by John Kim

When I first started Amasia, I prayed hard that God would grow our firm to become a great success. I told him that I’d go anywhere, meet anyone, do anything… whatever it took I’d do it. But instead of giving me a tactic or a strategy, he gave me a picture. 

In my mind’s eye I saw my oldest son Kyan come to me with a startup idea. He pitched it to me and asked me to bless his business through an investment, by opening up my rolodex and promoting his solution to potential partners. Then God asked me “under what circumstances would you want to bless your son’s startup?” 

The first thought that entered my head is that because he’s my son, of course I’d want Kyan to be successful. I want him to have every opportunity the world can afford him, for him to experience every joy and victory available because that’s what dads do. Fathers love their sons. 

But then the mental video continued, and I saw two scenarios, one where Kyan energetically asked for that blessing “because I’m going to buy a company Ferrari, and when we blow up and make billions I’ll be the man, and all the girls will be after me. It’s going to be awesome! Apa, I know what I’m doing. I just need that initial investment and I can run with this and make it huge!” 

Then in another scenario he implored “I’ll be careful with the resources and the credibility that you lend me with your name, and when we’re successful I want to use those compounded resources to give back and make the world a better place. Also, most importantly Apa, I know I can’t do this alone, so while I’m asking for your blessing now, I know this is really just the beginning of a journey together. I’m going to come back to you every day for advice about how to run this company, because I really value our relationship and your wisdom.” 

Now in the first scenario I realized I’d still want my son to be blessed, but I’d be worried about dropping a big check into his company because it’d actually really hurt him in the long term. I’d probably drip feed the investment to make sure he spent each cent wisely, and hopefully he would learn the lessons of humility and proper prioritization along the way. 

But in the second scenario, I would not only want my son to be blessed, I’d feel totally confident about writing a big check and pulling every resource in my capacity behind him to make him successful because his character was mature enough for his calling. 

I felt God trying to impress upon me that as a father, of course he wants my business to be successful. And as an all-powerful being, he has the means to bring about incredible outcomes in the snap of a finger. But often I’ve found that the first order concern is not what he can do through me, but what he can do in me. 

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In our work and relationships, we often seek external change in our circumstances, but that must first start with transformation within. When we gain the humility, selflessness and love that come from an intimate walk with God, the worldly outcomes naturally follow as an outflow. 

PS: Since those early days my two older boys Kyan (7) and Luke (5) have started their first company with K-Pop producer extraordinaire Elmo of Double Dragon fame. Please check out Sonically (which is also the music curriculum for my wife’s startup Trehaus). Thankfully the boys aren’t talking about a company Ferrari… yet. 

Photo by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash

by Henry Kaestner

I don’t want to take away from the title of this blog/video by writing anything here, so I won’t :).  I’m a huge fan of Nancy, the work in leadership that she’s done…..none more so than what she is doing for the Christian community in the Silicon Valley through the organization that she leads called TBC (Transforming the Bay with Christ).

— Nancy Ortberg

by Danny Kim

Born in 1864, George Washington Carver was a son of a slave but was given the opportunity to study and become a scientist. He would begin each day and ask God to reveal secrets to him about plants and vegetables. It is reported that once Carver prayed, “Mr. Creator, show me the secrets of your universe.” “Little man, you’re not big enough to know the secrets of My universe, but I’ll show you the secret of the peanut,” was the reply. When he went to his lab, God downloaded to him over 300 uses of the peanut including various kinds of foods, oil, paint, ink, soap, shampoo, facial cream, plastics, and many other products.

Does God provide downloads to us today and how can we be ready to “hear” Him. This video is of one example where God provided a download for us at FullArmor when we were just starting out and trying to close Walmart as our first major customer. As a startup, we had dedicated our company to God and to run it with Godly principles contained in Ephesians 6. This is a message we need to hear today as God is waiting to reveal His secrets to those who will honor Him and bless those around us. I love one of Mr. Carver’s quote that shows God is speaking to us every hour!  We just need to learn how to tune in.

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in.”

This week we are honored to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, Vic Ho, Co-founder and CEO of Fivestars.  Vic is a long-time friend of both Henry and William, so it’s true joy to have him on the program.

What’s the lifeblood of a business?  We would argue that customers are on the top of this list.  Well, that’s what Vic focuses on day in and day out.  Customer acquisition and customer retention.  

Show Notes for Episode 20

by Johnny Shiu

This week we are honored to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, Vic Ho, Co-founder and CEO of Fivestars.  Vic is a long-time friend of both Henry and William, so it’s true joy to have him on the program.

What’s the lifeblood of a business?  We would argue that customers are on the top of this list.  Well, that’s what Vic focuses on day in and day out.  Customer acquisition and customer retention.  

What else is on the top of that list?  Finding unique ways to integrate God on the journey.  Vic covers more of this in Part 2 coming out next week, so stay tuned.

Vic worked at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey prior to starting Fivestars, and it was there that he discovered the value of customers.  He worked on building customer loyalty programs and then a landmark study came out showing it was six times more expensive to get a new customer than it was to hold onto a current one.  From there, Fivestars was born, an innovative software platform that helps small businesses (currently over 13,000 of them) retain their current customers and find new ones.

Their goal – “turn every transaction into a relationship”.  Join us to learn from one of the masters about how to do just that.

Also, come back next week to learn how Vic’s faith ultimately guides him in his role as the CEO of Fivestars.

by Henry Kaestner

Good morning all!  To continue the practice of having Monday’s blog be a bit more lighthearted, here’s a quick 2 minute video on the making of the FDE podcast….though this is one without Rusty.   The VLOG concept is, in part, a reaction to David Morken’s insistence that I’m actually not a great writer, and that I write, like I speak (he’s probably right).   So, we here at FDE are grateful for the many guest blogs each week, from GREAT writers, on all topics regarding faith driven entrepreneurship. AND we’re also grateful for the podcast, my co-hosts, and for great guests like Nancy Duarte featured in this VLOG.  Stay tuned for the release of the episode with her interview, and let us know what you think.  Got some candidates for great guest blogs, thoughts on resources we should include?  Questions for the podcast?  Please let us know!