Welcome to the Christianity in Business Podcast with host Darren Spear, an initiative of the RGW Denham College of Business at Houston Baptist University. This is the show that helps Christian business leaders integrate biblical values into business. You can get more information about HBU Center for Christianity and Business and sign up to receive free access to all pages of the Christian Business Review Journal by visiting our website at ChristianityInbusiness.com.
SPEAKER_01On this episode, we're joined by Carlos Rosales. Carlos has been in business leadership roles for 35 years. He's a facilitator for a phenomenal organization called Convene. Some of our listeners I know are familiar, but he's in the Houston area. Convene's mission is to connect, equip, and inspire Christian CEOs and business owners to grow exceptional businesses and become higher impact leaders to honor God. And he's the author of the new book, 10x for Christ: Discovering Your 10X Lifestyle in Jesus Christ. Carlos, thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER_02I'm delighted to be here, Darren. Looking forward to this time.
SPEAKER_01What do you mean by 10x for Christ?
SPEAKER_02Well, in order to share that, I think it's important that we take a step back and kind of come to the genesis of why this book came about. I was doing a study in the book of Daniel, and when I was reading in the very beginning of Daniel, if you think about this for a minute, kind of set the context here, there were four young Jewish boys, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and they were basically in captivity. They were slaves. And in chapter, uh in verse 9 of chapter one, it says that they were found favor with the guy that was in charge. And what they were chosen to do is to serve on the king's court. And the guy that was in the guy that was in charge said, Well, you guys have access to all the food and wine. And Daniel said, We don't want to do that. That's going to defile our Jewish customs and our God. The guy says, Well, wait a minute. If you get sick, it's going to be my head, not yours. And Daniel said, Let's try it. So in Daniel 1.20, if I could just read it, that's the one thing I'd like to read. In Daniel 1.20, it says, In all manners, in all matters requiring information and balanced judgment, the king found these young men's advice 10 times better than that of all the skilled magicians and wise astrologers in his realm. So what that tells me is that these were considered the scholars, right? The wisest people in the land, but yet these young Jewish boys were 10 times wiser. And then if you read the other the rest of the book of Daniel, you know that Shadrach, Meshach, and Bednego had to face the fiery furnace, right? And they were challenged to say, listen, if you don't want to face the fiery furnace, bow to the statue. And they said, We're not going to do it. The king says, I'm going to throw you in there. And they said, Well, that's okay. God will deliver us, but even if he doesn't, we're not going to back down. And then if you remember the story later on in the book of Daniel about the lion's den, right? Daniel wouldn't quit praying to his God, so he was going to be thrown in the lion's den. And he boldly stood up for what was right and for God. And my thought was at that time is that why can't we live with that kind of boldness today? What would it mean if you and I, and everyone that's listening to this radio recording, this uh podcast, would say, I want to do different, I want to be bold, I want to be something, I want to do something bigger. And I don't think it necessarily means that you've got to go into the mission field. I think we have a ministry, we have an opportunity right in the where we are today, whether it be in the people we meet, in our church, in our communities, in our families, to really do something bold for Christ. And so that's the whole idea of 10x. What does 10x living mean for you? The whole idea behind the devotional is for you to go on a self-discovery through a 52-week devotional journal to be able to understand how what that means for me, what that means for you.
SPEAKER_01So it says that they were found to be 10 times better in terms of wisdom and understanding. Uh, do you do you find it, because I I hear this term 10X kind of thrown around the you know, marketing and sure and um entrepreneurship world today? And and typically it's referring to uh multiplying your revenue 10 times, making your company 10 times bigger, and so on. Uh, do you think that's the the concept most people have of what 10x is about is basically being 10 times bigger than you are today? Is that is that what um and and and is that missing the what you're talking about with the concept of 10x for Christ?
SPEAKER_02I would say absolutely. You hear that a lot. You know, I'm gonna be 10 times better. There's even a couple of books written to that title. I think Grant Cardone has a whole ministry, not a ministry of business built around 10x. But the bottom line here is for me, is that it goes deeper. And let me just share this with you. About seven, 10 years ago, I had a real paradigm shift. And that's that if if we start focusing on what we're doing for Christ and that be the center of our focus, then everything will fall into place. Somebody asked me recently, do you have gold? And I said, Yes, I have gold. But my life mission is to speak truth into men's lives and help them be their best self in Christ Jesus. And as long as I can stay centered on that, all the other goals don't matter because they're all going to happen. But what happens is we start focusing on revenue or so or other sources or other ideas and not focus on how I can be 10x for Christ.
SPEAKER_01It makes me think about uh years ago when really before Chick-fil-A became uh a national brand that the executives were a little bit fearful of how fast the Boston market was advancing on their territory. And so the thought was, well, we need to start building more and more restaurants. And in the middle of this meeting, there's a story as it goes, True Kathy slams his fist down on the table and says, Gentlemen, we don't need to get bigger, we need to get better. And when we get better, our customers will demand that we get bigger. And and so that's I think the focus that you're directing us toward. And and I what I think is there in the scripture. I don't think we can kind of spin Daniel chapter one, verse 20, and say, oh, well, you know, this this means that my uh my business, I'm supposed to hire 10 more people, or that my revenue is supposed to be 10 times greater you know than next year than it was this maybe. Like, but that's not the that's not the heart of it, right? How can we be 10x for Christ? What are some of the the practical things that that you guide your folks to do?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think that if you look at the way the book is laid out, there's basically five fundamental chapters uh dealing with the whole foundation, if you will, and that's kind of where it starts. And I think first of all, uh Darren, is that I don't think people fully understand their salvation. I don't understand, I don't think they fully understand forgiveness. And so what happens is as the result, we're still carrying a bunch of baggage around, right? I would be able to serve Christ if this didn't happen or I didn't have this kind of thing. And actually, part of it is my own personal journey is having to walk that walk and still have that. Does God really love me if I can't love myself? So the whole first five weeks, uh, ten weeks, excuse me, are all about discovering forgiveness and accepting who God sees you, dealing with the fact that we're a royal priesthood and we're forgiven. What I hear so many times from people, they say, Well, you know, I'm a sinner. Well, I get that, right? But also the Bible says we're new creations in Christ. So what does that really mean? I believe that we still have a sin nature, but if Christ indwells in us, then that's going to be washed away. That's going to be gone. And so the first thing I want people to deal with in the first 10 weeks is understanding their forgiveness and building a foundation of their faith and walk with Christ. And then it goes on from there, and there's four other sections that cover 10 weeks east, and that's how we get 52 weeks. The first uh five five days is all about your starting point. Where am I today? And part of the things that that we'll be able to offer your listeners is an assessment where they can find out where they are in their 10x life.
SPEAKER_01Okay. And where can they they can get that at 10x4christ.org. Is that right?
SPEAKER_02Right. And it's gonna, I think it's gonna be uh forward slash CCB for your um your particular show.
SPEAKER_01Okay, excellent. We'll have that in the in the show notes. And on the convene website, Carlos, it says that 85% of convene members' companies outperform their industries. And I was I was thinking about that in relation to your teaching on 10x for Christ. Have you found that to be true in your group and uh and then for because you're coaching a lot of other people uh beyond Convene as well as well. Have you found this to be true?
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, absolutely. What I you know, I I uh I did an radio interview uh several years back for uh Texas Business Radio, and I I call that the secret weapon. And see, this is the whole point of this, Darren, is if we take our eyes off of Christ and we start working on focusing a business or whatever the case may be, we're gonna take we're gonna lose sight of the power that we have in Jesus Christ. So we can return to what's really the most important thing in your life and my life, and that's just following Christ. If we can do that, we are gonna be better fathers, we're gonna be better husbands, we're gonna be better business people, we're gonna be better leaders. So to answer your question, absolutely, I'm amazed when I see the progress that these business owners are making, but I think it's the we all begin with we're looking at everything through the lens of God's word. What does God's word tell us about delegation or running a business or profits or treating people, all of those things? Ronald Reagan said many years ago that the Bible is the very best business book you can own, and I really believe that to be true. So I guess the whole idea behind 10x is to change your paradigm, change your focus to say, am I in the center of God's will, and how do I continue to pursue that and and seek that?
SPEAKER_01What's an example of one of your your coaching clients who has been really been living out this 10x and and in a measurable way?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think it's it's it's it starts with the individual, okay? For example, if there's if there's areas in their life, maybe they're not maybe treating their wife exactly like they should, or they're not spending time with their family. So that's really the beginning there, but it also starts with walking with Christ in their in their walk with Christ. So that's going to be the starting point. What's your relationship with Christ? And then we go out from there. So um I have one young man that was uh kind of on the fringe, if you will, in terms of the walk of Christ. Uh, and he I've seen a substantial change not only in his walk, he's invited involved in a Bible study now, uh Bible study fellowship. Um he spends more time with his family. So it's really a change in that because what happens too many times, Darren, is that people think, well, if I don't spend all this time on my business, it's not going to be successful. And it's really counterproductive. What I teach people to do is look for balance in your life. And once you can achieve that, then you can actually grow your business even more. So he's been more profitable this year than he ever has been. He runs a more efficient business, but it all comes where he recognized, first of all, we believe and convene is that our business is actually not ours, it belongs to God. And so if we can turn that over to him and make sure that he and we understand that, I think we can be more successful. So that's as specific as I can get because I uh I don't want to necessarily name a lot or or tell you a lot because I know he'll listen to this podcast later.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And and so the king found them ten times better in their wisdom and uh and understanding. And and so it as much as we want to focus on increasing revenues and and all those kinds of things, um that's the the wisdom is really where the focus ought to be, which comes from the Holy Spirit. I and I know I remember reading one of the devotionals that you wrote on um when when the Lord came to Solomon and asked him, just tell me what you want, and you're gonna have it. And it what did what did he say?
SPEAKER_02He said he just asked for wisdom. But most of us are gonna ask for other things, right? And that that's also I think is important here is that I think this devotional can change your prayer life. And I and I say that in there because there's a play, there's a prayer written every day. So there's 52 different, you know, every every day there's a prayer written. But here's the here's the emphasis there. And and I don't I don't believe, uh I believe that you should have intercessory prayer. You should pray for your family and that sort of thing. But your primary focus when you pray is how am I gonna live out God's will today? And that's what this whole devotion is about. You'll read the verses, you'll read a little bit of the reflection that I wrote, but then the challenge is to say, what do I need to focus on today to live this out? To this section, this chapter, this verse, uh this concept. And I think that's where the paradigm shifts. So I keep a prayer journal, I've been keeping it for several years, and my prayers are all about Lord, how can I serve you better? I still have intercessory prayers, but my primary focus is that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, that's if if all of our prayers are about God, uh help me get this business deal or help me um you know, help us just make payroll, or like that, that's all kind of missing it. Really, what God is wanting us to go after is his wisdom, right? Because like it says in James, if we're lacking it, he will give it uh uh liberally. And and and and 10 times, I mean, just imagine being 10, maybe we're kind of living this mediocre Christian life right now, right? And God is saying, How about how about 10 times the wisdom right now that that the world will notice? Because that's the interesting thing about this this uh story is that it was it was not a priest that noticed this. This was uh a heathen king that was noticing this. So I mean, what an impact we have an opportunity to make, right?
SPEAKER_02Right. And it's not just it's not just in resources or wealth, but it's in it's in joy, it's in peace. People want to see in you something that's different there, and they're gonna say, I don't know what this guy has, but this is what I want to have. And to me, that's what the 10x lifestyle is is is all about is being bolder and walking with that joy that comes from from walking with the Holy Spirit. Yeah, I mean, Christ says, I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly, I don't think that meant that you were going to be rich. It means that your life is gonna be fuller. And if you're not enjoying that, that's where it starts. To me, if you can't live with joy and peace every day, regardless of your circumstances, then I don't think you're really living the 10x lifestyle.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And there's there's so many enemies, right? I was just thinking about one um just comparison, the comparison trap, right? And because somebody reads the title of your book, 10x for Christ, and they they immediately assume, well, that just means I need to get bigger and bigger and bigger. Um, because uh, you know, look at this other Christian over here. Their business is you know, a billion-dollar company and thousands of employees, and that that must be me. And and I was thinking about this uh, you know, been over the last uh couple of months in particular, and just how God is, for example, made different plants, right? There's uh there's there's uh um a sequoia tree, right? And and then there's um there's an orange tree, right? And both of them are unique and beautiful and can be completely fulfilled, right? And and we look at, oh well, until if I'm that orange tree, until I'm as tall as that sequoia tree, I'm not gonna be fulfilled, right? Can you talk to somebody that's kind of stuck in that that comparison trap?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think the biggest thing, um Zig Ziggler said it a long time ago. Um, success is not is not uh measured by how well you do compared to others. It's how well you do in the ability that God has given you. So I think that's a starting point, is that to say, look, I understand, you know, I have, I have, you know, you can always find somebody that's better looking you are, smarter, richer, has more things, that sort of thing. But you need to take the emphasis off of that. And I think that's really what it's all about in the 10x lifestyle. It's not a matter of me comparing myself to you or or a multimillionaire, it's understanding where God has placed me in this in this world and what He has planned for my life. So when we start the comparison game, to me, that's the wrong attitude. You need to say, Lord, what is is your plan for my life and how can I how can I fulfill that? How can I follow that? But getting in a comparison game, you're gonna lose every single time.
SPEAKER_01As I was reading your devotionals, Carlos, I was just uh struck by what a what a powerful experience this must have been for you personally to dive into each of these powerful uh passages of scripture, meditate on those, and then write something that's going to make an impact on on your life as you're getting that revelation from God and then and then presenting that to the to the reader. What how did you change as a result of studying the scriptures in this way?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think the biggest thing I've already shared with you, Darren, but the whole emphasis in my prayer life has been away from give me. It's not a shopping list anymore. Lord, here's all the things I want. It's really understanding my relationship with Christ and seeking Him on a daily basis. And that's really, it sounds simplistic, but that's really my heart's desire. People ask me a lot of times. I actually was working with my senior pastor recently, the client, and he said, How can I pray for you? And I said, My single prayer is that I remain at the center of God's will. And so my prayer every day is I remain there and I walk in righteousness. And so to me, it's kind of been a paradigm shift for me to say, I don't need to ask for money anymore. I don't need to worry about my health. And it's not that I'm not supposed to take care of our health because I think you know the Bible tells us our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. So he's got to be happy residing there. But the bottom line is if I'm focusing solely on what God wants for my life, he's gonna provide these other things. And if he doesn't, that's okay too, because we're here to glorify God and enjoy him forever, right? And so that's really the way I look at that.
SPEAKER_01Beautiful. Well, 10x for Christ, discovering your 10x lifestyle in Jesus Christ is the book. You can get that at 10x, and that's the number 10x number fourchrist.org. And I know it's on Amazon as well. Uh, Carlos, what would be a parting piece of advice you would leave with our listeners today?
SPEAKER_02Well, I would say the biggest thing, Darren, is to start where you are. Okay, it doesn't matter if you're a multimillionaire or if you're working in a shop floor. It is the most important thing is to not look at your wealth compared to your worth, rather, compared to other people, but look at the value and the and the wealth and the worth you have in Jesus Christ. Because every one of his children has a purpose. So seek that out. You know, read the book, whatever works for you, but find that purpose and then pursue it with passion, because that's what God wants for our lives.
SPEAKER_01Beautiful. Thank you for that encouragement, Carlos. We appreciate your time and your wisdom today. May God continue to bless uh the coaching work you're doing in this in this book.
SPEAKER_02Thank you so much, Jaron. Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_00We hope you've enjoyed this episode, and if so, we would greatly appreciate it if you would leave us a quick rating and review for the Christianity and Business podcast on iTunes. You can get more information about HBU Center for Christianity and Business at Christianity and Business.com. Thanks for listening, and remember to keep integrating biblical values into your business.