Everything I've built rests on one foundation. My faith in God is number one.
Some people think faith and business belong in separate worlds. I don't. Faith has shaped every major decision I've made. It gave me the courage to leave a secure job. It kept me going when my first year was a struggle. It gives me peace when I don't have all the answers, and it keeps my success in perspective.
Put God first, and He'll direct everything that comes after.
Where it started
I was driving home from college when my father called. My mother was on life support. The doctors said there was a 98% chance she wouldn't make it. I cried out to God like never before and told Him that if He kept her alive, I would always be a believer. She lived another six months. Those months gave me time to be with her and to accept what was happening. It was the first seed of faith planted in my life.
Years later, my mentor Mike told me to read the Bible. I started and couldn't stop. At 25 I was saved, the same year I gave myself the approval to walk away from the path everyone expected of me.
Faith is doing, not just reading
By 30, I'd been studying the Bible for about five years, and I learned the power of obedience. As James 1:22 puts it, “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Knowledge without obedience is just information. It's the same lesson that applies to business: reading about success doesn't change your life. Doing the work does.
Never ask how
My mentor Eddie had a rule: never ask how. Operate. Start moving, and let the how reveal itself. That's a faith principle. Hebrews describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” and tells the story of Abraham, who “went out, not knowing whither he went.” Every entrepreneur steps out with part of the picture and trusts the rest will be revealed while walking.
You reap what you sow
The law underneath every principle I teach is older than any business strategy. A farmer who plants corn gets corn. I sowed a free website for Mike and reaped an introduction that changed my life. That's why I go to the marketplace with a seed, not a need, and why I believe God honors deals that are a win for everyone involved. Never do business that creates a win for you and a loss for someone else. Not all money is good money.
Excellence is a form of worship
Service to others and humility are kingdom principles. I believe success in service to people is a virtue that gets overlooked today. So I try every day to work with a spirit of excellence, not for my own glory, but because the work and the people it serves deserve my best.
Building with purpose
My credit denial became the reason I built Remove Credit. I believe God allowed me to go through that season so I could help others through it. Success with no purpose beyond yourself is empty. Success that serves others is legacy.
A simple place to start
- Start your day with God — Before your phone, spend time in prayer.
- Read the Word daily — Try one chapter of Proverbs each day. There are 31, one for every day of the month.
- Find your people — Connect with at least one person or community who will strengthen your faith.
- Test your deals — Before your next decision, ask: is this a win for everyone involved?
- Fast and pray in hard seasons — It quiets the noise and sharpens your focus. Check with a doctor first if you have health concerns.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33
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