We know, however, this saying isn’t true; Christmas is about much more than a tree. But when someone forgets to set up the tree, or its needles fall off prematurely, we’re tempted to buy another one before the relatives arrive. Christmas trees are important and today, during the holidays, there’s one for sale on every corner. But this wasn’t always true.

It all started when a businessman, Mark Carr, saw an opportunity to serve his community.

Before 1851 the United States was a rural society. Most Americans could easily cut down and carry home their own trees. But, for those who lived in New York City, it was nearly impossible to access trees of any kind. Carr realized this and travelled by sled to the Catskill Mountains nearby and collected several bunches of evergreens. He hauled them back into the city and sold every single tree from a vacant lot. The Christmas tree market was born. Today in the U.S. nearly 40 million are bought and sold each year.

During this holiday season remember, sometimes it only takes one creative idea to launch a new industry. Always be looking for new opportunities. There are people to serve, problems to solve, and profits to make.

Money really can grow on trees. Even on evergreens.

Written by Justin Stephens. Edited by Andrei Duta. This article first appeared in Andrei’s Newsletter.

Friends of Peter (FOP) is a gathering of unique and beautiful individuals with eclectic skills and talents. FOP is many things. FOP is networking with a soul. FOP is a creative ideation forum. FOP is a dynamic group that thrives under the leadership of Peter.

Who is Peter? Two words: SERVANT LEADER. Peter is a servant leader with a golden heart. As such, I can now think of an additional definition of FOP: support group, service community, and network of servant leaders!

I will close by pointing to one of my favorite writers/thinkers: Robert Greenleaf. I believe he did a superb job in capturing the spirit of servant leadership… the spirit of Peter, the spirit of the individual friends of Peter, and, also, the spirit of the collective Friends of Peter:

WHAT IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP?

“Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.

While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. In that essay, Greenleaf said:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,”servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”[/blockquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

A:
Dear Monique,

For me success in the marketplace is a means to greater ends. My faith informs my life including my business projects. Success in business – which I define as 1. increasing profits, 2. taking care of employees, customers, and other relevant stakeholders, and 3. protecting the environment – is not an end in itself. Success in the marketplace is a means to achieving kingdom of God ends. My purpose is to take care of the orphans and the homeless.

My business success (in whatever small or large measures) is a way to provide for orphans in Romania (www.hislittleones.org) or homeless in Texas (Austin Microfinance Program).

Best, Andrei