Integrity Moments

At the conclusion of the national championship football game, Indiana University quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, was interviewed. He proclaimed, “I want to give God all the glory and thanks to God.” Some reporters noted that moments later Mendoza surprisingly dropped the F-bomb as well. Mendoza is a vocal Catholic, so hopefully his faith  is sincere and ... The post Praise and Cursing appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Erika was widely respected as a manager because she had a track record of excellent work and commitment to results. Employees were eager to be on her team because she also had a sincere and compassionate heart for others. She valued both purpose and people. In his letter to the Romans, Paul reinforced that love ... The post Truth and Grace appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Aaron measured his career progress by the results of his annual reviews. His hard work throughout the year all felt worth it when he read what his boss wrote in the year-end assessment. Aaron treasured the feedback from his boss, both for the praise he would receive, but also because that praise generally translated to ... The post Misplaced Glory appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The modern workplace often puts a premium on individual performance. Organizations build infrastructure to hire people with the talents and skills they need to succeed. Employee performance evaluations tend to focus on individuals' accomplishments toward the organization's goals. But concluding his letter to the Romans, Paul lists by name more than two dozen people to ... The post Join the Team appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

When a salesperson cares about what's best for me, instead of for themselves, it can be so refreshing. Last year, I was speaking to the CEO of a software company about our software needs as a ministry. He owns a well-respected software company that serves nonprofits. After he listened to our needs, this CEO said, ... The post Loving Others in Business appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the book, “Founding Fathers,” Alexander Hamilton and George Washington reportedly had a volatile relationship. Hamilton was known for his brash ambition and his hot-headed ways. On one occasion, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington had a petty argument that resulted in Hamilton resigning angrily. But, within an hour, Washington “sent an aide to tell Hamilton ... The post Washington and Hamilton appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

According to Gallup research, managers account for over 70% of the difference in employee engagement levels. Stated differently, the relationship your employees have with their direct supervisors will have the biggest impact on how well your employees engage in their work. Many leaders are masterful at deceiving their boss about their true performance. One major ... The post Seeking Candid Insight appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As our plane was deboarding, people were leaving row by row in an orderly fashion until it came time for us. Suddenly four young men pushed me aside and forced their way off the plane. They didn't apologize or give a reason, they pushed through ignoring everyone else's needs. This prompted my wife, Kathy, to ... The post Civility and Common Decency appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The Barna research organization recently reported that only three in 10 Christians (31%) strongly agree that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith. The workplace can be a challenging place to share our faith. We can find many barriers, both real and imagined, to discourage faith conversations at work. Yet the workplace also ... The post Sharing Faith appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

There's nothing like a bad day to derail our best efforts at acting faithfully. As humans, we naturally turn our attention inward when challenges at work upset our plans and priorities. Knowing this, it's important to keep our hearts tender and moldable, and encourage others to do the same. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “See ... The post Soft Hearts appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Pondering President's Day, as a reminder of great leaders and their past struggles, is a helpful way to inspire and shape the culture of a nation. Businesses have a similar opportunity! Hebrews 11 highlights several heroes of the faith like Abraham, Moses, and Noah. The author chronicles these heroes experiences and victories as an encouragement ... The post President's Day Reflections appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As I finished talking with a friend who built a $500 million company, I was reminded of my own shortcomings. I sometimes make decisions based on my perceived limitations rather than on reality. It's easy to believe that others are more successful because they have access to more cash or better people. It may be ... The post Unlimited Resources appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In God's worldview, the strength of a leader is one who embraces humility rather than power. Abe Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” In my opinion, one character trait undervalued is humility. The craving for power and control can consume ... The post Abe's Character Test appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the book of Malachi, God criticized the Israelites for the ways they dishonored Him. They were no longer tithing or bringing unblemished sacrifices, just to name two of the ways God was disrespected. Despite the majority of Israel treating God poorly, there were those who esteemed God enough to be noted in what God ... The post Book of Remembrance appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

If you think about all the large companies in America, many may be led by Christians, but few customers would ever know. A few like Chick-fil-a, Hobby Lobby, or Coca-Cola Bottling are distinctly different because of their faith, but unfortunately the numbers of bold examples seem small. In Malachi, God praised those people who were ... The post Distinctly Different appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Graham Walker, former CEO of Fibrebond, refused to sell his company unless the buyers gave 15% of the proceeds to his employees. Due to Walker's generosity, the average employee received over $440,000. Mr. Walker had no obligation to bless his employees in this way, yet he did. Writing about the rich, Paul wrote in 1 ... The post A Benevolent Employer appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A bank I audited as a young man had a bank president named Ron. Ron had one of the most profitable and respected banks in our system. Ron cared deeply for his team members, and for his community. Ron watched over each teammate, protecting them from verbally abusive customers and loving and serving them in ... The post The Shepherd appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're talking about leadership lessons I learned from banking. One bank I examined had a bank president named Ken. While reviewing a past due loan report, I was surprised to discover a large loan that was one year past due but not listed on their problem loan list. When I asked Ken ... The post The Ostrich appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're talking about leadership lessons I learned from banking. Mike was a bank president who I would label as a Squeezer. He had a bank that appeared very profitable, resulting in Mike being promoted to a bigger role. When we examined the bank after Mike's promotion, however, we discovered that he had ... The post The Squeezer appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In this series, we're talking about leadership lessons I learned from the many bank presidents I observed early in my banking career. My first example is Tom. Many bank presidents wanted a favorable audit, so they typically were somewhat courteous. But not Tom. He came across as aloof and too important to be bothered. ... The post The Arrogant Leader appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The Barna research organization recently reported that only three in 10 Christians (31%) strongly agree that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith. The workplace can be a challenging place to share our faith. We can find many barriers, both real and imagined, to discourage faith conversations at work. Yet the workplace also ... The post Sharing Faith appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As a young banker, I learned a lot about leadership by watching the many different styles of bank presidents I observed. In my role doing bank examinations at that time, I interacted with a lot of front-line people like tellers and loan clerks. The reactions and interactions these people had with the bank president ... The post Leadership Lessons From the Backroom appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

While in a season of struggling to find God's direction for my work, a friend recommended I take a spiritual retreat. I was intrigued but unfamiliar with how to go about it. He pointed me to a retreat center that I had driven by many times but hadn't bothered to investigate. The center's director ... The post Retreat appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In business, there are times when you may invest in an employee, only to learn they are leaving for a new opportunity. It's hard not to feel betrayed and disappointed. The disappointment can be even greater when their departure leaves you with little return on your investment. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas split over their ... The post Disappointment in Business appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

From the way he talked, everyone in the office knew that Jonah was a Christian. He spoke about going to church, volunteering to serve meals, and what he learned from his daily Bible study. Even his name hinted at his beliefs! But he also turned people away by how he acted. He frequently missed his ... The post Love in Action appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

A recent post by religious statistician Ryan Burge analyzed Christians' fear of death. Across denominations, it appears people are less fearful of dying as they get older. Perhaps these older adults can look back with satisfaction on their lives, or perhaps they have grown more confident in God's promises as they have aged. Regardless, ... The post Fearing Death appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

For many of us, one of the hardest parts of leadership is speaking truth to one another. As someone who likes to please people, this has been particularly difficult for me over the years. If you desire your employees to become the best versions of themselves, it will occasionally require that you speak hard ... The post Speaking Truth to One Another appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In an August 2025 workplace survey, Gallup reported that employees who feel a strong sense of vocational purpose have better work outcomes. The survey said that 50 percent of those who have a strong purpose, feel connected to their work, are enthusiastic about what they do, and are committed to their organization's success. By comparison, ... The post Purposeful Work appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

There was a season when I was managing two loan officers who were very competitive with each other. There were times when I felt like a referee, often being asked to make decisions and choose between these two lenders. It was tempting to side with the one producing the most loan volume to keep ... The post Refereeing Workplace Rivalries appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The New York news conference to announce the merger of two companies was a big event, designed to garner news coverage from major financial media. The mood was celebratory, as executives boasted about a bright future for the merging companies and their expectations to generate customer benefits and shareholder value. Many months later, after ... The post Who Knows Tomorrow appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Frustrated by the over-the-top security features that continually locked my retailer-branded credit card, I called the bank that issued it to cancel it. I was stunned at the process. The audio system handled everything without engaging a real person to intervene. The bank had no idea why a long-term customer was leaving. And the retailer ... The post Care for Customers appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. realized that if excellence was modeled in the workplace, the opportunity for job advancement and improvement would increase dramatically. In a famous speech, Dr. King said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or as Beethoven composed music or ... The post Great Street Sweepers appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Politicians are often criticized for making promises they know they can't possibly keep. Unfortunately, politicians are not the only ones who struggle with deception. UBN once purchased software, based in part on their salesperson promising that their software was being fully integrated with another key software product we used. After purchasing this new software, their ... The post The Cost of False Promises appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

My wife, Kathy, recently visited a car wash. When Kathy approached the attendant's booth, the attendant began sharing about the benefits of their monthly club. Kathy stated she just wanted their cheapest car wash. This lady forced her canned sales pitch on Kathy anyway. Kathy said, “I've been coming here for two years. I just ... The post The Car Wash Blues appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

With an estimated 8 million businesses expected to sell or transfer due to the Great Wealth Transfer, pondering who to sell your business to is an important exercise. Money shouldn't be the only factor. Although you may depart after the sale, your employees and executive team will still be there. Here is a principle that ... The post The Great Wealth Transfer: Part III appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

With an estimated 8 million businesses expected to sell or transfer their business due to the Great Wealth Transfer, you might be surprised on how few of these owners are preparing for their transfer. According to headwayexec.com, 58% of business owners have no transition or succession plan. Less than 1/3rd of businesses have a written ... The post The Great Wealth Transfer: Part II appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Due to Baby Boomer's aging, it's estimated that over 8 million businesses will either sell or be passed on to the next generation. Many are calling this the Great Wealth Transfer. Many business owners have worked hard to build a culture that pleases God. But often taking the highest sale price can result in selling ... The post The Great Wealth Transfer: Part 1 appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Up until the 1980s, pension plans were a common approach for employers to help employees with retirement. Unfortunately, the investment risks became a bigger burden to carry than many businesses felt they could afford. Ted Benna, a benefits consultant, however, shrewdly discovered a 1978 tax provision that could replace the investment risk of these pension ... The post An Innovative Retirement Solution appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

John Patterson is a little-known businessman who significantly raised the level of professionalism for sales professionals. In the 1880s, Patterson founded the National Cash Register business to sell high-quality cash registers. Patterson realized his product needed much more public awareness. So, he formed a team of sales professionals who were trained to dress professionally, overcome ... The post Building a Professional Sales Team appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

For those business owners who desire to give from their profitability, a donor advised fund (DAF) can allow them to donate into their DAF in late December for their tax deduction. Then in January, the business owners can determine to which ministries they desire to give. DAFs, however, take away the urgency of selecting ministries ... The post Extended Generosity appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As we begin a new year, many people have developed their strategic plan, their marketing plan, or their financial plans for the year. How many businesses, however, have ever considered developing a ministry plan? If you're sincere about your faith, wouldn't it be helpful to have a plan with your goals and how to ... The post A Ministry Plan For Business appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In 2001, I owned a consulting practice that morphed into less consulting and more ministry. God's blessing on those ministry activities led to forming a nonprofit today called Unconventional Business Network. During that transition I wanted to assure that I was following God's vision rather than mine. I fasted, prayed and journaled. The result was ... The post Unconventional Planning appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

It's hard to know whether the plans I develop for the New Year are from me or from God. I'm a very optimistic person so my plans can lean towards being unrealistic. Yet, a common question is, “If I'm carrying out God's purpose, wouldn't He provide all that's required?” Although I don't have all the ... The post Successful Planning appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Did you know that until 1752 our forefathers celebrated New Year's Day on March 25th? Our culture tries to undermine Christianity, but New Year's Day is an example of the far-reaching impact Christians have had, even on our calendar. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII decided to standardize the calendar by creating the Gregorian calendar. He ... The post A New Calender appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In the 90s I owned a consulting practice. I often stayed late on New Year's Eve, because I wanted to tally up our final profit and loss numbers! It wasn't to greedily examine my profits. Instead, it was to determine how much extra I could give to charity before the tax year ended. Joy would ... The post New Year's Eve Joy appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Scott Cook, cofounder of Intuit, and Professor Nitin Noharia discussed how to enhance customer value. The article highlighted CEO of RELX, Erik Engstrom. Engstrom has been asking his team customer-obsessed questions for twenty years. Some of Engstrom's profound questions include: “How does the customer measure value? How do ... The post Profound Questions appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Globally, 83% of the world's population claims that religion is important to them. But of the 38 wealthiest nations that belong to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, including the United States, only 36% view religion as important. According to a recent Gallup poll, in 2015, 66% of the U.S. population said religion was ... The post The Importance of Religion appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Between banking and ministry, I've been around a lot of business leaders blessed with extreme wealth. I've seen those who hoard their wealth, and, the misery wealth can bring. But I've also known those who view wealth as a blessing from God, to be used to bless others. From the world's perspective, if you ... The post Hoarder or Blesser appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

The vision of Unconventional Business Network is that every business leader would become a Christ-centered catalyst for workplace transformation. The foundation of our vision is being Christ-centered. As we reflect on the birth of Christ, I'm reminded of the shepherds who were in their workplace tending sheep. When the angels proclaimed that the Messiah had ... The post Christ-Centered Catalysts appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

As we celebrate Christmas Eve, imagine the day before Jesus' birth. Joseph had been leading a donkey for likely five days as he and Mary made the 90-mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem. All so that Rome could tax him more money. The final insult to this long trip had to be when these ... The post A Hard Day appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

One of the most dangerous aspects of AI will likely become our dependence upon AI rather than on God. Google gave us the search engine, but AI takes the search engine far deeper by providing prescriptive directives and knowledge based on research. Each day it becomes easier for me to type in any issue ... The post AI Dependent? appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.