For a Christian business person, the question then becomes, not “if” but “how.” How exactly can you do that? What is the mechanism that would give you a platform for expressing a commitment to acknowledge and serve God?
Is There a Practical Solution?
Our foundational documents – the Vision, Mission and Values statements we create for our businesses provide an ideal venue for expressing such a commitment. They not only express the deep desires and values of the business owners, but they also bind the employees to that
same set of values. While you can’t, in our society, commit someone else – particularly your employees – to following Christ, you certainly can declare your commitment to do so.
In your Vision statement, which articulates the highest aspirations of your business, you can acknowledge the role that God plays in your business.
In your Mission statement, which describes the work that you do and the markets that you serve, you can acknowledge the role of God in that providing that opportunity to you.
In your Values statement, which paints the picture of the ethical boundaries of your business and portrays the higher values to which you aspire, you can develop those out of a deep understanding of
Biblical business and Christian ethics.
I’ve attached the foundational documents which I created in 1994 to guide my business. Were I to revise them today, they would look someone different. But they expressed my desire to make a commitment to acknowledge and serve God and to do so in writing, publicly, for all the stakeholders in my business to see, understand and accept. All
prospective employees were given a copy, they were posted in prominent places around the office, and were regularly reviewed in company meetings.
If you want to make an impact in your business, if you want to create ripples of impact that could skip across geographies and drip down through generations, then acknowledging God in your foundational statements is a necessary
step.
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The DaCo Corporation
Vision
To continually increase our positive impact on people and organizations while
remaining in the center of God's direction and reflecting His character.
Mission
To help people grow their organizations, their sales, their people, and themselves. We do this through the application of our abilities to provide consulting services, create educational products, create and deliver presentations, and
provide training.
Values
Profit:
We will earn a better than average profit as this allows us the flexibility to do other things.
Integrity:
We will be honest in everything we do,
never over promise, and zealously work to fulfill our commitments.
Value:
We will strive to provide our clients more value than they expect.
Personable:
We will be pleasant and easy to work with.
Knowledgeable:
Understanding that we are in the business of "selling knowledge," we will be on the cutting edge of new knowledge.
Open-minded:
We will constantly be open to new or different ideas, methods and concepts from all sources, especially our clients.
Learning:
We will value individual and organizational learning (the ability to continually take in new information, acquire new insights, and change in positive ways as a result of that information) as our primary competitive advantage.
Humility:
We will constantly be aware that the
resources we use and the clients we serve are gifts from God, entrusted to our temporary stewardship.
Quality:
In everything we do, we will strive to do it as well as, or better than, the very best companies in the world like ours do it.
