How a Saintly CEO Would Observe Holy Week & Easter Week
How to Approach The Most Important Two Weeks of The Year
Holy Week is already upon us. Regardless of how your Lent has gone so far, there is still time to finish strong. But what does that look like for a Catholic entrepreneur?
Welcome to the first issue of The Saintly CEO. A weekly newsletter from Catholic Founders. Each issue, you’ll get 1 core principle to live by + a curated selection of other Catholic Entrepreneurs and what they are up to.
In Today’s Email:
CF Role Model: The employee benefit this entrepreneur offers his team
+ 7 more Catholic entrepreneurs (Heavenly Hustlers)
How a Saintly CEO Would Observe Holy Week & Easter Week (10 Ways)
Miscellaneous Resources
[read time: ~7 min | word count 1,324]
Heavenly Hustlers
When I speak with Catholic entrepreneurs, one of the most common challenges they have is finding others like them. We’re trying to help solve that.
In this section, we highlight other Catholic entrepreneurs/business owners (Heavenly Hustlers), what they’re doing, and their LinkedIn profiles so you can expand your network of like-minded individuals.
CF Role Model:
🌐 John Johnson runs Patmos. A hosting platform that won’t cancel you for being based (AWS alternative).
He also started the Albertus Magnus Institute, and he owns Pizza Norcia in El Dorado Hills, CA.
We can all look up to John for his tenacity in executing things. He has used his skills to build several successful businesses.
One of the coolest things for us to learn from John is generosity in our businesses. His employees get a $5k raise for every child they have. This is a tangible way to implement the Just Wage teaching without complex formulas.
Here is an appearance he made on The Catholic Entrepreneur Podcast with Mitch Fisher.
Other Heavenly Hustlers:
🚜 Brian S. Kearney is building Farmland Stock Exchange to help farmers buy out their landlords.
✨ Jacob Ciccarelli is building Truthly, a platform for answers about the Catholic Faith. Matt Fradd is partnered with them.
🏥 Daniel Cruz & Bob Hogan are building Presidio Healthcare, pro-life health insurance.
🎙️ Joe Coleman is building Saint Kolbe Studios. A production company for Catholics looking to launch a podcast. (Shout out to Joe for a ton of great advice on how to improve the Catholic Founders Podcast — 10/10 would recommend).
📦 Brother & Sister duo Astrid Besse and Côme Besse are building Divine Box. A subscription box of products made by monks.
🙋♂️ Nominate a Heavenly Hustler (including yourself) - It takes 1 min.
[From our Sponsor — ParacleteVA]
Hire a Catholic Virtual Assistant
As your biz grows, hire a Catholic VA to take back your time.
In the Philippines, Catholic VAs often work for employers who mistreat them or ask them to do things contrary to their Catholic morals. They have families to feed—they can’t just quit. Help them feed their families with good work.
We’ll find someone with the right skills. Reach out today —> DearCFPod@gmail.com ($500 upon hiring & $500 if you’re still happy after 30 days)
NOTE: We are not an employer of record. You pay them directly as a contractor.
Interested in sponsoring this newsletter? Reach out today —> DearCFPod@gmail.com
How a Saintly CEO Would Observe Holy Week & Easter Week
This week is Holy Week. Next is Easter Week. The two most important weeks of the year for Catholics. You know this, but here’s the real question.
How are you observing them?
More specifically, how are you using your business to share this good news with your community and customers?
As business owners, we’re tempted to just keep working. So many things to do. So many clients to serve.
I’m living this right now. I recently landed 4 retainers that all need my attention at once. Honestly, it’s stressing me out a bit.
Despite this, I know it’s not right to skip attending the Triduum. This only comes once a year.
If your son made it to the championship game, you wouldn’t skip that. So why would you skip this?
Here’s our take on observing Holy Week well.
Take Thursday to Sunday off
Ideally, take all these days off to pray and be with God. If you can’t manage that, carve out some time to be silent and reflect on the Passion. Just don’t make excuses why you can’t do this.Attend the Tridium
Look up the masses/service times and attend. No excuses. Yes, they are long, but do it. After what God has done for us, we owe it to Him.Give Your Employees the Day Off
Even if they are not Catholic, you share why you’re not working. Remember, we must lead first by example.The Saint Paul OOO (ie, Zealous)
Whoever emails you that day should see what your real priorities are. Explain why you’re off and maybe leave a link for the curious. Don’t be afraid. Muslims take off for EID. Jews for passover. Why should we Catholics, who possess the fullness of Truth, be shy about sharing it?Reflect on The Passion Through the Eyes of an Entrepreneur
Jesus suffered and died for us. He endured the long, arduous journey. This, after 30 years of quiet life. As Catholics, how can reflecting on this not inspire us as entrepreneurs? You have greater endurance than any entrepreneur because if you’re doing God’s will, He’s with you, giving you strength eternally.
That’s Holy Week. Let’s cover Easter Week so you have time to prepare.
Easter Week is our chance to be jubilant about the hope we have. This should be a time of celebration and joy. It would be a shame if this week looked like any other ordinary week.
Offer a Promotion/Give Something Away
If you’re running a consumer business, consider offering something for free to anyone who says a prayer for you. It could just be a holy card that you offer. Anything to spark conversation.Say Happy Easter
Protestants usually don’t celebrate beyond Easter Day. But we must share the joy throughout the season, especially in Easter Week.Take a Day Off
Ideally, offer your entire team the entire week off. If there is a week in the year to do it, this is it. At least start with a day off.Throw a Company Party
Do something special with the company to celebrate. Again, even non-Catholic employees will appreciate it. If they are really against it, they will eventually find new jobs. We cannot hide our Faith.Internalize What The Resurrection Means
Once we understand this deep in our hearts, we’re more likely to become like the Apostles. To have an unquenchable fire in us. If entrepreneurs get excited about some widget, how much more shouldn’t you be excited by your calling to use your business skills (that God gave you) for His glory?
This is your time. Your chance to step up to the plate and swing for God. To view and run your business as a tool for conversion.
Many of you will object. But here is the truth. No matter what your business is, there is something you can do. It may take a different form, but don’t be shy.
Jesus died for us. Are you really too afraid to share your faith?
Alright! That’s all for today, folks! We’ll see you next time.
God Bless & Happy Building
~Silas Mähner
Misc. Resources:
Join the Catholic Founders Guild (peer group) $10/month or $100/year
Investor? Join CatholicAngels.co (Angel Investors network for Catholics)
Hire a Catholic Virtual Assistant through ParacleteVA (email us: dearcfpod@gmail.com)
Do you think you need money to make money? Listen to this podcast w/ Alex Hormozi to be proven wrong.
You’ve made me reassess the Triduum. I haven’t attended these liturgies, but I’m going to incorporate them next year. Thank you!