Blog

What character traits come to your mind when you hear the words, “great leader”? Do you think of someone who inspires or encourages others? Is it a person with a dynamic personality? Perhaps it is someone with knowledge, wisdom and skill who made their way to the top?

Knowing what traits you admire in a “great leader” is an important part of becoming one. And every “great leader” will seek out the wisdom and knowledge from other “great leaders” who have paved the way before them.

The desire to see believing entrepreneurs achieve success in the Israeli marketplace inspired the staff of CBN Israel to co-host a two day leadership training seminar. As leaders in the market, four restaurant owners from “Chick-Fil-A” were invited to be the guest speakers of the event. The name and reputation of “Chick-Fil-A” alone was enough to draw out over sixty business entrepreneurs from multiple cities to glean from these godly, experienced and successful business owners.

The message that threaded the various seminars together was the importance of gaining and applying wisdom. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and in all your getting get understanding”. – Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is learning to take responsibility for yourself and for those under you. Wisdom is learning to serve others and help others become successful. Wisdom is learning to set goals and to have a strategy in how to achieve them. Wisdom is accepting failures and being willing to grow from them.

Another important part of being a leader is learning to give clear instructions. As an interactive object lesson, the attendees were instructed to form groups of two or more and to blindfold one member of the group. The other members were to give verbal instructions as to where the blinded should go and what safety hazards to avoid as they went. If instructions were sufficiently given, the blinded would complete their journey successfully and safely.

One attendee shared with CBN Israel that the object lesson was “a great” and effective experience.

Isn’t this also the way our God perfectly leads us as His disciples? He has given us clear wisdom and instructions through His word and by His Spirit which helps us to accomplish the tasks that we are called to do. And as disciples, we in turn have opportunity to exemplify Him to those who follow in our footsteps.

When Zev first heard of a business course being held specifically for believing entrepreneurs in Israel, he felt drawn to attend. He was fresh out of the Israeli army, eager to explore business ideas and was already being mentored by the successful business owners of the Galilee Experience in northern Israel. Yet as a husband, father and full time employee, leaving town to attend the course was not an option. A decade later, however, the opportunity came practically to his door. 

In 2016-2017, CBN Israel and Israel First Fruits held their business course in Israel’s northern city of Tiberias, just minutes from Zev’s home. By this time, Zev had made his way into business management with a company called, Megavoice, and was ready to explore the possibility of venturing out on his own.

“It was the business course that caused me to make the decisions I needed to make,” Zev shared with the staff of CBN Israel. “I realized I loved working with Judaica products and could start a business selling these items on-line.” With a gift of creativity and a focus on quality, Zev hopes to bring customers a new and appealing product.

With the completion of the course, each student is presented with an opportunity to get ahead in their start-up business by presenting their plan before investors at the annual Business Forum in Jerusalem. A competition is held on the final day of the forum in which three of the eight finalists will win investments towards their start-up business. Out of nearly two dozen contestants, Zev has been chosen as one of the final eight.

Five years ago, Zev attended the forum as an inspired employee from the Galilee Experience. This year, he has the opportunity to gain an investment into his own business.  As Zev is moving forward in his business endeavor, the biggest challenge he faces now is in staying balanced in his time management. As a man who loves God and desires His blessing, Zev understands that God must come first and his family, second. Yet in order to be successful in what he feels God is calling him to do, a lot of hard work must go into the building of his business. 

Be praying for Zev as he works out the delicate balance of ordering his time and dividing it rightly. To learn more about Zev’s biblical products, visit his website at: biblicalproducts.com.

Watch for updates on CBN Israel’s facebook page to see who will win this year’s competition! https://www.facebook.com/CBNIsrael/