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Dave Kier Leadership Tip: Lesson From The Big Mack

August 28, 2023

IBEC Board member Dave Kier writes a regular “Leadership Tip”  using stories from his career as a business owner.  This one includes several principles which apply to us all and he uses a real-life example from a well-known company. Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com —– I am starting to write my […]

Capability, Character, and Coaching (Three Vital Factors for a Business as Mission Enterprise)

August 21, 2023

In the United States, it is almost time for football again. Have you ever heard of a 24-year-old signing a contract that will pay him $1 million dollars a week for the next five years (Contract of $255 million with $180 million guaranteed)? Quite amazing for sure, but there was another factoid that piqued my […]

Wondering about the Origin of a Good Idea?

August 13, 2023

Here are seven questions that can provide you with a framework for a good idea: Are you passionate about it? Do you have the gifts, skills, and experience to carry it out? Is it unique, and can you monetize it? Is there a growing market for the idea? Does the idea align with your calling? […]

Untruths I have been told about Business as Mission (BAM)

August 6, 2023

As I have travelled around the country, given seminars in churches, schools, various small groups, and taught full courses in four colleges/universities, I have heard many comments which have intrigued me at best, and disturbed me at worst.  I was reflecting on some of them recently and share them with you here, with my perspective […]

The Important thing is not to stop Questioning – Albert Einstein

July 29, 2023

I remember when one of our kids questioned everything with “Why” when he was a toddler.  He even continued into his teen years.  We learned to take advantage of his curiosity and use it as a “teaching moment”.  He became an avid learner. Why should a BAM practitioner continually listen carefully and ask good questions? […]

Three Key Elements of Entrepreneurial Success

July 23, 2023

I read lots of stuff on entrepreneurialism and even teach a class in college on the subject.  Recently, I discovered an article by an entrepreneur which covers it in a succinct and accurate manner.  The author, Diane Bryant, introduces it with this paragraph in the Sept 21, 2022, issue of Fast Company magazine. After a […]

Quotes from a Very Important Book

July 15, 2023

Last year, IBEC Board member Don Simmons, CFP published a book which everyone should read.  It is entitled The Steward Investor – Investing God’s Resources for Eternal Impact. Don has over thirty years of experience in asset management and knows the power of investing in redemptive businesses to build people and communities.  He is an […]

Freedom Café: Seven BAM lessons from a Growing Bakery and Coffee Business

July 9, 2023

Sometimes, your employees rise to greater heights than you. Judy, Philip’s wife, once worked for me in the USA, then they married and moved to Asia and as a team they started a bakery and coffee shop in a major city in South Asia. It takes a long time. 8 years ago, they wondered if it […]

Of Freedom, Liberty, and Independence

June 30, 2023

Words such as freedom, liberty and independence have a nuanced ambiguity inherent in their meaning.  For example, are we free from something or to something or both?  Is liberty unrestricted or restrictive, begging the question of liberty’s true meaning and value?  Is the meaning of independence specific to a historical event, or is it something […]

AI and the issue of what is real in Business as Mission

June 16, 2023

Let’s talk about how AI is everywhere right now. The subject of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is pretty much on all news mediums. I looked up the definition in the Kids section of Merriam Webster where it states, “The power of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.” While many people champion the potential of AI, […]

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