Hey folks — welcome back to The Saintly CEO, where we are on a mission to build an army of Catholic business owners and empower them to reinstate God at the center of society, where He belongs.
Today we’ve got a different format. I simply ran out of time this past weekend to pull this all together.
So, we’ll just have the main content and a few resources at the end. No Heavenly Hustlers section this time around.
I will, however, join y’all in celebrating our new patron saint, Saint Carlo Acutis! First millennial saint and first saint to use the internet. Suffice to say, I’m hyped to see him added to our roster (officially).
See you at the SENT Summit!
As you read this, I’m likely on the road to South Bend, Indiana, for the SENT Summit. If you’re going to be there, hit me up in the DMs of Substack or text me (my phone number is on my LinkedIn profile).
These 3 types are not just different styles — rather, 3 levels of entrepreneurship where level 3 is what we should aspire to, rather than level 1.
Think about it like the three levels of the spiritual life — the more we advance, the closer to perfection we are.
Now — keep in mind, I’m not a theologian by any means, but this feels right to me. In other words — feel free to disagree with me in the comments — I’m learning as much as you.
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Level 1 | Entrepreneurship for Personal or Financial Gain
Most of us start our journey here. We're driven by the need to generate income, often fueled by a chip on our shoulder or the desire to escape poverty and take care of our families. We crave material success — the fancy cars, the big houses, the symbols of "making it."
But even if your intentions are noble, pursuing entrepreneurship solely for money is still Level 1. And the result? Almost always dissatisfaction.
If you've ever heard the podcast Money Wise, they interview people who have sold their companies for tens or hundreds of millions. They ask how they feel after the sale. Often, there is a profound emptiness. This demonstrates that purely financial gain is not noble or fulfilling. There needs to be something more underlying the motivations.
Consider this similar to the purgative stage of the spiritual life. You’ve now got the wheels of entrepreneurship spinning. You just need to adjust the speed and destination.
It’s key to recognize this. That there are levels of entrepreneurship. Just like there are levels of singing or reading, there are levels of entrepreneurship. Are you satisfied with staying at the same level your entire life?
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Once an entrepreneur achieves a certain level of financial success, they often shift toward a more mission-oriented venture. A great example of this is Anand Sanwal, who co-founded CB Insights (estimated to be valued north of $100m).
He's now focused on helping high schoolers get into entrepreneurship through his formidable fellowship grant program. He’s admitted that he’s focused on this because he’s already achieved plenty of financial success.
This is a significant upgrade from Level 1 because you’re now focused on others. You care deeply about the impact your business has on the world. The focus is on doing good as the primary outcome, with money becoming the secondary outcome. Money becomes the mechanism for delivering the desired good.
But there is still a higher level than this. Because in this level, you’re still doing things out of your own plan and desire. Yes, you’re not as focused on the money. But you’re still focused on executing your will.
That’s the critical difference between levels 2 and 3. Your will or God’s will?
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Level 3 | Entrepreneurship as an Answer to Serve God
This third level is attainable only by a Christian because we understand that everything we have — our life, skills, interests, and circumstances — comes from God.
At the core of every human (our nature) is the call to be a co-creator alongside God. For some of us, that means building a business and becoming an entrepreneur.
You put yourself in the shoes of the steward who was given five talents. You recognize your role as a good steward, so you go out and take the right actions. You're no longer driven by your ego, a desire for money, or the good feeling of impact entrepreneurship.
Your sole aim is to conform to the will of God, to become a vessel of His desires for you in the world.
In doing this, you relinquish both financial and social success to Him. If you make a billion dollars, that money isn't yours; it’s to be used for His purposes. If you gain popular social status, you must use it for His purposes.
This is, in effect, an ecclesiastical venture. It belongs to God, and its ultimate purpose is His glorification.
No longer is the root of the enterprise tied to your will. It’s tied to God’s will. That is the fundamental characteristic of Level 3.
The Question for Catholic Entrepreneurs
How are we going to proceed? Do we truly desire heaven and unity with God?
Our actions reflect what’s in our hearts, and the way we run our businesses is a tangible measurement of this. You can use this framework as a measuring stick to see how you're scoring on your journey to heaven. How close are you to Level 3?
I hope you’ll do the hard thing and strive for Level 3.
God Bless & Happy Building
~Silas Mähner
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😄. Great post I could myself in the different levels and how I’ve progressed through them. Have only recently got into level 3 and it’s definitely been life changing in terms of how I go about business. God is my CEO and none of this is mine.
😄. Great post I could myself in the different levels and how I’ve progressed through them. Have only recently got into level 3 and it’s definitely been life changing in terms of how I go about business. God is my CEO and none of this is mine.