The Power of Purposeful Generosity: How Faith Fuels Business Success

In a world often driven by profit and self-interest, Angela Taylor, founder of Designed to Lead, offers a refreshing and transformative perspective on business. Her journey, rooted deeply in faith, exemplifies how purposeful generosity, humility, and unwavering trust in God can not only sustain a business but also elevate it to a platform for profound impact and personal fulfillment.

Angela's entrepreneurial path began with a divine nudge. While working as an executive director, she felt a clear calling to something more. Her executive coach's advice to find what hit her at her core was quickly refined by a deeper spiritual insight: "It's not about your core. It's about your purpose and what you're supposed to do." This realization became the bedrock of Designed to Lead, a consulting and coaching company built on principles far exceeding conventional business wisdom.

Generosity as a Core Business Strategy

From the outset, Angela integrated generosity into the very fabric of her business model. Recognizing the need to get her name out, she chose a path less traveled: giving away her services. "It seemed like everybody the Lord brought to me to start was someone who was like, 'I need this. This is going to help me grow exponentially. I need you as my coach, but I can't afford to pay you.' And I'm like, 'Well, that's okay, because God will figure out how to pay me.'" This radical approach, born of faith, meant that for every paying client, Angela aims to serve at least as many, if not double, on a pro bono basis. This isn't just charity; it's an investment in people, often those who know nothing about faith, allowing Angela to minister to them through her work.

This commitment to generosity isn't without its moments of human doubt. "It would feel more comfortable maybe, if I was getting paid all the time," Angela admits. Yet, her testimony is powerful: "God has never let us miss a paycheck or miss a… miss a mortgage payment, miss a car payment. We don't miss anything. And so getting paid by Him, because I am being generous in nature, has been very rewarding."

The Transformative Power of Humility

Alongside generosity, humility stands as another cornerstone of Angela's faith-driven business. Having grown up accustomed to being the smartest in the room, she learned the hard way that pride can be a significant barrier. Her favorite scripture, "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord," became a guiding principle. This translates into a willingness to say "I'm sorry," to admit when she might be wrong, and to ask for help and understanding – actions often considered unconventional in a business setting. When questioned about this, her response is clear: "Because I want to have a clean record before you and before the Lord. And if I messed up, it's my responsibility to say that I messed up and to own that."

Faith in Financial Decisions: A Partnership with God

Financial decisions in Designed to Lead are not made lightly or alone. Angela and her husband, who also runs a company, pray over every contract, every decision. This collaborative approach, rooted in the biblical principle of two or more, has been instrumental. Angela, known for her fast-paced decision-making, credits her husband's slower, more deliberate approach, guided by God, for preventing significant mistakes. "He had 25 years worth of experience already and was able to give me insight and set up your books like this. Let's do this. Let's add this particular type of insurance. And all those financial decisions got made as a team because that's how God built us. He built us to be in relationship and to have people who give us godly counsel."

Living Without Fear: Encouragement for Christian Business Leaders

Angela's encouragement to other Christian business leaders is direct and powerful: live without fear. In a time when discussing faith in public can be daunting, she urges leaders to give credit where credit is due, especially when God shows up in miraculous ways. "If you're not willing to say His name in front of others, if you're not willing to give credit where credit is due, when God comes through in a miraculous way, like something that could be nothing short of a miracle, you need to make sure that you're giving credit to the Lord."

She emphasizes the importance of living in the power of the Lord, drawing from the scripture that states God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. This means using the power of the Holy Spirit for guidance, extending love even to difficult clients, and surrounding oneself with a godly network for accountability.

Angela Taylor's story is a testament to the transformative power of integrating faith into every aspect of business. By embracing purposeful generosity, cultivating humility, and making decisions in partnership with God, she not only builds a successful enterprise but also creates a lasting legacy of impact, inspiring others to lead with purpose and faith.