Integrity Moments Archives - Unconventional Business Network

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 appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Harvard Business Review highlighted two studies that point to the importance of humble leaders. One study related to leaders helping their employees return to work after Covid. This study discovered that employees were less likely to consider leaving their employer if their leader was humble – someone who acknowledged personal limitations, was open to learning ... The post The Impact of Humble Leaders appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Major General Briggs shared great wisdom at our Faith Incorporated event this year about making difficult decisions during a crisis. Sprinkled into a story about the military’s obsession with being prepared and their zealous use of checklists, was a humorous insight. Major General Briggs said, “If you want people to keep and use a checklist, ... The post Laminate It appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Bible commentaries describe Psalm 101 as King David’s strategy for ruling in accordance with God’s righteous rule. Within the Psalm’s eight verses are guiding principles such as, “I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart,” (verse 2) and “I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.” ... The post Guiding Principles appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Beau Johnson, author of On Purpose, shared with our Faith Incorporated audience about the four seasons of our work life. The third season Beau referenced is Influence. After we’ve worked through the Exploration phase, we’ll need to eventually land on our passions and areas of expertise. This is the season when you need to become ... The post Working On Purpose: Season Three appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Beau Johnson, author of On Purpose, shared with our Faith Incorporated audience about four seasons of our work life. After the Identity season, Beau suggests that we enter the Exploration season. God has equipped you with skills and passions that will advance your career and your contribution to society. You will, however, need a season ... The post Working On Purpose: Season Two appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Beau Johnson, author of On Purpose, shared with our Faith Incorporated audience about the Four Seasons of our Work Life. In this series we’ll unpack some of Beau’s wisdom. The first season he referenced is what Beau labeled Identity. We need to discover who we are and want to be regarding our character. During ... The post Working On Purpose: Season One appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Less than half of the leaders responding to a recent Gallup survey think they are exceptional at fostering accountability within their teams. Managers serving under these leaders gave their leaders even lower scores. It can be difficult to create a culture of accountability at work. Holding people accountable can require difficult conversations, stressful interactions, ... The post Speaking Truth in Love appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As the only one in his work group who actively professed his Christian faith, Brendon often felt isolated. He turned to his friends for advice on how to cope. They suggested television networks to watch, websites to visit, and podcasts to follow. He tried their suggestions but quickly realized these media outlets had their own ... The post Right Counsel appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, Tom shared with me that the Catholic church did something to offend him. So, he began a quest of researching other Christian churches. Tom became overwhelmed when he discovered over 45,000 denominations. He then decided to shift his focus to researching the Bible. That’s when Tom discovered that Catholics include different books in the ... The post The Confusing Pursuit of Truth appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Author Os Hillman wrote that our own strengths and talents often can be a barrier to our faith. When we are skilled in an area, it is easy to depend on that strength instead of depending on God. In Luke 5, Jesus challenged Simon (soon to be “Peter”) to trust God for his work outcomes. ... The post Our Own Effort appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In Arthur Brooks’ book, From Strength to Strength, he references a study that discovered that 70% of workers say that the most important element to a happy work life is friendships at work However, 82% of all businesses in America are now led by solo entrepreneurs, with little opportunity to make or have friends at ... The post Looking For Help appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When I launched a faith-based consulting practice, a partner helped me start the business. Six months later he returned to banking, while I carried on alone. Very alone. We had rented some space in a dreary basement of a bank building. Suddenly, I was isolated, lonely, and making decisions in a vacuum. As an introvert, ... The post We Are Not Meant to Be Alone appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Arizona Christian University’s most recent American Worldview Inventory report addressed the level of Biblical worldview in eight different categories. For the marketplace, I believe their category, Lifestyles, Behaviors, and Relationships is critical. Unfortunately, according to the report, only 10% of adults are integrating the Bible into their behaviors and relationships. Our biggest opportunity, however, lies ... The post Making Disciples in the Workplace appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

We all want to imagine that our work is important and lasting. We want to make a difference. But the truth is that much of what we spend time working on won’t last. Days before his death, Jesus was at the house of Simon when a woman poured out a jar of expensive perfume over ... The post Lasting Work appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Jeff was expanding his tree service into a new city. While building his business there, Jeff met Bob, a young competitor. Jeff worked hard to build his business, but rather than trying to crush the competition, Jeff decided to mentor Bob. He even referred work to Bob’s company occasionally. After Jeff died in a tragic ... The post Mentoring the Competition appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah had an amazing 52 days. He had cast vision for people who didn’t know him, yet he convinced them to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. This impossible task was made even more difficult due to his enemies constantly attempting to distract and destroy him. Additionally, there was considerable infighting. But the work continued with ... The post The Power of Co-Working with God appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Your enemies have no need to bother you when you’re failing, but when you’re experiencing success, look out. Nehemiah experienced some significant success on his project of rebuilding Jerusalem. As he neared completion, his enemies tried everything they could think of to distract or destroy Nehemiah. On multiple occasions, Nehemiah’s enemies tried to draw him ... The post Overcoming the Enemy’s Distractions appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Nehemiah had a vision of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. When it came time to start the actual work, Nehemiah decided to allow teams to work on specific sections of the wall. He could have had everyone work together on the entire wall. Nehemiah 3, however, reveals the brilliant part of Nehemiah’s strategy. Nehemiah understood ... The post Leveraging Self-Interest appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A fourth-century church manual, the Apostolic Constitutions, called Good Friday a "day of mourning, not a day of festive Joy." Historically, many have called Good Friday to be a day of sorrow and fasting. In our busy work activities, we rarely take time for reflection or sorrow for our brokenness and the brokenness of the ... The post Good Friday Mourning appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Today is Maundy Thursday. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus, the Son of God, modeled for us a surprising act. In ancient times, Maundy, which means, “washing someone’s dirty feet,” was one of the worst jobs a servant could be asked to complete. Yet, on Jesus’ last night, He humbled himself and washed ... The post Maundy Thursday Surprise appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Recently, a new comedy club opened in our neighborhood. An advertisement led me to believe that the show may be family-friendly, so Kathy and I decided to give it a try. We were sorely disappointed. A small crowd had to experience vulgar and very offensive dialogue that left us disgusted. In contrast, my daughter gave ... The post A Contrast in Comedy appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Many in business have learned the hard way the importance of hiring people with strong character. God’s view on integrity, however, is different from the world’s view. Many universities teach moral relativism, allowing you to decide right and wrong. God’s moral code, however, starts with the concept of fearing God. Fearing God is to ... The post Integrity and Fearing God appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you have ever wondered if God values work, consider the number of jobs he has held. In “Workplace Grace,” authors Bill Peel and Walt Larimore list nearly two dozen occupations of God, including landscape architect, judge, farmer, environmental engineer, teacher, and inventor. The creation story in Genesis recounts God’s work. “This is the ... The post God’s Job appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the work world, we often succeed by creating something of value for others. We are rewarded when we identify a need and then create a solution to meet it. We credit success to our efforts. In his book, “On Being a Servant of God,” Warren Wiersbe encourages a different focus when we serve others. ... The post Be A Channel appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you wisely decide to only hire someone with strong character, the hard part is determining if the potential hire has integrity. In banking, I learned that running credit bureaus on loan applicants was the best predictor of the future because it revealed how they handled past adversity. In interviews, learning how your job applicant ... The post The Past Indicates The Future appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

While in college, I dreamed of taking a spring break trip to Texas but had no money. But then a man ran a red light and smashed into my car, resulting in me receiving an unexpected check! I had a decision to make: Do I repair my car, or, do I choose a week ... The post Youthful Adventure appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When someone offers you unsolicited advice, how do you respond? Do you reject it out of hand? Or do you prayerfully consider that person’s counsel, assessing how they came to that suggestion and the wisdom that they may offer? I was tasked with reorganizing a department when another manager shared his thoughts about things I ... The post Unsolicited Advice appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

At 16 years old, Patrick was abducted from Britain and forced to become a shepherd in Ireland. But, it was during his time of tending sheep that his prayers resulted in his conversion to following Jesus. Eventually, Patrick escaped and returned to Britain. But then, through a dream, God called Patrick to return to Ireland ... The post St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

It grieves me when someone tells me they refuse to do business with Christians because of past disappointments. I also have been disappointed by Christian business leaders, but likewise non-Christians have disappointed me as well. As followers of Jesus, we tend to have higher expectations of someone claiming to be a Christian. But refusing to ... The post Trust But Verify appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we’re talking about God’s view on growth and multiplication. If you ask most business owners about their purpose for their business, they will often tell you that profit is their primary motive. God’s view on the purpose for growing your business is much different. He desires us to use our business to ... The post God’s Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part IV appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series we’re talking about God’s view on growth and multiplication. We’ve learned so far that God intended us to multiply and be fruitful and He desires to bless us by providing more provision. But God’s abundant provision is usually tied to our obedience, and heeding God’s warning. Last time we discussed the ... The post God’s Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part III appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we’re talking about God’s view on growth and multiplication. Although God has some limitations on growth, today I want to emphasize that growth, or lack of growth, can be directly tied to God’s favor. In Deuteronomy 7, God told Israel that obedience to His commands would result in the benefits mentioned in ... The post God’s Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part II appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The business world promotes the idea that bigger is better, and that we should strive to multiply what we have. In this series, we will examine what God’s Word says about growth. Let’s start from the beginning. God gave Adam and Eve these instructions in Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them, and God said to them, ... The post God’s Word on Growth and Multiplication: Part I appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Over the last few years, Hillsong, IHOP, Gateway Church, and now Bethel have had significant leadership failures. Even worse, these churches often covered up the extent of the damage done, rather than warn and shepherd the victims. Recently, it was discovered that Bethel Church had allowed Shawn Bolz to prophesy at Bethel for many years, ... The post The Cover Up appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The sudden death of the popular manager shocked the entire company. He was energetic and passionate about his work. He regularly worked with dozens of people on several key projects. His accidental death after work hours was even more traumatic to those who had been in meetings with him earlier that day. It can be ... The post Taken for Granted appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When a job application arrives, many employers look first for the applicant’s work experience and job history. Although helpful, when it comes time to narrow your search, a more important issue to research is their character. Another good indication that character is important is God’s fixation on integrity. If you find someone with integrity and ... The post Character First appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Our home is located between two grocery stores. One is a high-quality grocery store with a nice selection of meats and fresh produce. The other store has somewhat lower prices but low quality and selection. Recently Aldi’s and Whole Foods moved-in near the lower priced grocery store. Last week that store announced it’s closing. While ... The post Marketing Strategy and Competition appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Amanda Askell is a philosopher who works for Anthropic. Her job simply stated, according to the Wall Street Journal, is “to teach Claude how to be good.” As people interact with AI much like they would a friend or advisor, a legitimate concern is what moral principles are guiding its responses. AI is being developed ... The post How Does AI Define Good appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

At the conclusion of the national championship football game, Indiana University quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, was interviewed. He proclaimed, “I want to give God all the glory and thanks to God.” Some reporters noted that moments later Mendoza surprisingly dropped the F-bomb as well. Mendoza is a vocal Catholic, so hopefully his faith  is sincere and ... The post Praise and Cursing appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Aaron measured his career progress by the results of his annual reviews. His hard work throughout the year all felt worth it when he read what his boss wrote in the year-end assessment. Aaron treasured the feedback from his boss, both for the praise he would receive, but also because that praise generally translated to ... The post Misplaced Glory appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The modern workplace often puts a premium on individual performance. Organizations build infrastructure to hire people with the talents and skills they need to succeed. Employee performance evaluations tend to focus on individuals’ accomplishments toward the organization’s goals. But concluding his letter to the Romans, Paul lists by name more than two dozen people to ... The post Join the Team appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When a salesperson cares about what’s best for me, instead of for themselves, it can be so refreshing. Last year, I was speaking to the CEO of a software company about our software needs as a ministry. He owns a well-respected software company that serves nonprofits. After he listened to our needs, this CEO said, ... The post Loving Others in Business appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the book, “Founding Fathers,” Alexander Hamilton and George Washington reportedly had a volatile relationship. Hamilton was known for his brash ambition and his hot-headed ways. On one occasion, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington had a petty argument that resulted in Hamilton resigning angrily. But, within an hour, Washington “sent an aide to tell Hamilton ... The post Washington and Hamilton appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

According to Gallup research, managers account for over 70% of the difference in employee engagement levels. Stated differently, the relationship your employees have with their direct supervisors will have the biggest impact on how well your employees engage in their work. Many leaders are masterful at deceiving their boss about their true performance. One major ... The post Seeking Candid Insight appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As our plane was deboarding, people were leaving row by row in an orderly fashion until it came time for us. Suddenly four young men pushed me aside and forced their way off the plane. They didn’t apologize or give a reason, they pushed through ignoring everyone else’s needs. This prompted my wife, Kathy, to ... The post Civility and Common Decency appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The Barna research organization recently reported that only three in 10 Christians (31%) strongly agree that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith. The workplace can be a challenging place to share our faith. We can find many barriers, both real and imagined, to discourage faith conversations at work. Yet the workplace also ... The post Sharing Faith appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

There’s nothing like a bad day to derail our best efforts at acting faithfully. As humans, we naturally turn our attention inward when challenges at work upset our plans and priorities. Knowing this, it’s important to keep our hearts tender and moldable, and encourage others to do the same. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “See ... The post Soft Hearts appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Pondering President’s Day, as a reminder of great leaders and their past struggles, is a helpful way to inspire and shape the culture of a nation. Businesses have a similar opportunity! Hebrews 11 highlights several heroes of the faith like Abraham, Moses, and Noah. The author chronicles these heroes experiences and victories as an encouragement ... The post President’s Day Reflections appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As I finished talking with a friend who built a $500 million company, I was reminded of my own shortcomings. I sometimes make decisions based on my perceived limitations rather than on reality. It’s easy to believe that others are more successful because they have access to more cash or better people. It may be ... The post Unlimited Resources appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.