Integrity Moments

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m highlighting some foundational pillars for business that our Founding Fathers established. The final pillar for our discussion is religious freedom. Centralized control over ideas was not uncommon to our Founders. From the beginning, freedom was a driving force behind many of our forefathers coming to America. The ... The post PIllars of Commerce...

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m highlighting some foundational pillars for business that our Founding Fathers established. The fifth pillar is intellectual property rights. Our Founders were creative and forward thinking when it came to protecting inventors, authors, and artists. The Constitution proclaims, “To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by ... The post Pi...

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m highlighting the foundational pillars for business that our Founding Fathers established. The fourth pillar is enforceable contracts. Before the Constitution was written, individual states could undermine contracts that crossed state lines. The Constitution was written, in part, to unify a nation and provide that no state law ... The post Pillars...

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’m highlighting the foundational pillars that our Founding Fathers established, allowing businesses to flourish. The second pillar is the rule of law. Our Founders had experienced injustice from rulers and leaders who were able to change the rules anytime it benefitted them personally. Because of their experiences, our ... The post Pillars of Commer...

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, I’d like to highlight some foundational pillars that our Founding Fathers established, allowing businesses to flourish. Because of their wisdom, the U.S. became a place where risk-taking was rewarded, innovation was protected, and power was constrained. One of the first pillars is protection of private property. Our Founders ... The post Pillars of C...

According to JD Power surveys, 49% of small businesses are financially unhealthy. That fact, coupled with their discovery that 89% of small businesses use credit cards for business purchases, can lead to danger.  Especially, when we learn that the average interest rate on credit cards rose to 21% in February from 14% in 2022.  Borrowing money ... The post Credit Cards and Small Business appeared f...

Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was recently sued by some employees because of the content of an Easter message she sent to her staff. Her email discussed Jesus’ resurrection as being the foundation of our faith. The offended employees claim that this was government-sponsored religious coercion. This case will likely be a significant ... The post Religious Speech From The Govern...

After waiting fifteen minutes to get my food, I finally saw the problem. The layout of the drive-through window was inefficient. The Order Taker walked to the other end of the building to run my debit card for payment. Also, the food preparation was far from the drive-up window, requiring many extra steps. The employees ... The post Providing the Resources Needed appeared first on Unconventional B...

Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding Jerusalem after it had been mostly rubble for over 140 years. This week we will examine 5 key steps Nehemiah took that paved the way for his team’s amazing success.  The first step is “Prayerfully Assessing the Situation.” When Nehemiah learned that Jerusalem was in ruins his heart broke.  He prayed ... The post Nehemiah’s 5 Steps to Success: Part I appeared first on...

This week we’re examining 5 steps Nehemiah took to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in an amazing 52 days! After he prayerfully assessed the situation his next step was to “Cast a Compelling Vision.”  For 140 years, no one had revived the city of Jerusalem, and few likely believed it was possible, or necessary. Nehemiah, however, ... The post Nehemiah’s 5 Steps to Success: Part II appeared first on Uncon...

As I began reviewing job applications recently, it seemed that the resumes and cover letters were often flawless. Then, I realized that it was likely that more job applicants are using AI to craft their letters and resumes. If I need a certain attribute, like someone who is detail-oriented, AI could easily cover up information ... The post Testing Job Applications appeared first on Unconventional...

The financial returns and income generated by our work give us an opportunity to demonstrate gratitude for God’s blessings and partner in God’s work. Scripture offers wisdom for allocating our income through giving, spending, and saving. We can spend to exalt ourselves buying products and services that make us feel worthy. But a scriptural approach ... The post Wise Finances – Spend appeared first...

Our work produces financial returns and income that are among God’s blessings for us. We serve God when we apply the wisdom of scripture to how we allocate those returns through our giving, spending, and saving. Saving a portion of our income prepares us for the future and the unexpected expenses that inevitably arise. Having ... The post Wise Finances – Save appeared first on Unconventional Busin...

Our work produces value in many forms, from serving customers to employing workers. In the same way, the financial returns and income produced from our work are among God’s blessings. How we allocate our income – through giving, spending, and saving –creates an opportunity to serve God when we follow biblical financial practices. As Christians, ... The post Wise Finances – Give appeared first on U...

Brad, an Ohio entrepreneur, wanted to help a young church planter get started. So, when Brad learned this pastor had budgeted $5,000 per month for a church facility, Brad bought an old church building that was on the market for $600,000. He leased it to this new church for $5,000 a month. Two years later, ... The post Creative Generosity appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

As a ministry focused on business leaders, I may at times send the wrong message. To be clear, God values all work, paid and unpaid. Americamagazine.org posted an insightful article by Kate Ward titled, “Catholic Social Teaching Says All Work is Good for Us – Paid and Unpaid.” The author contends that Catholic Social Teaching ... The post A More Inclusive View of Work appeared first on Unconventio...

As the oldest of five children there were seasons when our family was growing and money was scarce. It was during those times that I remember my father’s determination to do whatever was necessary to provide for us. He would come home from his assembly line job, change clothes, and leave again to be a ... The post Honor Your Father appeared first on Unconventional Business Network .

For decades, Unconventional Business Network has battled the flawed view that only pastors and missionaries have a calling. Martin Luther first attacked this flawed theology with his doctrine on vocation. Martin Luther wrote, “Every occupation has its own honor before God. Ordinary work is a divine vocation or calling. In our daily work no matter ... The post Martin Luther’s Doctrine of Vocation a...

When I was a young banker, our bank’s business development leader announced a citywide blitz. All commercial lenders and business development professionals were commanded to go from business-to-business to promote the services of our bank. Calling on perfect strangers unannounced was very unsettling for me. Fortunately, our leader wisely decided to send us out in ... The post Courage in Pairs appe...

When Hobby Lobby sued the U.S. government over the healthcare mandate in 2012, a significant legal issue arose for the court to decide. The issue was whether companies had religious freedoms. Individuals have long had religious freedom, but the Courts hadn’t yet decided whether businesses had similar rights. One factor that swayed the court was ... The post Does Your Business Have a Statement of F...