Make People's Lives Easier

I hired a business coach a few years back to help me whittle down my love of cooking into a scalable business. The words that stuck with me was this:

“Just remember to make people’s lives easier.”

That simple suggestion informed my decision to create simple weeknight recipes based on regional seasoning blends. A person buys the seasonings and has access to recipes that only USE that seasoning blend and have a minimal ingredient list. After talking to so many moms, I realized this approach would make their lives easier. The jury is still out whether I’m fixing the problem of moms not knowing what or how to cook during the weeknight hustle as I’m still in the beginning stages but my point is this:

The best business ideas stem from a vacancy in the marketplace that isn’t being addressed or addressed correctly.

Successful entrepreneurs see a current “problem” and embrace the opportunity to fix it in a way that is effective and simple so that consumers know that they are the fixers of that particular problem. As a result, their lives are made a little easier. I love hearing stories about entrepreneurs who built profitable businesses based on a problem they noticed wasn’t being handled effectively. It’s a nod to the rugged American spirit that pulls its sleeves up and says: “Nothing is telling me that I can’t solve this.”

I think that the Church has the unique opportunity to approach our community with much the same mindset. How can we fix problems if we aren’t getting out into our little pocket of the world and exploring the gaps in our village?

How do we know which nonprofits to support if we aren’t taking the time to see if they are “fixing the problem” they claim to be fixing?

I am all for financially responding to a heart moving story you hear at church or at an event but there is rarely a follow up to assess if people’s lives are being made easier.

It’s unfair to expect our church institutions to fastidiously evaluate every ministry or non-profit they decide to support–they simply don’t have the staffing and sometimes lack the expertise. Yet, most churches that I’ve spoken to have the heart for the work. They have a willingness if someone can come along and steer them in the right direction.

That’s why I think parachurch organizations like Better Community Builders are so important. We are tapping into the rugged individuality of business owners who aren’t afraid of a challenge and certainly aren't afraid to dig deep to figure out ways to try to fix a problem.

We do it for the people, yes, but we do it for the sake of the gospel.

We are a group of Christ-followers who recognize that there are major deficits when it comes to serving orphaned and at-risk male youth and we want to help fix that problem. In the process of serving together, we get to experience fellowship and communion with the One who calls us to this work. But we strive for positive outcomes, too.

Thank you for your partnership and for believing alongside us that Christians CAN fix problems in our community. We are, after all, Better Community Builders.