As I look at how I run my business, I can trace most of my business beliefs and practices to certain verses in the Bible.
That’s why I say, everything I learned about business I learned from God. Who knew God was such a good business man?
Here are some key Biblical principals that drive my behavior and how I run my business.
On Skill
“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Prov 22:29)
One of my overriding beliefs is that if you are good at what you do, you will be noticed.
Now, I realize there a hundreds of stories of good products that “died on the vine” for lack of good marketing. But these are products, not people.
If a person is genuinely skilled at his work, then people will take notice and hire him. Marketing will only enhance this word-of-mouth effect.
So one of the first lessons I learned about business was to practice my skill and always strive to be better.
On Foresight
“Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.” (Ecc 11:6)
The truth is, none of us can really know for sure what will succeed and what will fail. We can, of course, make educated guesses based on past results.
But, as you know, past results are no guarantee of future performance.
And so my approach to business has been to have at least two things going at once — and preferably more like three or four or five things.
Some might say I’m not focused enough. And I’m sure there’s some truth to that. But there’s also something to be said for “failing fast” — working on multiple projects at once, dropping the losers, and riding the winners.
On Relationships
“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” (Prov 19:11)
Whether you have clients or customers or both, there will come a time when you are wronged.
- Maybe a client doesn’t pay up and stops responding to your phone calls and emails.
- Maybe a “serial refunder” buys your info product, fully intending to ask for a refund.
- Maybe a client tries to guilt you into doing more for him than you originally agreed to.
- Maybe a customer makes false assumptions and slanders you in a public forum.
Whatever the case may be, this stuff is eventually going to happen. And when it does, you can’t take it personally.
Give your clients and customers the benefit of the doubt. Be slow to anger. Overlook the transgression. Consider forgiving the person for whatever he or she did.
I have found this approach to go a long way in business. Not to mention, I sleep better at night.
On Exceeding Expectations
“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matt 5:41)
In the Roman Empire, a soldier could force a citizen to carry his gear for a mile. The citizen had no say in the matter; he had to obey.
Naturally, the citizens resented this. They would get angry.
But then this dude Jesus came along and basically said, “Hey, if you’re forced to go one mile, don’t do only what’s required of you. Go two miles.”
That was pretty radical advice then, and it’s radical advice today.
So one of my business philosophies is to always give more than I’ve agreed to give. I will agree to one thing in principal and deliver more in practice.
On Charity
“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” (Ecc 11:1)
To me, business is not so much about the “survival of the fittest” (which is “me-focused”) — it is about serving your fellow man (which is “people-focused”).
And part of serving people is doing kind things for others when they don’t expect it — and without expectation of them doing something for you in return.
In other words, throw ROI out the window. Because God, who sees all things, will reward you sooner or later.
So I try do something nice for somebody every day. Even if it’s something small and relatively insignificant: sending a thank-you note, submitting somebody else’s article to a social network, giving a referral to another service provider, etc.
On Income
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [...] Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ [...] But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:26,31,33)
One of the hardest things for me to comprehend is that I’m not in control of how much I earn. Certainly, God uses my effort as an instrument in the process of earning an income. But ultimately God is in control.
Really it comes down to this:
- Do you write your paycheck?
- Or does God write your paycheck?
For me, I know without a doubt that God writes my paycheck. So I don’t worry about where my income is going to come from. God’s already worked out the details.
God brings me the clients He wants me to work with. And He brings them according to His timing — not mine.
This doesn’t mean I sit around and do nothing while I wait on God to provide. God has given man work as part of his lot in life. Furthermore, “if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thess 3:10)
And so I work. I just recognize that God is the One who blesses my work (or not). He truly is Jehovah-Jireh, which means “The Lord will provide.”
On Planning
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” (Prov 16:3)
There are many good Bible-believing people who continue to ask God to bless them while they persist in doing wrong. This is foolishness.
You can’t expect God to bless your business while you are in rebellion to Him — even though God causes the rain to fall on the both the just and the unjust. (Matt 5:45)
But commit your works to the Lord — in other words, seek to obey God and do His will — and your plans will be established.
And so, for me, I seek to know what God’s will is for my life so that I can commit my works to Him.
I know that if I seek God and do my best to follow Him (imperfect though I am) that God will steer me in the right direction.
On Authority
I have found that most people draw their business philosophies from one source or another. Some popular texts are The Prince by Machiavelli, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, etc.
The problem with these texts is that they are written from a human perspective where man is god. And so the business philosophies they contain are resting on a weak foundation.
I choose to base my business philosophies on the Bible. It is, in my opinion, the only foundation worth building on.
I know my approach may be unorthodox, but it has worked well for me. It may even be an approach you’ll want to try for yourself.
-Ryan M. Healy
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{ 30 comments }
Awesome post Ryan, I loved it. There is so much wisdom in the Bible that one can build a foundation on.
Matthew 6:26 that whole section is probably one of my favorite verses period.
When I started looking to build my business…I was reminded of so many passages of scripture upon which to build it’s foundation.
It is only after having a strong foundation, can I look at these other business texts…and see how various parts can fit into your plan, instead of trying to make yourself fit into the philosophies and systems they put forth.
There have been many times I had to stop with a business plan or method, simply because it didn’t mesh well with the foundation that had already been laid…even though to most it seems “common business practice”
Good stuff dude…keep it up.
Joe
Oh Ryan, how I share your thoughts! In fact, I just came upstairs to my office after spending some time with the Lord. It’s my custom to hit the Book early, but today I met with a Brother for coffee as a means to share a common need.
So, when stopping to read this Post, it confirmed my own belief about business…that is, to allow God to do His work while I seek His approval for every attempt I make at doing the work He and He alone leads me to.
Thanks for not hiding your testimony, but shooting it out there where it’s needed.
Bob Park
Dude, what a great list. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Ryan,
I think it’s commendable you’ve thought this through this far. Especially when I’m still at the point where I’m saying, “Oh man, I gotta give THIS up, too?”
Once again, you have my respect.
Take care dude,
Kevin
Thanks for the post. These are good reminders for Christians in business.
You might like this post on Christians in business also. It’s long, but good.
http://president.blogs.covenant.edu/2009/02/23/business-for-gods-glory/
You mean God wants us to do well, grow our businesses and increase our income? I thought profitable businesses were the evil enemy of America?
On a serious note, I like this verse as well when it comes to the blessings of God…
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
-Malachi 3:8-12
Thank-you Ryan,
I’ve been waiting for this post!
(Here’s why)
Four months ago, I was listening to one of your interviews. Ben Settle asked if you found any inspiration or copywriting advice in the Bible…
And, it really made me think.
More than that! It helped renew my faith in the divine.
Thank you for sharing Ryan.
Your posts are refreshing and make me smile.
Can’t wait for the next one.
Courtney
Awesome Word, Ryan.
I live by those same ideas. Sometimes I’ll sit on the keyboards and worship when I know I “should” be marketing. On more than one occasion I’ve stayed there a long time, just savoring the sweetness, and gotten up and had a brand new client call me ready to do business.
I don’t think of it as a magic formula, but I do know having my heart in a place of faith instead of striving, always pays off.
-Pretty humbling, and reassuring.
Yours,
Gina
@Joe – Thank you. Matthew 6 is great, isn’t it?
@Robert – Glad I could provide some confirmation for you, brother. :-)
@Stephen – Thanks, man!
@Kevin – I have to give Ben Settle some credit, too, because it was after a phone call with him that the idea for this post took shape.
@Jason – Thank you for the link. I’ll check it out.
@Dr. Beck – That passage in Malachi is a good one.
@Courtney – That’s cool to hear that story. Thanks for encouraging me with it… and I’m glad I could be a part of your journey of faith.
@Gina – Well, I can certainly relate to that. That’s one of the great things about working from home — being able to respond when the Spirit moves. :-)
Thanks so much for the post!
I know that when I start my day with The Book and genuinely seek to follow him my life (and business) is blessed over and over.
It never fails that I find little nuggets of wisdom throughout the Bible.
I am repeatedly reminded of Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” No matter how much some one wrongs me (publicly slandering me…dissappearing without payment…whatever) it will never come close to how much I have wronged God. And yet he still forgives.
So I guess that means I should too.
Again, thanks for the post.
~Sarah
Ryan, you wrote:
To me, business is not so much about the “survival of the fittest” (which is “me-focused”) — it is about serving your fellow man (which is “people-focused”).
It took me a long time to realize that there is a balance and synergy required to meet both my needs and the needs of others.
Focus on just one direction leads to misery. I can’t really meet my needs unless I enrich my relationships, business and personal and take others into consideration. On the other hand, my needs aren’t any less important than the needs of others.
When I meet the needs of others, it comes back to me in some way or another over time, and when I take care of myself and my needs I have something to give to others.
So, it’s not a matter of focusing on myself or of others, it’s a matter of both. We won’t succeed in serving others well if we’re not serving ourselves well.
@Sara – You’re welcome. Thank YOU for reading. :-)
That verse in Colossians is excellent. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Always a good reminder.
@Alan – I see your point.
Certainly, it would be hard for me to help others if I was homeless and utterly destitute. So on one level, we have to take care of our own needs before we can take care of the needs of the others.
You said: “On the other hand, my needs aren’t any less important than the needs of others.”
True. And yet while recognizing this, we can still put others first.
So while we should take care of ourselves, we should also be willing to put others’ needs before our own.
Good post Ryan
It’s always a good thing to remember the important things in life.
Sometimes it can be tough to follow these pieces of guidance. When profit is the order of the day, it can be so easy to lie (or to be “economical with the truth”). It’s so easy to trick people by leaving out facts.
But I believe that being honest with people and giving good service is the best way to grow a business. And applied to copywriting, truth is always the most powerful thing.
As Gary Bencivenga once said (I believe): “There’s no need to tell lies. Just tell the truth in a dramatic way.”
Best regards
Steve
The verse on ‘income’ from Mathew is so powerful if you just think about it. In that one verse is so much truth and logic as well.
He provides for the smallest animal, why wouldn’t He provide for me?
Ryan wrote:
“God brings me the clients He wants me to work with. And He brings them according to His timing — not mine”.
…I agree completely. …great post you’ve made, Ryan.
Bruce
Ryan, in this day, age and economic climate, it’s refreshing to see someone not afraid to live by his beliefs and apply these so intelligently.
Thanks for the encouragement of your faith.
Marya
Hi Ryan
Great post mate… good on you for nailing your colours to the mast!
Blessings
Peter
Hi Ryan,
It’s really exciting to see so many people responding so positively to a post that you wrote on “The Bible”.
I also appreciate the fact that you hold nothing back in your Faith and that you are actually proving that Christianity and business go hand in hand.
Thanks,
Greg
Ryan, you wrote: “So while we should take care of ourselves, we should also be willing to put others’ needs before our own.”
If you mean that we should be willing to put others needs before our own, at times, but not always, or even most of the time, then I agree.
Some of the unhappiest people I know are those who put their needs aside too often in order to meet the needs of others.
We are all motivated by our self-interest and there is no such thing as a “selfless” act. If my values are to love and serve others the best I can, I serve myself the most when I am living out my values.
There is always a reward for our behavior, that’s what drives the behavior.
Even our faith in God and Christ and our relationship with God is driven by what we get from it. Didn’t God create the biggest reward that never ends and call it heaven?
Ryan, your article reflects my understanding of God completely. Thanks so much for your insight. I’ve been reading the Jackrabbit Factor, a parable of provision, that tells a powerful tale in story format. In this current age, we must all become more aware that our source is God, not government or economy. And God is not participating in a recession! Everything comes to us by faith, through grace, in love. If we stay ‘rooted and grounded in love’ we leave ourselves open for God’s abundance to pour into our lives. Thanks for blessing your readers today!
I’m sorry, but this just has not been my experience with spirituality and/or religion. But I respect your beliefs and your experiences.
@Steve – That’s a great quote by Gary B. Thanks for sharing it.
@Bruce – It really is powerful. The entire “speech” in that section of Matthew is powerful.
@Marya – You’re welcome. Thanks for reading and commenting.
@Peter – Thanks, mate!
@Greg – Actually, I was surprised, too. Didn’t expect this much positive feedback, but I’m glad for it. :-)
@Alan – Great point… I’ve used it myself before: “We are all motivated by our self-interest and there is no such thing as a ’selfless’ act.”
@Ruth – God is our source, and we should recognize that — although I would say God is causing the recession. But that’s a whole ‘nuther article! :-0
@Nicole – No problem. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
Ryan,
Couldn’t agree more. Best business book ever written is Proverbs.
BTW “Think and Grow Rich” is a theology book. Making the claim that the universe exists to serve you and your ambitions. It’s a little backwards.
Great post-
Perry Marshall
@Perry – Thanks for the comment!
My grandpa once told me, “Ryan , if there’s one thing I could tell you that would change your life, it would be to read the book of Proverbs every month. Read one chapter a day and you’ll finish it in 31 days.”
I never did read it that often, but I’ve read Proverbs more than any other book in the Bible.
And that, as they say, has made all the difference.
Ryan
Well done, Ryan. May the Lord continue to bless your endeavors.
Thank you, Jon! And thanks for reading.
Thank you so much for such an encouraging post. Very uplifting!
~Jessica
Great post, Ryan. Proverbs has so much wisdom that we should be using it (and the entire Bible) to filter what we learn about business from other sources… and not the other way around like we are wont to do.
Hey Ryan,
I came across your now famous blog post from the other day from Terry Deans blog. Its funny b/c sometimes i come across guys and i wonder..are they Christian, im sure you get this… something different about you. so today, i came back to read some of your new stuff and decided to surf around and saw this great post. How true it is.
I love the line from Facing the Giants…guys, we'll go out and give 110% and if we win, we'll praise God and if we lose, we'll praise God. I take the same attitude with my business, its Gods and ill do my best but the results are up to Him and if they dont go the way “i want”, so be it, ill continue to do my part and trust and praise Him through it all bc i know He is always working stuff in and out of me…Romans 8:28 All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
and this …
And so my approach to business has been to have at least two things going at once — and preferably more like three or four or five things.
Some might say I’m not focused enough. And I’m sure there’s some truth to that. But there’s also something to be said for “failing fast” — working on multiple projects at once, dropping the losers, and riding the winners.
I am so glad you wrote that. I have several things im working on at once, and I also know its one of my weaknesses..you know the whole entreprenurial ADD thing, lol…anyways…im learning to work smarter and realize i cant build what i am wanting to build and unless i start to bring on other people. And in doing so and working several things at once, i know i probably could be doing better in “one” business if i solely focused on that but i also know in the long run, that i am helping diversify myself and also getting some much valuable knoweldge i would not get bc my main 2 businesses are completely different. The good thing is i have partners on each side so it leaves me to do what im good at.
So thanks for sharing that, it just helped me reinforce i am on the right path, something ive been praying about over the last few months.
Ive also learned to stay in the present, i have that bad habit of always being 3-4 steps ahead of myself and then forget if i dont stay in the present, ill never get to those steps.
Fabulous post! It's encouraging to apply God's Word to daily working and living. Rock on Ryan!
Fabulous post! It's encouraging to apply God's Word to daily working and living. Rock on Ryan!
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