Here is a prayer especially suited for we Christ-centered entrepreneurs. 

"Just who do you think you are?!"

I’m sure many of us, sometime in our lives, heard that statement of indignation, disgust, horror. And it was meant to “put us in our place.” Maybe you’ve heard it – or received its meaning from non-verbal clues – because you are a gutsy, risk-embracing, Christ-centered entrepreneur and by that very definition automatically stand out from the crowd. Or maybe you heard it as a kid, when you wrote an essay that received an “A+” or when you made the basket that won the game.

No matter how young or how old you were when you heard it, it still stung. Even for a moment, it made you feel less than the person you knew yourself to be.

And you know . . . you were right.

You’re right not because of some absurd delusion you have of yourself, but because of a timeless truth. YOU . . . are special. You are uniquely, individually-created by a loving God.

We’re told in the Book of Genesis that God created...

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’”   Matthew 14:27

Ours is a challenging calling, we Christ-centered entrepreneurs. And ours is a scary, uncertain time. So sometimes we lose heart. And sometimes we fear. We are human; this is natural.

But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to remain defeated and fearful, because the Lord our God is with us. Let’s get started.

According to The American Heritage Dictionary, “courage” is “the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.” Its root word comes from the...

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.