I am an advocate for not going alone. Entrepreneurs that I have met, typically, hold their paths to success close to the vest. It\u2019s a shame because the output from two kindred entrepreneurial spirits working together can be incredible. That goes for entrepreneurial-minded congregational leaders. Trust is an experience that creates powerful momentum compounding other successes.<\/p>\n
My wife and I have owned and operated several businesses. The last company we owned was in southern Oregon. It was an area where catching large salmon was often a tale heard at meetings. Eventually, the story could be trusted was that which could be verified!<\/span><\/p>\n For six years, we took our employees on guided drift boat fishing adventures. The first year my wife caught six large salmon! I caught none! This pattern went on for two more years. In the fourth year, about to give up on this very expensive opportunity, I asked the guide what my problem was. He said, \u201cYou are not listening to the guide! Every time you feel the weight hit a rock; you try to set the hook. Listen to me, and I\u2019ll tell you when to jerk.\u201d I sat; resisting the compulsion to jerk. Approximately five minutes, the guide said, \u201cjerk, jerk, jerk.\u201d I jerked and landed a 20+ pound bright salmon. Boy, I felt like a jerk for not listening to the guide.<\/span><\/p>\n This dilemma of trust aversion often happens with entrepreneurs. They need to trust, yet given they are the ones with most of the investment layers of trust is very measured. I need to confess that trust has been a growth opportunity for me. My faith has been given to others too quickly, I have learned that we can trust people not to be trustworthy, yet with trust, at least measured is a possible mutually beneficial experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Like my fishing story, I feel that leaders\/ district leaders in my tribe would probably see more of what they want: unity, people saved, and the abundance of Jesus Christ realize in more lives if they would listen to the working priest.[1]<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Hustling about to get the reports filed and measures met that often have no respect for the non-fully-funded pastor is as short-sighted as my not listening to the fishing guide. We get burnt out and do not have a solid work\/life rhythm when we vacate trust-based relationships. Getting down to the nitty-gritty of trust, and why it makes all the difference in the business of seeing Christ transform cultures is why I\u2019m writing today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Things move faster when you have trust: As the age-old business and investing adage goes, timing is everything. In other words, when you have an idea, move quickly. When you have a mutually trustworthy partner, outcomes and impacts get done quicker, people leap into action right away, and thus, you get more done. On the contrary, when you don\u2019t have trust between partners, things take longer, and opportunities sometimes vanish. Trust fixes problems and creates impressive results. Entrepreneurs Christians must seek partners they can trust. Partnerships without trust, we should not go into partnership. Always remember that trust is incredibly fragile and invaluable.\u00a0<\/span>Maybe we should be reporting on our trust meters!<\/p>\n