Starting out as an entrepreneur can be overwhelming. Much needs to get done. You have to establish a vision, set goals, and develop a business plan and model. The list really could go on and on. Entrepreneurs give up every day simply because they don’t know where to start. If you are looking for an exhaustive list of what you need to do, this isn’t for you. I merely want to help you with a solid biblical foundation to build your business.
The foundation that you lay your business upon will determine the strength and endurance of your business when the storms come. Don’t worry, many people have weathered the storms, maneuvered the challenges, and came out on top.
The book of Proverbs really is an entrepreneur’s playbook. Inside you will find business practices, tools for developing relationships, care for finances, and ethics. Proverbs repeat three words continually. They are knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. These three words, when appropriately understood help to establish a foundation on to build your company on.
Knowledge
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Knowledge is the ability to know the facts of a particular situation or scenario. Those facts and knowledge, at their source, are given by God. He is the creator of all things, he knows every circumstance we will experience.
Safari was born out of facts. Safari was established after our CEO, Tony Dohrmann, spent years in the seminar business. He notices many holes in the process that led to lower levels of success for business owners attending these events.
These seminars provided little to no ongoing support after events, the events were often immersed with alcohol, and immoral behavior, and people were more driven by the power of self rather than the strength of our Creator God. Tony, saw the holes, recognized the facts, and was inspired to do something about it.
You can’t move to the next stage until you have gathered the knowledge of the situation you are trying to resolve or the market you are trying to break into.
Understanding
Proverbs 4:7 (MEV) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom. And with all your getting, get understanding.
Understanding is the next layer of the foundation to be laid. Understanding provides insight into a particular situation. Proverbs 4:7 encourages us to find that understanding. You can have all the facts in the world but without the ideas to understand the facts you are given you can’t move any further.
At Safari, we recognized the need for a company that would provide consistent and ongoing support to business owners. We understand the characteristics of our clients that will benefit us in being able to serve them appropriately. We are aware of the issue of many new entrepreneurs having little to no background in business. A lot of them have a college education in a field outside of the industry they are breaking into. Some business owners just need to stay on the cutting edge of upcoming and new business tactics.
Not only do we have the facts and see the hole in our industry where we can impact lives, but we also have sought out the understanding to make sure we meet our customers where they need to be met. We know who our customers are and what they need. Simply put, we understand them.
If you are struggling to find your understanding, surround yourself with people in your industry. If you are looking to start a tech company your time is probably better spent rubbing shoulders with people in that industry, not Starbucks. Build relationships with people and learn from them. Above all else, ask your Creator. He gave you the idea, he made you aware of the facts with that brain of yours. God is the ultimate entrepreneur.
Wisdom
Proverbs 4:7 (MEV) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom. And with all your getting, get understanding.
This last one is what sets great entrepreneurs apart from good ones.
Wisdom is the ability to take the facts of a specific situation, gather all of your gained insights and make them a reality. This is where your true visionary self comes out.
God even lets us know this. His Word tells us, “wisdom is the principle; therefore get wisdom.” He doesn’t call us to grow in the facts and gain more insight. No, He wants us to gain wisdom. We need to learn how to make our ideas a reality. We have to figure out to apply our concepts to the lives of our audience.
Safari saw a great need, gained all of the relevant insights into our audience and then did we develop a plan to execute. We are continually learning.
Don’t be afraid of failure. It is inevitable, you have probably already failed before getting to the wisdom stage. Failure is the best lesson you can ever be taught. Don’t be afraid of it, expect it, embrace and learn from it, so you know what not to do the next time. Famous inventor Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Keep pushing if you don’t get it right the first time.
This is why God implores us to keep searching for wisdom. Never give up. Now that Safari knows our audience and recognizes the need, it is time for us to execute and use our wisdom.
We know that many business seminars are fun, exciting, and compelling experiences. However, they take you far from home, you meet people you will probably never meet again. When you get back home reality sets in and ongoing support is nonexistent.
Safari takes a similar business plan to the seminar business and applies it to local communities. Instead of having events periodically throughout the year, Safari will set up Safari business development centers throughout the country that will host monthly events. Business owners will be able to come into a Safari Center, learn practical, valuable business skills, develop close relationships, and grow personally. When there is an issue, they are facing and need advice on how to work through a particular situation they can turn to their local Safari center or one of the friends they have made at a local center. We are trying to bridge the gap for entrepreneurs.
Wisdom is crucial to your business’s success. If you don’t get it right the first time, that’s ok. Just keep pushing towards your goal and never give up.
Seek out the knowledge, never stop gaining insight and never give up on finding wisdom.
Notice that knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are all in cahoots with each other. You either have all of them or none of them. Most people won’t possess all three traits perfectly. Make sure you surround yourself with people who have the characteristics you lack. Make sure you don’t take these three traits out of order. You can’t execute with your wisdom until you have gathered the facts and gained insight.