Kingdom Entrepreneurs
Changing Their World
John Mulford
Regent University
Center for Entrepreneurship
Overview
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Entrepreneurs
Engine of economic growth
Kingdom Entrepreneurs
Bringing economic & spiritual growth
Victory
Pursuing God’s calling in God’s way
Part 1
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Entrepreneurs
Engine of economic growth
Engine of Creative Destruction
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Schumpeter: Creative destruction
Innovator’s Dilemma—entrepreneurs
beat big business in innovation
Examples of small beating big and
new beating old
• Disk drives for PC’s
• Biotech
• Mini-mills for steel
Small Business Big Part of Economy
Small business accounts for
 95% of business establishments
 50-60% of employment
 60-70% of new jobs
Massive Oaks Grow from Acorns
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Wal-Mart (1) From a few Ben Franklin
stores to the largest company in the world
HP (12) two engineers in a garage with
expertise but no product or plan create
the HP Way
Dell (31) from college dorm room to PC
market leader
Microsoft (46) brilliant youngsters without
degrees outsmart IBM to dominate PC
software
Howard Schultz
The bottom line
• We always figured that putting people before
products just made good common sense. So far,
it’s been working out for us. Our relationships
with farmers yield the highest quality coffees.
The connections we make in communities create
a loyal following. And the support we provide our
baristas pays off everyday.
• Schultz wanted "to build a company with soul."
Schultz Falls for Starbucks
• Howard Schultz, corporate marketer, hired by
coffee roaster Starbucks in 1982.
• Schultz wants to model Starbucks after
espresso bars in Italy, but owners don’t want
to be in restaurant business
• In 1985, Schultz leaves to pursue his
passion—to create a new industry
• In 1987, Schultz buys Starbucks
Growth Timeline
• 1971--First store in Seattle
• 1985--six stores, Schultz leaves Starbucks
• 1987--Schultz buys out Starbucks for $3.8M
• 1992--IPO, 165 stores
• 2007
– 13,000 stores in 40 countries
– opening five new stores daily
– $8B revenue; 145,000 employees
$4 for a cup of coffee?
• Inviting destination—living room away
from home
• Atmosphere enhanced by happy
employees
• “Green image”—fair trade coffee
Why is U.S. Hotbed of
Entrepreneurs?
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Failure celebrated
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Individual success celebrated & rewarded
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Change embraced—creative destruction
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Intellectual property rights protected
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Well-developed financial system provides
venture capital to start businesses and
private equity to reengineer them
Part 2
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Kingdom Entrepreneurs
Bringing economic & spiritual growth
What is Kingdom Business ?
For profit business
designed intentionally to facilitate
God’s transformation of
people and nations
Intentional Christian Worldview
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Goes beyond excellence, honesty,
serving stakeholders
CWV of business includes
• Dominion-stewardship
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Gen 1:26+; Lev 25:23
• Redemptive purpose
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Hab 2:14; Rom 8:19-21
Signs of Kingdom Business
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Excellence, honesty, integrity (same as
good business)
Recognition of God’s hand on the
business by everyone, including
unbelievers.
Transformed lives—employees,
customers, suppliers, general public.
Revival
Global KB Movement
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International Christian Chamber of
Commerce (ICCC)
Fellowship of Companies for Christ
International (FCCI)
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C12
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KB training organizations
• NPIM, Equip
S. Truett Cathy
Corporate Purpose
“To glorify God by being a faithful
steward of all that is entrusted to us
and to have a positive influence on all
who come in contact with
Chick-fil-A.”
Personal & Company History
• Poverty; hard work from young age
• 1946 started Dwarf House Grill.
Work 24 x 6; closed Sunday
• 1967 started Chic-fil-A
• Unique business model—company owned
stores. Young entrepreneurs with few assets
can share rewards of their hard work.
Business Success
In 2006:
– 1,300 restaurants in 37 states and D.C.
– 73 new restaurant openings
– $2.275 billion in sales
Ministry Success
• Scholarship Program
– Established in 1973 to encourage employees
to further their education
– July 2005 – Awarded 20,000th scholarship
– Awards totaling $22 Million
– Today $1.2 Million awarded annually
– 2,138 colleges attended
Located on Campus of Berry College in Rome, GA it
supports:
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WinShape College Program
WinShape Camps
WinShape Homes
WinShape Wilderness
WinShape Retreat
WinShape Marriage
WinShape International
David Steward
Founder & Chairman
World Wide Technology Inc
• Leading systems integrator providing technology
& supply chain solutions
• Value added reseller of IT products & services
• E-commerce portal for procurement
• Vendor managed inventory services for Dell
Preparation for Success
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Mother warned against being bitter or resentful
Saw faith in action in the home
Learned principle of sowing and reaping
“It was clear in my mind that my belief in God,
coupled with the desire to work hard and serve
others, meant I was destined to succeed.”
Timeline of Success
• Ten years in sales at 3 Fortune 500 companies
• 1990: Founded WWT, 7 employees, $800K sales
• 1998: $200M sales; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur
of the Year Award
• 2005: $1.8B sales; 900 employees; Cisco federal
direct VAR of year
Principles for Success
• Good leadership is love – "I love my
employees and show them through my
actions."
• Blessed to be a blessing – serving
others and doing good for others is the
bottom line.
Perspective on God’s Role
• Gives credit to teachings of Bible & to God
“Looking back to 1990, it was nothing
short of a miracle.”
• Sees company as his ministry
• Taught Sunday school that became
Doing Business by the Good Book
Michael Cardone, Sr.
Cardone Industries
Cardone Industries
• World’s largest privately-owned auto-parts
remanufacturer
• 1970, Michael Sr. & Jr. start in North
Philadephia row house with six people
• 2007 est. sales $400 million
• 4,000 employees
Part 3
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Victory
Pursuing God’s calling in God’s way
Faces of Victory
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Joseph, Daniel—God promotes
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Joshua, Gideon—God fights
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Esther, Nehemiah—God favors
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Prophets, Job—God allows suffering
Principles of God’s Victory
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Victory comes after maturing trials
Even the righteous suffer. Pain produces
empathy for others
Attitude should not depend on
circumstances—Phil 4:12, Hab 3:17-18
Relationship with God is victory
God blesses those who obey Him
Deu 7: 11-15
Preparation: Time & Setbacks
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Why can’t you get started? David
Have you wasted your best years?
Joseph
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Are you past your prime? Moses
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Has your vision died? God’s people
From Preparation to Action
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For the reckless
• Listen, weigh, wait
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For the hesitant
• Overcoming doubt, fear, inertia
Business
Systems
Questions facing Starting
Entrepreneurs
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Which business idea to pursue.
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Choosing the best business model
• What part of value chain to do
• Partnering—with suppliers, customers,
competitors
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Getting the right people on the bus
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Getting customers
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Financing the business
You’ve Launched. Now What?
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Dynamic planning & implementation
Guidance system: stay locked on your
calling
Pitfalls of taking care of yourself first
The power of caring for others (Matt 25)
Prayer & intercession
Humility—I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me. Ask for
help—from God & others. Give credit
where due.