Apologies for the late review on this one—my choices for an organizational system January-February were poor. I think that’s on track now, and I am working hard to catch up.
When I first picked up Ingredients for Success: 10 Best Practices for Business and Life by Joseph James Slawek, I thought “Here we go again: some business guy has made a fortune, wants to sanctify it, and is going to warp Scripture for justification of his methods. Those books are too frequent, and too annoying.
Fortunately, Slawek’s Ingredients is not too bad in this regard. It is true that he gathers the basic practical concepts from the parables of Matthew 25 without moving on to the Christological meaning in them. However, his work here is about business and not theology.
In that vein, Slawek makes the clear admission that he went to Scripture looking for business guidance after someone challenged him about that idea. He did not make a list and go proof-text hunting, and for that he is to be commended.
Ingredients for Success is much easier to read than I expected. Slawek weaves his personal story with the principles he calls “ingredients” to illustrate. His use of “ingredients?” He’s the Founder/CEO of a flavor company, so it’s natural.
I found particularly helpful his concept of aiming for excellence over perfection. This is a great point, though it is not the best supported from his Scripture points. Overall the idea is that we will not hit perfect but we cannot rest on mediocre. In a time where many people get locked up in decision-fear and do not do anything for fear of not doing it perfectly.
All in all, it’s not the best book on the center meaning of the parables of Matthew 25, but Ingredients for Success takes a great look at how Biblical principles can help Christians honor Christ with their work and home lives.
(I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for the review)
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