The most important areas to focus on when building a kingdom business so you can fulfil your purpose
Building a kingdom business is a worthy goal for Christian business owners to pursue. However, to make this goal a reality, there are a few things you will need to do.
I have come across a few Christians who claimed they were building kingdom businesses, but their business didn’t look or operate any different from non-kingdom businesses. Building a kingdom-focused business requires you to be intentional and purposeful. It’s not something that just happens without a vision or plan.
So if you’ve been wondering how to build a business that honors God and fulfils a need, here are some of the key areas you need to focus on.
Before we dive in, let’s define what a kingdom entrepreneur looks like.
WHAT IS A KINGDOM ENTREPRENEUR?
A kingdom entrepreneur is an business owner who believes in God and is committed to building a business that honors God. A kingdom entrepreneur operates her business with kingdom business principles. They see busines as a clalling and an avenue to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The difference between a kingdom entrepreneur an a non-kingdom entrepreneur is the way they approach entrepreneurship, their values, beliefs and purpose.
Now, let’s look at what you should focus on to build a kingdom business.
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Building a Kingdom Business? 8 Critical Areas to Focus On
1. BUSINESS CULTURE, VALUES, AND PRACTICES
“For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.” (Ephesians 5:9)
A kingdom business is a business that seeks to honor God while serving people, and changing lives. To fulfill this mission, you must focus on your business’s culture, values, and practices, because they are what defines your business.
A business that seeks to glorify God and impact lives positively must be founded on kingdom principles. The business practices must reflect the teachings of Christ because that’s what sets your business apart.
Also, your company’s culture must promote beliefs and behaviors that are pleasing and acceptable to God. The same goes for your business values. Christian business values should be at the core of your business if you’re committed to building a biblical business.
If you’re not sure what kind of business you currently have, ask yourself the following question:
- What are my business values?
- Does my business follow biblical principles?
- What is my company’s culture? Does it foster harmony, love, honesty and hard work?
- Can people tell there’s something different about my business or would they be shocked to hear I am a Christian business?
These are some of the questions you can use to search your heart and assess what kind of business you own. If you identify things that aren’t right or practices that are opposed to biblical principles, you can decide to change them because it’s never too late to change.
Related: 7 Christian Business Values to be Happy and Successful
What is sinful is knowing what is right, and doing something else.
2. MEETING THE NEEDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
What do your customers think of you and your business? Are they loyal to you? Do they think you’re meeting their needs?
How often do you receive an email, a phone call, or a letter of appreciation from your customers thanking you for your service? When was the last time you received testimonials from happy customers excited about the improvements and changes they have seen in their lives?
Yes, it’s true the reason you run your business the way you do is not to receive praise, but positive feedback from the people you serve is a good and acceptable way for you to know you’re meeting your business’s objectives. As long as you don’t seek them out and they are voluntary, there’s nothing wrong with getting some praise or thanks.
Along the same lines, you should also respect and accept negative feedback from your customers because they can be useful for knowing what they need from you and areas you fall short. Hearing the same complaints or praise from your customers can help you understand how they really feel about you and your business.
It’s easy to think you are doing a good job, but your customers may have a different opinion. For example, they may prefer it if you made your products easier to use or if you offered a product in more colors or styles. Unless they tell you, you won’t be able to address any shortcomings.
Meeting the needs of your customers and providing value to them is one of the ways your business can stand out and be used for God’s glory. Of course, it all starts with knowing what their needs are.
3. YOUR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
The most important quality of a product or service is that it’s fit for purpose. You all know how annoying it is when you purchase something that’s supposed to work a certain way, or do a certain task, but doesn’t quite do it well. That’s how your customers feel when they purchase something from you that doesn’t quite live up to expectation.
Do you have a system for tracking how your products are doing? Can you tell which of your products or services is making the most impact on your customers? Are your products fit for purpose? Do they work the way they are supposed to?
Focusing on the quality of your products or services is one way to show that you care about your customers and you’re committed to excellence. You can’t build a kingdom business without a commitment to excellence.
This is a perfect time to take a look at your products or services. Are they of a high standard? Do you need to make some changes to them to improve their quality? What do you feel about what you offer? Think you need to come up with some new product ideas?
Taking the time to assess your products is a good way to keep improving and meeting the needs of your customers. Since your business is built around what you offer, your offerings must be in line with your values and conform to kingdom principles.
4. MARKETING AND SALES
Like any business, you need a marketing strategy to attract customers, and a sales strategy to convert them. It doesn’t matter if your audience or customers are Christians or not, you still have to reach out to them. The only difference is, you must take a Christian approach to marketing, and use Christian marketing strategies.
Your sales and marketing strategies are two of the most important strategies in your business, that’s why it’s one of the main areas you should focus on as a Kingdom entrepreneur.
Do you have the right sales and marketing tools and people (if you have a separate marketing department)? What about a solid system for attracting and converting customers? Is your system effective? Can you tell where most of your customers and sales come from?
Is your marketing strategy guided by biblical marketing principles or do you engage in dishonest marketing practices?
These are all the things you should assess in your business if you want to build a business that fulfills it’s mission.
Related:How to Create an Effective Christian Business Marketing Strategy
5. MAKING PROFIT
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (I Timothy 5:18)
A kingdom business (unless you’re a non-profit), is in the business of making a profit. Profit isn’t a dirty word and kingdom entrepreneurs shouldn’t be vilified for trying to earn a living or make a profit from their business.
We need money to fund our Christian ministries, spread the gospel, and help the poor and needy in our communities. If your business is to do its part, then it must be profitable.
Now, the question is, is your business profitable? If not, do you know how to make a profit in your business? Are you engaging in activities that bring in profit? Do you have a pricing system? Knowing what your products or services are worth, is the first step to coming up with the best price for them.
Many Kingdom entrepreneurs don’t have a pricing strategy. They pick numbers out of the air without much consideration, but that isn’t the right way to price your products for profit.
Now is a good time to evaluate your pricing strategy (or create one if you don’t have one) to see if it’s serving you well. A simple change in your pricing can increase your sales and profit.
Check out the posts below for an idea of how important profit is to your business.
11 Reasons Why Profit is Essential
Why Profit Should Be Your Most Important Goal
6. PLANNING AND BUSINESS STRATEGY
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
We all know the importance of planning and strategizing, but few of us actually do them. While you can run a business without doing a lot of planning, I don’t recommend it since you’re only going to hamper or limit your business growth.
Taking the time to create a plan for your business would ensure you have some clarity and direction for your business.
Your kingdom business needs to create and execute the right strategies if it wants to accomplish its goals. A good plan and business strategy should include the goals, objectives, and actions you need to take to see your desired result.
Your plan should include things like:
- How you plan to grow your business
- The types of products you want to offer
- What kind of customers you want to attract, and how to attract your ideal customers
- How to fund your business
- Borrowing and hiring decisions
- The tools and equipment you need
It goes without saying that your plan and strategy should align with your vision and biblical principles.
If you don’t have a plan for your business, take some time to create one. Focus on your short and long-term plans. Your plan allows you to see what’s important, and what you should prioritize. You need a plan for your business if it’s to reach its full potential.
7. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Just like you have goals and a plan to grow your business, you also need a plan for your personal development. You can’t grow your business if you’re not committed to self-improvement.
So what are your personal goals? What areas do you need to improve as a person and business owner? Are there weaknesses you need to address? Kingdom entrepreneurs are not immune from personal weaknesses, so it’s good, to be honest with yourself and address those weaknesses.
You can’t build a kingdom business if you have serious character flaws like anger issues, bad money management skills, bad communication, or relationship skills. Since these are all qualities you need to grow your business, you can’t ignore them. Kingdom entrepreneurs should be good leaders and managers, that’s why personal development is a key area to focus on.
The same goes for any important business, or technical skills you may lack. You need a plan to improve these skills because they can stunt your growth, and stop you from fulfilling your destiny.
So go ahead, do an inventory of your skills and qualities. Where should you invest some time and resources? What do you need to improve?
Are there books or other resources that would help you with running your business? Is there a course or seminar on entrepreneurship or your industry you could attend? Are you a member of any Christian business group?
As Kingdom entrepreneurs, we need to keep learning and developing ourselves since the growth of our business hinges on our personal development.
8. YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Since you’re the most important resource for your business, you should also focus on your health and wellbeing.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “health is wealth.” I can tell you as someone who has battled a few health issues over the years, health is indeed wealth.
Don’t underestimate the importance of good health and wellbeing to your business, and don’t take your health (mental, physical, or emotional) for granted. So spend some of your time taking care of yourself.
Take stock of your relationships. Are they healthy? Is your relationship with your family in a good place or are you facing some stress because of your business? Do you take the time to exercise, eat healthy, rest and get enough sleep?
How do you feel about your business? Does it make you happy? Are you committed to your mission and vision? Do you enjoy what you do, and do you think what you do matters?
What about your passion and energy levels? Do you still feel inspired and motivated by your calling?
Phew! Lots of tough questions to answer, but these are necessary questions if you want to fulfill the great commission. To make disciples of all men and to further the gospel of Christ through entrepreneurship.
Final Thoughts on Building a Kingdom Business? 8 Critical Areas to Focus On
Building a kingdom business takes a lot of time, hard work, and commitment, but God’s grace is sufficient for you. You must believe in your ability to carry out this calling and continue to trust God for your business.
I have given you these eight areas to focus on because I believe they will make the biggest impact on your business, so I hope you find them useful.
Which one of these areas do you think you should focus on first?
Related Christian business advice posts
Why You Need a Kingdom Business Plan and How to Create One
11 Habits of Kingdom Entrepreneurs That Drive Business Growth
6 Easy Ways for Biblical Entrepreneurs to Stay Inspired
Building a Kingdom Business? 8 Critical Areas to Focus On
