firm’s innovative pillars for young advisors, aiming to bridge generational wealth gaps while fostering a supportive community. He reflects on how these experiences deepened his faith and clarified his priorities.

Every entrepreneur dreams of the freedom that comes with success, yet Lloyd Reeb discovered a surprising paradox - the very prosperity he worked so hard to achieve was quietly eroding his freedom and purpose. Instead of letting money become his master, he made the counter-cultural choice to design a life where wealth serves his deeper values rather than dictating his choices. His journey reveals that true entrepreneurial freedom might look radically different than what we've been conditioned to pursue.  Lloyd shares the meaningful artifacts in his office that guide his decisions and keep him grounded in his purpose - from a crystal light bulb gift that reminds him of his unique contribution to a 300-year-old French Bible that represents God's unchanging wisdom to a wooden "Amazing Grace" plaque honoring William Wilberforce's 30-year commitment to ending the slave trade.Key Highlights:How carrying "long-term metrics" in his wallet for decades has helped Lloyd maintain focus on what truly mattersThe intentional decision to decouple wealth from lifestyle to break cycles of entitlementWhy complexity, comfort, and complacency are the three deadliest enemies to living a purpose-driven lifeApplying Charlie Munger's "inversion" approach to identify what would cause you to squander your lifeThe transformative practice of keeping a "Book of Days" to document God's work in and through your lifeWhy financial success creates freedom for mission rather than just lifestyle expansionPractical ways to declutter your life, reduce complexity, and create space for what matters mostQuotable Moments:"Build a successful business in the context of focusing on building a successful life.""It's an interesting question to ask: What level of lifestyle is in your family's best interest? That's different from how much can we afford.""What would I do if I wanted to squander the rest of my life? I would get my life complicated, comfortable, and let my heart become uncompassionate.""Money is a great servant, but a terrible master. We wanted to really demote money from mastery to servant."Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

Cheri Garcia, Founder of Cornbread Hustle, shares her inspiring journey from being a teen drug dealer to becoming CEO of a multi-million-dollar staffing agency. She discusses the transformative power of employment for individuals with criminal records, emphasizing how hiring for second chances can reshape lives. Cheri highlights her personal story of hitting rock bottom and finding sobriety, and reflects on the dangers of control as an addiction. Her insights on resilience, community support, and the importance of vulnerability draw listeners into a narrative of hope and redemption.

Nils Smith, a social media expert and consultant for ministries, shares insights on why many entrepreneurs shy away from social media. He discusses the delicate balance between authenticity and self-promotion while revealing how AI is reshaping content strategies. Nils takes listeners through his journey from youth pastor to social media guru, highlighting the evolution of online engagement. He emphasizes the importance of targeting audiences, utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT, and adapting strategies for different platforms to thrive in the digital landscape.

Jack Hooper, founder and CEO of Take Command Health and former CIA counterterrorism analyst, shares his remarkable transition from tracking terrorist finances to revolutionizing health insurance after a personal crisis. He discusses the transparency needed in healthcare costs and the broken systems that often leave people powerless. Jack emphasizes the importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship, balancing faith, personal financial boundaries, and the evolution of leadership, all while creating a people-first approach to insurance.

Dave Blanchard, co-founder of Praxis, shares insights on faith-driven entrepreneurship and its cultural significance. He discusses the unique journey of naming Praxis, inspired by prayer and personal experiences. The conversation shifts to the evolving perception of entrepreneurs and the role of programs like Y Combinator in normalizing this path. Blanchard emphasizes the church's potential as a creative hub, the need for authentic storytelling, and the importance of mentorship in overcoming challenges faced by Christian entrepreneurs.

Lloyd Reeb, a long-time leader of the Halftime Institute and co-author of "From Success to Significance," joins to share his transformative insights on building a life with 100X impact. He discusses the evolution of the Halftime message, emphasizing the importance of infusing meaning into business success. Lloyd dives into the power of freedom to pursue one's calling and the four types of leverage that can amplify impact. He also addresses how leaders can pause for reflection, ensuring their aspirations align with their core values.