Faith Based Investing

Do you ever question why some people seem to be like magnets attracting wealth? Wherever they go, wealth follows. Sometime this is called the Midas touch: everything they touch turns to gold. They buy a house and sell it at the right time. They buy a stock at just the right time and get out before it tanks. How do they seem to get it right every time? On the other hand, why do some people seem to have the worst luck in the world and never get ahead, they settle for mediocrity or even worse – poverty?

Gaining wealth has very little to do with your education, socio-economic status, amount of talent, or the environment where you grew up or your current environment. It also has very little to do with your IQ, physical gifts, or where you live. These factors combined can add or subtract to your potential. However the biggest obstacle is you. Yes you! Don’t stop reading, I’m talking to YOU!

We all have an internal thermometer set at 98 degrees. You can go no higher, no lower. With your wealth potential, where is your thermometer set? Have you imposed a limit on yourself? Many create self-imposed glass ceilings. These are obstacles that limit your potential. So many people can never seem to break through these obstacles, no matter how hard they try. This may be the case with you.

If you look real close, you’ll see the glass is really paper thin and it can be crushed if you really try. Most of us set goals and have expectations that are reasonable, even achievable. It is when we dare to dream big, to think big, and to think the unimaginable, that anything is possible. Stop wasting time and go break some glass (figuratively speaking)!

Want more wealth tips? Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter at www.jayperoni.com. Each week I bring articles and tips designed to help your incorporate your faith and values into your financial life

Slaves to the Clock

Many of us are slaves to the clock. We have too little time and too many things to do.  We become overwhelmed and spin our wheels and little gets accomplished. When we know God’s purpose for our life, the path becomes much clearer, priorities fall into place, and we can accomplish much more. It also becomes much easier to evaluate opportunities and say no to distractions.

Think of two people:

The Firefighter

The first person always bites off more than he can chew. He has a great heart and says yes to everything. His focus is solely on helping people. He is always so busy that nothing gets done. He goes from one fire to another fire. I know many pastors who operate this way. It can quickly lead to burn out.

The Jedi Knight

This person is so focused on one or a few specific tasks and puts all of his energy into succeeding in those areas. He dedicates his time and energy only to tasks that work toward the end goal. I know many successful business owners that operate this way.

Who do you think will be more effective: The guy who spreads himself too thin or the guy with a concentrated effort? Someone with average ability, but with a single focus, can have an enormous impact. The firefighter may be more gifted but by scattering his energies, he pursues too many projects with limited success. Knowing your calling helps you focus and become more productive. Are you a firefighter or Jedi Knight?

How many times do we hear this? News so important you have to turn in? Not to put anybody out of business but how important is most of the news? Could you live and exist without the stories of other people’s lives? One way I have become more productive is tuning out the news. I catch a story here and there, but I rarely watch the news, pick up a newspaper, or listen to news radio. Wow! I must not be informed. No.. I am more productive and tune in to what is really important.

If something is that important I will eventually find out about it. Take September 11th, 2001: a horrible, shocking, devastating day. I found out about the news from others. I was not watching, reading, or listening to the news, I heard it from others. If something is that important you will hear about it. Probably about 90% of what is reported out there, you do not need to know about. It does not impact your life. Does hearing about the latest car crash, fire, or celebrity scandal really add value to your life? The truth is we all like a story. Stories sell! That is why we watch, read, and listen. However, if we carved out the less important things in life, we’d quickly discover all the free time we now have to be more productive!

To Own a Cow

Though there are many choices for your investment dol­lars, only one typically leads to wealth. You should seek to own a cow . . . What, a cow? Yes . . . a cow! While you’re at it, you should seek to own a whole bunch of cattle. What am I talking about? I’m talking about a cash cow–a business that will generate income for years to come. The real way to wealth typically occurs one way: owning a business. If you look at the wealthiest people in the world, they share one thing in common–they own businesses. You can either start your own business or invest in someone else’s business.

Why Invest in Other People’s Businesses?

There are many ways to invest in other people’s busi­nesses. The two main ways are privately and publicly traded companies. While private equity can be rewarding, this book will focus on purchasing publicly traded companies otherwise known as stocks.

A stock represents a share of ownership in a business. When you hold one or more shares of stock in a company, you actually own a piece of that company. Your percentage of ownership will depend on how many shares you hold in rela­tion to the total number of shares issued by the company.

Investors who purchase stock are known as the company’s stockholders or shareholders. The price of shares reflects the public’s level of interest in owning the shares. If a lot of investors want to buy shares, they bid against one another, driving up the market price of the stock. If interest is low, competing bids are few and far between, and the price of shares is likely to fall.

You may hold the stock in the form of a stock certificate, which identifies you as the owner of the stock and the num­ber of shares you own. Alternatively, shares may be held in an account with a brokerage firm. Stock ownership can give you a share of profits and other perks

Your percentage of ownership in a company represents your share of the risks taken and profits generated by the company. If the company does well, your share of the total earnings will be proportionate to how much of the com­pany’s stock you own. The flip side, of course, is that your share of any loss will be similarly proportionate to your percentage of ownership, though you are not personally fi­nancially responsible for any share of the liabilities of the company in which you hold an equity interest.

Many investors never venture beyond the world of cash equivalents–bank accounts, CDs, money market accounts, and Treasury bills. They take comfort in knowing that these investment vehicles provide maximum safety coupled with liquidity that allows them to access their money easily if they need it. However, while these investments are relatively low risk, they generally yield minimal returns, and some may not even keep pace with inflation. Most investors want the potential for greater returns, which is where stocks enter the picture.

A variety of factors motivate people to invest in stocks. Many view equity investments as an opportunity to accumu­late wealth or to prevent inflation from eventually reducing the purchasing power of their money. They generally take a long-term view, hoping their stocks will appreciate in value over time. They may also be interested in the dividends that some stocks pay, which shareholders accept in cash or (in some cases) reinvest in additional shares of the company.

Why Start Your Own Business?

Many 9-to-5 workers have dreams of starting their own business one day. Do you dream of someday owning a busi­ness? Starting your own business allows you to be your own boss and choose your own hours. However, the best part is knowing what you are capable of and knowing you gave it a shot, even if you fail. There is nothing worse than looking back on your life and thinking, What if I had succeeded back then? I could be in a better place now.

When you were young you were advised to go to school, get good grades, get into a good college, and get a good job. If you followed this formula you were supposed to land a high-paying job, become wealthy, and ride off into the sunset. Two words for that plan: Yeah, right!

What, you didn’t get that six-figure-a-year job right out of school, or not at all? If you work for someone else, imagine how much money your employer is making to be able to afford you and your coworkers’ wages and still remain profitable. While you are working for someone else you are helping them build their own dream. The em­ployer doesn’t start a business so they can employ you, they do so to fulfill their own dreams and you are a part of their vision.

A God of Opportunities: Turning the Negative into the Positive

Fuel to Feed the Fire

You may think, I cannot succeed financially; there are too many obstacles. You may not be able to succeed on your own, but with God by your side, anything is possible. He can make things happen that seem impossible. He can open doors that you never thought could be opened. Do you have faith that the Creator of life can supernaturally turn your financial life around? He can make a way for you even when the odds are stacked against you and there appears to be no way. Don’t see God as a small-sized God but rather a God who can help you ac­complish anything.

Do you know people who are always negative? Even if something good happens to them, they still find something to complain about. You know the type: poor me, nothing good ever happens to me, this is just my luck, etc. It is hard to be blessed when you cannot recognize a blessing when it comes. Turn your negative thoughts into positive re­sponses. Things can always be worse. With God by your side, you can get through whatever you face.

Rock Bottom

Ron was at rock bottom, in his late forties and about to lose every­thing: his family, his business, and his millions. The 1980s real-estate market downturn left Ron with highly leveraged real estate and wiped out his net worth in an instant. A “paper millionaire” no longer, he now owed more than his properties were worth. To top it off, he was three months behind on his personal residence mortgage payments and about to lose that as well. Here Ron was, bankrupt, a failing marriage, and considering ending his life. It was painful for him to wake up each day. This went on for months, then years. He hung in there, and his family stuck around despite his behavior.

Finally, a friend leveled with Ron. “I know you have been down in the dumps and keep focusing on the life you lost, but think about the living you still have left to do. God loves you and can still use you for His good. Focus on the good in your life and forget the bad.” His friend then challenged him, “Ron, don’t you think God wants you to do more than you are doing? Don’t you think He has better things in store for you? You need to stop being so negative!”

Ron took the advice to heart and began waking each day with a new mind-set. He concentrated on the good things in his life and worked hard to turn things around. He leaned on God and fought his way out of depression into a life full of hope, promise, and a brighter future. He concentrated on restoring his broken relationships, building back his finances, and honoring God with his attitude.

When Ron turned to God, he found joy, a fresh vision, and a new sense of purpose. Life is a precious gift–every second, each breath, and the start of every new day. You may never get another opportu­nity to do the things that matter most. You may be so busy that life can pass you by. When you realize what’s important, and create a plan to make it happen, you will reap the greatest rewards. Having a plan is important, but you also need to have a personal connection–some­thing that will keep you motivated. There needs to be fuel to light a fire under you.

Without Purpose, Goals Have Little Meaning

Without knowing what is truly important to you, goals have little meaning. Like the dieter who says, “Yeah, I’d like to lose the love han­dles,” as he eats two more doughnuts, chugs two beers, and watches another episode of Jerry Springer. His motivation is at zero. Now add some meaning to your goals and it’s a different ball game all together. Take, for example, a woman who has a burning desire to lose her post-pregnancy pounds and fit back into her pre-pregnancy wardrobe. She wakes at 6:00 a.m. every morning, does sixty minutes of cardio, and has been keeping track of her calories. Who do you think is more likely to stick with a diet: the Doughnut Dude or the Motivated Mama?

A lack of vision sometimes leads to mediocrity. If you don’t have a vision of where you are heading, how will you know when you get there? Do you remember the story of Alice in Wonderland? Here is an excerpt from the childhood classic, which highlights what I’m writing about:

“Cheshire Puss . . . would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where–,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

“So long as I get SOMEWHERE,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat. “If you only walk long enough.”

Great Things Often Come to Those Who Plan

People who achieve great things often do so because they have a good idea of where they want to be. Think of some of the most suc­cessful people you know. Did they get where they are today because of luck? Or because of hard work and knowing what they wanted and where they wanted to go?

Many people have a dream life that they would love to see come to fruition, but often they sell themselves short. They have preconceived notions that to get what they want in life will be too hard and too much work. Have you ever looked at someone who emulated what you wanted for yourself and thought it could never happen to you? If there were no constraints and you could simply make it happen overnight, you would most likely do what it takes to make it happen.

Your goals must be compelling and motivating enough to get you excited about achieving them. They must be powerful enough that you think about them constantly. This includes trying to live your ideal life: where you work or volunteer, what activities you participate in, what charities you support, and any other personal goals. These goals should be specific and easily defined. They should be tangible so you can feel, touch, see, smell, and hear them. They should excite all of your senses and drive you toward success.

In order to create the vision, you will need to uncover exactly what excites you. This involves a self-assessment. By examining how God designed you, it is easier to look around at all the opportunities that are right in front of you.

Bye-bye Passion

“Bye-bye, Miss American pie.
Drove my Chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye”
Singing, this’ll be the day my passion dies
This’ll be the day that my passion dies

I changed the lyrics a bit there, but it is so true! So many are letting their passion die! They are staying trapped in the box, playing by rules that corporations and the world say you have to play by. Play it safe, don’t take risk, color inside the lines, and taking a leap of faith is not right for you! Just do as you’re told! We know what’s best for you!

Like puppets on a string, many of us play along. We stay in our cubicles, trade time for money, punch the clock in and out, go home and watch TV to dull the pain, then wake and repeat. Why do so many stay in dead end jobs for so long?

I was that way for years, but there was something missing…How did I become a wage monkey? How did I let this happen? Why am I not being paid for my performance? Why doesn’t anyone let me make the decisions? My corporate mentaility was killing my passion. All these ideas were trapped in my head, but the companies I worked for were set in their ways and not open to my fresh ideas. Oh no that won’t work, we don’t do it that way here, just follow the rules, don’t offend anybody, make sure everyone likes you, and you won’t get hurt. I did get hurt! You killed my creativity! You just killed a part of me!

Then it all changed! No more Mr. Nice guy! No more Mr. Corporate politics guys. I needed to go into business for myself. I started speaking what was on my mind and living out my passion and found new opportunities kept popping up. Was it coincidence? I believe everything happens for a reason. You control your destiny while God clears the path! We can either sit back and watch life pass you by or you can go out and make life happen! The choice is yours!

So…Where is Your Passion?
Why do so many people have trouble finding their pas­sion? Often it is so far beneath the surface that it is out of sight and out of mind. If you have a relationship with Jesus, are you passionate about Him? Money tends to be the primary motivating factor for many as they choose a profession, but most would not identify money as their true passion.

In his book Marketplace Christianity, Robert E. Fra­sier says:

For people who are passionate for Jesus, there are dozens of well-trod paths into ministry but few into the marketplace. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m so passionate for Jesus; I just have to go into business”? Why don’t we hear that? Because, without ever saying so, most Christians believe that a marketplace vocation and passion for Jesus are mutually exclusive. This is one of the great tragedies of modern Christianity, and it has robbed millions of people of their passion and purpose, and robbed the Son of God of His inheritance in us.

God has instilled a passion within you. He has pro­grammed within you a desire to participate in activities that are natural, rewarding, and fulfilling. Some find these early on. Others never truly discover their passion. Almost every successful person I have met found a way to consistently tap into his or her passion. Once they found a way, they also discovered how to earn a living through it.

If you discover what your interests and passions are, you will always be far more successful than if you just go through the motions. Take some time to search yourself and determine what really makes you tick.

Want to hang with others looking to live out their passion?

Check out 48days.net.  This site is a great place to conjugate. Dan Miller is such a great example of creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes the most effective life plans are achieved by integrating natural gifts, unique personality traits, and one’s own values and passions.

If you haven’t read No More Mondays , Dan writes, “I believe every one of us has a unique calling. It’s certainly not something re­served for a chosen few who end up as pastors, priests, or monks. We all fulfill that calling being excellent as we ex­press or talents and abilities, and our dreams and passions. Anyone can do a job, but a calling is lived out by a person who has tapped into wisdom that goes beyond education and intelligence.” Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, eval­uate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.

The question for you is. “Are you letting your passion die?”

Biblical Worldview?

George Barna is one of America’s leading pollsters in matters of religion and morality. In 2004 he measured how many people hold a biblical worldview based on the following questions:

1. Do absolute moral truths exist?
2. Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?
3. Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?
4. Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule it today?
5. Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?
6. Is Satan real?
7. Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people?
8. Is the Bible accurate in all its teachings?

Did you answer yes to all of these questions? If you did, you are among 4 percent of the population and 9 percent of born-again Christians. This was what Barna referred to as a biblical worldview. A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God.

If we are to have a biblical worldview, we must develop biblical convictions. Here is the big problem: Living in a self-centered and sinful world, the mantra of the day becomes “If it feels good, do it,” which satisfies our desires yet destroys our souls.

By studying, applying, and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives–whether it’s running a business, investing money, going to the workplace, or raising a family–we can begin to develop a deep, impactful faith that will stand firm against the unrelenting tide of our cultural ideas and views.

Does your business reflect biblical principles? If so, how are they carried out?

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
–Romans 12:2 (niv)