The 100 Thing Challenge

We have, in fact, no right to ask the world to conform to our desires,” writes Wendell Berry. “Sooner or later, if we hope to grow up, we have to confront the opposite imperative: that our rights and the realization of our desires are limited by human nature, by human community, and by the nature of the places in which we live.”10

When is the moment we stop looking for something of value and start desiring something that we think will make us more valuable ourselves?

did not come to me as a bolt from the blue

For some remarkable reason that I do not fully understand, more almost always makes me desire more.

I am telling you about what happened to me when I was an entrepreneur. As ChristianAudio became larger and as I began to focus on more and more growth for the company, my mind and heart shifted. I started thinking not only of the growth of the company, but of my own growth as a businessman. And my own growing desire for material possessions that a growing businessman could acquire.

Studies have shown that the number one motivation for a person to leave a job is because he feels like he is not making a difference in his current position. Money is important, but for most people (and certainly for the best people), money isn’t the primary motive for their work.

“You’re either growing or you’re dying” is a common business mantra.

We first drafted our business plan on a Starbucks napkin. (We should have saved and framed it.)

How many businesses have been dreamed up in a Starbucks?

If I was going to be responsible for starting a company, I wanted it to be an organization that helped people be better humans.