Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur: A Lesson from Moses
Ok, Here’s the scenario: Years ago I had an inground pool project that was not going well. We had poured concrete around a pool that frankly didn’t meet our standards so I decided to remove and replace it. Yep, the dreaded jackhammer! Upon ‘breaking’ the news to the customer, he adamantly expressed concern that he had lost confidence in our company as a result of this incident. I tried to tell him that we volunteered to correct the problem before he was even aware of it, but unfortunately this did little to comfort him. Notwithstanding, I had comfort in knowing we were doing the right thing. I was confident that in the end he would be happy with us as well as his pool so I wasn’t too concerned….until the next day when I received a phone call from one of my guys.
The Dreaded Phone Call
Apparently while removing the concrete, one stroke of the sledge hammer had missed its mark and struck the pool just above the water line. The pool was damaged, and in a ‘perfect spot’ that was highly visible. The blemish was solely cosmetic and it would not affect the pool structurally, but this was not a pleasant phone call for either party nonetheless!
The solution was to install waterline tile on the pool that would cover the defect and give the customer a free upgrade. A win-win right? Well, I had my doubts. Especially considering that I now had to tell a customer, who I promised less than 48 hours ago that we would be “incident free” that we have just smacked the side of his pool with a sledge hammer.
Unfortunately, I knew that if I broke news to him on the phone he would probably not allow us back on the job. So I resolved to tell him in person….and I knew I had to tell him quickly. But catching up with this guy within the next 24 hours would be tough. Especially considering that I didn’t find out about the problem until late that day, I lived an hour and a half away, and he would be leaving for work the next morning at 5:30 am. Call me crazy, but after some fervent prayer I resolved to spend the night at the office and to make sure I was sitting in his driveway waiting for him when he left for work the next morning.
A Long Night
Needless to say I didn’t sleep well that night. When the alarm sounded I showered, dressed, and shot out of the door. The trip to his house was about 30 minutes from the office. As I was riding down the road I contemplated how this plan had made so much sense the day before. But for some odd reason the notion of making a surprise visit to an unhappy customer’s house at 5:30 in the morning didn’t sound like such a great idea; especially when the purpose of the visit was to deliver bad news.
When I was about 10 minutes away from his house I finally determined that what I was doing was absolutely insane….I seriously considered turning around. I could just call the gentleman later in the day. At least then I knew I wouldn’t get shot!....kidding.
But when the internal debate was at its peak, I remembered something. It was through prayer that I had determined what course of action to take. That this wasn’t my plan at all; I was simply doing what I was directed to do.
Just then a warm feeling fell over my body as I was sitting in the seat of my truck; it was that feeling of peace that could only come from beyond this world. Just then I looked up as I was passing an old country church. It had a message board that read “Don’t worry, Moses thought he was crazy too!”. I think this was the first time in my life I had ever laughed and cried hysterically at the same time. I felt as close to God at that moment as any other in my life.
Tiny Miracles lead to Huge Testimonies
In the end the job turned out fine. We corrected the problem and the customer is now another happy name on our reference list. But here’s the thing: This isn’t about the relationship between a business and its customer. It’s about the relationship between man and His God. If we are willing to make Him first in our lives, everything else will fall into place. And when we see these ‘things fall into place’ first hand, there’s another term used to describe it: a miracle. And they happen all the time if we are willing to take advantage of the opportunities God gives us to exercise our faith.
I don’t want to know how many opportunities I’ve missed, but I do know that when Gods involved, even something as inconsequential as passing an old dilapidated church sign can turn into an experience that will change your life forever. This feeling of direct connection with God, this feeling of peace from beyond this world is available to us all. He wants us to have this type of relationship with Him. “Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” That is a promise He has made to each and every one of us. He is standing at the door knocking, all we to do is open the door.
How have you seen God at work in your life?
Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur: How I met Jesus in Fort Worth Texas.
Sometimes opportunities arise when you least expect it!
Here’s yet another post in my series “Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur”. This was an awesome experience I had in Texas while attending a three day swimming pool construction course.
Many of you have heard this experience before, but it was one of my first posts so it got no love, plus I wanted to re-post it as part of this series anyway. I wrote the following story the night it happened. It will always remain an experience that’s near to my heart.
It was about 9:00 pm and I was walking down Houston Ave in downtown Fort Worth, Texas desperately seeking a hot meal. It had been a hectic day of travel that included a full blown sprint to catch a flight, lost luggage, “misplaced” hotel reservations, and no food. It was cold, I was tired, and my quest for an authentic Tex-Mex meal was looking bleak, so I compromised and settled for some Applebee’s wanna-be.
By this time I had reached caveman status so I grabbed a seat and ordered way too much food. While anxiously awaiting the arrival of my meal I tried to distract myself by reflecting on the purpose of my trip. I had traveled to Texas to attend a three-day course to be further trained in the arts of high-end residential swimming pool construction…...and I was pumped. An opportunity to learn, meet new people, and…never mind here comes my food.
My meal finally hit the table and I was ready to dig in when some dirty guy taps on the window, points to his wide open mouth and lips the word “homeless”. So I kind of look down at my food for a split second and think, ‘this is awkward’, but instantly look up again to gaze at the man.
But when I did it wasn’t the same person. In my eyes his appearance had completely transformed. You see, in that split second I looked down, I remembered something I had read in the Bible that changed the way I saw the world as well as everyone around me. It is one of Jesus’ teachings found in Matthew chapter 25.
He taught “what you have done to the least of these your brethren you have done unto me”. When I looked out of the window the second time the person I saw was Him…..literally. So, let’s pause to ask ourselves an honest question: If Jesus tapped on your window and asked you for help how would you respond? Probably exactly as I did. I got up, went outside and talked to Him. After we exchanged a few words I gave Him some money (I mean come on, it was Jesus, the least I could do was give Him ten bucks!). At that point his eyes welled up with tears and he said “I just want to give you a hug”. Then we embraced. So not only did I meet Jesus in Fort Worth, but He gave me a hug as well!
This was an experience I will always treasure. It has little to do with giving to the homeless and everything to do with the little opportunities we have on a daily basis to serve others. It’s been rare occasions like this, when I completely forget my own selfish desires and see Jesus’ face in those I serve, that I find anything close to real joy which is the kind of happiness that endures. All other types of pseudo-happiness eventually wither and leave us empty and alone. But this requires a change of focus, a paradigm shift. It’s extremely difficult. Only the best people in history have even come close to it, only One has ever done it perfectly. Serving others is not about the why, the where, or the how….it is about the Who.
How could this paradigm affect Your Business?
As Christians and especially as Christian business owners we constantly find ourselves presented with opportunities to bless others and bring glory to God. I have no idea how many of these opportunities I’ve squandered in the past, but I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had this one. It has helped shape the way I see others (when I have my head screwed on straight). “The least of these” can literally be anyone in our lives....and in our businesses.
What if we saw the face of Jesus every time we looked out at our customers, employees, and other associates? How would that change the way we do business? How would it change the way the world does business? It may seem absolutely ludicrous to have this mentality in today’s dog-eat-dog climate, but I can testify that when applied it will brings peace and joy to doing business and to life.
What experiences have you had serving others in your life or in your business?
Memoirs of a Christian Entrepreneur: The Thunderstorm Miracle
Several years ago I had an amazing experience on a jobsite that was nothing short of a miracle. I was working with two other guys on an inground pool project during the ‘dog days’ of summer. It was mid afternoon and we were working to complete a portion of the job that would be absolutely destroyed if it rained. But there was no rain in the forecast and we were making good progress....no worries right? At least until we heard a clap of thunder in the distance.
If you know anything about concrete work you know perfectly well what that sound does to your blood pressure in situations like this. I immediately stopped what I was doing and looked up to discover the other two guys glaring at me with that ‘deer in the headlights' look. Within 5 minutes the storm was right on top of us, the thunder was so loud it was rattling the windows, and the rain was starting to fall.
Now let me tell you a little bit about the two guys I was working with. One was a great friend whom I attend church with. We relished the idea of working together because, if you work construction at all, you know that many of the guys in that field aren’t exactly uplifting to work around. The other guy pretty much fell into that category. He was a great dude, but not exactly on the straight and narrow (I ain’t judging, I’m just sayin’).
So the rain is really starting to come down and I started barking orders to get everything covered up. We all scrambled to preserve what had taken us three days to accomplish when the bottom just fell out. It was a torrential downpour. At that point I don’t know what went through my mind but I just looked at the guys and said “Stop! We’re going to pray.”
So here we are, three guys standing in a downpour with lightning touching down all around us while our work is on the verge of utter ruin and we decide we’re going to pray. Probably not the first thing that comes to mind....huh? That's what the one guy was thinking because he looked at me and said “What! You’ve got to be freaking crazy!” We rather enthusiastically encourage him to stand in and he reluctantly walked over shaking his head in disgust, but he did join us.
By the time we finished the prayer the rain had stopped and within 30 seconds the clouds had parted and the sun was shining. The job was fine. I kid you not!
What do you think was going though the guys mind?
I can tell you exactly what was going through his mind because he shared it with us.
He said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his life. That it was an absolute miracle and any doubts he had about the reality of God were resolved because he had seen His work first hand. Talk about a wake-up call!
Why am I writing this?
The short answer is to bring glory to God. The long answer is because I believe that Christian Business Owners have a unique opportunity to bless the lives of others and to accomplish God’s work. I consider this experience sacred because, along with many other experiences, it has helped sure the foundation of my faith. But it is only one small example of the miracles that can occur and the impact that we can have on people’s lives if we are willing to exercise our faith within the parameters of our businesses. I’m not talking about preaching it; I’m talking about living it. No, we’re not perfect and yes, we all screw up. But that’s not the point. The point is that every day we have chances to exercise our faith. Whether it’s during a rainstorm on a jobsite, on a difficult phone call with a client, or in making key strategic decisions for the future of our business, God wants to be involved. He will work miracles that will bless our lives as well as those around us.
What awesome experiences have you had in your life or in your business?
Christian Business Owners: Who’s Your CEO?
by: Jason Hughes
Are you standing out from the crowd?
My prior posts have been mainly dedicated to spiritual insights and stories regarding personal and family Christian living. But I have neglected to discuss an aspect of my life that equally identifies who I am as a person: a Christian Entrepreneur.
My personal feeling is that for many Christian people (especially business owners), the ultimate test of devotion to God is integrity in the workplace. That’s where you either put up, or shut up…right? In what other situation do you find yourself 100% accountable with such clear lines between right and wrong? You are either going to fix the mistake or you’re not; you are either going to tell your customer the truth or you’re not; you are either going to stand behind your product or you’re not.
This is why virtually all “Christian” business owners are polarized: they are either scumbags or saints. And who do the people in the marketplace see? The scumbags! I know the good guys are out there, in fact I think you’re reading this post.
It would be great for the guys in white hats to connect, share experiences, and support each other. I have such relationships with other entrepreneurs and it has served as a huge spiritual resource for all involved. Really, who else would understand some of the stuff we go through? But we’ll get back to that. First, here’s my story:
I am the co-founder and co-owner of River Pools and Spas located in Virginia. We specialize in inground pool marketing, sales, and construction. I have two great business partners and we have been in business since 2001. Despite our many screw-ups, we have managed to become a major player in the marketplace and are one of the top 100 pool builders in America. We currently give all of our inground pool customers as references, over 600 and counting, and have taken some significant hits in the past to make that a reality. Over the past decade we have persevered through a substantial embezzlement, 9/11, some major business mistakes, and our current economic crisis. We live by the mantra, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
I can honestly say that the experiences I have had as a business owner have tempered my character and brought me closer to God. But I believe that’s exactly the point, not just of owning a business, but of life. Trusting God despite what the world or even your own logic might tell you, and trying to do what’s right regardless of the circumstances is the essence of being a Christian business owner. This can only happen if God is the CEO of your company….and your life.
I have two goals for this article: to reach out to other like-minded business people and to discuss some of the guiding principles that form our business philosophy. Here are some of our core operating principles:
God is the CEO
My partners and I may own the company, but we ultimately know who runs things. We hold weekly meetings where many critical business decisions are made. We always open the meeting with prayer and a spiritual thought just to insure we are humbled (hopefully) and open to inspiration. Granted, we screw up all the time, but I can honestly say that our desire is to direct our business affairs according to God’s will.
Personal Development
We believe that you should always work harder on yourself than you do on your job….and we teach this to our employees as well. To use a metaphor, if God is the GPS that directs our company, personal development is the engine that propels the vehicle. I cannot begin to express the profound impact that this mentality has had on my life, the lives of my partners, and our business. John Maxwell teaches the Law of the Lid, that you create your own leadership limitations through your own lack of development. Seeking the greatest books, classes, seminars, mentors, and any other positive influence can absolutely change your life. Stephen Covey teaches that to sharpen the saw is the most renewing and rejuvenating activity one can do.
An Abundance Mentality
I believe that there is plenty of room at the top; it’s the bottom that’s crowded! You can’t improve an industry too much and you can’t make a customer too happy. There is no such thing as a pie with a limited amount of pieces….the pie is infinite.
Educate, Educate, Educate!
We believe that to empower someone with the information they want is to earn their trust. We have devoted huge amounts of energy to teaching anyone who is willing to listen everything we know about our industry.
This includes the consumer as well as other pool builders. We literally embrace transparency: full disclosure of all information we have. Sound crazy? As greenies in the industry, we learned everything the hard way (in business terms that means spending a ton of money to fix mistakes), and it’s not necessary for anyone to re-invent the wheel….if they are willing to try.
The same applies to the consumer. They make mistakes too which leads to buyer’s remorse or long term regret that can be avoided if they have the information need to make an educated decision.
What about trade secrets? It’s a funny thing; about 90% of the business owners in most industries have no interest in improving themselves or their businesses. And only about 20% of the ones that are interested will actually do anything with the information. I think that’s insane, but it’s true! Notwithstanding, we have seen first-hand that the more you give the more you receive. To get a feel for how we do this check our web site.
No Emotional Baggage
We believe in instant feedback. No matter what happens between my partners and me we have an agreement that if something is bothering us, it must be addressed immediately and not allowed to fester. This is the craziest thing because during our “heated discussions” we speak our mind, come to a resolution, and are buddy-buddy again in a matter of minutes.
We understand that our relationship goes far beyond any singular issue that may arise within the business, so it’s not personal. The same applies with employees. Giving instant feedback removes negative feelings before they begin to eat at you like a cancer. I must admit this is a trait I’ve had to work to develop and I still have room for improvement, but it is critical to the success of any relationship.
When in doubt, Suck it Up!
We try to run our business in such a way that we can look at ourselves in the mirror at night. But operating a business with integrity is not always easy. We have to meet the needs of the accountant, employees, customers, not to mention our own family. Notwithstanding, we have found that when an issue arises, it’s best to ere on the side of the customer. Our policy is that if there is even a reasonable doubt who’s accountable, we accept responsibility. This might not make good business sense, but it makes good Christian sense.
Well that’s our business philosophy in a nutshell. Hopefully you can see that we do our best to integrate Christian values into our company. So, do we have anything in common? If so, I’d like to hear insights and experiences from your business or profession. Comment below or shoot me an email. Take care and God Bless!
