Vision in business: What is your passion?

An interview with Jenani (Jen) Paul, President, Digital Consultants

How important is vision in business? Absolutely vital! In fact, perishing is at stake! We read in Proverbs 29:18a (KJV) “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  

We are invited to ask God for both wisdom and for vision, but when we ask, we must not doubt; instead, we must believe. To doubt is to be like those “tossed about by the waves.”  

The key to success is to always keep our eyes on Jesus, and not on stormy waves, or fearful circumstances.  Jen offers some practical advice: “if our vision in business can be aligned to our calling and purpose, then God will get the glory!”

Vision is not about bottom-line profits; it’s about who is impacted, and how they will benefit from what your business offers. 

Jen’s Story…

Although growing up in a Hindu family, Jen’s father accepted Christ first before others in the family became Christian.  Jen did not personally know God until she was at university and began to seek truth.  She saw the difference between other religions and Christianity but one day she felt compelled to make a life changing decision. She realized that God either had to be true or she needed to go back to the way things were before she heard about Jesus. 

That crossroads week she had a revelation of who Christ is, and this powerful revelation changed her heart!  She decided to follow Jesus. Now, she lives life passionately seeking to please God in all of her daily life and business decisions.

In 2015-2016 Jen felt led to start up a marketing firm for faith-based businesses. She believed God spoke to her heart with: “my people don’t know how to portray their values online or to show others what they can do.” 

That was her motivation to start her new Digital Consultants business. Excellence and integrity – including being transparently honest – are foundational pillars that she believes are important for Christian business leaders. Little did she know that Covid would soon multiply the demand felt by businesses for an online presence! 

Early in 2024, Jen came back from a mission’s trip to Dominican Republic. While there she came to know about a wealthy man who visited a poverty-stricken area. He felt compassion and decided he wanted to help these homeless families. He decided to set up “Samaritan Foundation” to help build hundreds of homes for people in need of shelter. Jen felt inspired by this story. This man expanded his sphere of influence beyond his personal family, and even his own nation, to embrace global people in dire need. 

“When God is at work, we often see magnification!” Jen tells us.  For example, she once desperately wanted to work in a bank in Canada to jumpstart her career, but without banking experience, these doors stayed closed.  She applied again and again.  But her Wonderland and pharmacy past-experience proved insufficient. Still, she tried. 

Then one day her resume produced results. Her university friend – who later became her husband – enthusiastically explained that HSBC, where she had an interview, was the third largest bank in the world!  While her vision was small, God had bigger plans!  At HSBC she gained six years of valuable corporate and global business experience.

Biblical Principles to Explore…

Jesus must be our primary focus. “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1b) 

Seek to keep your paths straight, doing what is right. “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4: 26-27)

God always exceeds our expectations! “Now to him who able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

“God With Us” means God works alongside of us and we work alongside of Him.  Since He is the real CEO of our business, our plans should align with His design plan and vision.

In conclusion, when asked what one piece of practical advice Jen would like to offer to someone starting out in business, she said “you need passion.”  Then she added, “partner your vision with passion and remember that Jesus’ passion was actually compassion for all people – and that was at the centre of all of His ministry!”

Connecting your Sunday Faith to your Monday Work” The Canadian Christian Business Federation exists to support business leaders in the study and application of Biblical Leadership Principles with peers, in order to transform lives, strengthen businesses, and positively influence and impact our world. www.ccbf.org

Nancy Kingdon is an author and freelance writer who writes and donates these stories as a gift to the CCBF ministry.  She may be reached through: www.writinglegacy.com