THE 5 ADVANTAGES of Being a Christian in Business By : Sue Miley, MBA, MA, LPC

THE 5 ADVANTAGES of Being a Christian in Business By : Sue Miley, MBA, MA, LPC

The Christian Walk is Not The Easy Road People think being a Christian is easy - just follow the rules and be a good girl or boy and you ll be fine. I don t know where this idea comes from - certainly not from anyone who has tried to follow Jesus. Living by faith is a challenge. Yet, if you are a high achiever like me, you up for the challenge. Being Christian in business presents further challenges. Some interpret these challenges to be obstacles. They may even believe that being Christian is a disadvantage in modern business and that there are some business principles and Christian values that are mutually exclusive. I m here to tell you that your Christian faith is not a disadvantage. Far from holding you back, your Christian faith is actually the very source of true success in business as in life. The 5 Advantages of Being a Christian in Business 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 2

The Truth What is the truth? I think for Christians we would universally agree that God is truth and that He has given us His truths in His Word. Christians believe in the bible. It is not only a core to our faith, it is also our handbook for knowing who God is, building a relationship with God, and living life based on God s will. Part of the truth about God is that He is all powerful, all knowing, and loves us with an incredible grace and mercy. This is why I conclude that it is wise, among other things, to follow biblical principles in all facets of our life, including our business. Many in the secular world believe that the truth is different for different people; that it depends on circumstance, point of view, or popular opinion. For small businesses it is particularly hard to keep up with the moving truth of the secular business world. But Christian truth, delivered by Jesus, shared in God s Word, and to this day still guided by the Holy Spirit, is timeless. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 Your advantage While others may honestly seek the best business principles, they can be confused by a moveable truth. You have been handed the whole, timeless Truth. You are gifted with a straight path and following it will set your business free. Your Challenge Learn and master the eternal principles behind Christian Business Success through ongoing study of the Biblical principles that support good business practices. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 3

The Faith On the outside I am a mild- mannered, calm, consistent force to be reckoned with. On the inside I am the person on the edge of the cliff, heart beating fast, adrenalin exploding as I m about to take the plunge into the unknown. No one is pushing me. I am here by choice. Why? Because God created me this way. The heart beating fear is my own creation. The desire to be on the edge is His call. But, I don't stand here alone. And neither do you. Every business is taking risks every day. Every business has to brave the cliff. Every business owner has to have a belief that they can succeed. 5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:5-8 Your advantage While others have to put their faith in their own skills, their people, fate, or luck, your faith is in God. And God is so much stronger, greater, and more powerful than your business, your employees, or your own skills. While others are using battery power, you have the opportunity to plug into the ultimate, endless source of all power, light and life. Your Challenge Learn how to really live by Faith, not just in your personal life, but at work, too. Discover how living with Faith can transform the way that you face the risk, uncertainty and tough decisions of running a business. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 4

The Strength You have to have faith. You are standing on the edge of that cliff, wind blowing through your hair, thoughts swirling in your mind, when you suddenly feel a hand enclose around yours. You look to your side and see Jesus standing their ready to jump with you. When you sign for the business loan to open your own business. When you purchase the new system that cost a month s revenues. As you hire that new associate from the Ivy League school. Your advantage Jesus is there with you. As a Christian in business, you have an endless, all powerful source of strength to lean on. You have inspiration to help form your vision. You have prayer to focus your strategic thinking. You have scripture to guide your actions. You have a community to keep you strong. And, you have faith, to keep you motivated. You are able to not only draw on this to make you stronger and better. But, because of it, you can actually succeed through your weakness. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 Your Challenge Learn to draw strength not only through scripture and prayer, but also from having an inspired vision for your business, and by connecting to a supportive community. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 5

The Meaning God gives us our vision and our dreams. He chooses us before we are born. So 10 years ago when I was not yet a Christian and when I was working in the corporate world I didn t know that I was His even though He did. Working for a fairly big company had some this is the most fabulous career ever moments as well as some this is hell on earth moments. But there was a distinct difference in my ability to pursue my ambitions then and now. The source and depth of my vision and motivation. My primary sources of motivation back then were things like: fear of humiliation, desire not to let anyone down, bosses high expectations, recognition and money. The problem with this motivation was that it was external and fueled by fear. As a Christian I now realize that God has a vision for my life - and that includes my business. Rather than relying on external motivation, fear and my own vision and goals, I have a much deeper, much more positive source of motivation - or inspiration. Your advantage You have a calling and God has a vision for you and for your business. Your Challenge As a Christian you can discover God's vision for your business. When you do, you will tap into a deep well of spiritual motivation and power. You will find the meaning behind your true motivation and it will propel you forward in a way no secular motivation could ever do. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 6

The Reward Without a deeper meaning and a God vision, it is easy to slip into the belief that money and recognition are not only the rewards of success, but that they are the only ways to measure success. Having said that let me also say it is not only possible to profit, it is your responsibility! In the secular world they make it pretty simple. A good steward will use all available resources to maximize shareholder return. While many people are motivated almost exclusively by financial gain, or by the desire for recognition, you have a deeper calling. You know that profit and recognition are only two of the dimensions of business success. You know that while these can be present, God's definition of success in business is bigger than just these. There are so many other ways to maximize shareholder return if we think of the shareholder as God, for example: Providing employment a means for people to feed their families Providing for the poor and giving back to the community Creating opportunity for others to make a meaningful contribution in the world as part of our vision and business. Nurturing the Christian qualities in our employees Setting a good example for other Christians in business Your advantage As a Christian, you see success in many aspects of you daily actions and can experience profound success even when times are financially challenging. A luxury many in the secular world do not enjoy. Your Challenge Learn to measure and track more than just your bottom line. Use Kingdom Metrics to chart your true success and recognize your accomplishments and progress beyond just sales. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 7

It s What Makes Us Different Remember that you are different. God doesn t see success as the world sees it. If you step out in faith and follow His path for you, you ll achieve success on a level you have never known. Through servant leadership and leading by example we will form a path for other businesses to see that they too can achieve traditional success on a foundation of Christian values and become their own city on a hill. Why? Because, for Christian business owners our point of difference is our competitive advantage. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 8

Master the 5 Advantages for Christian Business Owners Learn Truth Learn the key principles behind True Business Success with the 6- week Bible Study Guide in the Christian Business Edge Program. Exercise Faith Challenge yourself to live by Faith while facing your toughest business choices, using the Issue Resolution Worksheets in the Christian Business Edge Guide. Build Strength Learn to draw strength, through scripture, prayer and by following the simple steps to create a support network outlined in The Christian Business Edge Workbook. Discover Meaning You can discover God's vision for your business and tap into deeper motivation and power through the 6- week Christian Business Edge guided experience. Recognize the Reward Learn to measure and track more than just your bottom line using the Kingdom Metrics charts in the Christian Business Edge Program. Learn how the 5 Advantages and 5 Challenges can transform your work from daily struggles, to surprising growth. My 6- week program, The Christian Business Edge, gives you the simple daily actions & tools to create True Business Success that glorifies God. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 9

Sue Miley, MBA,MA,LPC Sue Miley MBA, MA, LPC is a Christian business coach who combines her strong Christian faith and her 20 + years of business experience to help other Christian Business owners achieve traditional success building their businesses upon their faith and professional values. Sue earned her undergraduate degree in Finance at Louisiana State University in 1986. In 1993 she completed her Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing, followed by a Masters in Community Counseling in 2004, both from Louisiana State University. Sue has senior level experience in finance, marketing, and operational leadership. The bulk of her business career was as an executive with Community Coffee Company and Foodies Kitchen, a Commanders Palace family establishment. Over the past five years Sue has been coaching small Christian business owners to launch, streamline and grow their businesses. Additionally, after receiving her Masters Degree in Community Counseling in 2004, she earned her LPC licensure as a Christian Counselor. If you are a Christian entrepreneur or Christian business owner who is looking for help from someone who understands your values, who also follows God in her business and life, and who has proven Christian resources and traditional business acumen to help you achieve your goals, call Sue to discuss how Christian consulting and coaching may help you. Twitter: twitter.com/suemiley2 Linkedin: linkedin.com/pub/sue-miley Facebook: facebook.com/suemiley2 Reprint by Permission only. 2010 Sue Miley, MA, MBA, LPC - www.christianbusinesscrossroads.com 10