Entrepreneurial Education: The Why

By Matt Hannan, Faculty

What sets Apple and Tesla apart? What makes people willing to buy their products even though they may be more expensive than others? It is not just that they make a quality product, or even that it has an elegant design. They are selling to the heart rather than the head. And they have achieved this through mastering the art of “Why”. When a company can connect to the core of a person’s motivations, that person will be willing to support that company even though it may not be the most rational choice. You aren't just buying a car, you are joining with Musk in building a rocket to go to Mars. That is far more exciting than just fueling the economy. 

Scripture reveals that humans are deeply motivated by the “Why”. The plain facts of “What” are never enough to cause right action. Think about the irrationality of sin, yet we still choose to rebel because it is our emotional response in the moment. When the Spirit regenerates us, our hearts are for God, and we make choices we would never have made before our conversion. Sanctification is a slow process of our “why” moving from flesh to righteousness because our primary desire is to honor Christ. We are not just obeying a law we hate but headed to the Celestial City to dwell with God forever… a far greater destination than Mars.