Catholic Founders

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back to another discussion with a cracked engineer and recent convert to the faith. I promise you’ll enjoy the hot takes and clippable moments today. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋We’ve reformatted the structure of the email that goes along with the pod. Have a look at let us know how you like it. Outline below. In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Episode References* Summary of Discussion* Key Moments* Select Quotes* Core Takeaway: As Grand as Our Visions Are, We Must First Love Our Neighbor* Full Transcript (bottom of post)First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Daniel Francis | Abel Police* Why most Catholics overlook sins of omission, “What I have failed to do” — and why building excellent things is part of our duty to God.* How the chaotic ups and downs of entrepreneurship ("the wild") can actually deepen your faith and reliance on God.* Building a shrine to Bl. Carlo Acutis in San Francisco — and why Catholic entrepreneurs should support beauty in culture.Episode References:People:* Paul Skallas (LindyMan) — referenced for his thinking on entrepreneurship and stability vs. payoff* Steve Jobs — Daniel’s entrepreneurial inspiration* Bl. Carlo Acutis — inspiration for programmers, shrine project* St. Peter — Daniel’s baptismal name, inspiration* St. Paul — inspiration for leadership* St. Isidore of Seville — patron saint of computer programmers* St. Teresa of Lisieux — referenced during discussion of “little way”Media:* House of David (TV series) — mentioned as part of a Christian media effort (produced by people associated with the Federalist Society) * 4-HL essay by Paul Skallas (aka LindyMan) — concept of stability space vs. payoff space (entrepreneurial risk)* The Lindy Effect — longevity of ideas/concepts as a marker of robustness (discussed via Paul Skallas)Organizations / Groups:* Federalist Society — referenced as an example of long-term cultural/legal influence* Catholic Founders Guild — referenced during conversation about financial success and lifestyle* Star of the Sea Parish (San Francisco) — site of the Carlo Acutis shrine projectSummary of Discussion:A lot of Catholics talk about loving humanity. Few seem interested in actually fixing their own neighborhoods. In this conversation, Daniel Francis (founder of Abel Police) talks about why restoring God’s order in your local community is where Catholic builders should start—and why so many of us overlook that calling. We also get into the sin of failing to act, why startup life drives you closer to God, and how Daniel is building a shrine to Bl. Carlo Acutis right in San Francisco. You’ll walk away challenged to think bigger.Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 - Restoring God’s order in your community; focus on loving your neighbor* 00:29 - Episode intro; who Daniel Francis is; preview of topics* 02:13 - Daniel intro; what Abel Police does (AI-generated police reports)* 03:14 - Origin story of Abel Police; personal experience with domestic violence case; police staffing shortages* 05:35 - Entrepreneurial mindset; childhood drive to improve products; writing letters to companies* 08:13 - Impact of policing tech; reducing police burnout; improving policing outcomes* 09:59 - Why Catholics should build public service tech; restoring God’s order locally* 11:40 - How faith and business interact; Daniel’s approach to compartmentalizing; priest advice before starting company* 13:30 - Startup life bringing one closer to God; "payoff space" vs. "stability space"; "No Church in the Wild" reference* 19:07 - Ambition & Catholic culture; importance of acting on talents; failure to act as a sin; call for Catholic excellence* 23:40 - How deca-millionaires could influence culture; Catholic media, art, beauty; Federalist Society as model* 28:53 - Rightward cultural shift; danger of a godless right wing; importance of Christian influence* 31:42 - Should you bring faith to work? Daniel’s practical approach; faith visible but not forced; Mass-work balance* 36:22 - Appropriate ways to bring faith to work; visible signs (rosary, medal); witnessing when opportunities arise* 41:45 - Pursuing financial success; Daniel’s detachment from personal wealth; focus on building a successful company* 45:00 - Shrine to Bl. Carlo Acutis; praying for intercession on technical problems; project at Star of the Sea parish* 47:40 - Desire to fund Catholic art and projects long term* 48:13 - Favorite Scripture for entrepreneurs: Pentecost, Peter, Paul, talents; Acts of the Apostles* 50:25 - Favorite entrepreneurs: Steve Jobs; bringing beauty into products* 51:45 - Favorite saints: Peter, Paul, Isidore of Seville, Teresa, Carlo Acutis* 52:43 - Final words: "I hope everyone goes out and does something really well."Seeking SponsorsIf you’d like to become a sponsor of Catholic Founders reach out today. We offer packages that cover the entire project. As well as bespoke offerings for only the podcast or only the newsletter. Get your offering in front of hundreds of Catholic Business owners today! Select Quotes:Here are some quotes to tease the conversation. (Pro-tip: if you want to help us grow, you can highlight one of these and share it) * "It’s insane to me—Catholics confess ‘what I have failed to do,’ and yet so few of us seem to take that seriously. If you have the ability to build something good and you bury it, that’s a sin." - Daniel* "I think it’s a tragedy: the right without Christianity becomes pure cruelty. A godless right wing is far more horrifying than the religious right of the ’90s." - Daniel* “I really disagree with the title of the Kanye West song, ‘No Church in the Wild,’ because I think in the wild is exactly where you find your church. Frontier people exactly knew this. This is like — you’re out here on the edge, and you’re in a foxhole basically — you must believe in God in such a situation.” - Daniel* "If Catholics can’t set the cultural vision for what we should be building, who else will? Do we really want Mark Andreessen to be the one shaping it?" - Silas* "Restoring God’s order in your community should be your top priority. People talk about loving humanity—you should start by loving your neighbor and making your city better." - DanielThanks for sharing these to help us grow. Core Lesson: As grand as our visions are, we must first love our neighbor. Early in this discussion, Daniel reminded us of Christ’s words that we must first love our neighbors. He said this in the context of how many Catholics express concern for humanity, but in a way that thinks about distant peoples. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. This is intentionally. We first must love those around us and seek the good of those around us. In our communities. Not some distant group of people. It’s not to say we can’t show concern for those elsewhere, but we must help and love those closest to us first. Our families. Our literal neighbors. Our communities. Our parish. Our fellow citizens. You get the picture. As you achieve success and have more resources to help others, remember to focus on those closest to you first. Not in a nepotism type of way. In a genuine concern for your neighbor type of way. This also doesn’t always mean giving money away or donating. In many cases, it’s through building great products that serve those people. Just like what Daniel is doing with Abel Police. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory.Full Transcript:Daniel Francis (00:00)A lot of times I see concern for humanity—concern for people you've never met. But I think it's interesting that Christ told us to love our neighbor. I think you should focus on what's around you. You should try to make your own city, your own community better.There are a lot of good things you can do in the world. But to me, this is number one: restoring God’s order in your community should be your top priority.Silas Mähner (00:29)Welcome back to the Catholic Founders Podcast, where we discover how to run your business like a saint.Today, we’re speaking with Daniel Francis, the founder of Abel Police—a software company that helps police create written reports much faster, so they can get back onto the streets and keep people safe.Daniel is a convert to the faith—he made his First Communion about a year ago—and today’s conversation covers a very wide range of topics. Some of those include why he’s frustrated by the lack of ambition among many Catholics, how we often overlook "what I have failed to do" in the Confiteor, and a project he’s leading in San Francisco to build a shrine (you’ll have to listen to hear which saint it's for!).We also discuss whether we should "leave our faith at the door" at work—and I think we landed on a really interesting conclusion after some back and forth.One quick note: if you know a police officer who might be interested in trying their software, definitely reach out. They’re helping police do their jobs better and avoid burnout—a noble pursuit.And if you’re not already subscribed, be sure to check out The Saintly CEO, our free Monday newsletter with practical advice on integrating your faith into business.Alright—enjoy the show.Silas Mähner (02:13)Alright—welcome to the show, Daniel. How are you doing today?Daniel Francis (02:15)Good, how are you doing?Silas Mähner (02:17)Good. I was going to ask if you’re in LA, but I remember you're in San Francisco—so you’re not witnessing everything going on down there.For those who aren’t familiar, just give a quick intro to yourself and what you’re working on.Daniel Francis (02:32)I’m Daniel Francis, founder and CEO of a company called Abel Police.We make AI tools for cops. Our primary product is called Abel Writer. It takes police body cam footage and turns it into police reports.Turns out police spend about a third of their time writing reports—a huge waste. If you can drive that down to zero, it’s like increasing the police force by 50%, which is politically unfeasible, but technologically within reach. That’s what we’re working on.Silas Mähner (03:03)That’s a really fascinating problem to solve. I never really thought about this space—though my sister works locally with the police.How did you come across this idea?Daniel Francis (03:14)It was through a personal experience.A friend of mine was a victim of domestic violence. I ended up helping her get out and get an apartment.I didn’t have much experience with this, but I learned that restraining orders are literally just pieces of paper—often given to people who can’t read.Her husband came over one day, banging on the door, threatening to kill her. It took the Oakland police 45 minutes to get there.I showed up and wasn’t a very satisfied consumer of police services. I kind of gave the officers some trouble about it. One of them immediately slumped and said, "I'm sorry, man. We’re super understaffed. We had a shooting this morning."That’s when I realized that police aren’t this monolithic service that’s instantly available. Especially since 2020, it’s been really hard to hire cops. There’s a national shortage. Response times are going up. People are suffering and dying as a result.So I started reading about policing and came across a 2021 staffing analysis for SFPD that said police spend a third of their time writing reports. And I thought, "That’s bonkers. They have body cam footage—this should be fixable."So I’m fixing it.Silas Mähner (05:00)I love it. It’s a good reminder that if we let systems decay underneath us, they will. Someone has to keep improving them.Do you think there’s something about your background that made you more solutions-oriented? Because most people would have seen that situation and just moved on.Daniel Francis (05:35)I guess I’ve always been like that. As a kid, I was always making little businesses. If I saw a problem, I wanted to fix it.I also had a habit of writing letters to companies about how their products could be improved. General Mills would sometimes write back and say, "We don’t accept suggestions."One I remember clearly—I was really annoyed that bacon packaging wasn’t resealable. I sent a letter about it and got a canned response.Silas Mähner (06:45)That’s hilarious. I love it. I’m going to teach my kids to do that.Daniel Francis (06:54)It’s satisfying. Sometimes you get real responses. I remember when Windows 7 launched, I emailed Steven Sinofsky (Microsoft’s chief architect at the time) about a taskbar suggestion.He replied with a long email explaining that they had tested my exact idea, but people didn’t understand it, so they abandoned it.Getting that email was so cool.Silas Mähner (07:26)That’s awesome. A lot of people don’t take the time to improve things.Switching gears—have you seen your technology help improve the relationship between the police and the public?Daniel Francis (08:13)It’s hard to measure that directly. But we do know that giving cops more downtime is almost always better.You don’t want police going from call to call to call. You want them in a default standby state.A lot of policing problems happen when officers are on overtime—14 hours into a shift, burnt out. That’s when bad things happen.So we’re trying to give them more time, make them more effective, and reduce burnout.Silas Mähner (09:59)From a faith perspective, it must be interesting to know you’re helping improve their experience and the public’s.If you were trying to rally Catholics to work on public service tech or hardware, what would your pitch be?Daniel Francis (09:59)We live in a fallen and broken world. But it’s incumbent on us to restore God’s order here on earth.I often see people expressing concern for humanity—but Christ told us to love our neighbor.Start with your own city, your own community. That should be your top priority.Silas Mähner (11:40)That’s such a good point. I once heard a talk about justice and how we owe it to our parishes and communities—not just charity.Switching topics—how has faith played a role in your entrepreneurial journey?Daniel Francis (11:40)They feel compartmentalized to me.Before starting the company, I talked to my priest. I was considering a few ideas, and he really liked this one.He gave me that line about restoring God’s order. So as long as our goal honors God, I focus on building the best company I can—without doing anything illegal or immoral.Silas Mähner (13:30)But have you found that the ups and downs of entrepreneurship have brought you closer to God?Daniel Francis (13:39)Absolutely.Paul Skallas (LindyMan) has an essay about stability space vs. payoff space.If you work as an accountant, you’re in stability space—predictable, safe. Entrepreneurs live in payoff space—high risk, big swings.You can have a terrible meeting in the morning and amazing news by afternoon.When you live in that space, it forces you closer to God.I disagree with the Kanye West song No Church in the Wild—because in the wild is exactly where you find your church.Silas Mähner (19:07)Amen to that.On another note—why do you think so many Catholics lack ambition? It drives me crazy sometimes.Daniel Francis (19:07)That really bothers me.As a convert, one thing I loved about the Confiteor was "for what I have done and what I have failed to do."But most Catholics only focus on what they’ve done—not what they’ve failed to do.If I have talents and bury them, that’s a terrible sin. The parable of the talents makes that very clear.Catholicism should be associated with excellence. We should be building great things.Silas Mähner (23:40)If you had $20 million to invest in influencing the culture—what would you do?Daniel Francis (23:40)I don’t know exactly—it’s not an easy problem.I admire what some are doing, like the production company behind David (the TV show). They’re trying to make the culture more Christian through media.You have to be careful—bad ideas can look good on the surface. Like the Gates Foundation realized with building wells that broke down in a year.But I think building high-quality Christian media is one huge opportunity.Also—beauty matters. The Church needs to invest in art, in restoring our physical spaces. I’d love to support that.Silas Mähner (28:53)I worry that the cultural swing to the right won’t be led by Christians—it could get dangerous.Thoughts?Daniel Francis (28:53)I think that’s already happening.A godless right wing is much more horrifying than the religious right of the ’90s.I see genuine expressions of cruelty sometimes—toward trans people, immigrants, others.I hope Christians assert themselves in this space—and not just by aligning with Trump or political figures. God has to stay first.Silas Mähner (31:42)Let’s talk about faith at work.Do you bring your faith into your company?Daniel Francis (31:42)I know some founders open meetings with prayer—that’s not my style.When you’re driving a car, focus on driving. When I’m building this company, I focus on building it well.We need to run a very profitable, very powerful company that impacts U.S. policing.I go to Mass every morning—that grounds me. I keep a rosary on my desk. My employees know I’m Catholic, but I don’t preach at work.If someone asks, I’ll share. But otherwise—I focus on the mission.Silas Mähner (36:22)I’m coming around to that view.At the very least, I think it’s important that we don’t hide our faith—so if someone sees a crucifix or a rosary, it can spark a conversation.Daniel Francis (36:22)I absolutely agree.I often have my Miraculous Medal out. I used to wear a rosary around my neck.It’s important to take up space with your faith—not in a confrontational way, but as a sign of who you are.We live in San Francisco. People wear their beliefs on their bodies all the time. Catholics can do the same.Silas Mähner (41:45)How do you think about financial success as a Catholic founder?Daniel Francis (41:45)Honestly, I’ve never been that concerned with money.I fell in love with math, got a math degree, and ended up in well-paying jobs early on.My goal was always simple: I want to go to restaurants and not worry about the bill.Now, my main concern is honoring my investors. They gave me capital when I was just a guy coding in his living room.I want to make this company massively successful for them.If I make money personally—great. I’d love to support Catholic projects, especially in art and church restoration.Silas Mähner (45:00)Tell us about the shrine project you’re working on.Daniel Francis (45:00)We’re building a shrine to Bl. Carlo Acutis at Star of the Sea Parish here in San Francisco.I started praying to Carlo for help with technical challenges—especially during our migration to Kubernetes.Every week now, I pray for his intercession on engineering problems.We’re creating a space where other programmers can come pray too. There will be a plaque with a prayer for technical challenges.The Church needs to reach out to the community in ways that resonate. Tech is a huge part of this city—this is one way to meet people where they are.Silas Mähner (47:40)That’s amazing.Even if we’re not deca-millionaires, I think we can all find ways to have an impact on our communities.Daniel Francis (47:40)Absolutely.Small things done well matter. Beauty matters.I’d love to spend my life supporting unique Catholic projects that show the beauty of the faith to the world.Silas Mähner (48:13)What scriptures or readings inspire you as an entrepreneur?Daniel Francis (48:13)The story of Pentecost.My baptismal name is Peter—I love Peter. He was a bit of a moron, then the Holy Spirit transformed him.The parable of the talents is huge for me. If you have talents and bury them—that’s a sin.And I love Acts of the Apostles. The energy of the early Church was insane. It’s inspiring.Silas Mähner (49:05)Any entrepreneurs who inspire you?Daniel Francis (49:10)Steve Jobs.He was a deeply flawed person, but he brought beauty into the world through products.I think beauty points people toward the divine. In my industry, most software is ugly.I want to bring light into that space.Silas Mähner (50:25)What about saints?Daniel Francis (50:25)As a convert, I’m still learning about the saints.But Peter and Paul are huge for me.I’ve also read a lot about St. Isidore of Seville—he’s the patron of computer programmers.And of course, Bl. Carlo Acutis. He’s been a big part of my journey.Acts of the Apostles is my favorite book—such an entrepreneurial spirit in those early days.Silas Mähner (52:37)I totally agree. The early Church was on fire—they knew they’d likely be killed for this, and they did it anyway.It’s incredibly inspiring.Daniel Francis (52:43)I hope everyone listening goes out and does something really well.Silas Mähner (52:50)Amen to that.Thank you so much for coming on, Daniel—this was a great conversation.Daniel Francis (52:53)Thanks—great to be here.Silas Mähner (52:54)Alright, everyone—thank you so much for tuning in.If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast player.And if you haven’t already—subscribe to us on YouTube. Once we hit 1,000 subscribers, we can monetize and help fund this work.And don’t forget—subscribe to The Saintly CEO, our free Monday newsletter on integrating your faith into business.And if you want to be part of a peer group of Catholic entrepreneurs, consider becoming a paid member. Just head to catholicfounders.com/subscribe.Alright—that’s it. God bless, and we’ll see you next time on Catholic Founders. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsMarketing is part of every business. But how can we do it in a way that is fair, true, and humble? If this is a question you’ve ever thought about, this is a great episode for you. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Quick announcement! We recently completed the Catholic Founders Guild Directory. If you want access to the directory, become a member of the CF Guild today. In Today’s Podcast:* How to market as a Ctholic — the things to avoid, and how important it is that marketing is integrated with the heart and culture of the company, before joining* Marcellino D’Ambrosio* Core Lesson: Marketing needs to be fully integrated with the company in order to avoid untruthful and misleading marketing. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: * Marcellino D’Ambrosio is a creative who has an incredible taste for marketing. Together, he and his brother run Sherwood Fellows. * Sherwood Fellows is a full-service branding and marketing agency that acts as a fractional CMO for companies under $30m in revenue. In addition to the marketing, they are producing a film called Triumph of the Heart - about St. Maximilian Kolbe. (NOTE: You can support the production of this film here. Supporting it actually comes with some cool perks.)* 🎁 [free giveaway] Brand Strategy Document from Sherwood Fellows* Triumph of The Heart - Movie * More about St. Maximilian Kolbe* More about St. Thomas More* Book: Becoming a King* Book: Shoe Dog* Inter Mirifica - from Pope Paul VI* Kruptos Podcast about Jacques Ellul | KruptosKey Moments:* 4:25 Intro to Marcellino and Sherwood Fellows* 5:50 What it takes to succeed at marketing * 9:20 Why you need to call out an ‘enemy’ to run a good marketing campaign * 12:30 Can you have an enemy while still being charitable in your marketing* 14:00 Why good marketing is actually just truth-telling* 15:40 How to market within the Church’s guidance (ref: Inter Mirifica) — The moral responsibility to integrate marketing fully into the company and product* 21:30 The danger of large companies, degrading the value of the human — “The point of scale is removing the human beings.”* 27:50 Shrinking your margins to support your employees — Short-term vs long-term approaches to business* 30:10 How entrepreneurship has helped him develop spiritually — A story of a big challenge he’s just gone through — How the same day his daughter was born, he had to start laying people off* 34:00 How God leverages the challenges of business to bring us closer to Him * 36:30 The challenges they face working with Catholic-owned businesses * 38:00 The danger of overspiritualization as a Catholic entrepreneur * 40:20 Why do top business people throw out their business sense when it comes to Catholic projects * 42:00 Trying to balance family as a Catholic entrepreneur * 45:45 Rapid Fire Questions (favorite books, entrepreneurs, saints, & devotions) Prayer Style of Imaginative Prayer (Bob Schuchts)Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: Marketing needs to be fully integrated with the company in order to avoid untruthful and misleading marketing. Part of the point of today’s show was to ask the question, how can a Catholic business owner market ethically and in line with the Church’s teachings about truthfulness? Because we all know marketing has been known for its manipulative and misleading statements. Marcellino did an incredible job showing how marketing will never be unethical if the marketing function is integrated with the company. If the product is truly differentiated, marketing has an easy time. If the product sucks. Marketing will resort to dirty tactics to sell the product. It’s an interesting parallel to how we want to live our lives — fully integrated, just as Jeff told us on episode #9. So, in other words, founders! If your marketing team is having a hard time marketing effectively, it might be time for you to adjust the product. In a way, the market will pull your product out of your hands if it’s truly valuable. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHappy Feast of the Ascension, everyone! Silas here 👋Today we’ve got a mini podcast for you because all the recordings I had scheduled last week had to get rescheduled. Today’s episode is a reflection of 3 core things I like to consider on this feast. * Why Jesus had to leave the Apostles* I believe the Eucharist gave them confidence * Our moral responsibility to develop our employees~Silas MähnerFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Referenced Links:* The readings from today* Check out the post we had this day last year* Subscribe on YouTube to help us reach 1,000 subs* Nominate a Heavenly Hustler for the Saintly CEO Newsletter* Support our work by upgrading to paid today (top right corner in browser)* Growing biz? Need a VA? Reach out to us (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll help you. Don’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsAs AI eats the world, it’s more important than ever for Catholics to shape and lead the discussion and practices of this technology. Thankfully, we have just the person to discuss it. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋In Today’s Podcast: * How we are called to be the leaven of society, especially as entrepreneurs * Our unique path to God through our entrepreneurial journey* Trusting in God’s will in entrepreneurship, not just ministry * Core Takeaway: To fulfill our unique calling in life, we must lean into our entrepreneurial tendencies and fully trust in GodFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Busy? We have the main topic time stamps below for you to skip around as needed. (We’ve got you)About Today’s Guest: Our guest today is Andreas Widmer. If you don’t know him already, I’m very pleased to introduce you to him. Originating from Switzerland, he ended up getting into the Swiss Guard for aesthetic purposes. He could never have imagined what this would lead to. Throughout his time in this role, he came to know Pope Saint John Paul II and had a profound deepening of faith. He would go on to work in many types of businesses and is now one of the most influential Catholic business personalities in the US. Not only does he teach at the Catholic University of America (founded by Pope Leo XIII), but he also co-founded the Bush School of Business there with Andrew Abela. He’s the author of The Pope and the CEO, and most recently, The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship. He’s also an advisor to Magisterium AI and SENT Ventures. On top of all this, he’s involved in social impact entrepreneurship in parts of East Africa, which is especially close to my heart, given that my wife is from there. So when I call him ‘The King of Catholic Entrepreneurship,” I mean it. * Andreas Widmer* The Catholic University of America | The Art Ciocca Center* The CEDE summer program for high school students* Book: The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship* Book: The Pope & The CEO* Book: The Economics of the Parables* Book: Recapturing the Spirit of Enterprise* Engage Andreas for coaching (post-revenue companies)Key Moments:* 2:45 What Andreas Does Now* 4:30 Becoming a Swiss Guard | How God used his natural interests to lead him deeper into the Faith* 8:30 Discerning our journey | How leaning into our interests and non-evil desires is the way God guides us* 14:05 Understanding that our journey with God is the only thing that matters. Everything else is an illusion. Yes, including financial success and public recognition. * 18:45 How to know if we should change our business to align our business with the Faith. * 21:05 Why most Catholics don’t start a business * 23:00 The cycle of trusting in God over and over * 25:50 How to be the leaven of society | Applying Catholic Social Teaching * 31:05 What it means to bring the faith to work * 35:35 Doing business in a way that is sanctifying. | Enterprise solutions for impact investing. * 39:40 Starting a call center inside a jail* 41:10 What America would look like if business owners acted like Christ | An economy that celebrates the human person * 46:30 Working is how we imitate God * 47:00 Where to reach AndreasCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: Be the leaven of society. | Lean into your entrepreneurial tendencies to come closer to God.This discussion had two things that hit me in the face. First of all, the importance of us being the leaven in society. Something I knew already, but that is reinforced in this current moment in time with Leo XIV ascending to the chair. Andreas further drove this point home to me that this journey is not a straight line of ‘being the leaven’ we are constantly having to trust fall into God’s arms, and do it again. This leads to the second point. That the way we come into a deeper relationship with God is through this constant loop, if you will. Hopefully, we grow each time. Through constantly embracing God and turning to Him, we can start to understand our unique calling in life. This requires patience (something I’m pretty bad at). God has charted out the entire journey. Even when we make a mistake, God instantly corrects the symphony to continue to create something beautiful. This was a really powerful validation our desire to build, to create, to achieve is not in conflict with our journey closer to God. This is something I’ve often felt — that there is a certain dissonance. But after this conversation, I no longer feel that way. I know it’s okay to lean into my interests, into my skillset… through this I will learn who God wants me to become. Even though I don’t know the full picture yet, I put one foot in front of the other, knowing that God will lead me. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildIf you’d like to join our next Catholic Founders Guild discussion where we will probably discuss this exact topic (journey closer to God as an entrepreneur) upgrade today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Upgrading also gets you access to all of our paywalled content. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Join the Catholic Founders Guild (Peer Group): $10/month or $100/year Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIf you’re Catholic and often wonder if it’s okay to desire to make big money, this is a good episode for you. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Quick note, this weekend, we’ll be hosting a hangout call for the paid members of Catholic founders (the Catholic Founders Guild) — if you’d like to join, become a paid supporter today! In Today’s Podcast: * As Catholics, is it okay for us to want to be billionaires? * Will O’Brien* Core Takeaway: Money enables you to do a lot of things — and if you pursue it for the right reasons, you can be a massive force for good. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: * Will O’Brien is a proud Irishman, the Co-Founder of Ulysses, and a recent revert to the Faith. He’s based in SF. * Ulysses builds autonomous robots for the ocean. They will enable the maintenance of the $3 trillion ocean economy. * Will on My First MillionKey Moments:* 08:49 His Faith Journey: From Nepal to SF to Catholicism * 21:20 Catholicism & ClimateTech | Human Flourishing* 24:50 Stewardship Technology * 33:50 San Francisco is Turning… Christian? (80 Baptisms at Easter Vigil)* 39:45 Catholics Should Be Leading Technologists — We Are Called to Create Heaven On Earth (This is a really interesting take on the case for Catholicism being a ‘pro-tech’ organization.) * 45:15 Beyond Consciousness — Spiritual Gifts* 49:10 Ambition — Becoming a Billionaire — Impact * 55:00 We Are All Called to Create In Some WayCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: God created us to lead. Therefore, we ought to enter willingly into leadership positions knowing that He is by our side. While many Catholics are trying to hide from the world, that’s not what we are called to do. We are called to go where God is sending us, and be a witness in those places, wherever they may be. God also gave us ambition that we can steer (with God’s help) with our reason and will. Therefore, we ought to enter leadership roles without being afraid. Knowing that God will guide us if we constantly give glory to Him. This even includes becoming wildly successful, financially speaking. The money is not evil. In fact, money enables us to do many things. In short, we must answer the call to leadership. God didn’t create us with ambition so we could hide in the closet. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsJoin the Catholic Founders Guild Today - $10/month or $100/year Habemus Papam! What an exciting week for us as Catholics. Especially Americans, and especially us good ole Midwesterners. Long Live Pope Leo XIV! Hey everyone! Silas here 👋In case you missed it, check out this week’s issue of The Saintly CEO discussing how to manage your calendar with the Holy Spirit in mind. In Today’s Podcast: * Why a lot of Church media is not great * The importance of leaning into your role as a leader * What to do when you face the darkest moments of your entrepreneurship journey First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: * Rob Kaczmark: Born and raised in Chicago, Rob never intended to start a business, but ended up hosting a radio show called Spirit Juice. Eventually would go on to build an incredible media production business. * Spirit Juice: To date, they have worked with people like Bishop Baron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Hallow, Knights of Columbus, Jonathan Roumie, Mark Wahlberg, and many others. They have also won a couple of Emmys. Key Moments:* 2:30 Why Most Catholic Media Sucks — Because They Don’t Usually Value Non Physical Things* 8:45 From Ministry to Radio Show to Winning Some Emmys * 11:30 Training People to Care As Much As He Did — Learning to Relinquish Control — Learning to Let People Fail* 16:15 Learning to Reflect On Your Day-to-Day So That You Can Further Integrate Your Faith Into Your Business* 18:10 Hiring for Existing Skills or for Future Potential * 23:45 Just Because You’re Catholic Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Face Challenges — Recognize the Consolation Your Faith Brings* 26:00 The Darkest Moments Of His Career — “Is There Anything Else You’d Rather Do?” * 29:50 How They Integrate The Faith Into The Business* 32:30 Does Your Ambition Come From God or Is It Selfish Desire For Recognition* 37:00 Leaning Into Your Leadership Role* 40:30 Finding A Community of Catholic Entrepreneurs Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: God Put You In a Leadership Position, Own It. Rob, like many of us, felt a sense of guilt for having people call him the CEO at one point. He didn’t want to have the fancy title. He wanted to do good work. Eventually, his team told him he ought to lean into it. Now he’s come to accept the situation he’s in. God put him in this role, so it’s okay for him to lean into it. When he does, it helps him stay more accountable to his Faith because he recognizes he’s got more responsibility. He needs to live by example. All of us can do the same. Whatever leadership role we find ourselves in, lean into it. Take the reins and lead. Lead with Jesus at your side and our Blessed Mother in your heart. Lead with patience, humility, and courage. Use the gifts God gave you and use them well. No burying your talent in the sand. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHappy Easter! He is Risen!Super glad to be back with another incredible discussion full of wisdom. If you have not already, check out our free Monday newsletter, The Saintly CEO.Also, quick housekeeping, as you may have noticed, we’re shifting our publishing schedule of the podcast to Thursdays — posting it the day after the newsletter felt a little punchy.And, if you have not already, please fill out the listeners’ survey to help us learn how to better serve you.In Today’s Podcast:* How Monika set aside her career to raise her children* Tenets of entrepreneurship as a Catholic mother* How she helped a brand go from inception to a $200m exit in 5 yearsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.About Today’s Guest:We’re speaking with Monika Elling. Someone I met in the Catholic Entrepreneurship scene in NYC during the time I lived there. She has accomplished a lot in her career, including helping a brand sell for $200m. But most importantly, she didn’t sacrifice family to do so. She stepped away from her career to raise her children.For these reasons, I think she’s a great guest to discuss how a Catholic woman should think about entrepreneurship.* Monika Elling* Foundations Marketing GroupKey Moments:* 15:19 Balancing Family and CareerShe was never willing to put work above her family duties.* 18:27 Navigating Challenges as a Catholic EntrepreneurWe have the trust to keep going because God calls us, and He walks with us. So we just put one foot in front of the other.* 32:49 Family Influence on EntrepreneurshipConsider that your work as an entrepreneur is likely to inspire your children towards this life as well.* 34:21 The Evolution of Entrepreneurial CultureRemember that entrepreneurship is not about hustle-porn and making money for money’s sake — it’s what we do to provide for our families, and the families of those we employ.* 42:59 Connecting with Decision MakersWhen you need to reach someone, have a compelling value proposition.* 55:27 Building a Supportive Catholic Entrepreneur EcosystemThere is a huge need for a community around Catholic Entrepreneurship — especially investors, mentors, and advisors who will help the next generation reach new heights.________Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA.Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission.If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you.How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA.________Core Lesson:Putting Our Spiritual Vocation First Doesn’t Mean Neglecting Our Earthly VocationThroughout hearing Monika’s story, it is clear that we must put our vocation first. In the case of many Catholic women, this is to marriage and motherhood. This is a spiritual vocation that God calls us to. However, as we see through her story, that doesn’t mean doing nothing with our Earthly Vocation. The things we are called to use our God-given skills for during this life.This goes for men as well. We cannot use our state as husband and father as an excuse to not use our God-given earthly skills. And for those tempted the other way, we cannot neglect our Spiritual Vocation.Over the next few days, let’s reflect on how well we are giving due time to each of these callings in our lives.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner________Don’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild.A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God.If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you.To sign up, upgrade to paid today.For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year.This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today.Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like).*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsOur world used to be covered in art that lifted us up to God. Now it’s not. Today’s guest is trying to help solve this. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Before you dive in, ICYMI, we launched a newsletter!It goes out Mondays. It’s called The Saintly CEO. Each issue offers (1) a tactical tip to insert Faith into your business (in under 5 min) and (2) serves a curated list of other Catholic entrepreneurs to discover and connect with. Check it out today: The Saintly CEOIn Today’s Podcast:* Advice for artists who want to turn their art into a business* How Chris deals with the anxiety of running a business* The role of artists in bringing the culture back to GodFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.About Today’s Guest:* Chris Lewis | Catholic Convert | Illustrator | Family Man* Baritus Catholic* Pope Saint John Paul II’s Letter to ArtistsKey Moments:* 12:45 Taking the Leap: Going Full-Time* 15:48 Building a Family Business* 21:23 Core Principles for Aspiring Artists* 25:50 Balancing Ambition and Spiritual Guidance* 30:24 The Importance of Creativity and Spiritual Recharge* 33:42 Integrating Prayer into Business Practices* 37:13 Reclaiming Beauty in a Degraded Culture* 39:10 The Role of Art in Cultural Restoration* 44:50 Gratitude and Purpose in EntrepreneurshipCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA.Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission.If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you.How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA.Core Lesson:When we’re at our best as entrepreneurs, we become God’s paintbrush.Chris says he wants to keep the business a family business. When he and I spoke in preparation for this episode, he shared that he’s not trying to make it some big, huge business. In the episode, he explained this is in part because, as an artist, people want to work with you.However, the business is already bigger than he originally thought it would be. He also admitted that he’s constantly reevaluating how big this is meant to be. He frequently asks God what He wants of him.Resigning to the possibility that it might be bigger than he originally imagined is part of accepting God’s will. God gave us these skills, and if we’re seeking unity with Him, we’ll go as far as He asks us. Even to the ends of the earth.It’s even more moving to consider this from the perspective of an artist. God clearly gave you some basic skills and interest in the craft, so you really are His paintbrush.It’s not as romantic for business owners generally, but it’s the same principle.At our best—at our closest unity to God, we become a conduit of what He wants us to do in the world for Him.This is the ideal we ought to strive for.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through entrepreneurship. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild.A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God.If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you.To sign up, upgrade to paid today.For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year.This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today.Support us further by becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year.*Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back to Catholic Founders. Our mission is to help you learn how to run your business like a saint. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋News:* ICYMI, read our latest blog post (free for all) Stop Trying to Leave Your Faith at the Door. * If you’re in Central Wisconsin, we’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup on April 22nd. Reach out for more details. * We’re launching a weekly newsletter! Stay tuned for that (don’t worry, you’ll be automatically included b/c you sub here). In Today’s Podcast: * How Taylor went from Anti-Catholic Baptist to building a Dating Coaching Business to help Catholic Men find their wives. * Taylor Ross | His Biz: Trad Chad Dating* Take Initiative First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: Today we’re speaking with Taylor Ross. He grew up initially as a non-denom Christian. But later on they joined an anti-Catholic Baptist church that really turned him against Catholicism. It wasn’t until later that some inter-protestant arguments started to make him wonder what was true. But he was still committed to the idea that Catholics were headed to Hell. Eventually, all his core beliefs were shattered, so he figured he’d give Catholicism a try. About a year later, he was accepted into the Church. This led to his family, friends, and girlfriend all dumping him. He had to find new friends and start a new life. Shortly after this, he got back on the dating track because he knew he wanted to be a father. This led him to a dating coach. He’d end up working for that coach. He helped that business get to over $100k in monthly revenue. Then he decided to start Trad Chad Dating, his own dating coaching business, but for Catholics. Now he’s well on his way to making this his full-time business. And he’s helping Catholic men find their wives and get many steps closer to marriage. * Trad Chad DatingKey Moments:* 04:17 The moment he realized he was not meant for the 9-to-5. * 12:38 The moment he was creating far more value than he was capturing. * 17:30 The importance of avoiding debt.* 19:19 The basic thing you need to start a business. * 31:00 Perils to avoid when you start to see success. * 34:14 How his business taught him to appreciate prayer. Catholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: To be an Entrepreneur, Learn to Take InitiativeIn explaining how someone could get started in their entrepreneurial journey, he brought a lot of examples. Things that to he and I, would be obvious/likely actions. The reason they are obvious to us is that we take initiative. The good news is, you can learn initiative, so there’s no excuse if you were not born with it. And here’s the truth. Even the saints took initiative. They acted on their faith. They went out to the poor. They started religious orders. They wrote books. If they lacked a particular virtue, they took the initiative to study how they could develop that virtue. They were anything but stagnant. How could they not take initiative? After all, they had divine motivation. So this is your call! Practice taking initiative. Start small. Look back at your day. What is one way you could have taken initiative? After you start to see what the opportunities look like retroactively, you’ll begin (slowly) to notice them in real time. Once you develop the habit of noticing, start acting. Make it a habit. Over time it will be natural to you. Then, finally, you can refine. This is where you figure out what God is calling you to, and you can focus your initiative on that area. Chances are you’ll already be going in the right direction because He puts certain interests on our hearts so we eventually find our way to Him. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Hope your Lent is going well! If not, now’s the time to recommit to your practice. If you’re not already, subscribe to our YouTube channel to help us get closer to who wants to play it who wants to play it 1,000. This will allow us to participate in monetization. Thanks for taking 10 seconds out of your day.In Today’s Podcast: * Topic: How to live an undivided life.* Our Guest: Jeff Schiefelbein* Core TakeawayFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. About Today’s Guest: Jeff is an absolute legend. He is someone whom I genuinely look up to as an example of Catholic entrepreneurship. He is the managing partner of Undivided Life, a consulting firm helping business leaders live… you guessed it… an undivided life. He co-hosts the BeatiDUDES podcast. He and his partners also run a few other businesses with about 60 people on payroll. Jeff is a gem. As you’ll see, he’s also full of amazing stories. * Jeff on LinkedIn* Undivided Life Website* The BeatiDUDESKey Moments:* 16:12 Traveling the country asking for free food and what that taught him* 29:30 Work is made FOR man and not man for work* 32:50 Is entrepreneurship the closest we come to acting ‘Imago Dei’? * 36:30 Becoming a conduit for God* 46:20 Building a culture of coaching* 49:50 How he manages so muchCatholic Founders is Sponsored by Paraclete VAConsider hiring a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA. Thousands of Catholic VAs in the Philippines want to work for a Catholic employer. Instead of working for morally questionable companies that do not view them with dignity, they want to work for you. They want to be part of a bigger mission. If you’re looking for support as your business grows, reach out to me or Karen with what you’re looking for (dearcfpod@gmail.com) and we’ll connect you. How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when you hire, and $500 if you’re still happy with the hire 30 days in.Change the life of a family today using ParacleteVA. Core Lesson: Run your business so that when you face God at the end of your life, you’ll be proud of what you built and how you did it. Instead of trying to live a life separated into the various ‘compartments’ we often create. Live a life fully in alignment with the fact that you’ll one day face your creator. This is especially important for entrepreneurs because to whom much is given, much is expected. In other words, don’t settle for the standard level of expectations. Ask yourself genuinely, in the silence of adoration or on a walk… “What more could I do to be a builder for God while I’m here on earth, using the skills that He gave me?” Please spend some time on this in the coming week and figure out what you’re going to commit to. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerDon’t Build Alone, Join the Catholic Founders GuildThere is no perfect playbook to pursue sainthood through our entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s why we’re building the Catholic Founders Guild. A vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building for God. If you’re looking for Fellowship, Advice, Network, & Resources, the Catholic Founders Guild is for you. To sign up, upgrade to paid today. For a limited time, all paid supporters of Catholic Founders get access. It’s $10/month or $100/year. This offer is only for a limited time, so sign up today. Want to support our mission further? Consider becoming a member of The Magis Club, starting at $360 a year (give more if you like). *Magis is derived from the Ignatian principle of Magis, meaning doing more for God’s glory. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe