From Ego-Centered to God-Centered Entrepreneurship

Al Salam Alaikum 🌱 

In the fast-paced, modern world, it’s not uncommon to see a culture driven by ego. The spotlight often shines on individual success stories and high-profile entrepreneurs and influencers. In turn, this creates a relentless pursuit of growth, fame, and power. However, is there a more fulfilling path to success?

🧠 A Shift in Mindset

Many of us idolize successful business figures and influencers, attributing their success to their brilliance. Unfortunately, this mindset often leads us to believe that emulating their traits is the ultimate path to success. A shift is needed from this ego-centered and hero-worshipping culture to a God-centered entrepreneurial mind.

The Quranic verse below underscores the importance of humility and the recognition that all honor and power ultimately belong to Allah. It challenges the notion of self-worship and egocentrism, which are prevalent in our modern society, especially in the business world.

This verse serves as a reminder that seeking honor and power for worldly gains or personal glory is not the ultimate path to success.

Instead, true honor and power lie in serving a purpose greater than oneself for the sake of Allah. It emphasizes that our efforts and achievements should be directed towards pleasing Allah and not merely for self-aggrandizement or worldly recognition.

Enter God-Centered Entrepreneurship…

🕊️ God-Centered Entrepreneurship

A God-centered entrepreneur sees their journey as more than a self-driven quest for success. They acknowledge their entrepreneurial journey as a divine assignment, a means to serve a purpose greater than themselves.

Transitioning to a God-centered entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t mean neglecting your responsibilities and ambitions. It’s about acknowledging a higher power in your journey, using your business as a vehicle to serve a greater purpose, and letting this perspective guide your decisions and actions.

🌟 The Exemplary of the Prophets: From Nuh to the Unnamed

Prophets like Nuh (Noah) serve as excellent examples of God-centered individuals. Despite preaching for 950 years, only a handful of people accepted his message. However, his perseverance and dedication to his divine mission were not diminished by the number of followers he gained. His success was not measured by worldly standards but by his unwavering commitment to serve God’s purpose. Prophet Nuh was not ego-centric but God-centric, constantly putting God first before his ego.

This illustrates that the value of our efforts is not always reflected in worldly recognition or results but in the sincerity of our intention and commitment to a cause greater than ourselves.

Along with the Prophet Nuh, other unnamed prophets mentioned by Allah in the Quran were given the divine message to preach.

Despite their names and deeds being unknown to us, they fulfilled their divine assignments faithfully, undeterred by the lack of fame or worldly recognition. Their unwavering commitment to their purpose, regardless of whether their results are known, is a testament to their God-centeredness.

These Prophets were not driven by ego or desire for worldly acclaim but by their dedication to a cause greater than themselves. Their reward lies with Allah, the Just, who acknowledges their sincerity and commitment.

👇️ 6 Steps to Becoming a God-Centered Entrepreneur

🎯 Set a Higher Purpose: Look beyond the profit and personal success. Define the purpose of your business in terms of the positive impact you can make on society.

🌱 Stay Grounded: Practice gratitude to stay humble. Acknowledge that your achievements are not solely the result of your efforts but also the grace of Allah.

🤲 Seek Divine Guidance: Include faith in your decision-making process.

❤️ Serve Others: See your business and career and lead a fulfilling life that aligns with your deepest values and beliefs.

🌟 Uphold Righteous Character: Entrepreneurs must be socially responsible and exhibit ethical Muslim traits. They should not misrepresent products, mislead customers, or conceal defects. They must avoid deception, dishonesty, hoarding, and accepting interest. They should be honest, truthful, and stick to contracts.

🏹 Embrace & Learn from Failure: Understand that setbacks and failures are opportunities for learning and growth and are a part of God’s plan. See them as chances to improve and align closer to your divine purpose instead of sources of discouragement.

Here are some practical activities for you to engage in self-reflection and check your ego:

✍️ Gratitude Journaling: Write down three things you are grateful to Allah today. It could be something big or small. The goal here is to shift your focus from yourself and appreciate Allah's blessings.

💗 Serve Others: Do one act of kindness or service to someone else. This helps move from a self-centered mindset to a God-centered and servant leadership mindset.

🪞 Silent Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt your ego was taking the lead. Write about it and identify what triggered your ego and how you could respond differently.

💬 Affirmations: Write down and recite affirmations that focus on humility and selflessness, such as “I am a servant of Allah” or “I am part of a larger whole.”

👂️ Listen More: Make a conscious effort to listen more than you speak in your conversations. Active listening can help you become more empathetic and less self-focused.

📢 Feedback: Seek constructive feedback from someone you trust. This can be a humbling experience and a chance for growth and improvement.

🏥 Charity Work: Engage in regular acts of charity, whether volunteering your time or donating to a cause. This encourages empathy and a broader perspective and fosters a sense of gratitude and humility.

Remember: Changing a deep-seated mindset takes practice and patience. Be gentle with yourself in this journey and celebrate your progress.

💭 Closing Thoughts

It’s time to step away from the culture of ego and idolization and towards becoming God-centered entrepreneurs, using our businesses and careers to promote Allah’s teachings and principles.

The value of our efforts is not reflected in worldly recognition or results but in the sincerity of our intention and commitment to Allah and His message, a cause far greater than ourselves.

🤲 Dua

O Allah, Controller of our hearts, guide us to humility. Keep our egos in check and prevent us from arrogance. Help us to remember that all success comes from You alone. Let our efforts be in Your name and for Your glory. Bless us with the sincerity to serve You and Your creation selflessly.

Ameen.