Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2014

26 | Cedarville Magazine something of value — whether it’s a life, a marriage, a family, a ministry, or a business. We are in no position to make a contract with God in which we follow a set formula that obligates Him to bless us accordingly. He is sovereign and determines how He intervenes in this fallen world. We do our best to do the right things for the right reasons, and we trust God to produce the right outcomes. Right behind that is constantly reminding ourselves that the right outcomes are defined by His perspective, not ours. How should a biblical leader think about legacy? Every marketplace leader wants to leave a lasting legacy. Success centered in fame and fortune rarely satisfies, and it quickly fades. Money, while important, is inherently and pervasively dangerous. When not handled carefully, it can be a character-eroding cancer that quietly destroys our lives and those we love. The relationship of the Trinity is the core of God’s essence. Because we are created inHis image, we have a deep yearning within our souls for the kind of loving relationships He enjoys. Our deepest needs and greatest desires are fulfilled in loving relationship with Him and with others. Biblical leadership links a living faith and a loving life. Leadership centered on loving and caring relationships leaves a legacy that lasts forever. Daryle Doden is a lifelong entrepreneur who founded Ambassador Steel Corporation with four partners in 1974. He is currently the CEO of Ambassador Enterprises, a private equity firm investing in for-profit and not-for-profit ventures. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Bethel College, and he previously served on the board of Cedarville University. He and his wife, Brenda, are the parents of five grown children, three of whom are Cedarville alumni. Steve Gardner is an author, editor, executive coach (CPC), and songwriter. He leads Ambassador Press, the research and communication arm of Ambassador Enterprises. Respect is seeing the uniqueness of individuals, getting to know who they are and what they value. It is knowing them as people and caring for them as I would my own family members. It is learning to listen well and love better. Caring about others for their own sake is essential to biblical leadership. Lack of caring, whether real or perceived, undermines the effectiveness of many otherwise competent leaders. Your third value, “work hard,” seems rather obvious, but what do you mean by it? Solomon wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecc. 9:10). It is putting forth maximum effort into being productive and creating value. It is becoming a net contributor rather than a net consumer, and it is doing that with excellence. You haven’t said much about convincing people of truth. Trying to convince others of truth is not as effective as showing others truth by how you live. Our power as biblical leaders comes not so much from our positions as from the moral authority of walking the talk — living out our values with authenticity and transparency. What are some other things you have learned? Biblical leadership is like playing golf. Everyone seems to have an opinion how others should or could improve their game. Few, if any, of the “teachers” are scratch golfers themselves; they just have opinions on how someone else should play the game. With biblical leadership, many more “experts” are telling leaders how they ought to be leading in the marketplace than are actually doing it. It is always easier to tell someone how to do something than it is to do it ourselves. Biblical leadership is challenging in any environment, but it is particularly tough in the competitive marketplace. While I want to be “salt and light” as I go about my marketplace endeavors, I need to make money. Balancing the duality of compassion and competition is not easy, and it’s never automatic. You have built a quality company over the long haul, through varying economic climates, and you have done so while holding to biblical principles. What formula can you share with us? There are no pat formulas. Lofty ideals are everywhere, but unless they are successfully executed, they contribute little to building