Your Life: Abundant

The “ mind games” we play

Being an entrepreneur is a mind game. We talk about having the right mindset or getting mentally tough. We take great pains to clear our minds of extraneous thoughts and we use techniques to keep us focused on our goals.

For the entrepreneur, it all begins with the mind. Unless we start with that, everything else doesn’t matter. But what of a Christ-centered entrepreneur? What does our “mind game” look like?

Just as our moniker states—“Christ-centered entrepreneurs”—our mind must center upon Christ.

The “mind game” of the Christ-centered entrepreneur

To better understand this, let’s look at Romans 12:1-2 Here are those verses in the ESV:

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,...

Recently I was captivated by an article in Fast Company Magazine entitled:  "6 Personal Branding Secrets From Drag Queens" by Gwen Moran.  In the article, Moran discusses the book Fiercely You: Be Fabulous and Confident by Thinking Like a Drag Queen by Jackie Huba. 

Huba has a lot to say to we Christ-centered entrepreneurs. 

#1:  Creating Your Brand Persona

Personal branding is about your brand persona. For drag queens, that persona is who he is when on stage. Not only is it big and bold but also all aspects of that persona are carefully crafted. 

Although your entrepreneurial brand persona is a carefully-crafted projection of who are, it always must be authentic to be a viable personal brand. As a Christ-centered entrepreneur, your authenticity begins and ends with your relationship to Christ. 

#2:  Bravely Taking Risks

A hallmark of being an entrepreneur—and a drag queen—is being a risk-taker. That is because both require...

What Dietrich Bonhoeffer says about vocation.

Being entrepreneurs requires so much of us—our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies—a constant journey of self-reflection, self-discovery, and self-motivated action to fill the gaps and to address the needs so that we keep moving forward.

As entrepreneurs, we are on a perpetual mountain climb, constantly reaching for new supplies and new tools that we didn’t even know we needed, nor could have foreseen needing, until we arrived at the next summit. The whole process of doing this--even the very ability to begin the journey called Christ-centered entrepreneur--changes not merely our knowledge but our very selves. 

Through this journey, I have become more:

• Mentally tough
• Self-disciplined
• Deliberate
• Planned
• A calculated risk-taker
• Trusting of God
• Reliant on His provisions
• Obedient to His calling 

 The whole process of doing this--even the very ability to begin the journey called Christ-centered entrepreneur--changes not merely our knowledge but...

Here's a peak at one of the modules in my Basic Intro Course.

Here is a list of 23 resources I personally recommend for your journey is a Christ-centered entrepreneur. I've divided them up into "Christ-centered Resources" and "Entrepreneurial Resources", to help you organize your plan for personal growth.

I can recommend them, as I have personally read/viewed them and found these resources helpful in my own journey.

(Full disclosure: On some items, I will receive a small commission from Amazon when you purchase the item by clicking the image I’ve provided.)

Christ-centered Resources

BOOKS

 #1:  I Want to Live These Days with You by Dietrich Bonhoeffer  (Click image to buy.)

This is a wonderfully deep and provocative daily devotional, adding depth to my Christian walk as well as providing quotes for “Heart Spark.”

#2:  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young  (Click image to buy.)

 I first discovered this devotional several years ago and have used it up for several years, until I replaced it with the next...

Today's "Heart Spark" offers a little bit of entrepreneurial humor. 

Even action-driven, high-achieving, Christ-centered entrepreneurs are not immune to procrastination. Procrastination is our enemy; it can stop us dead in our tracks, paralyzing us with countless fear-filled questions:

“But what if I fail?” “Can I do this?” “Am I up to the task?” “Who am I to want to do this?” and so on.

Procrastination can also send us down rabbit holes.

“Just one more minute, then I’ll get back to work” “Wow, I just got sucked into this movie and didn’t realize two hours had flown by.” “I really, really, really—right now—need to organize my dryer lint collection."

Ah, the mind games we play with ourselves. And all the while we’re playing these games, time flits away like an elusive butterfly, moving us further from intentionally growing our businesses until it may be too late.

Procrastination and intentionally growing your business

When faced with...

As a Christ-centered entrepreneur, have you lost your "WHY";--your purpose--that is the big reason you got in this business in the first place?

If you have, you're not alone. I invite you to check out my article in YFS Magazine.

YFS Magazine, the definitive digital magazine for startups, small business and entrepreneurship culture, has just published my blog post: "     

I invite you to read it and welcome your comments.