Why Kingdom Factor Keeps Making Me a Better Leader at Work and at Home

When people ask me why I keep carving out time for Kingdom Factor, my answer is pretty simple: it makes me better—and when the leader grows, everybody gets better.

There’s a Craig Groeschel quote I love that says something like, “When the leader grows, everybody wins.” That’s not just a nice saying. I’ve seen it play out in my company, in my family, and in my own walk with God. And Kingdom Factor has been one of the biggest consistent inputs into that growth for me.

A Quick Snapshot of Me and What We Do

My name is Jeremy Allen. I’m 43 years old, and I’ve been a Kingdom Factor member for almost three years—basically since the inception. I’ve known Ray through other roundtable groups over the years, and at this point, we’re also just good friends.

Professionally, I’ve been involved in a local Indianapolis business since 2011. I’m the president and owner of Vancoe. We service commercial kitchen equipment—everything from schools to hospitals, restaurants, and corporate dining. We fix, service, and install the equipment that keeps kitchens running.

It’s a people business. It’s a pressure business. And it’s a leadership business—because what we do rises and falls on how well we lead our team.

What Kingdom Factor Has Done for My Business

From a business standpoint, Kingdom Factor has helped me in a lot of ways—some general and some very specific.

One specific situation that stands out was last year, when I was working through a significant business acquisition. Anyone who’s been through an acquisition knows it’s not just one decision—it’s a thousand decisions stacked on top of each other. There are legal considerations, financial considerations, operational considerations, people considerations… and that’s before you even get into your own fear, uncertainty, and stress.

In that process, my group gave me two things I desperately needed:

1. Wisdom and validation — helping me confirm I was making the right decisions and heading down the right path.

2. Connections — “Hey, talk to this person about that,” or “This person is a subject matter expert—get their input.”

That sounds simple, but it matters. When you’re making a major move, you need wise counsel and you need people who can help you think clearly.

And beyond acquisitions and strategy, I’ve also had big people-related decisions—employee challenges, team issues, leadership calls where the “right answer” isn’t obvious. Having a group of seasoned leaders to process those decisions with is incredibly stabilizing.

One thing I’ve learned: “I don’t think there’s a situation I’ve faced personally or in business yet that somebody else hasn’t had a similar experience with.” That kind of shared perspective is priceless.

The Content Has Been Surprisingly Practical—and Timely

A lot of people ask about the content—what kind of topics Kingdom Factor covers, whether it’s actually helpful, and whether it feels relevant.

For me, the content has absolutely been valuable—“100%.”

What I like is that it’s not just theoretical. There’s a depth to it, and it often becomes a reference point later. I’ve actually told people it feels like I’ve built a little “library” over the years—notes and frameworks I can go back to when the right situation comes up.

One example that stands out was a session on decision-making—good steps to follow in tough decisions, and how to do that with a biblical baseline. I still have those bullet points in my journal. When big decisions come up, I’ll pull them out and work through them.

And something else surprised me: even when someone else is sharing their “crucial conversation” (their big issue of the month), I almost always walk away with takeaways for myself. Even if I’m not facing the exact same situation, it’s usually close enough—“relative”—that it sharpens how I think.

Kingdom Factor Has Helped My Faith, My Home, and My Marriage

The business value matters, but Kingdom Factor isn’t just a business tool for me. It’s been a way to bring my whole life into one place—my leadership, my faith, and my family—all intertwined like real life actually is.

Spiritually, I like to set goals each year—personal goals, spiritual goals, business goals. Kingdom Factor gives me a place to talk about those things honestly.

It challenges me to reflect on my walk with God and what that really looks like week to week. It also reminds me of something important: I’m not perfect. There’s accountability, yes—but there’s also grace. If I’ve fallen off track, the environment isn’t condemnation. It’s encouragement to get back on track.

From a family standpoint, one specific example was when my wife and I were trying to make decisions around school for our kids—especially related to challenges with my oldest son. I brought that into the group and got real input from guys who had walked through similar things.

That meant I could go home and have better conversations—more grounded, more thoughtful, more informed. That kind of counsel doesn’t always show up when you need it, but in Kingdom Factor it often does.

And from a marriage standpoint, it’s been a place where other men challenge me to lead well at home—support my wife well, carry responsibility the right way, and not let business success become a cover for spiritual or relational neglect.

There’s also a relational piece that matters: we do couples events, and our spouses get to build relationships too. That strengthens the community beyond just the meetings.

Why I Joined in the First Place

When I think back to why I joined, the biggest thing is this: “I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.”

There aren’t many places where a business owner can be truly open about everything they’re carrying—the pressure, the uncertainty, the burdens, the personal side, the spiritual side. I even explored secular peer groups and visited one. But I realized something quickly: I’m more than my business.

I wanted a place where I could be real about all of it. Be challenged. Be encouraged. Be held accountable. And become the best version of myself.

In a strange way, it’s almost like a small-group church for me—community that’s consistent, relational, and built around growth and truth.

Making Time Isn’t the Hard Part—Because It Fills My Tank

Am I busy? Yes. I’ve got four kids and a business. Like everyone else, my calendar is full.

But Kingdom Factor is something I look forward to. It fills my tank.

“There’s nothing that really trumps it on my schedule unless I’m out of town.” If I leave the meeting, I know I’m going to feel better—more focused, more grounded, more clear.

It’s one of the few places in my month where I can step back, get perspective, and walk away genuinely strengthened.

What I’d Say to Someone Who Thinks They’re Too Busy

If someone is considering Kingdom Factor and they’re saying, I don’t know if I can do this. I’m too busy. I’m not sure it’ll be worth it—I’d start with a question:

What is your support network? Are you trying to do everything on your own?

Because I don’t think that’s how we’re designed to live. We need support—especially from brothers and sisters in Christ. And if you’re not getting it somewhere else, you need to seriously evaluate what’s important.

I’ll say it plainly: a lot of what people call reasons are really just “excuses.” Because your growth matters. Your mental health matters. Your spiritual health matters. And the people you lead deserve your best.

Ray shared something a member said once that perfectly captures it:

“Because the people that God has called me to lead, both in my home and in my business, deserve a better version of me.”

Amen. That’s it.

That’s why I’m here. And that’s why I keep coming back.