Episode Transcript
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Al Ware (00:00):
Hello and welcome to
Tech Almighty.
Exploring the fusion of God,technology and business, the
show where faith meetsinnovation.
I'm Al Ware, your host.
Today's topic profit orprinciples leveraging faith for
business success in a secularworld.
Let's dive in.
In life, and especially in theworld of business and technology
(00:21):
, we often encounter challengesthat seem to stack the odds
against us.
It's easy to feel overwhelmedor discouraged in these moments,
but what if I told you thatthose challenges and setbacks
could be the launching pads forsome of your greatest successes?
The Bible has been a constantsource of wisdom and inspiration
throughout my journey.
Verses like Philippians 4-13, Ican do all things through
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Christ, who strengthens me hasbeen a powerful reminder of the
strength we can find in faithwhen faced adversity.
In my early days as anentrepreneur, I faced many
challenges.
There were times when resourceswere scarce, when hardly anyone
wanted to do business with meand when I didn't know how I was
going to make ends meet.
But in those challenges I founda hidden opportunity.
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A major lesson I've learned wasto view adversity as a puzzle
to be solved and not a burden.
This shift turned moments offrustration into opportunities
for creativity, innovation andgrowth.
As we continue on with today'stopic.
I invite you to join me inexploring how we can turn the
adversities we face in businessinto opportunities.
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Let's start by understandingwhat discernment really means.
In the simplest term,discernment is the ability to
judge well.
It often involves seeking God'sguidance to understand His will
in our lives.
But how does this translateinto the world of business?
It's about making wisedecisions, understanding the
deeper implications of ouractions and seeing beyond the
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immediate to understand the truepotential of our opportunities
and challenges.
The guiding scripture for thisdiscussion is from Proverbs 3,
13-14.
Blessed are those who findwisdom in those who gain
understanding, for she is moreprofitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold.
This verse is about the valueof wisdom and understanding.
In business, as in life, wisdomis more precious than the most
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valuable earthly treasures,because it guides us to make
choices that lead to trueprosperity and fulfillment.
Now let's break this down intopractical terms.
In business, we're constantlyfaced with decisions, some small
, others potentiallygame-changing.
Discernment in this context isabout more than just analyzing
data or following market trends.
It's about seeing the biggerpicture.
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It's about understanding notjust the what and how, but the
why behind what we do.
For example, when presentedwith a business opportunity,
conventional wisdom might leadus to immediately consider the
financial benefits.
However, discernment pushes usto look further.
It asks us to consider thelong-term impact of the
decisions on our company, ouremployees, our customers and
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even our personal lives.
Will this opportunity alignwith our core values?
Does it contribute to ourbroader mission?
How will it affect ourrelationship and reputation?
These are the deeper questionsthat discernment brings to the
surface.
In my own journey, there havebeen numerous times when this
kind of discernment has beenimportant.
I recall an instance when alucrative deal was on the table.
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On paper it looked perfect.
It promised high returns,increased visibility and market
expansion.
However, something didn't feelright.
Using this discernment, I tooka step back and I prayed for
wisdom, much like when Solomonasked God for an understanding
heart to govern his peoplewisely.
Through this process, Irealized that, while the deal
was financially attractive, itrequired compromises that didn't
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sit well with my Christianvalues.
It involved partnerships withentities who practices were
ethically questionable.
The short-term gains were clear, but the long-term impact on
our company's integrity andreputation was a major concern.
This is where discernment inbusiness becomes a blend of
practical wisdom, ethicalconsideration and spiritual
insight.
It's about understanding ourbusinesses are not just
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profit-making machines.
They are a reflection of ourvalues and beliefs.
The decisions we make, thepartnerships we form and the
practices we adopt all speakvolumes about who we are and
what we stand for as we moveforward.
In our discussion today, Iencourage you to think about how
discernment plays a role inyour business decisions.
Are you taking the time to lookbeyond the immediate financial
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benefits, and are youconsidering the long-term impact
of your decisions on yourvalues, your people and your
mission?
Now I want to share a real lifebusiness scenario that
illustrates the importance ofdisturbing and Christian values
in entrepreneurship.
This story revolves around myencounter with a company.
Let's call it Company A.
Now.
I had always admired Company A.
They were the tightens of myindustry and their endorsement
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could be a game-trager for anybusiness, especially a growing
one like mine at that time.
So imagine my excitement when,out of the blue, they expressed
interest in working with us.
It felt like a dream come true.
But soon after, that dreampresented a major challenge.
Company A was impressed withour portfolio and presented a
collaboration, but this is thecatch they weren't willing to
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pay for my company services.
This was a tough pill toswallow and in my mind I was
thinking how could such asuccessful company expect us to
work for free?
Instead of immediately turningthem down, I allowed my
Christian faith and values toguide me.
I was in a spiritual prayer andreflection, seeking wisdom and
patience in the face of thisdilemma.
In the Bible, james 1 5 says ifany of you lack wisdom, you
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should ask God, who givesgenerously to all, without
finding fault, and it will begiven to you.
So I asked for wisdom, not justfor an answer, but for
understanding.
As I reflected, I realized thatthis scenario is in my favor.
So I put together a strategy,knowing that Company A was not
offering monetary compensation.
So I asked for recognition andcredibility.
I had painted a picture of theamount of value we were
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delivering to them and how theyneeded to match that value.
I had presented In Matthew 25,14-30, where servants are
entrusted with their master'smoney.
The servant who bears histalent is reprimanded, while
those who invest and generatemore are rewarded.
This parable speaks to theimportance of making the most of
the opportunities we are given,even if they don't seem ideal
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at first.
With this perspective, I startedto see the offer from Company A
in a new light.
It wasn't about what we weregiven up.
It was about what we were goingto gain.
I was thinking about how thiscollaboration could place our
work in front of a much largeraudience, potentially leading to
more significant, lucrativeprojects in the future, and how
we could elevate our brand,showcasing our skills to our
broader market.
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I accepted Company A's offer,but with a strategic approach
ensuring that I had set clearboundaries and with a clear
definition of what successneeded to look like for my
company.
This decision was made lightly.
It required a leap of faith anda trust in the wisdom that God
granted me when I asked for it.
It also required patience, asthe benefits of this decision
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wouldn't be immediate.
In hindsight, this decision wasimportant.
The project with Company A didexactly what I had strategically
planned.
Our work received tremendousexposure, leading to new clients
who are willing to pay for ourservices.
We were featured in severalhigh profile publications, which
boosted our credibility andhelped us to be recognized as
one of the top design studios inthe world.
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This experience taught me thatsometimes the best business
decisions are aboutunderstanding and aligning with
our long term vision and values,as Christian entrepreneurs were
called to look beyond thesurface, to seek wisdom and
understanding and to trust thateven in challenging situations,
there are opportunities forgrowth and success.
Now let's talk about findingopportunity in adversity.
Romans 828, which says and weknow that in all things God
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worked for the good of those wholove Him, who have been called
according to His purpose.
This first teaches us to lookfor the silver lining in every
challenge and to trust that evenin the midst of difficulty,
there can be a beneficialoutcome.
When Company A initiallyapproached me with their offer
that lacked financialcompensation, it seemed like a
clear disadvantage.
The immediate reaction of mostpeople would be to decline,
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viewing it as unfair.
However, I chose to look deeperto find the hidden opportunity
within this apparent setback.
Instead of focusing solely onwhat we weren't getting
financially, I began to thinkabout what we could gain.
Now let me break down the keyconsiderations I took into
account that Company A hadoffered.
Keep in mind my decisionaccepting the offer was based on
long-term goals I had set formy company Brand visibility and
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recognition.
Working with a prestigiouscompany like A could
significantly enhance ourbrand's visibility.
This exposure was somethingmoney couldn't buy, at least not
at the scale Company A couldoffer Portfolio enhancement.
Adding a project under thiscaliber to our portfolio will
showcase our capabilities tofuture potential clients.
It would be a testament to ourquality and adaptability.
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Network opportunitiesCollaborating with Company A
could open doors to networks andconnections previously beyond
our reach.
It could also lead torelationships with other
industry leaders and potentialclients, learning and growth.
This project promised to bechallenging, pushing us out of
our comfort zone.
Such challenges areopportunities for growth,
allowing us to refine our skillsand expand our expertise.
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As entrepreneurs, we often facesituations where the path
forward is in clear cut.
It's in these moments that ourfaith and values guide us.
Romans 828 reminds us thatevery situation, no matter how
daunting, holds potential forgood.
But recognizing this goodrequires faith, insight and a
willingness to think outside thebox.
In embracing the opportunitywith Company A, I was practicing
what I like to call faithforward thinking.
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This is about believing thatthere is a purpose in every
situation and that, with wisdomand foresight, we can align our
actions with this purpose.
The entrepreneurial journey isfilled with moments of adversity
.
It's in these moments that ourcharacter and resilience are
tested, but, more importantly,it's also in these moments that
we have the opportunity todemonstrate our faith and values
in action.
As we draw near to theconclusion of today's episode,
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let's take a moment to reflecton our discussion together.
Discermint in business.
We started by introducing theconcept of discernment, a
critical skill for anyentrepreneur.
This biblical skill of wisdomguides us in making informed and
wise decisions.
Remember Proverbs 313-14, whichteaches us the value of wisdom
and understanding, emphasizingtheir importance over material
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wealth.
Discermint is about seeingbeyond the immediate profits and
challenges, understanding thelong-term implications of our
actions and aligning them withour core values and principles.
Finding opportunity andadversity we dived into the
entrepreneurial mindset ofturning challenges into
opportunities, guided by thescripture from Romans 828.
The story of our interactionwith Company A served as an
example of this principle.
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Despite the disadvantage of notreceiving monetary compensation
, we found value in increasedbrand visibility, enhanced
credibility and the invaluablenetworking opportunities.
Now, as we apply theseprinciples in our own
entrepreneurial adventures,let's remember that this journey
is not always straightforward.
There will be times ofuncertainty and difficulty.
However, these are the momentsthat test and strengthen our
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faith and character.
There are opportunities to putinto practice the principles
we've discussed today.
I encourage you all, movingforward, to approach your
business ventures withdiscernment.
Seek opportunities in everysituation, no matter how
challenging they may seem.
Let your business practices bea reflection of your Christian
ethics, demonstrating integrity,fairness and a commitment to
making a positive impact in theworld.
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Now let us end this episodewith a prayer.
If you're in a place where youcan close your eyes in focus, I
invite you to join me.
Heavenly Father, we thank youfor the wisdom and guidance you
provide for us in ourentrepreneurial endeavors.
We ask you for your continuedguidance and discernment as we
navigate the challenges andopportunities in the world of
business.
Help us to see every situationthrough your eyes, finding
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opportunities in growth andimpact in the face of adversity.
Lord, we pray for the strengthto uphold Christian ethics in
our business practices.
May your actions reflectintegrity, fairness and
stewardship.
Help us to remember that ourwork is an act of worship and
service to you.
Give us the courage to makedecisions that align with our
faith and values, even when it'sdifficult.
We ask for your blessing on ourventures that they may not only
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prosper but also bring glory toyour name.
May our business be a source ofpositive change in this world,
reflecting your love and grace.
In Jesus' name we pray Amen.
Thank you for tuning in to TechAlmighty.
I'm Al Ware and it's been ablessing to discuss this
critical aspect of leveragingfaith for business success in a
secular world.
Join me next time for moreinsights where technology,
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business and Christianityconverge.
Until then, keep striving forexcellence in all you do.
Guide it by faith.