The Creative Entrepreneur
— by Faith Driven Entrepreneur
Well-known business experts and global entrepreneurs regularly contribute to the Faith Driven Entrepreneur blog and podcast. As stewards of these archives, we’ve curated a number of voices to provide you with diverse perspectives on popular business topics. Our intent is that these fresh pieces of wisdom will guide you as you faithfully pursue your own business journey.
Every entrepreneur is a creative entrepreneur.
You may not be an artist or a designer. You might not dress in bright colors or play a musical instrument. But if you’re an entrepreneur, then you’ve been called to create. You look around a tired marketplace and think, “I could create a better product. I could provide a more appealing service.”
You feel it deep inside you – a need to add your mark to the world.
Why else would you start your own enterprise instead of joining up with an established business?
Being an entrepreneur is difficult, but it’s also worthwhile. At Faith Driven Entrepreneur, we believe that every entrepreneur has been called to create, and this drive is what makes starting a business so compelling to so many of us.
But what does it really look like to be a creative entrepreneur? What are some examples of creative entrepreneurship? And how does the call to create manifest itself in our day-to-day entrepreneur journey?
To answer these questions, our team has curated some of the leading voices in business to explore what it means to be a creative entrepreneur.
What Do Entrepreneurs Create Exactly?
When we say “creative entrepreneur,” we don’t quite mean artists who sell their art through their own business. While Etsy shop owners and painters who sell their pieces through galleries are considered creative entrepreneurs, we’re not equating creativity with art.
An entrepreneur is creative in a much different, much broader sense. For those of you who quit your artistic ambitions at stick figure doodles, don’t close your browser just yet.
Instead, entrepreneurial creativity means working toward a vision for a better world. In his article “Superpower and Kryptonite of Entrepreneurs,” Justin Forman, President of FDE, writes:
We praise entrepreneurs who try to solve the world’s problems. We praise them for never being satisfied. It impresses us how they shout from the rooftops, ‘Bury the status quo in a time capsule.’ With increasing emotions and visuals, they paint a beautiful picture of why the offerings of today are simply not enough. They call us to visions of a future reality … one where we can see, feel, and explore an existence where things can be better.
If you ask a random entrepreneur on the street why they started their business, they’d probably give a similar answer. They saw an opportunity to make the world a better place through business. Then they made it happen.
The creative drive of entrepreneurship comes down to basic Business 101: “How do we meet a market need?” Human beings are always going to be hungry, uncomfortable, afraid, tired, and lonely. The creative entrepreneur comes up with new ways to meet those needs.
The pizza shop owner says, “My pizza can solve the hunger problem.”
The banker says, “My bank can help reduce financial instability.”
The hotel booking site says, “My service can help people relax by taking vacations.”
But can you see the issue with these examples? All of these business ideas exist already. If an entrepreneur were to start a new business in these industries, they would have to come up with a creative way to stand out from the crowd. They must not only meet a felt need in the market, they must differentiate themselves from competitors.
Again, we’re back to Business 101. To differentiate a business strategy, an entrepreneur will almost always prioritize one of three tactics:
Be the best – Discover a creative new way to increase a product’s quality
Do something different – Meet a brand new need in the marketplace or adapt an older technology for a new purpose.
Do something for a lower cost – Think outside the box to create new efficiencies in the market
No matter which differentiation strategy you choose, you’ll need creativity. And in our fast-moving world of high-speed data and constantly shifting market preferences, creativity is becoming a non-negotiable, not just for startups but for every company. Companies that begin as industry vanguards but refuse to rely on entrepreneurial creativity soon fall by the wayside.
The Harvard Business Review article “Leaders Can-Turn Creativity into a Competitive Advantage” demonstrates this shift in corporate strategy:
What we need is a shift in emphasis from operational competitiveness toward creative competitiveness — the capacity of organizations and society to create, embrace, and successfully execute on new ideas.
Nurturing a creatively competitive organization requires curiosity above all else. Asking the right questions is more important (and more difficult) than having the right answers. One of my favorite Victorian entrepreneurs, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, asked the seemingly ridiculous question, ‘How can I create the experience of floating over the English countryside?’ in his quest to building the first large-scale, long-distance railway service in England.
The creative entrepreneur is first and foremost concerned with curiosity and adaptation. To put this into the perspective of faith, we might say that the creative entrepreneur taps into the infinite nature of God to imagine a brand new world. The creative entrepreneur resembles the creative God we see in Genesis.
Simply put, the entrepreneur creates a business that offers a product or service to uniquely address unmet needs in the marketplace.'
Seeing God’s Creation Reflected in Entrepreneurs and Business
If you’re familiar with theology, you might have heard of the term “ex nihilo,” a Latin phrase meaning “out of nothing.” This phrase is most often used in relation to the creation of the universe, where God spoke matter into existence from nothing.
In a way, entrepreneurs do the same thing on a much smaller scale. We have visions for businesses that don’t exist yet. Creation is what sets us apart from other business professionals who may manage, steward, or analyze already existing endeavors without bringing about something new. For example, an R&D engineer uses their skills to create someone else’s next big product. But the entrepreneur is the one who hires the R&D engineer to make their vision a reality.
At Faith Driven Entrepreneur, we believe God is the original entrepreneur. He created the world, and it was good, and He continues moving all of history toward His ultimate redemptive goal. God is actively working out His plan to meet our human needs physically and spiritually. What’s more, God uses us to accomplish that plan.
An article by Theology of Work says it this way, “When we allow our creative ability to flow as God designed, our lives exemplify the very words Jesus prayed: “your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
And so, if God is the ultimate entrepreneur, what can we learn from Him? What aspects of His nature can we mirror in our own businesses?
It’s not enough to define creative entrepreneurship as being able to meet market needs through business. That’s too vague. We must get exceptionally clear on what needs we are going to meet. And if God loves us in certain ways, perhaps we can demonstrate that same kind of love to our clients and customers. Here are five ways God’s creativity finds itself reflected in entrepreneurship.
Let these aspects of God’s nature inspire your own entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneurs Can Provide Security
When the Israelites were heading toward the promised land in Exodus, God created manna to make sure they wouldn’t starve. It was an incredible act of creativity, an act most Israelites would have never imagined in their wildest dreams. Bread that covered the ground like dew!
God works to provide security for his people, and so can entrepreneurs. Brett Hagler joined the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to discuss his vision for 3D printing entire villages. Brett’s business model embraced a creative vision:
It just seems like people are attacking this problem [of providing shelter relief to Haiti] in a very traditional manner. And I was longing for something that would have a little more risk-taking, a little more innovation and R&D budget… If I was only passionate about the mission of helping people who didn’t have safe shelter, then I could have joined another organization. But I thought that we need a new way to attack the problem and try a model that would be built with different operating principles.
What a creative solution to this problem!
Entrepreneurs Can Instill Order
Anyone who studies science will tell you that God’s created universe exhibits layers and layers of order. Chemistry studies the way elements and compounds interact based on observable rules. Astronomy wouldn’t manse sense without the regular workings of gravity. In fact, all of science is based on the basic premise that we can conduct observable and repeatable experiments. But what does this have to do with business?
Do you ever think you could use more order to your life? Or have you ever considered how Google, one of the world’s largest companies, is only valuable because it organizes information so effectively? Look at Quickbooks if you want a great example of a company that creates orderly systems to benefit others. Order is inherent in God’s creation, and businesses can profit greatly by offering systems that help people live orderly lives.
Entrepreneurs Can Encourage Rest
Burnout and exhaustion are common experiences these days, and entrepreneurs are not known for practicing work-life balance. God, however, created Sabbath for Himself and for mankind. God rested from His work, and He asks us to do the same. Let’s not forget that Sabbath came about from an act of creation.
Jordan Raynor, author and entrepreneur, recounts the season when he began to truly embrace the idea of Sabbath:
As my wife and I began to practice Sabbath, it quickly became clear why Jesus said the Sabbath is for man and not the other way around. The Sabbath is an opportunity to rest from the pressure of the world to constantly accomplish, earn, solve, spend, and do. It’s a day to step back, as God himself did on the seventh day, and enjoy the fruit of our labor. It’s a day to look at our life, our work, and the cross and say with great contentment, “This is enough!”
We all need a Sabbath perspective on life. Whether through time-saving devices or curating restful experiences, entrepreneurs can place rest at the center of their product development.
Entrepreneurs Can Build Community
Facebook was supposed to usher in a new epoch of community and connection. Despite the grandiose headlines, we all know how that turned out. It seems that we’re more disconnected than we’ve ever been.
But Facebook also proves that human beings have a deep need for community. And entrepreneurship can meet that need. From Meetup.com to Pinterest to bowling alleys, there’s money to be made in facilitating relationships.
In fact, Faith Driven Entrepreneur is working hard to bring business leaders together across the globe. Our mission is to connect one million faith driven entrepreneurs. And that happens in our Foundation Groups. Feeling lonely? Learn more about entrepreneur groups.
Entrepreneurs Can Create Beauty
The FDE blog and podcast archives are full of stories of craftspeople who use their talents to create beautiful objects for people to enjoy. From custom coffins to bestselling rap music, Christians are using their talents to glorify God.
In a blog post titled “Etched in Excellence,” Peter Greer writes, “The words ‘poor quality’ and ‘Christian’ should never be used to describe the same organization. Substandard work runs contrary to God’s calling, even while excellent work—as Buck Knives can attest—can open doors to share the Gospel.”
Some entrepreneurs might look down on beauty and say it’s not practical or efficient. But God created beauty and appreciates it for its own sake. He saw that creation was good; He didn’t need to show 15% CAGR for beauty to be worthwhile. Purpose-first filmmakers, architects, and understand.
This list begs the question – what kind of creative entrepreneur are you? What kind of creative has God called you to be? How will you use your unique vision and talents to meet a need in the world?
How to Become a More Creative Entrepreneur
Creativity can be a difficult trait to harness. It seems to come and go as it pleases. But thankfully, creativity is not random, and it’s not a quality you either have or don’t have. Rather, creativity is connected to curiosity, brain chemistry, and social environment. If you’re feeling uninspired in this current season, know that there are practical steps you can take to improve your creativity. Here are a few examples.
Take a Creative View of Creativity
Don’t let narrow cultural narratives around creativity create mental roadblocks. Earlier in this piece, we mentioned that art and creativity are not the same. You also don’t have to participate in shallow stereotypes like “being quirky” or wearing outlandish clothes to be considered creative.
Sometimes we get obsessed with “originality,” the idea that every invention has to be revolutionary for its field. But in fact, most technological advancements have been simple upgrades to previous systems. Apple understood this when they set up the “desktop” as the hub of their computer’s graphical user interface. In effect, Apple digitized an already accepted concept, which was key to their acceptance by the mass market.
Find Mentorship and a Creative Community
People often ask whether entrepreneurs are more creative as individuals or in groups. As it turns out, both contexts contribute to creativity. It’s not an either-or question. According to creativity research summarized in Fast Company, “The way to maximize creative potential is to flow between being alone and being in a group, and back again.”
However, many entrepreneurs tend to isolate themselves. Loneliness and isolations are topics we cover extensively at Faith Driven Entrepreneur. Therefore, we recommend that entrepreneurs find mentors and communities that spur creative thinking. Find a trusted advisor who will help you think through new ideas. Join a coworking space or a Meetup group where you can brainstorm with like-minded entrepreneurs. A balance between individual reflection and community thinking will most likely lead to creative insights into your business.
Don’t Force Creativity
In an article titled “3 Common Fallacies about Creativity,” writers Pronita Mehrotra, Anu Arora, and Sandeep Krishnamurthy note that decision-making speed and true innovation don’t always go hand in hand. They write:
A few months ago, articles critical of Google CEO Sundar Pichai argued his slow decision-making process stifled innovation. The articles incorrectly equated decision-making speed with innovation. We don’t have insight into whether his “slow” decisions were innovative, but the misconception that slow decision-making stifles innovation often leads to the illusion that productivity requires speed.
Like a novelist mulling over their next masterpiece, it might take months or years to tease out the details of a great business idea. Demanding production from your creative process only leads to stress, which is counterproductive to creativity.
Stop and Listen to God’s Voice
A lack of creativity may mean God is asking you to reevaluate your trajectory. You feel stuck, frustrated, and exhausted. These negative experiences sometimes indicate that you’ve gone off track or that God is calling you in a different direction. We are meant to co-create alongside God’s master plan, not build rogue empires by our own designs. Creativity is a grace given to us by our heavenly father.
The Creative Entrepreneur is Healthiest Within the Body of Christ
Americans love the idea of the individual entrepreneur. However, the individual entrepreneur is often an isolated entrepreneur, and we know that isolation can hamper creativity. Not only is the isolated entrepreneur ineffective, but the narratives surrounding the lone wolf entrepreneur are mostly myth anyway.
Nearly every pop culture entrepreneur had partners and support along the way. Larry Page was partnered with Sergei Brin. Steve Jobs couldn’t have succeeded without Steve Wozniak. Thomas Edison had the financial backing of JP Morgan.
In a blog post for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, Thane Ringler reflects on what Wendell Berry has to say about humans in isolation:
Left to ourselves with our natural bent, we will decay and self-destruct. Degradation simply happens; we don’t have to do anything to help it out - gravity does the job. But to flourish, to create that which is beautiful, to make things new and good - that is “difficult and long.” We see this with the things we build constantly needing repair and maintenance, and we see this within our own bodies that will slowly and surely lose functional ability without exercise and training to build it up and make it stronger.
As faith driven entrepreneurs, we’re reminded that we all function within the body of Christ. We all have unique gifts that complement and strengthen other gifts held by other people. Entrepreneurs possess specific skills and perspectives, and society couldn’t thrive without them.
Tim Holcomb, the chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship at Miami University says:
We are at a point that when we hear ‘entrepreneurship,’ we assume this means someone is starting a company. There is so much more to entrepreneurship than starting companies. Entrepreneurship is a unique skill set and mindset, and as fast as our world is changing, we need more people who possess the entrepreneurial toolkit to keep pace, adapt and address new challenges as they arise.
But entrepreneurs are just one piece of the puzzle. It is through Christ that all things are made new, not the individual entrepreneur, and in this way, we are but shadows of the ultimate entrepreneur. God is the only one who truly creates “ex nihilo.” Faith driven entrepreneurs create by taking cues from God’s blueprint.
While we may possess a unique vision for a better world, that vision is given to us by God.
It’s why Faith Driven Entrepreneur’s mission includes, “From the very beginning, God created us to share in His entrepreneurial process with purpose, passion, and pursuit. He gives us ideas, dreams, and ventures to reflect His image and bring about His glory.”
The entrepreneur creates within the context of the body of Christ, His church. This is where the entrepreneur is most creative – they proceed according to God’s will and benefit from the skillsets of other people. Without accountants, advisors, investors, janitors, manufacturers, and employees, the entrepreneur can’t do much. Or they burn out quickly as the demands of a complex business tax their talents and abilities. But by relying on God and others, the entrepreneur is able to unleash their creativity and change the world for the better.
The special role of the creative entrepreneur is to tap into a small sliver of God’s great plan, clarify how that vision plays out in the world, and bring it to fruition. God uses entrepreneurs to bring about His kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven. Our creations can bring order out of chaos, solve problems, seize opportunities, rally against injustice, and create dignity and opportunity for those who interact with our creations.
You are a creative entrepreneur. We hope that the many voices included in this article encourage you to dive deeply into what creativity means for you.
Want to explore the idea of creative entrepreneurship further? Join an upcoming Faith Driven Foundation Group. There, you’ll connect with 10-15 other entrepreneurs who are also pursuing a creative relationship with God.