Faith Driven Entrepreneur

What do you get when you mix a trained physicist, a seminary grad, an entrepreneur, and a Silicon valley venture capitalist? In the case of this episode, you get an awesome guest who somehow checks all those boxes. Phil Chen is the CEO of cold electric and the owner of the new Taipei Kings, a basketball team, in the recently founded Taiwanese pro league. It also happens to be where past podcast, guests and faith driven entrepreneur, Jeremy Lin plays. Phil's career is wide reaching and impressive. But what's even more valuable is the way he has allowed his theology to shape how he leads and all these various places. While we're going to premiere a feature video that tells Phil's story at this year's faith-driven entrepreneur conference. Today, he joins us to tell us a bit about his journey and share how rooting ourselves in scripture can help affirm our identities in Christ and empower us to pursue all that he calls us to.

Imagine you're a young entrepreneur with a lot of promise. You've got grit. You've got vision. You've even read zero to one. And recently you acquired some substantial wealth. But there's still one problem. You and your partner have had some pretty strong disagreements and it's time to part ways. For the most part, you've done all the hard work. You've carried this partner on your back at different points. So when it comes time to split the assets, The choice seems obvious: you keep the better half; they keep the lesser. But instead you offer a surprising alternative. You let them make the choice. You lay down your preferences for the sake of someone else. If this sounds insane and impractical, just wait until you hear the rest of this episode. Hear how the biblical story of Abraham and Lot inspired Sam Rhee to step aside from the role of his dreams for the sake of a colleague and how God used that sacrifice to pave a path for victory. Find the whole video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6A2LFYdC3c Listen to an interview with Sam: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-252-laying-down-a-promotion-for-the-sake-of-another-with-sam-rhee

In this edition of the “riff,” Patrick Lencioni joins Henry Kaestner for a short conversation about some of the hidden idols of entrepreneurship. Then, Joey, Justin, and Henry dive further in, examining how we easily turn good things into gods. Justin and Henry share how they have learned to fight against the temptation of “safe” idols by practicing disciplines of confession, community, and prayer. Want to join in on the riff? Send your thoughts to podcast@faithdrivenentrepreneur.org or comment on our LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you.

“For every church we plant, we need to start a business.” - Mark Batterson Can Faith Driven Entrepreneurs really partner with their churches? What would that partnership even look like? In last week’s episode, we talked about the need for partnerships between entrepreneurs and pastors. In this episode, we highlight the voices of three pastors–Mark Batterson, Chip Ingram, and John Mark Comer–who have seen the power of working alongside entrepreneurs for the good of their communities. We believe the church and entrepreneurs can do more together because they’re better together. Hear how these pastors are partnering with entrepreneurs. Last Week’s Episode: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-287-whats-stopping-entrepreneurs-from-partnering-with-the-church-with-barna-groups-david-kinnaman Chip Ingram Full Episode: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-167-what-it-takes-to-change-with-chip-ingram John Mark Comer Full Episode: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-179-the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry-with-john-mark-comer

Entrepreneur: what is your relationship like with your church? (We really want to know!) Church leaders and entrepreneurs have the potential to be radical partners who influence and impact communities for the glory of God together. But often, we find a strange divide between these two groups that interferes with the good work they could be doing together. That’s why in this week’s podcast episode Justin Forman and Barna Group’s David Kinnaman will be talking about ways the church can become better partners. They’ll also talk about an exciting research project underway between these two organizations. This is part of a new segment we call the “riff” where we invite listeners into the ideas and conversations we’re having, so please leave your thoughts in the comments or send them to podcast@faithdrivenentrepreneur.org.

Everyone has different end goals for what they’d call ultimate success, but most of us are chasing after something. For many entrepreneurs, “going public” stands as the ultimate sign that you’ve truly “made it.” And if that’s the case, then today’s guest, Renji Bijoy, is on the verge of making it. But that’s not what keeps him going. Renji is the CEO and Founder of Immersed, the company behind the world’s most used AR/VR app on the planet. In an industry full of potential dangers where Christians are quick to back away, Renji and his team have decided to lean in. In this conversation, Renji’s talks with Joey Honescko and Henry Kaestner about what it’s like to lead and innovate in a new, emerging industry. He and Henry will also share how their faith has kept them grounded in the highs and lows that come with worldly success. Listen to Renji’s first episode: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-161-the-immersed-story-with-renji-bijoy Learn more about Immersed: https://immersed.com/

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and special guest host Mike Sharrow join the show to take a candid look at how entrepreneurs can overcome the challenges they face in their personal and professional relationships. Dr. Eggerichs is a renowned counselor and author, as well as the founder of Love and Respect, a ministry that grew from the success of his best-selling marriage book of the same name and has expanded to include teachings and resources on business, leadership, and communication in addition to marriage and family concerns. In this conversation, he breaks down practical insights for bringing love and respect to all relationships. Find more about Dr. Eggerichs’ ministry at https://www.loveandrespect.com/ Get the book https://www.loveandrespect.com/product/love-respect-book

Do you ever feel like you're so fixated on what you're building next that you forget to look at the opportunities right in front of you? Right now people around the world are looking for meaning, purpose, and value. And many of them are searching for those things through their jobs. So that means you, as a founder, have a chance to provide these people with the very thing they long for most. In this episode, we talk to Stephen Phelan, the Chief Pastoral Officer of Movement Mortgage about the radical programs they have implemented to care for their employees. Stephen has helped businesses all around the U.S. care meet the needs of their employees, and the best part is that these programs aren't out of reach or super expensive. In fact, throughout the conversation, Stephen shows just how realistic these are for any company, no matter how big or small your team is. 5 Key Takeaways: You can contact Stephen directly at Stephen.Phelan@movement.com. You can also hear more about the work of Movement Mortgage in the first edition of a new podcast segment called “Stories of the Movement.” Listen to the episode here: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-283-stories-of-the-movement-the-2008-turnaround If you enjoyed the show, please rate, follow, and share the episode.

Why would an entrepreneur start a Mortgage company in the midst of the housing crisis? In this new segment called “Stories of the Movement,” we take a narratively compelling, high-production look at the work of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs living out their call to create. The goal is to unite the movement through stories because every Faith Driven Entrepreneur, no matter what industry or what community, focuses their attention on solving problems in the world. The details may differ, but the plot stays the same. We’re all part of God’s story. He’s using each of us to bring hope, redemption, and light to a dark world for the glory of God and the good of others. This episode highlights what God is doing through Casey Crawford and the team at Movement Mortgage. But you’ll be able to see yourself in their story, too. It might inspire, equip, and challenge you as you pursue your call to create. If you like this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share the show. For more on Casey Crawford and Movement Mortgage check out these links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyrnjZm0Ww https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhgy5nLdmqI&t=2s

The middle of February is often filled with commercialized images of love. Flowers, chocolates, those little chalky tasting heart candies with sweet messages. It all revolves around Valentine’s Day. And in between booking restaurant reservations or talking about how you reject the hallmark holiday, we might stop to ask ourselves, what do we really love? Most of us know the right answers here: family, friends, God. As entrepreneurs, we love our work and what it affords us. And, let’s face it, a lot of us love money. But can we dig a little deeper here? Money isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can be a catalyst for great good in the world. As long as we learn to think about it rightly. And that’s what we’re going to do in today’s episode. We’ll hear from author Andy Crouch, theologian Randy Alcorn, and entrepreneur Tom Hsieh talk about how we can develop a biblically informed relationship with money that leads to generosity and joy. Full Episodes Listed God and Mammon with Andy Crouch Investing in Eternity with Randy Alcorn (with Guest Host Daryl Heald) Choosing Vulnerability When You Don’t Have To with Tom Hsieh

Can we just be honest with ourselves and admit that, for most of us, our prayer lives stink? We all know we’re supposed to pray. We’ve read where Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. Maybe we’ve even tried instilling new habits, only to have them fall apart shortly after we test them out. It might even feel defeating at this point–as if prayer is just another task we can’t work into our chaotic schedules and the regular ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Is it even possible for entrepreneurs to develop a healthy prayer life? And… is it even worth it? Today on the show, Peter Greer is going to help give us some clear guidance around these questions based on the findings of his new book Lead with Prayer that he co wrote with Cameron Doolittle and Ryan Skoog. Peter is a longtime friend of the movement who has been featured on the podcast, the conference, and video series in the past, but over the last three years, he has been researching the spiritual habits of world-changing leaders. And in this episode, he’s going to share some of his findings with us so that we can develop prayer rhythms that fit our lives.

In this conversation, Jordan Raynor challenges the belief that the only way our work matters for eternity is if we use it to share the gospel, arguing that our work has intrinsic value to God. He’ll build upon half truths to make them whole by tracing the story back to what he calls “the first commission:” the command to be ambassadors for God on this earth, creating culture in ways that honor and glorify him now and for all eternity. Entrepreneur, this is your calling. To create and innovate for God’s kingdom under his power and for his glory. Jordan also explores the concept of the unabridged gospel, emphasizing that Jesus came to redeem all things, not just our souls. He’ll encourage Faith Driven Entrepreneurs to be intentional and sacrificial in their work, and to focus on eternal rewards rather than temporary achievements. Find the book here Hear Jordan’s first episode with us here

As Christians, we can easily get wrapped up in this belief that the church is on the losing side of history. We feel the shifting winds of culture blow away from us. We hear story after story of major church leaders either leaving the faith or succumbing to some sort of moral failure. It makes sense to ask ourselves: where are our wins? Where does the Church have victory in times like this? In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman bring some clarity to those questions in a segment we call “the riff” where we bring listeners in on some of the internal conversations we’re having as a team. They’ll share about some of the incredible wins happening across the world and give examples of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs who are solving some of the world’s greatest problems by stewarding their businesses and resources for God’s glory and the good of others. Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on LinkedIn or sending them to podcast@faithdrivenentrepreneur.org. If you like this episode, you can follow, rate, and share the show. We publish new episodes every Tuesday with entrepreneurs and innovators who use their resources and influences for God’s glory and the good of others. Find out more about our organization at faithdrivenentrepreneur.org.

Entrepreneurs are on the cusp of a mental health crisis. Anxiety. Depression. Loneliness. These are just as familiar as innovation, grit, and leadership. We feel the stress that comes from building something new. We carry the burden of our teams, knowing they and their families have trusted us and the vision we’ve been given. Entrepreneurship can be heavy, but there are ways we can lighten the load. That’s why today we’re going to highlight three expert voices that help us see how we can manage our mental health as entrepreneurs. We’ll start our journey with Maxwell Anderson, an entrepreneur and the publisher of the popular weekly newsletter “The Weekend Reader.” He’ll take us through some of the jarring statistics about entrepreneurs and mental health before we hear from pastor Steve Cuss and psychiatrist, Dr. Curt Thompson on the practical tools we need to care for ourselves so we can care for others and our businesses.

The New Year brings new opportunities to examine our goals, to get focused both personally and professionally. So how do we do this well? How do we establish goals that actually get done? How do we make sure those goals align with our faith? And most importantly, how do we stop ourselves when we start putting our value in the things we achieve? In this special edition of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, we’ll highlight conversations Rusty, Henry, and William have had with expert leaders Jon Acuff, Patrick Lencioni, and Terry Looper about what it looks like to set and accomplish the right kinds of goals. They walk us through how to avoid the pitfalls that try to take away our focus, how to set our minds and hearts on the things that matter most, and how to ensure that we don’t allow our accomplishments to become our identities. More from these guests Jon Acuff: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-159-the-surprising-solution-to-overthinking-with-jon-acuff Patrick Lencioni: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/2020/4/7/patrick-lencioni https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-240-the-motive-with-patrick-lencioni https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/working-genius Terry Looper: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/episode-243-why-an-experienced-entrepreneur-and-ceo-chose-to-live-at-a-sacred-pace-with-terry-looper

Entrepreneurs build things. We create. Innovate. We follow in God’s footsteps by forming new things. But, how often do we think about our own formation? How our habits and our work are shaping us into becoming certain kinds of people? This week on the show, Rusty talks with Jeff Haanen, the founder and former executive director of the Denver Institute of Faith and Work and the author of the recently released book: “Working From the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World.” As a veteran of the movement, Jeff understands the unique place entrepreneurs fit within it. While most Christians struggle to find meaning and purpose in their work, entrepreneurs face the opposite problem. We often put too much emphasis on what we do and root our whole identity in it. So what would it look like for us to be formed by something larger than our businesses? How can our identity in Christ empower us to better live out our call to create? We unpack these questions in more in this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast. Get the book: https://www.ivpress.com/working-from-the-inside-out Learn more about Faith Driven Entrepreneur: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/ Podcast episode #64: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast-inventory/2019/7/9/god-of-the-second-shift-jeff-haanen

Entrepreneurs often navigate unique challenges while holding onto their faith values, but what about those who work in unconventional spaces, like tattoo studios? In this episode, Henry and William are joined by Sara and Rodney Carrera, the duo behind Anomaly Lifestyle Art and Tattoo in Plano, Texas. Sara handles most of the business while Rodney is They open up about the challenges and victories of their entrepreneurial journey, their hope for the tattoo industry, and the intersection of faith, art, and business. They also discuss the controversy around tattoos in Christian circles.

Entrepreneurs are often thinking about how to build the best team. But how often do we think about the teams under our own households? In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Pryor, an experienced entrepreneur who has recently co-founded the organization “Family Teams” We get into practical ways we can care for our spouses and our kids. We’ll also unpack what he calls the failed experiment of Western family and hear how he sees scripture calling us to a better way. https://familyteams.com/ faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcastsurvey

Who protects the people who are meant to protect us? First responders daily risk their lives for the sake of others and the people who put on those uniforms need others who will help keep them safe as they go about their jobs. That's why Josh Richardson started Angel Armor with his brother JC. The two discovered something that many of us just don't think about. Like any product in the modern world, Protective gear needs to adapt to what customers want. The industry needs innovation and fresh ideas so that these frontline workers can do their jobs safely. And that's what angel armor is all about. Using their innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets to create products that protect the protectors. As you'll hear in this episode, the two brothers grew up in an entrepreneurial home. Their parents started a different kind of protective equipment company: the brand Otterbox, which has become known to smartphone users around the world for their waterproof cases. Josh joins us today to talk about his rollercoaster journey from growing up in a home that barely made it by to seeing the growth and success of his parents' company. He'll talk about how his own success with OtterBox took him down a dark path away from his faith and how the relentless pursuit of Jesus called him back. And he'll share what all these experiences have taught him about running his business today. Helpful Links https://plusnothing.com/ https://angelarmor.com/ Podcast Survey

In-N-Out Burger is one of the few local burger restaurants that has transcended into a cultural icon. What started as one of the first drive-thru restaurants ever in 1948, has grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the country with nearly 40,000 employees in millions of happy customers. The restaurant was founded by Esther and Harry Snyder, a husband and wife team with a passion for excellent service and incredible quality. Now over 50 years later, their granddaughter Lynsi serves as the President of the company and carries on that legacy of loving employees, serving customers and boldly giving glory, and honor to God in the process. Lynsi joins the show to talk about the in and out legacy as told in her new book, The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger and to share how her faith has guided her leadership style through tragedy, challenges, and triumphs. Important Links: Innoutbook.com faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcastsurvey