Biblical Business Principles for Your Book Shelf

Christians who are in business could always use some help, especially the type of help that can build up their faith as well as strengthen their skills or abilities to manage a workplace balance.  I have compiled a list of my favorite Bible-inspired books for business owners and leaders.

Jesus CEO Laurie Beth Jones
This is definitely an all-time and hands-down exceptional book that is also an easy read.  Jones shares anecdotes, examples and  illustrations that interweave with the Scriptures for a delightful book on leadership.

Running with Giants John C. Maxwell
Maxwell takes the reader on an inspirational journey through the hall of Faith (Hebrews 11).  He utilizes the biblical sketches of these standout biblical characters to inspire and uplift business professionals as they seek to grow their own faith as much as they seek to succeed at growing their business.

God is My CEO Larry Julian
Julian breaks down the principles required of Christians to succeed in the business world by highlighting the lives of successful Christian business men and women.  These profiles provide a wide breadth of pointers for Christians in need of inspiration and insights into the real bottom line.

The Management Methods of Jesus Bob Briner
Bob Briner lays out a compact book that packs a powerful punch.  He shares his personal business journey as a Christian in the sports media world.  He accentuates each chapter with the methods Jesus utilized with His disciples and others.  This is a great book for first-time managers who fear that their faith might endanger their own success.

Business by the Book Larry Burkett

This is a must-read for any Christian who works in the world or even in the church as an employee or volunteer.  Let Burkett's mastery of money matters and biblical principles sink deep into your soul and mind.  After reading this, you will find some real nuggets for getting ahead in business while maintaining your integrity.

If you have other suggestions for great business books for Christians, please submit the title and author to us via comments on http://revbruce.wordpress.com.

Starting Your Own Startup

Entrepreneurship is one of the only ways some folks will ever return to the workforce.

They do not have the skills.  They lack the education or experience necessary.  They are too old.  They are not equipped, not certified or not what the recruiters and headhunters are looking for in a qualified candidate.

Entrepreneurship may be their only immediate route.

Entrepreneurship may be their one and only hope.

Imagine what the recently released felon must say about his or her chances at landing the dream job.

Think about how the recovering addict fresh out of rehab.  How is he or she going to fit in with the sales and marketing team on the sixth floor?

Picture gramps who just got let go from industry leader who decided to" go in a new direction" after using him for the past twenty-five years.  He's not exactly the best bet or best fit for hiring firms as a Baby Boomer.

Some will say that you just don't have it.  They don't believe that you have it in you.

They don't feel what you feel or see what you see.

You have the knack for being in business.

You have the drive and motivation to start and stay in business.

You've got what it takes.

I found that the knack and drive to own your own business may require you to manage conflicts on your own or with your family.  You may be required to use your living room as a home office or shop for used furniture to outfit your new brick and mortar office space.  You can become your own boss.  You can give birth to your own dreams.

Promote entrepreneurship among our people who are struggling for another chance.  Give them a leg up.  Put them in touch with community banks and micro lenders.  Educate yourself on entrepreneurship.

As a freelance writer and consult, I benefit from the help, support and advice of others.  I gain a lot from online communities and social networks as well as multimedia sharing sites.  I use freelancing to supplement my primary income.  I use some of the top freelancing sites to get my words in print or online.

I understand what it takes to run a business.  I had to believe in myself.  I had to believe in my dreams.  I had do it by myself at times and with the help of others at other times.  I had become flexible and adaptable.  I had to make adjustments on the fly, too.

If you really want it, you can succeed at being in business.  If you believe in yourself more than you believe the words of your critics and the naysayers, you can have it.

Go on and stop waiting on others.

Start taking action.

Start your own startup business now.

Take Charge of Your Writing Career

“I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” 

― Upton Sinclair

I recently started to read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle once again.  As I began reading through this classic novel, I came to realize that my desire to assist others with their artistic goals like creative writing is a major undertaking.  I can see how my contribution to others, especially my community's youth, can lead to someone actually exploring a career of working with words.

Sinclair's works exposed the corruption of capitalism and the muck and mire of materialism.  We can hardly imagine anyone except the enigmatic Daniel Day Lewis in his oil baron portrayal of the main character of the cinematic version of Sinclair's novel Oil! (also known as "There Will be Blood").  Such characters are the type of signature that makes the struggle of The Jungle's Jurgis as engrossing as the Joads in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

Join me in an effort to nurture young creative talent who will soon give birth to a new generation of literature and journalism that our world desperately needs.  Our fundraiser will support young creative writers develop their talent and skills to create new works worthy of satisfying our hunger for quality literature.

Seven days left before our fundraiser closes. . .

Busy Online with Words

I have spent a few days mulling over publishing another book while still preparing for a 2013 full of events and activities that will fill my schedule and almost wear me down.  I have spent some time writing some articles online and feel that it is time to share with some of my blogging audience this side of both myself and Life Path.

My latest article has been posted on Wizzley about MLK.  It is one of those new ventures that I havebeen working on since I started freelancing online in 2011.  Post comments online and share your sentiments.

See more articles that I have posted online:

• Finding Time to Spend with God
• Using Observation for Bible Study
• How to Show Compassion
• Living Like Lazarus
• Basic Tools for Bible Study

more » HubPages

Writing What You Can

If you have an idea that has not been put in print or published online, you may have the makings of a how-to article ripe for picking over by others.  Build up an arsenal of articles on online article directories and sites like Triond and Bukisa.

• Use your communication skills to reach broader audiences. 
• Use technology to assist you in reaching others. 
• Make your works stand out from the crowd.

Write what you can.  Write all that you can.

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Coin a Phrase

"To be or not to be..."


"Beware of the Ides of March..."

"Something is afoul in Denmark..."

"Et tu, Brute?..."

Hamlet .  Julius Caesar.   Shakespeare wrote all of these words. They are contained within his plays and have echoed on stage and in classrooms for years.
 

We can say that we don't put much stock in what others have to say, but our own actions dispel that notion. Attend any seminar throughout the nation, listen to any speech on the radio or TV, or read any editorial in your local newspaper and you will see that many of these same people use quotes from others to drive home their point. The quotes may serve as accent points to highlight the theme and meaning of the author's point.

Test the theory. Visit quotations page on the Web to see quotes available by subject or topic. See how you may be able to use quotes and add some color to your presentations and reports. Include some background information that helps shed light on the quote's connection to your topic or theme.

These words seem like something good to share to break the ice and open a speech:


• How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think.

• Inactivity is death.
• I find capitalism repugnant.

Be sure to study up the author of the quote. You do not want to quote someone who was totally opposed to government and bureaucracy when you go to endorse a political candidate. Inform yourself with as much information as possible related to the author and the context of your quote.
Why?

The quotes above come from: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Fidel Castro. It does matter where you get your material from.

Writers Write

I say write your heart out at every shot that you get.  If you get rejected, so be it.  Make the most of your writing opportunities.  You can do so with a traditional publisher or you can go the route of self-publishing your own work.  I go so far as to post my poetry online.  I even try my hand at some popular blogging strategies that may or may not seem so profitable.


How do I do so?

1. Maintain an online profile
2. Add/ contribute content
3. Write when I'm on
4. Write when I'm off
5. Read and read a wide variety of genres and publications
6. Write some more

BruceJackson > Blog Entries | WritersCafe.org

BruceJackson > Blog Entries WritersCafe.org

Even the rap wannabe who will never be and the boy band reject who can o without American Idol and show that America (Don't) Got to Talent can upload an MP3 and a video clip and be on his way to content gold.  He just has to add some Google Adsense or a few Amazon affiliate links, and then he's all in there.

Read More at http://www.writerscafe.org/RevBruce/blogs/A-Lost-Art/12734/

Open Opportunities

"Opportunity exists where you find it." - John C. Maxwell

Find your own opportunities.  Don't wait on someone else.  They won't knock on your door.  They won't yell out and beckon you unto them.  You'll have to search and seek them out.

Some will be obvious.  They'll be right before your face.  They may be sitting right in your own backyard.  You will simply have to recognize them as opportunities.

Some will be more obscure.  They may appear to be obstacles or challenges.  Yet, you will discover an opportunity to put your talent and skills to work on discovering a solution.

Some will need to be created. When I didn't find much success in peddling my self-published books through online resources, I decided to turn my lessons learned into resources that drew people into me.  I wrote a blog and published a newsletter where I could get people's attention and inform them about tidbits of what I had already published and what I was currently working on with my writing.  it does work, but I had to find a way to make the opportunity work out for me.

Find your opportunities today.