There is no question that this tension of walking a path of balancing family and business responsibilities is a very real challenge for men and women in leadership.None of us will bat a 1000 in this arena…and all of us need to remain humble in our effort to learn from each other and continue to make steps of progress and improvement.  This topic is a high priority in FCCI leadership groups and we'd be honored for you to consider joining hundreds of other Christian business leaders in one of our weekly or monthly business leadership groups.  Reach out to us through our website at fcci.org and we'd be thrilled to determine how we can best serve your Kingdom-driven values and goals.LINK to January 21, 2025 FCCI Webinar - Lead With Prayer, with guest Ryan SkoogKen Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives featuring John Beckett.  John D. Beckett grew up in Elyria, Ohio and graduated from M.I.T. in 1960 before working as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In 1963 he joined his father’s small manufacturing business, R.W. Beckett Corp., and became president in 1965 upon the death of his father. The company has grown to become a worldwide leader in producing engineered components for residential and commercial heating.Along with its affiliates, the company employs some 700 people. Mr. Beckett is a founding board member of The King’s College in New York City, serves on the board of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, and is a director of Graphic Packaging Corporation, a  NYSE-listed manufacturing company. He served as the college’s interim chairman from May 2007 to December 2008. His first book, Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul, was published in 1998, and is now available in fourteen languages. His second book, Mastering Monday: A Practical Guide to Integrating Faith and Work, was released in July 2006. Mr. Beckett received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Spring Arbor University in 2002 and The King’s College in 2008.He was also named “Christian Businessman of the Year” by the Christian Broadcasting network (1999) and manufacturing “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young (2003). He resides in Elyria, Ohio with his wife of 47 years, Wendy. They have six children and eighteen grandchildren.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

What is on the short list of what you will not compromise in business decisions, in those strategic growth opportunities, and in your sales process?  What serves as the foundational bedrock of those moral moorings in your life?On this episode, you'll hear about John Beckett's decision-making matrix and John also shares some fascinating insights from his industry connections…when hundreds of millions of contract dollars are left on the table to avoid a breach of integrity, stepping back from industry expectations that rules will be bent to close a deal.  It really takes some serious commitment to operate as a Christian in business, to make decisions that align with Kingdom operating procedures - and sometimes it does mean walking away from massive contracts.  Could you do it?  Have you done it?  Or are you wincing at the reality that you haven't represented God well in recent business dealings - putting your own success and pride above biblical standards?Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives featuring John Beckett.  John D. Beckett grew up in Elyria, Ohio and graduated from M.I.T. in 1960 before working as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In 1963 he joined his father’s small manufacturing business, R.W. Beckett Corp., and became president in 1965 upon the death of his father. The company has grown to become a worldwide leader in producing engineered components for residential and commercial heating.Along with its affiliates, the company employs some 700 people. Mr. Beckett is a founding board member of The King’s College in New York City, serves on the board of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, and is a director of Graphic Packaging Corporation, a  NYSE-listed manufacturing company. He served as the college’s interim chairman from May 2007 to December 2008. His first book, Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul, was published in 1998, and is now available in fourteen languages. His second book, Mastering Monday: A Practical Guide to Integrating Faith and Work, was released in July 2006. Mr. Beckett received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Spring Arbor University in 2002 and The King’s College in 2008.He was also named “Christian Businessman of the Year” by the Christian Broadcasting network (1999) and manufacturing “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young (2003). He resides in Elyria, Ohio with his wife of 47 years, Wendy. They have six children and eighteen grandchildren.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Where is God active in your business right now?  How would you know?  What are you doing to join God is His Kingdom work?John Beckett has learned some hard lessons about values, culture, and has navigated some tough situations related to leadership promotions and even embezzlement by an employee.  And you might catch a glimpse of the timeframe of this recording when John speaks about the Enron scandal…don't miss his powerful statement about values and getting those values from words on a page to strategic implementation, down to traction in daily employee decision-making.  This is the real stuff of Christian business leadership, and it's typically not that easy!On this episode Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives that features John Beckett.  John D. Beckett grew up in Elyria, Ohio and graduated from M.I.T. in 1960 before working as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In 1963 he joined his father’s small manufacturing business, R.W. Beckett Corp., and became president in 1965 upon the death of his father. The company has grown to become a worldwide leader in producing engineered components for residential and commercial heating.Along with its affiliates, the company employs some 700 people. Mr. Beckett is a founding board member of The King’s College in New York City, serves on the board of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, and is a director of Graphic Packaging Corporation, a  NYSE-listed manufacturing company. He served as the college’s interim chairman from May 2007 to December 2008. His first book, Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul, was published in 1998, and is now available in fourteen languages. His second book, Mastering Monday: A Practical Guide to Integrating Faith and Work, was released in July 2006. Mr. Beckett received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Spring Arbor University in 2002 and The King’s College in 2008.He was also named “Christian Businessman of the Year” by the Christian Broadcasting network (1999) and manufacturing “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young (2003). He resides in Elyria, Ohio with his wife of 47 years, Wendy. They have six children and eighteen grandchildren.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

You step into the family business to work alongside your father...within a little over a year, he passes away due to heart attack, the factory almost burns to ground, and you're wrestling with trying to understand how your faith intersects with the grind of business life.  Sound challenging enough?On this episode Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives that features John Beckett.  John D. Beckett grew up in Elyria, Ohio and graduated from M.I.T. in 1960 before working as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In 1963 he joined his father’s small manufacturing business, R.W. Beckett Corp., and became president in 1965 upon the death of his father. The company has grown to become a worldwide leader in producing engineered components for residential and commercial heating.Along with its affiliates, the company employs some 700 people. Mr. Beckett is a founding board member of The King’s College in New York City, serves on the board of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, and is a director of Graphic Packaging Corporation, a  NYSE-listed manufacturing company. He served as the college’s interim chairman from May 2007 to December 2008. His first book, Loving Monday: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul, was published in 1998, and is now available in fourteen languages. His second book, Mastering Monday: A Practical Guide to Integrating Faith and Work, was released in July 2006. Mr. Beckett received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Spring Arbor University in 2002 and The King’s College in 2008.He was also named “Christian Businessman of the Year” by the Christian Broadcasting network (1999) and manufacturing “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young (2003). He resides in Elyria, Ohio with his wife of 47 years, Wendy. They have six children and eighteen grandchildren.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Do you have a discipleship action plan for your business? Have you ever considered establishing mentoring groups for your leadership team? FCCI has always had a core focus on developing mature Christ-followers through the platform of business.  And on this podcast episode, Charles will speak about 12 matches, that when lit can ignite a movement of discipleship through your business that will leave a significant legacy of mature and equipped Christ-followers - those who are also committed to discipling others and perpetuating the mission to transform the world through Christ.Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives that features Charles Hooper.  Charles Hooper, Jr, MDiv, MCC, is an Executive Coach and Leadership Advisor who accelerates clarity to CEO's, business owners, senior pastors, C-Suite senior leaders and their organizations. His executive level experience in large non-profit organizations and owning his own business brings refreshing understanding and insight to his clients.Charles is especially skilled at accelerating leaders with focus in the “people side” of their professional and personal life. He combines the best of executive coaching tools with a solid biblical worldview. In addition to his private practice, he trains and mentors coaches as a faculty member of an international coaching school.  He is a Master Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Charles is married to Jill and has 6 adult sons.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Are you "playing injured" in your business?  Do you know how to recognize if you're injured?  It's critical for leaders to establish boundaries on multiple fronts, including:  the mission of the business, the pursuit of what's best in your leadership responsibilities, empowering your team to be most effective in their roles, your own desire to pursue greater levels of achievement and growth, and your ability to maintain healthy energy and stayed 'fueled' as a leader.On this episode, gain strategic practices that will help you guard your heart and protect the wellspring of life that you must steward well to reach your full potential as a Kingdom business leader.Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a keynote presentation from the FCCI archives that features Dr John Townsend.  Dr. John Townsend is a business consultant, leadership coach and psychologist. He has written over 30 books, selling 10 million copies, including the New York times best-selling Boundaries series, People Fuel, Leading From Your Gut, and The Entitlement Cure.  For more than twenty years Dr. Townsend has engaged with leaders, organizations and individuals around the globe, offering them life-changing solutions to their problems. He is also co-host of the nationally-syndicated talk show “NEW LIFE LIVE” which is heard in 180 markets with 3 million listeners.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Is it possible to have a good plan (and tenacity) for mid-course corrections? The problem is when we somehow convince ourselves that corrections won't be needed along the way…and…well, that's when we might actually fail.  As Dr. Cook continues to unpack the story of Gideon we discover that midcourse corrections were necessary for Gideon as well.  He followed God's plan…and from a human perspective, it would seem that things didn't go perfectly as some Mideonites escaped during the battle.  However, as Bruce will share in this final episode of the Strategic Faith Planning series…sometimes, God still has work to do on our hearts, our attitudes, and our ability to trust God and ultimately give God the glory for the plans, the work, and the outcomes.Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a training series from the FCCI archives that features Dr. Bruce Cook.  From  1992-1997  Bruce served as President/CEO of Rapha, a national health care organization  providing faith-based, inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs in 26 hospitals in 22 states.  Bruce was also founder and CEO of  Leadership Dynamics International, providing management and leadership  training programs to over 100,000 participants in Asia, Europe, Africa, U.S., Canada and Latin America.  From 1977-79 Bruce served as National Director for Campus Crusade for Christ’s “Here’s Life America” which involved over 300,000  trained volunteers in 200 cities.  Bruce has also served on management task  forces for AT&T, United Airlines, and Coca Cola.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Great vision, great idea, great plan...but limited resources?  Does that describe a situation you're in now or have found yourself in at some point in your business career?Gideon had limited resources and it wasn't God's plan for him to follow typical methodology in conquering the Midianites.  God had a unique plan to leverage limited resources to accomplish exponential returns.  We see that principle throughout scripture.  Remember the story about the five loaves and two fish?  How about the story of fisherman who had been fishing all night, were exhausted, done for the day when Jesus told them to go back out onto the lake (at a time most would consider the worst for fishing) and they brought in the largest haul of their lives.  AND, how about the story of that shepherd boy and his sling.  Limited resources, great faith!Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a training series from the FCCI archives that features Dr. Bruce Cook.  From  1992-1997  Bruce served as President/CEO of Rapha, a national health care organization  providing faith-based, inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs in 26 hospitals in 22 states.  Bruce was also founder and CEO of  Leadership Dynamics International, providing management and leadership  training programs to over 100,000 participants in Asia, Europe, Africa, U.S., Canada and Latin America.  From 1977-79 Bruce served as National Director for Campus Crusade for Christ’s “Here’s Life America” which involved over 300,000  trained volunteers in 200 cities.  Bruce has also served on management task  forces for AT&T, United Airlines, and Coca Cola.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

This is one of the topics that I hear business owners and leaders wrestling with constantly…how do I know if God is really telling me to pursue this initiative or launch this new business endeavor…or hire this key leader…or merge with that strategic business partner?Strategic Faith Planning, part 4 is filled with valuable information that can be applied almost daily in business leadership.  This podcast episode will unpack 6 key markers to determine if God is guiding you in a particular direction, clarify the visioning process, the necessity and value of reaching firm conviction and how to establish clear goals that will serve you well in taking action on the plan that God has confirmed in your spirit.Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a training series from the FCCI archives that features Dr. Bruce Cook.  From  1992-1997  Bruce served as President/CEO of Rapha, a national health care organization  providing faith-based, inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs in 26 hospitals in 22 states.  Bruce was also founder and CEO of  Leadership Dynamics International, providing management and leadership  training programs to over 100,000 participants in Asia, Europe, Africa, U.S., Canada and Latin America.  From 1977-79 Bruce served as National Director for Campus Crusade for Christ’s “Here’s Life America” which involved over 300,000  trained volunteers in 200 cities.  Bruce has also served on management task  forces for AT&T, United Airlines, and Coca Cola.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.

Sometimes it's easier to just slap a "Jesus did it" or "God is my co-pilot" sticker on our business outcomes, right?  But did He really have any control over those outcomes?  Did people see you on your face before God, crying out for help and wisdom along the way?  Did you carry yourself with an attitude of humility and faith…or were you pushing and charging and functioning from a place of prideful determination?  For most of us, it's far easier to just gut it out and 'make it so, Scotty'…rather than spend the time in Bible study and prayer, developing a mindset of authentic dependence on God.  None of this is easy to navigate…so how do we make sure people are seeing Jesus as we're pursuing those necessary wins and that strategic progress to reach required goals if we want to keep the company alive, compensate employees, pay bills, and be people of integrity in our communities?  Ken Powell, host of FCCI's Pathway to Purpose podcast pulls a training series from the FCCI archives that features Dr. Bruce Cook.  From  1992-1997  Bruce served as President/CEO of Rapha, a national health care organization  providing faith-based, inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs in 26 hospitals in 22 states.  Bruce was also founder and CEO of  Leadership Dynamics International, providing management and leadership  training programs to over 100,000 participants in Asia, Europe, Africa, U.S., Canada and Latin America.  From 1977-79 Bruce served as National Director for Campus Crusade for Christ’s “Here’s Life America” which involved over 300,000  trained volunteers in 200 cities.  Bruce has also served on management task  forces for AT&T, United Airlines, and Coca Cola.Visit the FCCI website to learn more about leadership content, events, conferences, and the free CONNECT app for the Christian business leader community.