Bible and Business

Aired on June 3, 2020 on Faith Radio, Bill English and Carmen Leberge discuss what business owners face as they attempt to re-open their businesses. We discuss the various loan […]

This podcast will introduce you to Bill English and why he publishes the Bible and Business web site and Youtube channel.

Aired on May 27, 2020 on Faith Radio, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss Deuteronomy 8.10-18 and the implications of this passage for Christian Business owners. #Christianbusiness#Christianstewardship#Christianbusinessowner#biblebusiness#Christianleaders#Christianleadership#Bibleandbusiness#Christianbusinessprinciples#Christianbusinesscoach#Christianbusinessideas#Christianbusinessadvice#Christianbusinesssuccess#Christianbusinessmotivation#Christianbusinessmen#Christianbusinesswomen#Executiveperspectives

You can view the companion video at the Bible and Business Channel.

You can view the videocast of this podcast at the Bible and Business Channel.

Aired on May 20, 2020, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss how COVID19 is affecting the economy and what churches can do to get ready for the coming economic realities.

Aired on Faith Radio on April 29, 2020, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss the re-opening of businesses due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Aired on April 22, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss how small businesses are doing. We talk about how COVID19 is taking away the dreams […]

Aired on April 15, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss the Dark Side of Personality as well as how leaders can lead (as opposed to […]

Aired on April 1, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss a series of scenarios which many are facing during the Coronavirus epidemic.Here are the show notes:Bill,This morning's plan…so much we could cover, I thought I'd make a "priority" listScenarios:1. I lost my job. How do I work with companies to whom I owe money and I'm not able to make my payments because I'm out of work.  I've never been in this position. I've always paid my bills. I feel ashamed and I need help prioritizing what to pay, what not to pay now and how to approach those to whom I have made commitments I cannot keep right now.2. I'm a business owner but my company is really small. What's in the stimulus bill for me and how do I access that money? Also, I've never laid anyone off before. I love my people. How do I tell them I can't pay them? They're like family to me. This is killing me.3. I'm on the volunteer leadership team of my church. We're facing real financial challenges but the faith of our people is strong. I know there are some Christians who own businesses and some retired Christians who have LOTS of money on the sidelines. How can I help them see that now is the time for which God had them set those resources aside to fund ministries and help our members and neighbors pay basic bills, make mortgage payments and sacrifice for the benefit of others?4. Our church wants to help but we can't help everyone and up until now the Pastor has been the one who approved the benevolent help we give to individuals and families. That's too much pressure for one person right now but we don't know how to do it differently. Is there an application and approval process that you recommend?5. Invite people to your Zoom meeting on Saturday.6. The moral moment in which we find ourselves. David Brooks NYTimes article. The Moral Meaning of the Plague.

Aired on April 8, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen, Bill English and Carmen Leberge discuss the various parts of the CARES Act.

Aired on March 25, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss the stimulus package and how the money will be borrowed. The new tax filing date of July 15 is discussed as well.We then discuss how to be successful when working from home.We finish by discussing how to find new work if your employer closes her business.

Aired on March 11, 2020 on My Faith Radio, Bill English discusses with Carmen Leberge on Mornings with Carmen Bear in mind, this show was aired with the only the CDC guidance that was available on March 11, 2020.Here are the show notes:How do I as a business owner, manager or organizational leader make contingency plans for the unknowns related to the coronavirus?What questions do I need to be asking that I have not thought of?How do I find out if I’m insured against business loss for this kind of thing?What systems to do need to be backing up or making sure I can access from home?Do I have a business or organization that can continue in a work from home scenario?How do I hold people accountable who are going to be working from home?Or conversely, how do keep my supervisor/manager/boss informed about what I’m doing as I work from home?We could run through some scenarios….I’m a small business and all but one of my empolyees have school age kids and the schools in our community close down out of an abundance of caution. What are some options?I’m on the volunteer leadership board of my church, at what point do we cancel gatherings beyond a certain number of people?I’m work for a hotel near the convention center. All the conferences and concerts have been cancelled. I don’t get paid if I don’t work and there’s no work. What do I do?

On Mornings with Carmen, aired on March 4, 2019 with Peter Kapsner, we have discussions about the economic impact of the coronavirus as it is starting to impact the American economy.Here are the show notes:Shut down much of China à supply chain problems for American businesses which source goods and services out of China à those American businesses have less product to sell à they cut back or stop production à our economy slows downThis is also true of Europe – as Europe slows, this harms our economy too.Answer: diversify supply chain – which can take years.Example: Apple & China:China is Apple’s largest consumer market – 20% of it’s entire revenue base3M indirect workers in China for AppleMegafactories of 250,000+ workersTarriffs have hurt Apple – while the iPhone was exempt, their other products were notMost of its’ products are assembled in China (in 2019, ~70% of all smart phones were manufactured in ChinaApple warns investors it won’t meet it’s own sales estimates à market cap has dropped by over $100BEntire industries are vulnerable to a slowdown due to the Coronavirus.Tarriffs have hurt these verticals.The coronavirus has nearly shut them downTech companiesApparel makersIndustrial-equipment mfgsA prolonged delay in getting parts to make products for sale would not only hurt corporate earnings, but put them in danger of making their debt payments on time.Quote from Barrons.com:The coronavirus has severely disrupted nearly every link in the global supply chain, from raw materials to components to finished goods, which could lead to curtailed production, product shortages, and financial stress across a range of industries. How manufacturing delays ripple through the economy isn’t so straightforward, however.Why is the stock market dropping so much?Markets need certainty to be stableCertainty comes from having the right information at the right timeWhile we’re learning more every day, we still don’t fully understand this virusWe don’t know how long China and the global supply chains will be affectedSo the market is pricing in this uncertaintyWhat should people do?Don’t panicLong-term investors should consider extending their positions – there’s a number of bargins in the market right now – “buy low – sell high”Short-term investors shouldn’t be heavy in stocks anyways.Your 401K will be hurt – but just stay the course – the market historically has given a 10% returnThe fundamentals of most businesses are strongOnce the supply chain is repaired, the market should bounce back close to the 30,000 markA Trump re-election will help the market because of predictability and certaintyA Sanders election will hurt it dramatically – especially if the Dems take the Senate and hold the house

Aired on February 26, 2020, Bill English talks with Carme LeBerge on Mornings with Carmen about the emotional price leaders pay when the organization is failing. The companion artle is here.Here are the show notes:Notes for2-26-19 Faith Radio SpotArticle: the Emotional price Owners Pay WhenTheir Business is FailingThis articleis featured in the new slider I built over the weekend.Hook:  Business Owners pay a huge, emotional pricewhen their business is failing.  Thisalso applies to churches, non-profits and individuals when they are facingsignificant, financial stress.  Whenorganizations or individuals are looking at bankruptcy, the emotions theyexperience are deep, personal and significant.Core talkingpoints:Most business owners will facefinancial ruin at one time or another. Most ministries will also face this at some point if they are going togrow.Remember: no significant ministrywithout significant riskSecret emotions:  this is true for business owners, ministryleaders and individuals:Wake up at night and their mind isracing about the impending dangers and you can’t shut down your mindConstant anxiety and sometimes, panicattacks = Entrepreneurial TerrorSignificant fearReputational worriesWillmy spouse leave me?Whatwill people think?Whatwill I do next?Over time à despairOn the outside:CalmPositiveUpbeatShowing no weaknessYet, you areRepressedCompartmentalizedWhy are they failing financially?Don’t understand their use of cashNot so much about a budget as it isabout knowing when cash comes in and when/where it goes outYoucan only spend a dollar onceDifficulties in shutting down anorganizationPaying off vendorsNegotiating end to contracts such asprinter or phone system leasesFinding cash to meet payroll whileshutting downSometimes: the owner’s/leader’smoral obligations to stay in the business/ministry propels them to keep goingwhen it is emotionally unattractive to stay in it – furthering the depth andseverity of emotional drain and mental strain on them personallyWhat Can be done?Churches should develop financial andsupportive ministries to individuals, ministry leaders and business leadersNeed a confidential place to talkwhere they won’t be blamedNeed outside assistance in gettingtheir business/ministry to a healthy pointLeaders must humble themselves and bewilling to ask for helpLimit personal, financial exposure tothe ministry or businessMaintaingood work/life balance – a failing business or ministry can suck you under ifyou’re not carefulDo not try to solve the entireproblem with one decision.Makeincremental, numerous decisions that fix what you can fix today and enable youto live another day.Spouses experience failuredifferently than the owner/leader.AngerHurtFrustrationResentmentWhydidn’t you listen to me?LonlinessFeelout of controlLossof securityQuestionthe abilities of his/her spouseShutdown emotionallyNeedsimilar support

Aired on February 19, 2020, Bill English and Carmen (Mornings with Carmen) talk about the Boy Scouts seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We also discuss the different types of bankruptcy and the stress of having to face bankruptcy.

Aired on Faith Radio on February 12, 2020, Bill English discusses the national debt and President Trump’s proposed FY2021 budget with Carmen on Mornings with Carmen.

Aired on February 12, 2020 on My Faith Radio, Bill English talks with Carmen Leberge about President Trump's budget. Here are the show notes:Trump Budget Proposal for FY 2021Trump’s budget calls for ~ $1T deficits for the FY 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.As of today, America owes a total of $23,256,356,117,175.05Intragovernmental debt – what agencies owe to each other, including social security, military retirement funds, Medicare and other retirement funds: 26% of Federal debt, or $6TPublic Debt – Foreign govt’s and international investors = $7TJapan, China, United Kingdom, Brazil and Ireland are the top five foreign govt’s holding combined $3.1T (Japan and China each ~ $1.1T)Trump cuts real spending for the following departments:Department% CutProposed Dept Budget (in billions)Agriculture8%21.8Commerce48%7.9Education7.8%66.6Energy8.1%35.4Health and Human Services10%94.5Housing and Urban Development15.2%47.9Interior16%12.7Justice2.3%31.7Labor10.5%11.1State22%40.8Transportation (discretionary)13%21.6Army Corp of Engineers22%6.0Environmental Protection Agency26%6.7SBA25%739MHere are the proposed increases:Department% IncreaseDept Budget (in billions)NASA12%25.2Veterans Affairs14%105Treasury2.2%13.3Transportation (Mandated)8%66.2Homeland Security3.2%52.1Defense.01705.4Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid + other mandatory programs: $3T  ($2.4T for the first three, $600B for “other”)Out of the total $4.829T budget, social security, medicare and Medicaid spending will account for 50% of our Federal spending.By Comparison:10 years ago:Federal Budget was $3.6T or 25% lessFederal Debt was $14.082T or 39.5% lessFederal Deficit in 2011 was $1.3TDiscussion:The borrower is servant to the lender (proverbs 22.7)Total debt is just below $70K/person in the USHow important should the debt be relative to other issues?AbortionReligious FreedomSocial programsOther?My take – it is approaching the same status of importanceIf a war were to break out like WWII, we would not be able to borrow enough $$$ to finance fighting two wars simultaneouslyIf interest rates were to rise 5% – prime goes from ~3% to 8%, the interest we would need to pay would rise significantly – certainly over $500B/yearWhat can we do?Stay out of debtGet involved in both parties and make this a priorityGet involved in non-partisan groups like the Concord CoalitionDon’t accept “learned helplessness”Pray, pray, pray

Aired on January 15, 2020 on Mornings with Carmen with Carmen LeBerge at My Faith Radio, Bill English and Carmen about attention management – that to which we give attention during our work day.Companion post is here.We'll discuss how to clean up your inbox and how to more tightly craft what comes into your email inbox and what you pay attention to.Here are the show notes:Core principle:  how we manage email indicates what we pay attention toIdea:  Attention Management:  Preferred over time management or email management.  If you sit back and look at your core deliverables in your job, are you paying attention to that which helps you be successful or are you paying attention to things/conversations/people which distract you?Principle:  By shaping what we allow into our inbox, we shape what we pay attention to and that should, in turn, help us deliver those things/elements/results which we are hired to deliver.Underperforming people’s inboxes tend to have one or more of these characteristics:Subscribed to email blasts which you never or rarely readDo not take the time to delete or file emails:  Every email represents one of the following:A task assigned to you (added task on your task list)A reply needed by another (which is a type of task)Information which will be needed in the future (filing task)Information which is irrelevant to you (delete task)Opportunity to meet with someone (scheduling task)Marketing something to you in the hopes that you’ll buy something (likely a delete task)Legal hold on emails (legal tasks assigned to you which you MUST follow)Spam – (delete task)What can you do to manage email better:Delete emails which you do not need to keepWhen searching through your inbox, you have less false positivesWhen searching through your inbox, you have more true positivesSmaller corpus is easier to manage long-termFile emails in a folder for projects, conversations and so forth – easier to retrieve information – even years later – by taking the time to fileDon’t subscribe to email blasts unless you really need the informationOpenly ask people to take you off conversations in which you’re not interested and don’t need to be looped inUse Quick Steps in Outlook to create tasks and calendar invitations off of emailsUse My Templates in Outlook to create automatic messages which can be sent back to marketing people asking yourself to be removed from their marketing email listsUse the Inbox Rules to route emails automatically to folders for future referenceThe last three steps can be learned through numerous online blog posts and a number of books on Outlook.

Aired on January 22, 2020, Bill English and Carmen LeBerge discuss Monetary policy on Mornings with Carmen at My Faith Radio.Here are the show notes:Monetary policy: Monetary policy consists of management of money supply and interest rates, aimed at achieving macroeconomic objectives such as controlling inflation, consumption, growth, and liquidity. These are achieved by actions such as modifying the interest rate or increasing/decreasing the money supply. The Federal Reserve implements and manages monetary policy. Monetary policy is made by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which consists of the members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and 5 Reserve Bank presidents. The FOMC holds 8 regularly scheduled meetings during the year and other meetings as needed.Monetary policy is about as exciting as watching paint dry.Fiscal policy: Fiscal policy refers to the use of government spending and tax policies to influence economic conditions, including demand for goods and services, employment, inflation, and economic growth.Examples: The amount of money we have in our economy is determined by monetary policy by the Fed Reserve.  The amount of debt our Fed government has is determined by fiscal policy by Congress and the President.In August of 2007, there was $856M on the Federal Balance Sheet – this is how much money was in our economy.  It peaked in January of 2015 at $4.5T. It held steady in the $4.5T range until November of 2017. Since then, the Feds have been withdrawing money and got the amount down to $3.7T in Sept of 2019.  They have pumped more back into the economy and we stand at $4.1T right now.By comparison, in 2007, our Real GDP was $15.6T.  In 2019, it will likely be over $21T.The interest rates we are charged for credit cards, mortgages and so forth are directly related to the prime interest rate, which is determined, in part, by the Federal Funds rate – the rate the Feds allow banks to charge each other to borrow money from each other overnight so that their deposits with the Federal Reserve banks meet their balance requirements – requirements which ensure each bank can meet borrower and withdrawl demands.The Feds try to reach a 2% inflation rate each year.The Feds must keep the big banks stable or our entire banking system and economy will collapse.Some of our problems are caused by bad fiscal policy – and Americans have come to expect the Feds to fix our economics problems.Example; the more debt we have, the more future taxes will be needed to pay the interest on that debt.  When interest rates rise, even more money will be required to pay the interest bill, crowding out money for other budget priorities, such as social security, medicare and Medicaid, which is 70% of all Federal spending.Biblically, the better policies would focus on fiscal, not monetary:Stop the bleeding – do not go into any more debtDo not have any financial support for abortionsFuture – chances are good that our next recession will be a difficult one.  To prepare:Get out of debt as much as possible –Try to save enough money to last a few months –Plan on how you can minister to others – churches and individuals will have ripe opportunities to serve others during a significant economic downturn