Articles

How do we build lasting values and culture into our homes and businesses?

Being in business brings ethical challenges that test our commitment to be a Christian witness in the business world.

The Christian will be a “witness” wherever he finds himself. This presentation will accent the importance and blessing of sharing Christ in the workplace.

We often think and strategize about how to make our business successful. But how much do we think about our personal response to success?

As Christians in business, we encounter the allure (sometimes subtle and other times quite overt) of money, stuff, and the power of influence.

How did we as Anabaptist people go from being persecuted refugees, and pilgrims and strangers on the earth, to being in the top 10% of the world’s most wealthy people? What does God, our Heavenly...

All business owners face challenges, particularly the small business owner, who is of necessity more self-reliant, with fewer safety nets, and less support than might be present in a larger...

“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”. Humility is not bashful and shy. Instead, humble leaders reach out and invite feedback.

Strategic leaders start with what is known and strategically think through how things could unfold. They use well-rounded research, gather the facts and solicit feedback to build a plan.

Implementing the action plan is the third and most
practical aspect of the business planning process; it
follows the long-term strategy and the annual strategic

Creating a budget does not need to be tough, but it does need to be done! Without it, how will you determine if you are on track to achieve the result you desire?

When Jacob Nisley started JN Pallet, located in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, in 1985, he did so with the purpose of growing a family business that would provide not just a means of livelihood but...

If you are among those who are striving to create a culture of entrepreneurship for your family, consider carefully how you shape that culture in order to nurture and encourage entrepreneurial...

The best idea to pursue is to take a problem you know exists, experienced by a large customer set you know how to reach, solved in a way you know how to solve, delivered by means you know how to...

Launch the best opportunity you’ve developed (from all of the ideas you’ve generated and evaluated) in the fastest, least-cost, and most creative manner possible.

There is hope for the less-capitalized entrepreneur: there are countless businesses that can be started with very little money. But there is a catch.

Many business plans fail for a lack of clarity regarding the long-term strategy of the organization.

Do you know your business’s break-even point? Understanding the difference between fixed and variable expenses is a key component in finding your break-even points.

Financial ratios are tools to analyze how your business compares to similar businesses and to offer insight on the direction of your business over time.

In order to survive, every business needs to make a profit. What are good pricing methods? Is your pricing fair? 

This Workshop gives practical applications of Strategic Planning. Learn how to take your strategy, plans, and ideas and implement them with simplicity and consistency.

Winning in the business “game of chess” involves strategically looking one, two, three, or even twelve moves into the future and envisioning what does not yet exist.

Getting ready to start a business? Not quite there yet, but preparing? Want to? Wonder if business ownership is for you? Does small business fit your Anabaptist lifestyle?

As men family leaders, we are constantly concerned about our ability to provide adequately.

Every business needs a plan! While this is a given for startups, many established businesses are missing the opportunity to raise the bar.

We resist change—sometimes even when we can see imminent danger—because finding a new approach or a new method is too much work, too hard on our pride, or too risky.

To everything there is a season, and business is no different. Business owners and managers must learn about those various seasons and the need for diligent preparation.

What determines the success of a business venture? Wade Myers suggests the following formula: Entrepreneur + Business Model + Resources + God’s Providence = Success.

Business taxation is complex, and many business owners choose to rely on tax professionals to prepare and file their business tax returns.

Farmers are not exempt from Christ’s command to render unto Caesar the taxes owed him. Farmers have their own unique set of rules and advantages in the federal tax code. Jacob Dietz looks briefly...

Financial statements provide insight and financial data from which informed decisions, crucial to profitable financial activity, can be made by management. A thorough understanding of the balance...

What does it take to qualify for a loan?

You think it would never happen in your company. After all, your employees are from the church and might even spend time at your house.

The purpose of a cash flow statement is to show changes over a period of time, including how paying bills, buying inventory, and other things changes your assets and liabilities and impacts your...

Financial Statements are the report card of your business. Understanding what the numbers represent and where they come from are essential to analyzing and improving your financial position.

You need engaged and happy employees if your business is going to be truly successful. Employees are a critical part of your business’s foundation.

Whether it is direct, indirect, or non-monetary, fair compensation and benefits are a key attraction that will keep your employees with your company for a long time.

The effects of our investment in employees go far beyond our businesses.

How many times has an employee been “cut down” when all he or she really needed was a little care to help them succeed?

Fully engaged employees look forward to the day and love their job. They come to work with a positive feeling. They enter a friendly and supportive workplace.

Training a new employee is an expensive and time-consuming process.

A daily dose of preventive medicine can go a long way towards avoiding frequent employee conflicts.

Telling and showing is not enough to prepare employees to master new skills. Training Within Industry is a sure and dependable way that works every time if it is simply applied. 

When you hire employees, you are subject to numerous labor laws and fair hiring practices. You also open the door to federal regulators into your business.

Do you appreciate and value the people who come to work for you every day? How do you demonstrate that you appreciate and value that resource?

We know that a fully-engaged workforce is the differentiator for organizational performance.

What does the Bible say about communication? What are you communicating to the people around you? Communication is an important aspect of all relationships.

Christ is glorified when men live out His commandments in their everyday working lives, and professing Christians who fail to do so bring swift reproach to Christ’s name.

Family business relationships are the most important part of business structure. Maintaining good relationships must be a planned process.

The need for clear family‐business governance may seem a bit unnecessary. However, effective governance is essential to a healthy and enduring business.

An interview with the four Zimmerman brothers from Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc.

A good business transition plan only works if properly implemented.

Avoid transition woes and family strife by early planning. Think realistically about your successor. Review considerations for a peaceful retirement. Smooth the difficult path for your family.

Whether you plan for the next generation to take over when you retire, or you expect to sell your business to an outside person, Richard Shank recommends teaching someone who can successfully...

Continuous Improvement is the way to deal with obstacles in your business, but where to begin? You must first determine if you are trying to solve a problem or simply improve a process or ...

Does God give guidance for believers trying to conduct business operations in our complex, modern economy? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Business meetings are essential to making quality decisions. Employees should help provide insights, cut through confusion, and get the truth on the table.

How can we uphold kingdom values and turn a customer complaint into an opportunity to witness for Christ?  Actual experiences will illustrate how addressing complaints redemptively helps avoid...

Everyone knows the classic American poem about a girl and her lamb, "Mary Had a Little Lamb." What can explain this poem's longevity and effectiveness?

A customer’s attitude about your business will directly influence how much he is willing to pay you—and whether he will even pay you at all. You can influence how your customers feel by giving...

An effective salesperson is one of the key forces behind every successful business. Before a purchase is completed, your customers will speak to an employee—a salesperson.

For many of us, the title "salesman" conjures up an image of someone who is smooth-talking, calculating, and deceitful.

You cannot create customer service by opening up floor space and installing a desk with an employee behind it. Customer service is an attitude within the company, and it speaks for itself.

Do you know if your advertising dollars are paying off? Or like John Wanamaker said, do you know that half of your advertising dollars are wasted, but you don't know which half?

Getting an effective marketing program rolling can be bumpy, but Roy Herr demonstrates a well-rounded approach. When all three parts of the marketing wheel—branding, lead generation, and lead...

Marketing today is more complicated than simply putting out a sign and displaying fruit or vegetables on a table at the end of the lane or at a farmers’ market. As Christians, we find ourselves in...

Our people have always been innovators: improving their tools, their techniques, and their situations.

Caring for your customers and letting them know that you appreciate their business is simply good manners.

Your marketing people should have an organized, functional toolbox from which they can pull the appropriate tools they need to get the message to the marketplace.

Clear messaging is the very heart and soul of effective marketing.

Sometimes the same strengths that help build a thriving family business can also become its weakness. One of the best ways to make certain that a family’s strengths do not become the business’...

Mixing family and business finances often creates a range of problems and stress.

Few scriptural principles are clearer than that of keeping our vows—literally keeping our word both to God and to others.

Leaders are exposed to levels of hostile scrutiny and attack that most people know little or nothing about.

In our business, as in all areas of our lives, we want to be known as people who believe and practice kingdom principles.