Building Business on Purpose
Building Business on Purpose
Building Business on Purpose
Building Business on Purpose
There is a right order to build and run a business, and it starts with a purpose — to provide people with valuable goods or services. The second focus should be the people — all stakeholders. Lastly, the organization needs to make a profit to sustain its efforts and grow to produce increasing value.
Why would a conference for entrepreneurs start with a story about Jesus?
Last week, I had the privilege of attending Activate given by Praxis. The conference and the organization exist to equip and inspire entrepreneurs to redeem their imaginations and quests to the very way God invites them to work.
Since the beginning of time, we have been given excellent direction on why we should work, who should benefit from our work, and the means and resources we should deploy toward work.
The very first chapter of the Bible establishes our purpose. Creation effectively suggests the focus of our work and how to use what we have been given to fulfill our roles (Genesis 1:26-28). We have always had the direction we need for excellent work that blesses others.
Yet, even with abundant resources at our disposal, we get confused and flip the script of work and entrepreneurship to put our own needs at the center of our endeavors.
And we have had plenty of help “flipping the script” for the proper priorities of business along the way. “In the 1970s, economist Milton Friedman famously proposed that the ‘social responsibility of a business is to increase its profits,’ so as to maximize shareholder value. In this view, society is best served through a single, clear accountability to investors, who in enlightened self-interest work through rational markets to reward organizations that benefit the world over the long run.” - The Redemptive Business, by Praxis
This type of thinking — by Friedman and others — was all the permission organizations needed to put profit over people and a purpose that serves the needs of the world.
John Mark Comer points out in his book Live No Lies that there is a fallen pattern in humans. What misled Adam and Eve into sin (Genesis 3) continues to be the way we miss our intended purpose in everyday life and work.
We get tempted by the devil > our flesh finds the idea attractive and then > we can find an example — like Friedman on business — to confirm our fallen idea. And so we head off in the wrong direction. Heading in “the wrong direction” usually builds into further and further decay over time (Romans 1:21-28).
Of course it should not be this way! We know how to do this!
We Know How!
Of course Christians have always been a redemptive force and have built the practices and institutions that have made the biggest difference for human flourishing on our planet.
My favorite quote presented at the Praxis Activate conference is, "What happened to the church? My field wouldn't exist in business schools if it wasn't for the loss of interest in social entrepreneurship and innovation in the church. It's as if you all had a meeting somewhere around 1970 and decided to quit your interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. For much of American history, anything that was truly innovative, particularly for the social good, was done by people of faith." - Greg Dees, Founder and Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship Development at Duke University
The Right Order
There is a right order to build and run a business, and it starts with purpose. The purpose for the organization should flow from our purposes as human beings — to give glory to God and serve others. An organization should exist to increase human flourishing for a segment of people or an entire community. A business's second focus should be the people it hires and serves. Lastly, the organization needs to make a profit to sustain its efforts and pay back stakeholders and investors.
We Need Reminding
This is where the story about Jesus calling His first followers is incredibly insightful and inspiring.
The Setting
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:1-4[.no-reftag]
Like all good teachers, Jesus knew His students. The disciples were prone to center their thoughts around work and the next thing they had to get done. However, Jesus took the opportunity to, first, teach them who He was and, second, teach them how His purpose ultimately informs and empowers their purpose.
His intentions for us are the same.
The Pushback
Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:5[.no-reftag]
Proven fishermen do not think they needed help from a spiritual teacher. In their eyes, Jesus had an industry expertise issue. Sounds familiar! They basically said, “We know how to catch fish! We don’t need help from a spiritual expert at our work.” We too can push back and say to God and our spiritual friends, “You don’t understand how our industry works. What does faith and God’s word have to do with the best way to do our jobs?”
The Haul-In
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:6-7[.no-reftag]
Jesus demonstrates His miraculous power. Showing that he is more than a moral teacher, he is the God of our power, holiness, and abundance. The professional fishermen are blown away by the abundance that is offered to them.
The Humility
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, [and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.] - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:8-9[.no-reftag]
When we encounter the living Jesus, who meets us right where we are in our life and work, we can’t help but humble ourselves and fall at his knees. His power and compassion, filled with glory, grace, and truth (John 1:14), remind us that He is God and we are not — especially in our professions!
The Redemptive Repurpose
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:10-11[.no-reftag]
From fishermen all the way to business experts like us … we can now be humble. Be open to receiving in new ways the very reason we were created and put on this earth!
Jesus calls us to do the very same work he did, for the very same reasons. Together, let us benefit the people of earth by putting every resource we have toward helping others know Jesus.
Resources:
Video: "How to Build Business on Purpose for People" | Howard Graham
Praxis - Advancing redemptive entrepreneurship
Book: The Redemptive Business by Praxis
Article: "Business Is Provision For People"
Article: "What Is the Purpose of Your Purpose"
Book: Called to Business by Dallas Willard
Why would a conference for entrepreneurs start with a story about Jesus?
Last week, I had the privilege of attending Activate given by Praxis. The conference and the organization exist to equip and inspire entrepreneurs to redeem their imaginations and quests to the very way God invites them to work.
Since the beginning of time, we have been given excellent direction on why we should work, who should benefit from our work, and the means and resources we should deploy toward work.
The very first chapter of the Bible establishes our purpose. Creation effectively suggests the focus of our work and how to use what we have been given to fulfill our roles (Genesis 1:26-28). We have always had the direction we need for excellent work that blesses others.
Yet, even with abundant resources at our disposal, we get confused and flip the script of work and entrepreneurship to put our own needs at the center of our endeavors.
And we have had plenty of help “flipping the script” for the proper priorities of business along the way. “In the 1970s, economist Milton Friedman famously proposed that the ‘social responsibility of a business is to increase its profits,’ so as to maximize shareholder value. In this view, society is best served through a single, clear accountability to investors, who in enlightened self-interest work through rational markets to reward organizations that benefit the world over the long run.” - The Redemptive Business, by Praxis
This type of thinking — by Friedman and others — was all the permission organizations needed to put profit over people and a purpose that serves the needs of the world.
John Mark Comer points out in his book Live No Lies that there is a fallen pattern in humans. What misled Adam and Eve into sin (Genesis 3) continues to be the way we miss our intended purpose in everyday life and work.
We get tempted by the devil > our flesh finds the idea attractive and then > we can find an example — like Friedman on business — to confirm our fallen idea. And so we head off in the wrong direction. Heading in “the wrong direction” usually builds into further and further decay over time (Romans 1:21-28).
Of course it should not be this way! We know how to do this!
We Know How!
Of course Christians have always been a redemptive force and have built the practices and institutions that have made the biggest difference for human flourishing on our planet.
My favorite quote presented at the Praxis Activate conference is, "What happened to the church? My field wouldn't exist in business schools if it wasn't for the loss of interest in social entrepreneurship and innovation in the church. It's as if you all had a meeting somewhere around 1970 and decided to quit your interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. For much of American history, anything that was truly innovative, particularly for the social good, was done by people of faith." - Greg Dees, Founder and Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship Development at Duke University
The Right Order
There is a right order to build and run a business, and it starts with purpose. The purpose for the organization should flow from our purposes as human beings — to give glory to God and serve others. An organization should exist to increase human flourishing for a segment of people or an entire community. A business's second focus should be the people it hires and serves. Lastly, the organization needs to make a profit to sustain its efforts and pay back stakeholders and investors.
We Need Reminding
This is where the story about Jesus calling His first followers is incredibly insightful and inspiring.
The Setting
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:1-4[.no-reftag]
Like all good teachers, Jesus knew His students. The disciples were prone to center their thoughts around work and the next thing they had to get done. However, Jesus took the opportunity to, first, teach them who He was and, second, teach them how His purpose ultimately informs and empowers their purpose.
His intentions for us are the same.
The Pushback
Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:5[.no-reftag]
Proven fishermen do not think they needed help from a spiritual teacher. In their eyes, Jesus had an industry expertise issue. Sounds familiar! They basically said, “We know how to catch fish! We don’t need help from a spiritual expert at our work.” We too can push back and say to God and our spiritual friends, “You don’t understand how our industry works. What does faith and God’s word have to do with the best way to do our jobs?”
The Haul-In
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:6-7[.no-reftag]
Jesus demonstrates His miraculous power. Showing that he is more than a moral teacher, he is the God of our power, holiness, and abundance. The professional fishermen are blown away by the abundance that is offered to them.
The Humility
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, [and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.] - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:8-9[.no-reftag]
When we encounter the living Jesus, who meets us right where we are in our life and work, we can’t help but humble ourselves and fall at his knees. His power and compassion, filled with glory, grace, and truth (John 1:14), remind us that He is God and we are not — especially in our professions!
The Redemptive Repurpose
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. - [.no-reftag]Luke 5:10-11[.no-reftag]
From fishermen all the way to business experts like us … we can now be humble. Be open to receiving in new ways the very reason we were created and put on this earth!
Jesus calls us to do the very same work he did, for the very same reasons. Together, let us benefit the people of earth by putting every resource we have toward helping others know Jesus.
Resources:
Video: "How to Build Business on Purpose for People" | Howard Graham
Praxis - Advancing redemptive entrepreneurship
Book: The Redemptive Business by Praxis
Article: "Business Is Provision For People"
Article: "What Is the Purpose of Your Purpose"
Book: Called to Business by Dallas Willard