I’ve long held the belief that business and money can be tools to do good in the world, in my quest to find resources to learn from and share I recently came across the book “Purpose Passion Profits“, by Julaine Smith CPA and after devouring it in one sitting, I knew I wanted to interview her for an edition of FInancielle $tatements.

Julaine is the creator of the S.O.U.L plan, a step by step framework for launching and leading purposeful and profitable businesses, she is the Founder of the G Corporation Business Center, a faith-based, online, business training platform used to deliver S.O.U.L. Plan training and other business development services to her clients, and she’s the Co-Founder of Ametra Advisors, an accounting and business advisory firm that provides outsourced accounting, business advisory and consulting services to its small business clients.

Paolina: What does stewardship mean to you and how can the S.O.U.L plan and business be tools for stewardship?

Julaine:

A steward is a person who takes care of someone else’s assets. Our lives, our souls, our bodies belong to God. So, the way I see stewardship, it’s our responsibility to take care of the life God has given us, in all its dimensions: spirit, soul, and body. It also includes taking care of our relationships as well as the earth.

We’re given assets for a purpose.

• In addition to giving us life, God also gave our life a purpose.
  • According to Ephesians 2:10: we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works he planned in advance for us to do.
  • Jeremiah 29:11 – I know the plans (thoughts) I think towards you, thoughts of good not evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Our job is to discover what God’s plan is for our life, and then focus our attention on doing the good works he planned for us to do. That’s part of our stewardship responsibility.

The S.O.U.L. Plan is a tool to help Christians discover that purpose, and then connect and align it with their ambition to create business wealth. When that connection is made to your business, it shifts your identity. You realize you are not what you do. You are not your business. Your being precedes your doing.

What I like to say is. I am a spirit, I am of God, and I am a tabernacle for the Most High. Business is what I do with the gift of life God’s given me.Business is our stewardship responsibility.

Paolina: Take us along the S.O.U.L plan journey, what’s one thing from each of the objectives you want women to remember/take away?

S.O.U.L plan stand for Strategic Objectives for Uplifting Life, the three objectives are:

Julaine:

The three objectives are:

1. Higher Motive for Business: discover your intrinsic purpose. Marriage your will with God’s will.
2. Higher Standards for Running Your Business: follow standards of generous leadership. 2 Peter 1: 5-7, Faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. The SOUL Plan framework defines each of these attributes and how they drive leadership attitudes, awareness and actions that set the right tone at the top of your business.The right tone at the top of your business is one that is marked by understanding and agreement so your team can take informed action. They also help you set the right spiritual tone at the top of your business. The right spiritual tone is one that anchors your leadership attitude, awareness and actions in core values that help you maintain your focus on obeying God, effectual prayer life and marriage of wills relationship with God.
3. Higher Use for Business Profits: Personal Impact Investment Policy: your personal plan of action for stewardship of the distributable profit earned by your business. Based on this principle: “To the extent you give, you can keep.” You use 50% of your distributable profits to satisfy your desires. You give 50% away.

The one thing I’d want women to remember from each:

1. Girlfriend, You’re on an assignment and have a purpose beyond profits for your business.
2. Generosity is the antidote to greed. Be a generous leader.
3. Money is a tool to be used, not an object to be loved. Love God, make money. Too often we’re deceived into thinking that money is the source and focus on the provision rather than the provider. We’re to serve God with our money.

Paolina: Which woman’s story from the Bible is your favourite and why?

Julaine:

Proverbs 31:10-31

She exemplifies what it is to live a balanced life:

• Takes care of her husband and children
• Works in the home and outside of the home
• Makes a profit
• Invests her profits in productive real estate (vineyard)
• Gives to the poor and helps the needy
• Fearless – not afraid of hard times
• Dresses well
• Full of wisdom
• Her children and husband praise her
• She fears the Lord

“Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.” V 31

Paolina: What is your FinanciElle Fave?

Julaine surprised me with her interpretation of this question (pleasantly so, as it was a new way for me to view this question also) and shared that her favourite thing on FinanciElle is the poem I wrote “My Money, Myself” on the about page, which I thought was very sweet.

Favourite Tool: QuickBooks Online, I started out not a fan because I was used to the desktop version but over the past 5 years, I’ve seen how it assists us at Ametra in providing services. The QuickBooks Suite is still the best business tool as it helps keep finances organized, it’s easy to use, and you don’t have to be an accountant to use it.

Favourite Book:

• Michael Porter’s “Competitive Strategy” and “Competitive Advantage”, are my go to because they help me to think about how a business positions itself to compete.
• Russell Brunson’s ” Expert Secrets”, because it teaches you how to communicate your message.