The Christian as a business owner
When ask why he gave up his grocery store to work in a steel factory, a man stated. “Because you can’t be a honest Christian and own a grocery store.” I beg to differ. A Christian should be in any legitimate business and exhibit their Christian values.
David Green and his family own Hobby Lobby. Green is a shining example of how a follower of Christ should run their business. His generosity has funded many Christian ministries, including the museum of the Bible in Washing ton D.C. David Green’s wealth is estimated at 8.7 billion. However, David’s greatest asset is his legacy and family.
1. Be honest
In this world of lawyers and contracts, every word must be right. We celebrate the unscrupulous business person whose goal is the bottom line. If you’re honest, your word is your bond. You don’t have to have a contract; your bottom line should be the satisfaction of the consumer.
Being honest is a two-way street. There may be times others will take advantage of you. The person who does this will never win. Any time you lie, it will catch you in its web of lies. It is said each person knows 250 people. If you are dishonest with one customer, you will soon gain the reputation as a someone who cannot be trusted. However, if you are honest, you will be known as a person of integrity.
Teat your employees as you would your family.
Low wages for employees, and high prices for goods are a legitimate way of cheating. We have all heard the term dog eat dog, but is this how you would treat your mother, your father, if they were in your employ? Would you take advantage of your son or daughter just to increase your profits? How we treat others will be how others treat you.
An employer once said. “I demand respect.” The problem with this statement is we must earn respect. It is not a given just because the person is in authority.
Work diligently but not excessively
Each one of us has heard the stories of those who are successful in business but failures at home. They are always on the job missing birthdays, anniversaries, other events that only happen once. The argument is made you are building your business to provide a better life for your family. However, if you become a stranger to your children or alienated from your spouse, is it worth it? If your spouse is lonely and desires your companionship, does that extra hour your business is open make a difference?
Make your family a part of your business
Hard to do? Of course, nothing in this life is easy. Having small children running around is difficult. Having your wife as a secretary a great blessing. This way, she will not only see your side of the business, but will be a part of it. If she accepts this arrangement, she must let her husband be the boss.
Let children be children
As children grow, we can give them more responsibility. Yet there is a balance that must be maintained. The child must not be given so much to do they have no time to play. A teenager needs to have time with their friends, yet these friends must not see your place of business as a place to hang out.
Give your spouse and children a percentage of the profits
Of course, this depends on the age of the child. A young child will not understand the value of money. If the business is losing money, don’t hide it. Ask your family’s advice. Your spouse or older child’s insight may be just what you’re searching for. Do not make promises impossible to keep. Above all, be honest. If you promise a reward, make sure you can fulfil it.
Get rid of the clutter
Everyone likes a clean store. If there is dust or a dirty floor, your customers may not say anything, however few of them will return. It may seem a waste to change the displays every week, but worth it. Understand I am not saying to move items to different parts of the store, however just different shelves. If each item is clean, it will look newer than one seen last month or last year.
Pay a good wage
How much money does it cost to recruit and train a worker? How long is it before you trust that person to work by themself? Weigh this against the loyalty and trustworthiness of an employee. If you treat your employees right, it will pay dividends in the future.
criticize with love.
It’s easy for us to find fault with others. Each one of us has our own way of doing things. But if the end result is the same, does it matter how we get there? However, sometimes you, as the business owner, cannot avoid a confrontation. You may hate it. You may not want to do it, but you must.
The best way is to have someone else as a witness. Hopefully, your spouse, if not another trusted individual. This is very important if the person you are confronting is of the opposite sex.
At the beginning of the conference, find something the person is doing right. Thank them. Don’t be confrontational. Let your comments be genuine. Perhaps the person has a good demeanor. Possibly they get along well with others. You get the idea. Speak softly. Give a soft answer to an angry person. If you touch a match to gasoline, you get an explosion. However, if you touch that same match to water, you extinguish the match. Learn to deescalate the situation.
Let the other person speak. Ask questions. There is always a reason they acted as they did. Is there any way you can help ease the situation? Put yourself in their shoes. Remember the time when you were an employee or when you were just starting your business?
There will come a time you need to fire an employee.
As much as you may hate it, there comes a time when the only solution is to let an employee go. Your business will suffer if you keep them. If you are losing customers, because of this person’s incompetence or shoddy service, you may have to fire them immediately. Otherwise, you can give them a certain period to straighten up their life.
What is your goal?
If your goal is the bottom line, you will always be chasing it. The problem is if you are chasing the bottom line, you will never reach it nor will you ever be satisfied. J. Paul Getty was at one time the richest man in the world. Someone ask him how much money was enough? His answer is classic. “Just a little more”. He never saw himself as wealthy.
Does that mean you should never be interested in profits? Of course not. However, if finances are your goal, you will never reach it. Your eyes will be blinded to the important things of life. Money can be replaced. Time and love cannot.
Ask yourself why are you building your business? What is important in your life? If you lost everything, what would you have left? Your family, your loyal friends. Many have found when they lost everything, they lost nothing at all. Life doesn’t consist what you have in the bank, but what is in your heart.
So, take a hard look at what is vital for your life and establish your goals from that point.
Notes
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Points to ponder
If they are not, how can you make your family a part of your business? There will be problems but you can work through them. List the task your son or daughter can perform. Understand the majority of the work in the beginning may fall on you. Be patience a child will have to learn but once they do you will find you have a valued employee.