Sarah Mitchell
Catholic entrepreneurship is on the rise, with many Catholics looking for ways to use their creativity and business skills to spread God's word while making a living. Starting a Catholic business can be a rewarding endeavour, allowing individuals to take control of their careers while honouring their Catholic values. Whether it's teaching, counselling, selling products, or offering services, there are many opportunities for success in Catholic entrepreneurship. However, it's important to approach this venture with prayer, discernment, and authenticity. Seeking help from others and staying connected with the community is also crucial. This guide will explore the keys to success in starting a Catholic business and provide insights into how to navigate the challenges of blending faith and business.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prayer | A way to connect with God and seek guidance and blessings for your business. |
| Discernment | Understanding God's calling and aligning your business with your Catholic values. |
| Networking | Building authentic relationships with people who share your interests and values. |
| Dedication | Invoking the Holy Spirit and dedicating your work to spreading God's word and touching lives. |
| Courage | Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome by trusting in God's plan for you. |
| Perseverance | Resisting the devil's trash talk and staying motivated amidst challenges and failures. |
| Learning | Seeking advice from blogs, podcasts, and Facebook groups, and learning from others' successes and failures. |
| Service | Identifying your unique skills, services, or products that fulfill a broader audience's needs. |
| Integrity | Running your business with integrity, grace, and a focus on impacting lives rather than competition. |
| Support | Supporting and buying from fellow Catholic-owned businesses to build a strong Catholic economy. |
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What You'll Learn
Ask yourself: is this God's calling?
Starting a Catholic business is a daunting endeavour, but it can be a rewarding one. Many Catholic entrepreneurs have shared that they felt called by God to start their businesses, even if they felt unprepared or unqualified. So, how do you know if you are being called by God to start a Catholic business?
Firstly, prayer and discernment are key. Take time to pray and listen for God's guidance, and seek advice from trusted family and friends. It is also important to remember that you do not have to do it alone. Many successful Catholic businesses have started as side hustles, allowing the founder to experiment and maintain financial security. Networking with other Catholics in business can also be a great way to build relationships and gain advice and support.
When discerning God's calling, it is important to reflect on your unique skills, services, or products that you can offer. God has given you these gifts, and he wants to use them to help accomplish His goal of saving souls. It is also important to remember that success may look different in a Catholic business. While secular businesses often focus on financial metrics, a Catholic business may prioritise the number of lives touched or hearts changed.
Finally, when discerning God's calling, it is essential to dedicate your business to the Holy Spirit and stay focused on your "why". The Rule of St. Benedict states, "Whenever you begin any good work, you should first of all make it a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection." This dedication will ensure that, regardless of financial success, God will use your business to touch lives.
In conclusion, when asking yourself if starting a Catholic business is God's calling for you, remember to pray and discern, seek advice and support, reflect on your unique gifts, prioritise lives touched over financial success, and dedicate your business to the Holy Spirit.
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Pray for guidance and listen
Prayer and discernment are essential when starting a Catholic business. The Rule of St. Benedict advises: "Whenever you begin any good work, you should first of all make it a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection." Dedicating your business to the Holy Spirit is a crucial step in Catholic entrepreneurship.
Prayer can help you discern whether starting a business is something God is calling you to do. It is important to listen for God's call and be open to His plan. For example, Cecilia Escobedo, founder of Hair Bows 4 Life, asked the Holy Spirit to help her name her business. Similarly, the founder of Be/Wilder Writer, LLC, a business that explores the intersection of creativity, wilderness, and spirituality, struggled with prayer but found that the idea for her business came to her while on a long drive in rural Tennessee.
Discernment is a vital part of Catholic entrepreneurship. You may feel unprepared or unqualified, but God will be persistent if He has chosen you for this path. It is important to listen to trusted family members and friends and seek advice from other Catholics who have started businesses. Joining professional forums, Facebook groups, and other online communities can provide support and guidance as you navigate the challenges of starting a Catholic business.
When running a Catholic business, it is essential to remember your "why." Are you motivated by a desire to impact hearts and lives, or are you focused on gaining a following and outperforming your competition? Inviting God and the Saints into your day-to-day business decisions can help you stay aligned with your values and make decisions with integrity.
Finally, remember that growth in a Catholic business may look different from secular businesses. Instead of measuring success solely through monetary gains or follower counts, Catholic entrepreneurs are often more concerned with the number of hearts helped and changed. Finding alternative ways to track your success, such as the impact you have on your customers or community, can help you stay focused on your unique goals and mission.
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Network with authenticity
Networking is an important aspect of entrepreneurship, including Catholic entrepreneurship. However, networking can often feel negative, especially in the context of Catholic business, where potential founders are frequently warned not to use people. But when approached with authenticity and generosity, networking is simply building relationships.
Be Open to Learning
When networking, approach others with the goal of learning about them, rather than focusing on how they can help you. Be curious and ask questions to get to know the other person. You may find business opportunities or you may simply make a new friend.
Build Genuine Connections
Wealth, growth, and rich cultures are all birthed through genuine connections. When networking, strive to create authentic connections with people. Be yourself and allow the other person to see the real you. This will allow for a more natural and meaningful interaction.
Attend Live Events
While digital advancements have made it easier to connect online, attending live events can provide additional benefits. Participating in networking events, conferences, or industry gatherings allows you to build confidence, receive real-time advice, and establish camaraderie with colleagues, experts, and peers. These interactions can lead to strong foundations for new friendships and business relationships.
Join Networking Groups
Consider joining dedicated networking groups or professional forums, as this can help raise your profile and build positive traction within a circle of influencers. It also provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share similar interests and passions.
Ask for Help
Starting a Catholic business can be intimidating, and it's easy to fall into imposter syndrome. Remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Join Facebook groups, search for volunteers, or connect with others who have gone through similar experiences. You can learn from their successes and failures and gain valuable insights.
Remember, Catholic entrepreneurship is about more than just financial success. It's about using your creativity and skills to spread God's word while making a living. So, stay connected to your community, be authentic in your interactions, and trust that God will use your business to touch lives.
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Dedicate your business to the Holy Spirit
The decision to start a Catholic business stems from a calling from God, even if you feel unprepared or unqualified. Discernment is an important part of Catholic entrepreneurship, and prayer is a key way to determine if this is the right path for you.
The Rule of St. Benedict states:
> "Whenever you begin any good work, you should first of all make it a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection."
Therefore, dedicating your business to the Holy Spirit is an important step in Catholic entrepreneurship. This can be done by incorporating faith into your entrepreneurial journey through prayer, the study of the Bible, and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Inviting God into your planning time and asking what to focus on today or this week is a way to allow God to lead you in spirit.
There are also traditional Catholic prayers to the Holy Spirit that can be used to dedicate your business, such as:
> "O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, to You I consecrate my heart, mind, and will for all time and eternity. May I be ever docile to Your Divine inspirations and to the teachings of the holy Catholic Church whose infallible guide You are. May my heart be ever inflamed with the love of God and love of neighbor. May my will be ever in harmony with Your Divine Will. May my life faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him, with the Father, and You, Divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen."
Another prayer to the Holy Spirit is:
> "Take away our natural presumption and uplift us with a holy humility, with reverence for God and selfless courage. Let no vain attachment impede the work of our state in life, nor personal interest divert us from the demands of justice. May no scheming on our part reduce love to our own petty dimensions. May all be noble in us; the quest and the respect for truth, and the willingness to sacrifice even to the cross and death."
In addition to dedicating your business to the Holy Spirit, you may also choose to have a patron saint for your business.
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Track success by impact, not profit
When starting a Catholic business, it is important to remember that Catholic entrepreneurship should start by dedicating your business to the Holy Spirit. Whether or not it turns out to be a financial success, God will use it to touch lives.
While it is important to be mindful of profits, especially to ensure sustainability, the success of a Catholic business should not be measured by profits alone. Instead, track success by impact. This is especially true for Catholic businesses with a ministry, as there may be only one person God needs you to impact through your ministry business.
To measure the impact of your Catholic business, you must first define its mission. For example, the mission of Goodwill Industries is to raise people out of poverty through work. Thus, Goodwill can measure its success by counting the number of people participating in its training programs and then placed in jobs.
Once you have defined your mission, you can set specific goals and select the right metrics to measure your impact. For instance, if your mission involves improving global biodiversity, you may want to evaluate the condition of plants and animals in the areas you manage against a baseline set of data.
By staying ahead of the curve and utilizing the latest metrics and tools, your Catholic business can position itself for long-term success and make a lasting impact on the community it serves.
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Frequently asked questions
Discernment is an important part of Catholic entrepreneurship. Prayer, listening, and talking to trusted family members and friends can help you decide if starting a Catholic business is something God is calling you to do. Many Catholic entrepreneurs have shared that they felt God put the call on their hearts, even if they felt unprepared or unqualified.
Catholic professionals with teaching experience or academic backgrounds can offer tutoring or create educational courses on Catholic theology, scripture studies, or Catholic business ethics. With the rise of online learning, you can work remotely while sharing your faith and expertise with others. Other business ideas include event planning for Catholic celebrations, starting a Catholic blog or podcast, and selling Catholic products such as apparel with religious symbols or devotional items.
Running a Catholic business is about more than just financial success; it's about impacting lives and bringing people to God. It's important to stay connected to your "'why' and maintain your integrity and values. Don't be afraid to ask for help and lean on your community for support. Networking and building relationships with other Catholic business owners can provide valuable connections and mutual support.
