Tag: blog

A Business Owner’s Guide to Spreading A Season of Generosity

For many of us, December is a season marked by giving. We paused last month to celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on our many blessings, and now we turn our attention to preparing for Christmas or Hanukkah—holidays that both celebrate God’s goodness to His people.

For those who follow Christ, Christmas is far more than a season of shopping and gift exchanges. It is a time to reflect the love of Christ through intentional acts of generosity. God demonstrated His love through the greatest gift ever given: His Son, sent to live a sinless life and die on the cross to redeem mankind. The journey to the cross began at the manger.

Whether you are a business owner, an employee, or a retiree, you have countless opportunities to show generosity this season and share the love of Christ with those around you. Let these words guide you: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

Demonstrating Generosity as a Business Owner

If you own a small business, the holiday season provides unique opportunities to bless your customers, employees, and community. Consider these ideas:

  • Support local organizations.
    Donate funds to groups providing meals, warm clothing, or Christmas gifts for families in need. Let your customers know that their support helped make these contributions possible.
  • Participate in an Adopt-a-Family program.
    Sponsor one or more families as a business, inviting your staff and customers to join in meeting specific needs. You can also adopt a military family through organizations like Soldiers’ Angels.
  • Go the extra mile in customer care.
    Offer cookies and hot cider, provide complimentary gift wrapping, or surprise customers with small tokens of appreciation like ornaments or holiday treats. A cheerful greeting and an extra measure of kindness can make a lasting impact.
  • Offer paid volunteer time.
    Give employees a few hours of paid time off to serve at local holiday programs or nonprofit organizations.
  • Bless your team.
    Show gratitude through thoughtful gifts or year-end bonuses to acknowledge their hard work throughout the year.

Demonstrating Generosity as a Community Member

Regardless of income level, everyone can show generosity during the holidays.

  • Make charitable donations.
    Even small contributions to local nonprofits and faith-based organizations make a meaningful impact.
  • Volunteer your time.
    Many groups need help serving meals, wrapping Christmas gifts, hosting events at shelters, and more.
  • Buy gifts for children in need.
    Programs like Toys for Tots and Angel Tree rely on community generosity—collection periods are ending soon, so take action quickly.
  • Visit the elderly.
    Stop by nursing homes, assisted living centers, or the homes of elderly neighbors. Bring carolers, small gifts, or simply warm conversation. Your presence might be the highlight of their season.

Where You Can Still Give This Season

Many organizations are still accepting gifts, donations, and support:

  • The Salvation Army Angel Tree – Adopt a child in need or donate to the Red Kettle campaign through Christmas Eve.
  • Samaritan’s Purse – Build an online shoebox or donate through their gift catalog to support clean water projects, meals for children, or small-business assistance for families.
  • Toys for Tots – New, unwrapped toys are being collected through mid-December, depending on location.
  • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Christmas – Donate to provide gifts for children with an incarcerated parent.
  • Feeding America or your local food bank – Help ensure families have food this holiday season. These organizations appreciate support year-round.
  • Christmas Spirit Foundation – Donate to provide Christmas trees for military families separated from deployed loved ones.

A Final Encouragement

This Christmas season, keep Christ at the center of your celebrations and be His hands extended to a hurting world. As you share His love and blessings with others, you demonstrate what it means to follow Him.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34–35

Why Do You Want to Own Your Own Business?

During my initial meeting with a new client, I generally ask about their motivation behind starting a business. In my experience of 17 years, I have come across various answers, ranging from “I have extensive knowledge about this industry and can perform better than my previous employers” to “My boss is reaping all the benefits of my hard work, and I feel it’s unjust.”

LivePlan conducted a survey in 2022 to explore why people start their own businesses. The survey results revealed the seven most common motivations behind entrepreneurship, shedding light on the factors driving individuals to take the leap into self-employment.

  1. To pursue their passion. Starting a business to pursue your passion is often cited as a top reason. Mark Twain reportedly said, “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If you can earn a livelihood by following your passion, then you will likely find your work fulfilling. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
    A. Your passion may be a better side hustle than a full-time business, particularly in the beginning.
    B. You may find less joy in doing the hobby or skill you loved when you have to do it to pay the bills.
  2. To create generational wealth. Creating generational wealth has become a popular term nowadays as people understand that successful business owners can pass down a thriving business to their children. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that this is a rare occurrence. Many children do not wish to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and only 20% of the time do children take over the family business. Furthermore, most family businesses rarely survive to the third or fourth generation due to the younger generations’ lack of preparation or passion.
  3. To support the community and help others. Supporting your community can be achieved by creating job opportunities and earning a significant profit, which then can be shared with those in need. Starting a business can be a great way to achieve this noble goal. However, success is crucial to fulfill this mission. Therefore, running your business according to best business practices is essential.
  4. To turn a side gig into a full-fledged business. This reason is similar to the first one, but it is different in that your side gig may not necessarily be your passion. Your side project may have started because you noticed a need that you could meet. For example, you may have realized that many houses in your neighborhood, including your own, desperately needed power washing. So, you bought a power washer and started washing houses for a fee when you weren’t working your regular job. Over time, your side hustle may grow to the point
    where you could do it full-time. Many of my clients are starting a side job with the goal of developing it into their full-time businesses.
  5. To challenge the status quo. Some of my clients are frustrated with their bosses who keep doing things “the same old way.” They have observed that certain tasks could be accomplished more efficiently, employees could be given more authority, and customer support policies could be improved. However, they do not feel there is an atmosphere at the workplace to challenge their bosses to change. As a result, they are considering starting their own businesses to put their ideas into practice.
  6. To achieve better family life balance and flexibility. In my area, many people travel long distances to work in either the nation’s capital or my state’s capital. They spend several hours commuting on highways, in addition to the time they put in at their jobs. However, they often believe that their quality of life would improve if they could work locally and have more control over their schedules. Whether this balance is achievable depends on the type of business they choose.
    A. Starting and growing a business requires a lot of hard work and dedication, and many business owners put in long hours to establish their businesses. For government contractors, consultants, marketers, and salespeople, networking and building professional relationships are especially important during the early stages of their businesses.
    B. Retail shops, restaurants, and hospitality businesses are typically busiest on weekends, evenings, and holidays. However, these businesses do offer owners the opportunity to take time off during the weekdays. This option can be a good choice if you would like to travel during the off-season or have a few days off mid-week.
  7. To be the boss. According to a recent survey, almost half of the participants (47%) expressed their desire to become entrepreneurs and be their own boss. For some people, the idea of being in charge of one’s own business also comes with a sense that other people respect you. However, it also entails the crucial responsibility of effectively managing and developing the enterprise.

While there are many compelling reasons to start a business, such as being your own boss, pursuing your passion, or achieving financial independence, these reasons alone are not enough to ensure success. To set yourself up for success, you will need to do your due diligence, develop a comprehensive business plan, and gain a deep understanding of your target market and industry trends. You must also be equipped with the necessary skills to manage business operations effectively and lead and motivate employees. Only with a combination of these factors can you increase your chances of building a thriving and sustainable business.