Leadership Not by the Book: 12 Unconventional Principles to Drive Incredible Results: Summary & Key Insights

When I began Hobby Lobby, I decided early that every business decision had to align with biblical values. That wasn’t always easy, and it certainly wasn’t the model taught in business schools. But I came to see that Scripture holds the deepest truths about human relationships, stewardship, and purpose. Profit is essential, of course, but it is not the reason we exist. A business rooted in God’s word operates from a higher standard: honesty in dealings, fairness in treatment, humility in success, and generosity in reward.

This foundation affects everything—from how we manage our money to how we treat our employees. When you recognize that every transaction, every decision, and every relationship is part of a larger calling, then ethics and faith stop being add-ons; they become the core of your identity. For us, prayer preceded planning, and integrity mattered more than image. The moment you understand that your business belongs to God, not you, your leadership changes from ambition to obedience. That’s where freedom—and real success—begin.

I’ve often said that the bottom line matters, but the people who make that bottom line possible matter far more. Early in Hobby Lobby’s history, we made decisions that didn’t make sense to business analysts but made perfect sense in light of our values. We paid our employees well above the industry standard, even when profits were tight. We closed our stores on Sundays so employees could rest and spend time with their families. That single choice—unpopular among competitors—became one of our proudest marks of integrity.

Putting people before profit doesn’t mean ignoring the business’s financial realities; it means ordering priorities correctly. When employees are valued, they invest themselves fully. When they know they’re respected and cared for, the company culture becomes a source of life, not stress. Our success has been built not on squeezing every dime from labor but on treating each worker as a person of God-given worth. Ironically, when we chose generosity and fairness over short-term gains, we discovered the long-term rewards were far greater than money could measure.