Faith & Business
Business by the Book
Larry Burkett
Biblical principles for running a business with integrity.
Recommended for: I Need to Make a Difficult Business Decision
All Challenges
Leadership
I Need to Make a Difficult Business Decision
Work through the facts, risks, people, and principles before deciding.
The Challenge
Work through the facts, risks, people, and principles before deciding.
Why This Happens
- Unclear facts
- Emotions driving the decision
- No deadline
Questions to Ask Yourself
- 1.What are the known and unknown facts?
- 2.What is the worst reasonable outcome?
- 3.Who is affected?
- 4.What principles are involved?
What to Do First
1
Fill out the Decision Worksheet.
2
Seek wise counsel.
3
Set a decision deadline.
Step-by-Step Solution
- 1
List facts.
- 2
List unknowns.
- 3
Weigh risks and benefits.
- 4
Consider people affected.
- 5
Check principles.
- 6
Decide by the deadline.
- 7
Review the result.
Three Levels of Solutions
Quick Win
Do this today
Write the decision down in one sentence.
Build the System
Next 30 days
Use the Decision Worksheet and discuss it with a mentor.
Long-Term Transformation
Where you're headed
Decisions made calmly with facts, counsel, and principles.
Lessons From the Pass It On Library
From Principles
Separate facts from feelings.
Framework: Mistake → Lesson → Principle → System
From Business by the Book
Is it honest? Is it fair?
Framework: Biblical Business Decision Check
Pass It On Action
Ask one wise counselor for input.
Practical Tool
Decision Worksheet
Fill it in here, then download or print. Your answers stay on your device.
Your Action Plans
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7-Day Action Plan
- Day 1 — Identify the problem: write down exactly how “I Need to Make a Difficult Business Decision” shows up in your business.
- Day 2 — Review the numbers: gather the facts, figures, and examples connected to this challenge.
- Day 3 — Find the root cause: answer “What are the known and unknown facts?”
- Day 4 — Choose one change: Fill out the Decision Worksheet.
- Day 5 — Assign responsibility: name ONE owner, a deadline, and the expected result.
- Day 6 — Implement: Seek wise counsel.
- Day 7 — Review what happened: what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll do next week.
30-Day Action Plan
Week 1 — Diagnose
- Answer: What are the known and unknown facts?
- Answer: What is the worst reasonable outcome?
- Answer: Who is affected?
- Complete the 7-Day Action Plan.
Week 2 — Build
- Use the Decision Worksheet and discuss it with a mentor.
- List facts.
- List unknowns.
- Weigh risks and benefits.
- Consider people affected.
Week 3 — Implement
- Check principles.
- Decide by the deadline.
- Review the result.
- Train the people involved and assign owners.
Week 4 — Measure & Improve
- Compare results to where you started.
- Write one lesson learned.
- Adjust the process.
- Share what you learned with someone in the fellowship.
Biblical Principles
Wisdom for the journey — encouraging stewardship, integrity, and service, never a promise of guaranteed success.
#88 · Wisdom
Seek wise counsel
Proverbs 15:22
#92 · Wisdom
Commit your plans to God
Proverbs 16:3
#94 · Wisdom
Control your emotions when making decisions
Proverbs 14:29
Related Challenges
Recommended Books
Approved Bookshelf resources related to this challenge.
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