The Heart of Business: Solomon's Wisdom for Success in Any Economy Hardcover – August 21, 2013

King Solomon wrote, "The words of the wise are like goads, there collected sayings like firmly embedded nails - given by one Shepherd." (Ecclesiastes 12:11)From cover to cover, The Heart of Business is filled with wise words because the book is rooted and grounded in Scripture. Raymond Harris organizes these wise words in eight brief and substantive chapters that are like firmly embedded nails. Their intent is to provide the reader a sure footing where he or she can demonstrate character and conduct in the business world.The author offers sound and sagely advice to the young person starting off in their career. Harris' target audience is the young adult embarking to make a difference in the marketplace. "I have written it for young businessmen and women everywhere, with the hope that they will become dedicated stewards who follow Christ with everything they have (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22)." (Page 15)Mr. Harris addresses things to treasure, disciplines to embrace, habits to cultivate, dangers to avoid, and character qualities to integrate and display throughout the course of one's life. For the young man or woman who has finished their formal education, (i.e., college, grad school, etc.) and have moved toward a new season of life, adulthood and working in the marketplace, this is a must read.The Heart of Business is like a compass to help guide and set its readers on a course toward becoming effective and productive stewards of the gifts, training, and equipping they've received and will continue to develop the rest of their life.The author stated it well when he wrote, "Proverbs is an excellent roadmap for realignment as it instructs, encourages, and addresses so many different issues. The repetition of themes in various ways adds richness and intrigue to what might otherwise be a simple instructional manual." (Page 17)I found The Heart of Business to be a well-written book fitted perfectly for its intended target audience. Its content is solid, timely and practical. The personal experiences and stories are indicative of a life that has put into practice what he seeks to impart to others.Raymond Harris makes a personal invitation to his readers. He writes, "I encourage you to put this book to the test. I have endeavored to handle these holy truths and not add my own speculation . . . Alongside this book, I invite you to read the book of Proverbs and see for yourself how the Lord will reveal things to you as he has to me. I am confident you will be blessed as you seek these truths for yourself and apply what you find." (Page 17)I agree with the author's offer and encourage you to take Mr. Harris up on his invitation.

The Heart of Business is a very practical book, which outlines simple yet profound principles adapted from Solomon’s wisdom into a contemporary business setting. Raymond Harris has a long track record of success in his business dealings, so he is certainly able to “put his money where his mouth is”. I was very impressed with the humility and servant leadership that Raymond obviously displayed among his co-workers. It is key for a leader to be “right there in the trenches”, and Raymond has done this his entire career. His philosophy of sharing the wealth is very inspiring. I also found the section on what to avoid very helpful. He obviously speaks from experience and encourages the reader to not make similar mistakes. I believe every business manager would benefit from reading this short and very easy to read book. I am not a business owner, but I found that I could even use these principles in my every day dealings with people. There are not many business management books that can make that claim. I highly recommend this book!

Concise, well-written, easily understood and full of wisdom on every page. The Heart of Business reveals the resultant success of applying God's Word to a business environment. This book is on my gift list for each graduate in my life....for both college and high school grads. The principles presented are priceless at every stage of a person's career, especially during the early years when building a foundation of a great reputation and successful work habits. Revisiting the messages in this book would be helpful for everyone who maneuvers through the business world. My favorite message is that all success comes from God (in conjunction with personal diligence), and that the rewards of success should, therefore, be shared with God's kingdom on Earth. My favorite take-away is that growing in my understanding of our AMAZING God makes it easier to understand humility...easier to eliminate pride. Thank You for your WONDER-Full insights from Him!

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom, but its random structure makes it difficult to follow its principles or put them into practice. Raymond Harris clearly organizes and distills the rich content and offers real world examples from his own life of how to act on it. By seeking treasures like wisdom, counsel, love and faithfulness we unlock the promises of God who empowers us to do the right thing, develop good habits, avoid bad things, and become the men and women God created us to be. This is a helpful guide for young businesswomen and men from someone who has successfully walked the road before. It also has important lessons for anyone running a non-profit or creative venture or leading in other areas of life. God always provides wisdom when we ask, and this book is one of his answers to that request.

This short, but powerful book is a wonderful guide for young professionals and those seeking to develop a successful business of any kind. It is full of Scripture, reminding the reader that these are God's principles and not merely the author's. Raymond has clearly presented them in a way that anyone could easily understand and follow. I really appreciate that this book doesn't only discuss things a person should do, but the type of person the Proverbs commands one to be.Raymond wrote, "Humility is knowing our awesome God on a personal, intimate level while maintaining a full awareness of our complete dependence on him as recipients of his unmerited favor." From personal experience, I can say that Raymond truly practices what he preaches. He has been blessed in his business and continues to bless others in many ways, including this new book.