One of my friends, Aaron, is an incredible entrepreneur. From an early age, he had a remarkable instinct for business and leadership. By the time he was 35, he had already built and sold two companies—and believe it or not—retired twice.
But one day, everything changed.
Aaron was driving down the road when a man under the influence suddenly stepped into traffic. There was no time to turn, brake, or react. Tragically, the man died. Understandably, the event shook Aaron deeply.
A few days later, as he read the news article about the incident, a question stopped him cold:
“If I had died today, what would the newspaper have said about me?”
His answer?
“Entrepreneur who retired twice by 35 died today… and no one cares.”
As Aaron tells the story, he admits something that many high-performing leaders quietly feel. He had chased everything the world told him mattered—and he achieved it. His businesses thrived. But his marriage struggled. His faith drifted.
He described it this way:
“I came home with a pocket full of money to a house full of strangers.”
That moment became a turning point—a spiritual and leadership awakening. Aaron realized he had lived a successful life, but not a significant one. From that day forward, he made a commitment: he would pursue significance, not success.
That shift is one every Christian business leader is called to make.
The Three Mindsets Leaders Operate From
In the marketplace, every leader operates from one of three mindsets around work:
1. Survival
This mindset sees only the curse of work.
Work is a burden. A grind. Something to endure.
Leaders here want:
- More comfort
- Less pressure
- Easier work
Work is something to survive.
2. Success
This mindset turns work into an idol.
Achievement, recognition, status, and control become the scorecard. Worth rises and falls with performance. Without the next win, identity feels threatened.
Success becomes proof of value.
3. Significance
This mindset sees the calling of work.
These leaders understand that God created them to work and placed them where they are for Kingdom impact. They care less about building a career and more about building the Kingdom.
The Five Levels of Work and Leadership
Across those mindsets, most leaders fall into one of five levels:
Level 1: Work Is Punishment (Endure It)
Work feels like a prison sentence.
Just make it to Friday. Just make it to retirement.
Level 2: Work Is Payment (Use It)
Work becomes transactional.
Time and talent are sold to the highest bidder for comfort and security.
Level 3: Work Is Proof (Need It)
This is pure success mindset.
Achievement defines identity. Work is no longer what they do—it’s who they are.
Level 4: Work Is a Platform (Leverage It)
This is where most Christian leaders live.
They know God wants to use their work—but they don’t know how.
Level 4 leaders usually get stuck in one of three ways:
- They have conviction but no plan
- Faith shapes part of their work, but not all of it
- They do good things, but not Kingdom things
They’re convinced of the why—but uncertain about the how.
Level 5: Work Is Partnership (Worship Through It)
This is the Significant Leader.
Level 5 leaders understand that:
- Work is worship
- Work is stewardship
- Work is partnership with God
They know how to integrate 100 percent of their job for Kingdom impact. They have both conviction and clarity.
This Call Is for Every Leader
The call to be a Significant Leader isn’t just for entrepreneurs or executives.
It’s for:
- Middle managers
- Sales professionals
- Engineers
- Accountants
- Amazon delivery drivers
Every believer can leverage 100 percent of their work for Kingdom impact—they just need to know how.
As you reflect on this framework, ask yourself:
- Where am I right now?
- Why am I there?
- What would it take to move toward Level 5?
God created you for more than success.
He created you for significance.
Your Next Step Towards Significance
If this framework resonated with you, Download the FREE Significant Leader Guide to help you identify where you are and how to move forward with purpose. With this resource, I also include a video training where we dive deeper into this framework.
Or, if you’re ready for a personalized conversation, schedule a Vision Call and we can explore together how you can become a Significant Leader.
