Clarifying Chaos
“The journey of ‘business as a ministry’ and the deconstruction of sacred/secular dualism is mysterious. It is way too beautiful and messy to reduce to simple platitudes or formulaic steps—it requires a metamorphosis of practical discipleship. Hamilton invites you into stories that teach and illuminate so well the adventure of faith and vocation. Enter into his story and let it invigorate your own!”
—Mike Sharrow, CEO, C12 Business Forums
CONNECT WITH US! As a thank-you, we’ll send you a FREE ADVANCE COPY of the second chapter of our forthcoming book, Clarifying Chaos.
“I am grateful for the support l have received in the last two years from Good Comma Editing, and l now understand how God uses GCE to clarify chaos for individuals as well as for companies. This book is an inspirational life story coming from the heart of God and with a clear purpose of building his kingdom on earth. It is inspiring others to stop and understand where they are at that very moment, how moments of despair and waiting prepare us for something bigger, and how, by God’s grace alone, we can be entrusted with much if we know how to obey in scarce times with little resources.”
—Lidia Niculai, Global Shared Services Senior Director, Duracell Services, a Berkshire Hathaway Company
“Hamilton’s compelling storytelling, thoughtful analysis, and Socratic questioning make this Clarifying Chaos booklet one of the best pieces I’ve read on the application of biblical principles in business. The conviction wrought in my soul through the author’s courageous battle for biblical truth while in startup mode inspires me to be more like Christ in every arena of my decision-making as a business leader.”
—Jonathan Jakubowski, President, SmartSolve
“In this booklet, Michael Hamilton has brilliantly shared vulnerable examples of real-world scenarios that all business owners face. This well-written and thoughtful personal journey unpacks the struggles of team building, mindful investment, and the moral dilemmas that face leaders caught between biblical commandments and financial demands. Hamilton’s experiences are vivid and relatable for Christian business leaders of any size organization.”
—Adam Groshans, Market President, Springfield Regional Medical Center
“A compelling firsthand journey to the space where biblical principles collide with entrepreneurship. Michael shows how worldview not only shapes the imagination but also directs our steps in the workplace. As a client of Good Comma, I have seen firsthand how this commitment to Christ energizes a company from the inside out.”
—Jesse Johnson, Lead Teaching Pastor, Immanuel Bible Church (Virginia)
“A high view of Scripture permeates Hamilton’s story, guiding him to make hard choices as an entrepreneur, husband, and father, and motivating Good Comma Editing’s partnerships with biblically sound pastors and churches.”
—Alexander Strauch, Author, Biblical Eldership
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF STORY #1
What is an acceptable margin of error for trusting and obeying God when steering a business through volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) environments?
If you said zero, I agree. And that means we both have a problem.
Business leaders—especially Christian ones—have a lot to get right, and we know from Scripture and experience that we will not always do so. Christ’s death and resurrection cover the shortcomings of those who trust in him, but our relationship with him makes us want to obey him even more. That’s not easy when the VUCA winds blow.
But I won’t list for you my top 5, 7, or 25 biblical principles for obeying God as an entrepreneur. Real life is messier than a short list, and life is too short for a long one. To obey God and faithfully discharge the leadership responsibilities he has assigned us, we must get busy applying the whole Bible all at once—not just our favorite parables and proverbs, and not just those that will make us and our teams productive.
Lists cannot capture a leader’s calling. But stories can.
So, let me share with you five real-life stories. Each story captures a dramatic scene from my past 10 years of steering my startup through chaotic headwinds—from launching our first company to building a team, making (and losing) investments, course-correcting our strategic plan, and even firing high-value clients.
Each story also interweaves biblical principles, verses, meditations, and convictions that guided my decision-making at the time, and that guide me still. You’ll witness my angst, doubt, and discomfort in the fog of war—and the crystal clarity that cut through the fog like a two-edged sword as I applied God’s Word to my business in real time (sometimes after getting it wrong). After each story, I’ll recap the “Chaotic Contributors,” insights for “Clarifying the Chaos,” and “Case Critique” questions I’ll pose to you along the way.
I hope to challenge you. But I also invite you to critique my uncomfortable journey as an entrepreneur and business owner, from the comfort of your armchair, Uber ride, or airplane seat. Simply email me at michael@GoodCommaEditing.com. I hope to hear from you!
Respectfully,
Michael T. Hamilton
