Funny Movie -But Some Great Realities!

Have you ever watched RV with Robin Williams? It's a pretty fun comedy, even with the Poo scene! I recently read an article that reminded me of that film....https://food.good.is/articles/food-brands-owners < It is a challenge to find and purchase products produced by entrepreneurial-minded companies. The following infographic drives this point home.........

 I appreciated these comment from the story,,,,"Obviously, the horrors extend far beyond our own shattered daydreams. Massive corporations squash entrepreneurial diversity and make it nearly impossible for startups and small businesses to compete. According to Oxfam’s report, 'The world’s largest food and beverage companies have a lot of power – but you have more. And because they’re not using theirs enough to help poor communities or the planet, you can use yours to change the way they do business.'

If you’re looking to avoid contributing to the Big 10 world takeover, try shopping at local farmers’ markets and maybe skip out on soda and highly processed foods altogether. Your body will thank you for it in the long run anyway."

Tired of scammers?..........

 While my primary focus in Righteous Entrepreneur is on the positive stuff of business success, I am inviting you to learn how to avoid those who would happily separate you from your worldly possessions! My new ebook "Theft By Persuasion" is being published in serialized segments on my Theft By Persuasion blog. Be sure to check it out!

Getting Up....Again!

As a child, I was always taught that it really does not matter how often you fall. It's more about how often you get back up. 2013 (has become 2013,2014 and 1/2 of  2015)...... presented many personal opportunities in the form of challenges. I must admit to allowing some of them to knock me down. As we begin this new and exciting adventure , I will be republishing previous entries along with new insights and observations.

None of us will escape this mortal experience free of challenges and growth opportunities. Thus, we would each be wise to ask God to help us understand the lessons to be gained therein! THERE ARE LESSONS in each experience

Was the Good Samaritan a Righteous Entrepreneur?

In reviewing the Biblical account of the Good Samaritan, it seems to me that this man was likely a man of independent means. His business provided the opportunity and the financial resources to travel. He was apparently known and trusted by the innkeeper. As he departed to resume his business trip, leaving funds for the care of the injured victim, he asked that the innkeeper keep an accounting of additional expenditures, to be repaid when the Samaritan returned. Should we not prepare to be able to provide for such events ourselves? Additional scriptural accounts suggest that if our motives are to assist God's children, we will be blessed with the means to do so.

We Are Expected to Prosper!

Last February we published this story. I wanted to revisit the concept in light of current political undertones........

I recently read a story that leads me to believe that it not only OK to succeed and prosper...it is expected by God that we do so.................

Matthew 25

14 ¶For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talaents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
   
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful     over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap  where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Even the Longest Journey Must Begin Where You Stand.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." - old Chinese proverb

 I recently reread a "kid's" book on basic logic...Joseph Spider and the Fallacy Farm by David B. Grant. Chapter seven is about a snail named Shawn, who believed he could never begin a journey because he had no hope of ever completing it...so why even start. How many of us suffer from this same state of mind?  How many of  life's awesome journeys have we sacrificed for fear of taking that first step? Once, many years ago, I took a client on a midnight hike on Bryce Canyon's Navajo Trail. As we hiked under the full moon, the light was awesome. We took some really exciting photographs. One thing was especially clear that night.....as crowded as that popular hiking trail was in the daylight, nobody else took that same journey and nobody else enjoyed the same rewards. If you fail to take that first step, you cannot hope to enjoy the great outcome which lies at the other end!

Thales....an "Old School" Entreprenuer

The Greek mathematician /philosopher, Thales was born around 624BC. Some thought him to be what we might call the original “absent-minded professor”. Plato tells of a time when Thales was walking along one night, studying the stars as he walked right into a canal. As a nearby servant girl came to the rescue, she asked how he could understand the mysteries of the stars, when he didn't even know what was under his feet. However, a different perspective of Thales of Miletus is offered by Aristotle.

He shares with the world a story of Thales evaluating the market opportunities and proactively assuring a major success. Thales often philosophized about the ills of being rich. Someone retorted that the only reason for this view was Thales was too lazy to make a success of himself. This reproach prompted him to attempt to dispel the thoughts once and for all, to demonstrate that one could make a success if that was the goal. The philosopher observed that the olive crop had been poor for a few years and undertook to research several cycles of the olive harvest. He determine a reliable pattern in his research, implying a bumper crop for the coming season. As olive oil was a critical commodity of the region, he prepared a business plan....to lease every olive press in the regions round about! Thales set about placing a deposit on ever single olive press.

The olive harvest was, indeed, a bounteous one. The olive growers went to have their crops pressed to obtain the precious oil, only to discover that the had to visit Thales. He could set whatever price he chose for his services, thus disproving his detractors and producing a massive fortune. What if the crop had been mediocre? It seems that he was still bound to profit from his monopoly even if the crop was small!