Special: Faithful vs Willful (Financing, Fundraising and Bootstrapping)

 
 

This guide is intended for personal reflection and to help facilitate a meaningful group discussion. Take a moment to watch the video and read over the guide before your group meeting. Be prepared with some personal examples to help encourage discussion. If helpful, before you meet, print out or email a copy of this guide to all those who will attend the meeting.

 
 
 

Discussion Questions

 

As you consider the prospect of financing, fundraising, and bootstrapping, a tug between faithful and willful can easily play out—in a more subtle way than we want to admit or even expect. For those who are hesitant to scale a business, it could be that fear is holding you back. For those who are ready to grow, pride can easily cripple any attempt to raise the capital needed. Either way, you can become blinded to God’s urging or timing. Here are a few more questions to help your group go even deeper in discussion.

 
 
 

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Moving from start-up to scale is no small endeavor and should be approached with humility and healthy determination. Still, timing can be a significant consideration.

  • Are you ready to scale your business? Are your heart and head in the right place? 

  • Do you have a healthy trembling when it comes to raising capital?

 
 
 

GO, BUT DON'T GO ALONE

 

You’ve worked hard to get here. And yet if we’re honest with ourselves, we need help to take the next step. Maybe that’s in the form of mentorship and guidance. Or perhaps it’s practical partnerships and connections.

  • What is your next step? Are you faithfully listening to God’s prompting for you? Are you going to him in prayer? 

  • Beyond that, have you made the connections you need to in order to begin raising capital? 

  • What more do you need to do to set yourself up for success?

 
 
 
 

5 Ideas to Explore the Mark Further

 

There’s no limit to the ways you can explore the Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur. What we provide below are five ideas we think might lead each one of us to an even greater understanding of our God-given call to create.

 

  1. Journal: Write down what your next faithful step will be. How can you face the unknown with confidence, not in yourself but in God?

  2. Interact: This month, take the time to face your fears of failure. Pray unceasingly. Ask God for his help and guidance rather than relying on your own strength. How can you embrace your faith in a God who loves you and wants the very best for you?

  3. Consider: During today’s video session, Jessica said that business plans are important. A clear vision is important. But no matter how much we try to close that gap between the known and the unknown, eventually we will need to take the leap. It will require faith every time, no matter how big of a jump it is. Are you ready? What’s holding you back?

  4. Act Differently: Try your best to work from a place of courage this month. This boldness comes from your faith in God and everything you believe him to be.

  5. Learn From Others: Visit faithdrivenentrepreneur.org to learn more or join the conversation by listening to our weekly Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast.

 
 
 
 

Entrepreneurs can travel a lonely road. But you’re not alone. You’re sitting next to a group of like-minded business owners right now. One of the best ways to grow the Faith Driven Movement is to multiply your group.

 
 

Is someone in your group ready to raise his or her hand to start a Faith Driven Entrepreneur Group at a local church? Apply at faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/lead-a-group

 
 
Anna Kwee