Most entrepreneurs focus on growth. DG Elmore focused on people.

After transforming a struggling company early in his career, DG discovered a principle that would shape the next four decades: helping others win creates opportunities for everyone involved.

Instead of building a business empire around himself, he built partnerships. He intentionally created opportunities for operating partners to build wealth alongside him, not simply work for him.

That decision changed everything.

As his companies expanded through acquisitions and strategic growth, DG found that business became more than a financial endeavor. It became a platform for influence, mentorship, and life transformation.

One of the most powerful lessons from his journey came when he finally hired a second-in-command. For years he resisted, believing nobody could do the job as well as he could. When he finally made the investment, it freed him to pursue new opportunities and accelerate growth.

His story challenges a common assumption among leaders: success isn’t about holding tighter control. It’s about empowering others.

Whether you’re leading a business, a ministry, or a family, the principles remain the same. Invest in people. Create opportunities. Build trust over time. And remember that the greatest influence often comes through consistent relationships rather than grand moments.

The post Why This CEO Hired Someone Better Than Himself! DG Elmore appeared first on 100X Forum.

But it takes intentionality to build a family culture.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeff Rutt on the 100X Podcast, we moved beyond business strategy and into something even more important: parenting, grandparenting, and legacy.

Jeff shared how consistent habits shaped his children:

• prayer together
• Scripture memorization
• serving others
• mission trips
• hard work
• generosity

He laughed about his kids spending Saturdays power washing rental properties or spreading straw on job sites. At the time, they didn’t appreciate it.

Now they do.

One of the most powerful themes from the episode was exposure.

Jeff and his wife intentionally took their children around the world from a young age. Not for luxury travel, but to let them see how other people lived, struggled, and served.

That experience shaped their hearts.

Today, their children continue living missionally in their own ways, carrying those values into adulthood and now into the next generation.

The conversation also explored:

• how generosity changes family culture
• practical ways to spend intentional time with grandkids
• creating purpose inside company culture
• helping employees connect work to impact
• balancing ambition with humility

Jeff also emphasized something many leaders forget: don’t take yourself too seriously.

Take your work seriously.
Take your calling seriously.
But keep your ego in check.

In a culture chasing comfort and convenience, this conversation felt like a refreshing reminder that purpose is built intentionally — one habit, one conversation, and one act of generosity at a time.

The post Why Your Kids Don’t Need Comfort… They Need Purpose! Jeff Rutt appeared first on 100X Forum.

Jeff Rutt decided to give it away.

On this episode of the 100X Podcast, Jeff shared the story behind Keystone Custom Homes, HOPE International, and why he believes business can become one of the greatest tools for Kingdom impact.

Jeff’s story started humbly on a dairy farm. From there, he entered real estate and eventually built one of the top homebuilding companies in the country.

But what stood out most wasn’t the success.

It was the stewardship mindset behind it.

Jeff repeatedly emphasized that he never saw himself as an owner — only a steward of what God had placed in his hands.

That mindset eventually led to a radical decision: donating 90% of the company’s ownership to charity through the National Christian Foundation.

And according to Jeff, the surprising part is that very little changed operationally. The company still runs. The mission became clearer. And employees now understand that their daily work contributes to something far bigger than profits.

The conversation also explored:

• how HOPE International began in Ukraine
• why dependency-based charity can hurt communities
• raising children with generosity and mission in mind
• avoiding the trap of lifestyle inflation
• using business as a platform for eternal impact

One powerful takeaway was Jeff’s warning about comfort:

“Comfort leads to complexity. Complexity leads to complacency.”

That line alone is worth reflecting on.

This episode isn’t just about generosity. It’s about redefining success.

And maybe the most radical thing a leader can do today is build something that serves others instead of themselves.

The post He Gave Away 90% Of His Company… And Got Richer In Purpose! Jeff Rutt appeared first on 100X Forum.

And then there are conversations that stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling.

Our conversation with George Greene on the 100X Podcast was one of those.

George shared openly about the loss of his son and later his wife, Molly. He described the pain honestly, without pretending faith removes grief. But through that pain, he discovered something deeper about purpose and the Christian life.

One passage changed everything for him: Romans 8:28–29.

Most people stop at verse 28 — “God works all things for good.” But George explained how verse 29 reframed his understanding of suffering completely: that God is conforming us into the image of His Son.

That became the lens through which he now sees life.

Not achievement.
Not comfort.
Not platform.
Formation.

Throughout the episode, George shared practical rhythms that have kept him grounded:

• prayer as a daily habit
• reading the whole Bible
• corporate worship
• surrounding yourself with godly counsel
• serving the poor

He also shared how purpose often emerges through pain, not around it.

One of the most moving moments came when George explained how a friend challenged him after the death of his wife. He was ready to quit. Instead, he was reminded that thousands of families experience similar suffering every day — and that God had given him an opportunity to help them.

That perspective transformed his pain into mission.

This episode is a reminder that the goal of life is not simply success. It is becoming more like Jesus.

And sometimes the hardest seasons shape us the most.

The post He Lost Everything… Then Found His Real Purpose! – George Greene III appeared first on 100X Forum.

After building a thriving engineering company, George and his wife Molly faced unimaginable loss and later encountered the global water crisis after Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras. What began as six handmade water filtration systems eventually became Water Mission, an organization now serving millions around the world.

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation was George’s perspective on action and faith: you do not have to get everything right before stepping forward. Growth often comes through obedience, mistakes, and learning along the way.

This episode explores leadership, grief, entrepreneurship, generosity, and the kind of purpose that reshapes an entire life.

The post Your Success Won’t Heal You! George Greene III appeared first on 100X Forum.

Everything in your life might look fine on the outside, but something inside still feels off.

You are doing well. Things are working. By most standards, you should feel satisfied. Yet there is a quiet tension that will not go away.

That tension is not failure. It is growth.

Most people assume the answer is to do more. They work harder, stay more disciplined, and try to push through. But doing more of the wrong thing does not fix the problem. It only drains you faster.

That is why rest alone does not solve it. You can take time off, but if you return to a life that no longer fits who you are becoming, the same feeling comes back.

The truth is simple. You have not failed. You have outgrown something.

You may have outgrown the way you think, the way you work, or even the way you define success. But letting go is difficult because what you are holding onto still works. It still produces results. It still earns approval. It still makes sense to everyone else.

That is why so many people stay stuck. It is not because they lack opportunity. It is because they are unwilling to release the version of themselves that got them here.

Growth requires courage. Not loud, dramatic courage. Quiet courage. The kind that admits something is no longer right and chooses alignment over comfort.

There is more available to you. A better rhythm. A deeper purpose. A more honest version of your life. But stepping into it will cost you your current identity.

You do not need to push harder. You need to ask a better question.

Is this still right for me?

Because the life you are looking for is not built by doing more. It is built by becoming someone new.

The post You’re Living the Wrong Life (And You Know It) Jon Sundt appeared first on 100X Forum.

They distract themselves.
They stay busy.
They move on as quickly as possible.

Because pain feels like something to fix… or forget.

But what if pain isn’t just something to get past?

What if it’s something to pay attention to?

Pain has a way of sticking with you.
Not randomly—but intentionally.

It lingers.
It resurfaces.
It won’t let you ignore it forever.

And the reason is simple:

Pain often points to purpose.

The people doing the most meaningful work in the world rarely started with a clear plan.

They started with something that bothered them.
Something that broke their heart.
Something they couldn’t unsee.

And instead of running from it…

They built from it.

That’s the difference.

You can spend your life trying to avoid what hurt you.

Or you can ask a better question:

What is this trying to shape in me?

Because the thing you went through…

Might be the very thing that gives your life direction.

The post Your Trauma Is Trying To Tell You Something (Most People Ignore It)!! Jon Sundt appeared first on 100X Forum.

It’s another thing to live it where it actually matters—
in marriage, in parenting, in leadership, and under pressure.

In this conversation, Steve Russell moves from the extraordinary parts of his story to something even more important:

The ordinary places where faith is proven.

1. Your Life Is Your Loudest Credential

In a world obsessed with proving ourselves, Steve points back to First Epistle to the Corinthians.

Paul was challenged to show his credentials—and his response was simple:

“You are our letter… known and read by all.”

That means your life is the evidence.

Not your words.
Not your titles.
Not your platform.

Your reactions under pressure reveal who you really are.

“Squeeze a person, what they are comes out.” 

That’s true in leadership.
It’s even more true at home.

2. Marriage Isn’t About Winning—It’s About Becoming

After nearly four decades of marriage, Steve describes something most people miss:

Marriage doesn’t just bring two people together—it reshapes them.

Like two boards pressed together over time, pressure doesn’t break the relationship—it deepens it.

• She made him more patient and kind
• He helped her grow in confidence and boldness

That’s the goal.

Not control.
Not competition.
Transformation.

And it only works when both are walking with God.

3. Parenting Is More About Modeling Than Managing

Steve didn’t claim to be a perfect parent—and that honesty matters.

Because what he emphasized wasn’t control—it was consistency.

Your kids don’t just hear what you say.
They absorb what you live.

When life squeezes you:

• Do they see peace or panic?
• Prayer or pressure?
• Faith or frustration?

That’s what sticks.

That’s what they carry into their own lives.

4. Integrity Is the Foundation of Leadership

Out of everything he’s seen—from combat to Congress to nonprofit leadership—Steve didn’t hesitate:

Integrity is the most important leadership trait.

Not charisma.
Not intelligence.
Not influence.

Because without integrity, nothing else holds.

It takes a lifetime to build—and can be lost in a moment. 

But when it’s present, people trust you—even when you make mistakes.

5. Don’t Let Money Define Mission

One of the more subtle but powerful warnings in this episode:

In leadership—especially ministry—it’s easy to let money shape direction.

Go where the funding is.
Build around what’s supported.

But that flips the order.

Mission should drive resources—not the other way around.

Otherwise, you’re no longer following God’s direction…
you’re following what’s easiest to fund.

Final Thought

Steve’s message is simple, but not easy:

Live your faith where it counts most.

At home.
Under pressure.
When no one is watching.

Because in the end, your life will preach louder than anything you ever say.

The post From Combat to Christ’s Mission appeared first on 100X Forum.

For Steve Russell, that thread is simple:

Availability to God matters more than ability.

From military leadership to politics, from business ownership to ministry, and now leading Jungle Aviation and Relay Service, his story isn’t about climbing a ladder—it’s about responding to a call.

1. Your Mind Determines Your Direction

Steve anchors everything in one truth: what fills your mind shapes your life.

He points to Book of Romans—the idea that a mind set on the flesh leads to conflict, while a mind set on the Spirit leads to life and peace.

That’s not theoretical. It’s practical.

If your thoughts are constantly driven by pressure, comparison, or control, your life will reflect that tension. But if your mind is shaped by Scripture, your life begins to align with purpose—even when it’s hard.

As Steve put it:

“I don’t know how you could lead as a believer without washing your brain with Scripture.” 

2. God Is More Concerned With Faithfulness Than Scale

One of the most powerful moments in Steve’s story happened as a teenager in Germany.

He thought God was sending him there for something big—a movement, a revival, something visible.

Instead, it was one person.

And that changed everything.

God doesn’t measure impact the way we do. We think in crowds. God thinks in souls.

Sometimes the assignment isn’t bigger—it’s more focused.

3. Leadership Is Seasonal

Steve’s journey includes leading soldiers in combat, serving in Congress, and losing an election by just 3,200 votes.

That kind of loss forces a question:

Was the calling tied to the position—or to obedience?

His answer is clear:

• When you’re given leadership, serve.
• When you’re not, follow well.

That perspective frees you from chasing titles and anchors you in purpose.

4. Loss Doesn’t Mean You Missed God

After losing his congressional seat, Steve didn’t spiral—he asked a better question:

“What’s next?”

That posture led him back into ministry, into aviation, and eventually into leading a global mission organization.

What looked like an ending was actually redirection.

5. God Often Moves You by Unsettling You

One of the most insightful parts of the conversation:

Before God moves you, He often unsettles you.

Not with frustration.
Not with failure.

But with a quiet sense that something is shifting.

That feeling isn’t something to ignore—it’s something to discern.

Final Thought

Steve’s life isn’t a blueprint—it’s a reminder:

You don’t have to map out your entire future.

You just have to be willing when God calls.

Because in the end, the greatest ability you bring to God’s plan isn’t your skillset.

It’s your availability.

The post When God Moves You appeared first on 100X Forum.

In this episode, Tim Sittema reflects on faith, family, and the responsibility of stewardship.

He emphasizes that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and that faithfulness begins with how we manage our time, influence, and resources. 

Tim also shares practical wisdom on marriage, parenting, generosity, and passing faith to the next generation. One of his most important insights is that parents must intentionally cultivate faith in their children rather than assuming it will happen naturally.

The conversation reminds leaders that the greatest legacy we leave is not success, but faithfulness.

The post Episode 22 – Tim Sittema – Part 2 appeared first on 100X Forum.