Business is an engine of creativity
In my book “More Than Your Business Card,” I made the argument that business is not only a legitimate calling from God but also a very important one in terms of societal benefits. The case was based on three important attributes of business. In short, private sector business is an engine of:
creativity;
funding; and
influence
Today I will focus on creativity and, in the following two weeks, funding and influence. Creativity is the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas. The ultimate source of all creativity is God. He authored everything in the beginning when He spoke the universe into existence. The more that science uncovers the complexity and fine-tuning of the cosmos, the more humanity is faced with evidence of an immeasurably great power behind creation. But God didn’t just create the realms of space, time, energy, and matter. He also created humanity in His image, meaning we not only have free will but also the ability to emulate His creativity in our own lives.
Taken as a whole, the business sector is enormously creative. Simply consider human progress since 1900. As a result of advances in many different fields such as agronomy, construction, transportation, communications, finance, and medicine, humanity has flourished. Most of that progress can be attributed to private sector businesses that, in the pursuit of profit, strive to meet the needs of people.
Of course, creativity goes hand in glove with the possibility of failure or risk. Indeed, one might argue that risk capital chases creativity. In order to prosper over the long term, businesses must not only sell quality products and services but also price them attractively and deliver them cost effectively. If any one of these three critical success factors is lacking, businesses become unsustainable over time and ultimately fail.
Thus, successful businesses sustain themselves by producing and using original and unusual ideas. Every business, from the very small to the very large, functions creatively as it strives to satisfy market demand. Consider the investment management business I led for many years. The company’s overarching purpose is to create innovative investment products that help investors achieve their financial objectives. On an ongoing basis, the company launches new funds that have never existed before. Even if there are similar funds sponsored by the company or its competitors, every fund is different in terms of its investment thesis and the execution of its investment strategy. Besides fund design, other creative elements include marketing strategy and ongoing investment management after the fund has been created. As in the investment industry, companies in all industries must innovate. If they don’t, they ultimately fail.
For a marketplace leader who is a follower of Jesus, business is not just a creative outlet but also a venue where the believer has a unique advantage.
For a marketplace leader who is a follower of Jesus, business is not just a creative outlet but also a venue where the believer has a unique advantage. In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the fledgling church in Corinth, he challenges them with the question, “Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” This question is rhetorical. According to the Bible, believers are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. Since God is the author of creativity, Christian leaders can look to Him for creative ideas, and since He knows everything, this is a profound asset when leading an organization to creatively accomplish its unique mission.
Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash
