Lean Times

This class discusses the intersection of sound business principles and strong personal faith. Our class and this department constantly interact with many wildly successful redemptive entrepreneurs, who have discovered how to properly integrate these two seemingly opposed ideas. We could be forgiven for thinking that redemptive entrepreneurship is easy.

I want to relate my limited experience with the struggles of being a professing Christian and an entrepreneur in our modern society.

For some background, my family runs a Chick-fil-A restaurant in a little town called Reading, which is located between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. While Chick-fil-A is not exactly a small start-up company anymore, my family’s restaurant was one of the most northern locations for the Atlanta-based chain when it is opened ten years ago. Practically, this meant that a large percentage of the local population had not even heard of Chick-fil-A, much less eaten a fried chicken sandwich. Our family had to creatively reach out into the community to grow the business. The store opened in 2009 during the height of the Great Recession. Chick-fil-A’s economic predictions about our restaurant were incredibly inaccurate due to the economic downturn, which hit our area especially hard. This resulted in several incredibly lean years. I remember my parents were not always confident that they could make ends meet.

The economy slowly recovered, and things definitely got better for my family over the next 3-5 years.  My family learned how to save every penny from our business for the next lean month or seasonal slump in sales, and we also got better at building connections with the local community, which helped integrate the business into the character of the town. I share my family’s difficult season for two reasons. First, it serves as a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness. He clearly sustained my family through different circumstances. Second, my family’s journey should be an encouragement to redemptive entrepreneurs everywhere. Everyone will face trials in their lives and their businesses. It will get better. Just remember to always trust in the Lord and constantly innovate with the resources at your disposal.

(Shot by Cerqueira on Unsplash)