Do Not Worship Money

Don’t Worship Money

By Dan Lemanski

dan@lemansinc.com

When I was engaged to my wife and we planned to marry, we went to counseling to prepare ourselves for the event. The minister advised me to, “not replace God in my life with the worship of money”. That was more than thirty years ago and at the time I could not understand what he was trying to tell me. At the time I thought that it was important to be able to support one’s family and lifestyle, but after working with business sellers and buyers since 1994 his wise counsel is starting to become clearer.

I advise sellers and buyers of businesses consistently over the years that I have never sold a business because of the numbers. When I make that statement (and sometimes I am reluctant to do so until I get to know them better), they give me a look similar to a deer peering into oncoming headlights at night. I interject immediately that they should not misunderstand me because the financial data is important but it is not the primary reason for them selling or buying a business. The decision to sell or buy is a quality of life issue primarily that motivates people to sell or purchase a business or make other significant buying decisions. If you don’t believe that consider the last major purchase you have made in your life and the reasoning behind your justification to make that purchase. From the home you live in to the consumer products you buy, it is based on how you feel about that purchase emotionally that is a higher motivation for making that transaction.

What we have to be careful of is buying things or justifying the purchase of something beyond our budget (been there done that) and justifying it because we think it is going to enrich our lives monetarily beyond our wildest dreams. Greed is the overriding emotion that kills deals and causes people to fail in selling or buying a business. As a broker, I try not to make value judgments of someone’s decisions. I may have an opinion but the opinion of my client or customer is what matters and I try to understand their true motivations. I only pray that their decisions include genuinely “improving their quality of life”. Yes, buying a business truly can enhance your life and give you control over your own destiny.

In Genesis the Bible provides us insight when we read the passages about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (consecutive generations) who were negotiating with God a “quality of life issue”. The only way that they became successful was when they put their trust in God first and then the material things were provided for them by him and as a result they had better relationships not only with God but all the people they came in contact with. Trusting God first is a challenge for all of us but if we do his strength, grace and mercy shall carry us through. You can be successful in business as well as life if you are selling or buying for the right reasons with a God centered life based on worshipping God and not money. If you trust in God he will provide and you will make appropriate choices in life and business.