Christofer Perreya interviews Jon Bachura, Director of the Catholic Entrepreneurship and Design Experience, shedding light on the fusion of business principles with Catholic values. In their conversation, they delve into the profound notion that entrepreneurship transcends mere business terminology; it is a spiritual enterprise and God’s calling to all of us to co-create reality with him. The discussion further explores Jon’s mission within entrepreneurship, emphasizing how business can be a force for good and delving into his personal vocation as a business leader.
Jon’s mission is to promote a new kind of entrepreneurship. He does not want entrepreneurship to only be about business. He wants us to recognize our entrepreneurial spirit, which is the desire to pursue a vision of a better world driven by belief. Entrepreneurship should not be an exclusive business enterprise but rather a spiritual enterprise.
Jon has found that business is a force for good through his encounters with successful parishes and apostolates. He highlights instances where he has found that there has always been a group of very skilled business people who are watching out for these missions. He explains how communities, like Catholic Charities in Northeast Kansas, have committees of business people who work on projects from different parishes to help them plug holes by understanding their needs and managing their growth.
Jon shares that "success is just as dangerous as failure," underscoring the need for individuals with market-based experience from a Catholic perspective to provide guidance. He emphasizes the importance of having knowledgeable individuals to steer the ship in the right direction.
See, Judge, and Act are the three principles Jon uses to describe the Vocation of the Business Leader. Jon connects these three words with the model of an entrepreneur. He explains this model as one having an enhanced awareness of opportunities for efficiency improvements and a proactive approach to bringing about positive change.