Because “just making money” was never the mission anyway.

Ever notice how Christian business owners rarely say, “I just want to make a bunch of cash”?
They say things like…

“I want to make a difference.”
“I want to help people.”
“I want to honor God with my work.”

That’s why we need to start this business conversation at the foundation.

Because if you want to build something that lasts—something that glorifies God and actually helps people—you have to understand what business really is at its core.

Let’s Start at the Beginning…

You may have heard the story:
In 1961, legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi opened training camp by holding up a ball and saying:

“Gentlemen, this is a football.”

Now these were professional athletes. But Lombardi knew that even pros can’t win if they forget the fundamentals.

So here’s ours:

This is a business.
Not a building. Not a logo. Not a website.
A business is simply an exchange of value.

You provide something helpful, meaningful, or necessary.
People pay you for it. That’s it.

Value Is What Makes It Work

People don’t pay you because you need money.
They pay you because you meet a need or solve a problem in a way that feels worth it.

Think about it:

• A coffee shop solves the “I’m tired and need caffeine” problem.

• A cleaning service solves the “I’m busy and overwhelmed” problem.

• Your business solves some problem for some person—or it doesn’t last.

Want to raise your prices? Raise the perceived value.

Even something as silly as a pet rock worked—because it delivered novelty in a way people valued at the time.

So, Why Are You in Business?

If your first answer is: “To make money,” let me gently challenge you to dig deeper.

Because money is just the result.
The real question is:

Who do you help, and how do you help them?

Let me give you three power questions to guide your business direction:

1. Who are you helping?
   (Be specific—what kind of person or group?)

2. How are you helping them?
   (What problem do you solve or outcome do you provide?)

3. How will your business make money doing that?
   (What’s the actual offer, service, or system?)

If you can’t answer those three clearly, you don’t have a business—you may just have an idea or a hobby.

That’s okay! But if you want to impact the world through your work, you’ve got to nail the fundamentals.

The Christian Business Advantage

When you get clarity on value and service, you’re already ahead of most entrepreneurs.

Now add this:

You’re building on purpose. With purpose. For a greater purpose.

That’s the kind of foundation God can bless.
That’s the kind of business that outlives fads and frustrations.
That’s how you build a business that changes lives—and points to Christ.

Your Next Step

Don’t skip this—go ahead and write it down:

• Who will I help?

• How will I help them?

• How will my business make money by doing that?

Even if you’re still in the idea stage, this exercise will clarify your direction and help you tune in to what God might be preparing for you.

And remember:

You don’t need the full blueprint to start building—you just need to take the next faithful step.