Recently, I was chatting with a client of mine who was a few years into resurrecting an organization that had nearly fizzled out under previous leadership. When she assumed leadership of the nonprofit, it had run out of money, was unclear on its mission, and had major personnel problems. As we talked, she described to … Read More
entrepreneurship
Merced: A Story of Longing & Loss
This is the story of one woman’s risk-taking journey of migration and entrepreneurship to find sustainability for her family.
For further reflection, scroll down or click to download the companion conversation guide.
Rose City
The story of a neighborhood church that is adapting to changing times by putting faith & work integration into practice.
Why Passion Isn’t the Holy Grail of Work
I graduated seminary in 2011, on the heels of the Great Recession. Very few companies were hiring. In fact, many were laying people off. Let’s just say that in a depressed economy there is very little demand for someone with an advanced degree in theology and no record of success in any industry. To complicate … Read More
Let’s Change How We Ask About Calling
I hate icebreakers. Maybe it’s the introvert in me. Or maybe it’s because I’m Irish and my face heats up every time I’m put on the spot. Either way, I hate icebreakers. Four or five years ago, during one such icebreaker, I was paired up with a man and asked to talk about our jobs. … Read More
Failing Well, Not Fast
Someone asked me once, “Why are you afraid to fail?” I remember wading through a bunch of half sentences until I admitted, “I don’t want to fail because I’m afraid of who that means I am. Basically, my identity is at stake.” Even though I know that my being is more important than my doing, … Read More
Addressing Entrepreneurial Anxiety
1. Describe the anxiety that comes with your role as an entrepreneur. “Entrepreneurship is an uphill battle. It’s filled with roadblocks, pitfalls, and detours. Often times the pressure of validating an idea, building a quality project and service, and making sure I don’t lose sight of our core “why ” can become very overwhelming. If … Read More
Learning Agility
The world will reward agility, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Every manager and entrepreneur recognizes this. But our educational system does not yet prepare people for agility. So managers and entrepreneurs will need to know how to prepare their people for agility. That process starts with understanding why today’s grads come to them without instincts for agility. … Read More
Liberty Sessions: Finding Hope in Another Woman’s Story
I recently went back home to the Midwest to visit family. While there I visited the coolest nail salon I had ever been to. I was so enamored with the aesthetics, art, and ecological decisions in the salon, that that I struck up a conversation with the owner. We quickly learned that we had gone … Read More
Was Jesus an Entrepreneur?
I feel a little sheepish asking this question. I am not eager to join the club of writers who claim Jesus for their particular cause or agenda. You can find books that identify Jesus as a CEO, the world’s greatest therapist, an excellent manager, a revolutionary, a free-market capitalist, and, well, you name it. I … Read More
Zooming In and Zooming Out
Together, my husband and I own a creative agency. Separately, I work as a practical theologian and he is a filmmaker. Like many of our colleagues and friends, we are busy “building” our careers. And while I admit to daydreams of snorkeling and sleeping until 10 a.m., our chosen trajectories are ones that require long … Read More