Shark Tank Entrepreneur Chris Johnson on Faith and Business

Each year thousands of entrepreneurs apply to be on the show Shark Tank and only a handful are selected to make their pitch to investors. Some are lucky enough to receive a deal. Chris Johnson was fortunate to get to pitch his product, Rapid Ramen Cooker on the show and struck a deal with Mark Cuban. We interviewed him in 2016 and talked about how his faith impacts running a business and his Shark Tank experience.

Johnson shares how his faith impacts his daily life.

“I put different types of Post-its around [my work area] to remind me and make sure that I stay focused. Now here’s what is important. Running a business is HARD, it’s a faith fight. If you have the emotions of stress, anger, sadness, depression, feeling down; most people think those are okay emotions to have. The truth is they are not okay because when you are feeling those emotions you can’t be enthusiastic, you can’t be grateful, you can’t be filled with expectancy, you can’t be filled with faith, you can’t be filled with humility at the same time. So those emotions are just alarms to let you know that you are out of sync. For me, I’ll take a scripture or word that God gave me and I’ll post it to keep my mind right. That’s key because circumstances will really be persistent to tell you your world is going in a different direction. So it is a faith fight and it’s like, ‘Am I going to believe the word that God has given me that I’m going to be successful? Or am I going to believe what is happening right now?’ Another way I do this is that I have dedicated a wall of pictures [in my office] and it’s my gratitude wall. So many times as an ambitious entrepreneur you are focused on the big win, the big success and the big mission, but there are a lot of blessings that are going on along the way and so many times we forget about those and really don’t understand the significance of our life because we are so ambitious and going after these big things. I’ve dedicated this wall and every single picture captures a time of something that really means something deeply to me. I will at times sit back and look at that wall and I realize that I’m blessed; if nothing else changes, I’m not forgetting and am reminded, [of the journey].”

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life^[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Mark 8:34-37

Johnson opens up on his Shark Tank experience with Rapid Ramen Cooker.

“The biggest significance of the ‘Shark Tank’ experience is how it [connected] everything, especially in the business of Rapid Ramen. I put all my faith in God in this one. I mean that wholeheartedly. Surviving that previous company lawsuit and then surviving the downturn in the economy, in a staffing business where we thrive when everybody hires…in all of that I had this little idea of a rapid ramen cooker and I knew nothing about how to invent anything, I knew nothing about retail, I knew nothing about international production; I didn’t even know how to put a barcode on something. I remember I prayed about what I should do because my dream was not ending up where I wanted it. And I remember, I got the vision of, the world like, ‘Purse this and put faith in me.’ You know sometimes you are doing the praying and talking to God, abut sometimes you need to be silent and just hear from Him. And so I said, ‘Okay, I’m going after this.’…I was raised in church, but until I developed a relationship with God, I would just say [what I thought were] the right things, but what He has done with Rapid Brands, there is absolutely no doubt about the favor that is on my life. That’s why in every speaking engagement I give God the glory because it is unfathomable, there is no question that He is in all of this and everything I’m doing.”

Risen Reflections

Pursue your dreams. God has given us each a set of unique gifts and talents. He wants us to use them to glorify Him. Often, it can be easier to pursue a paycheck or what is easier. Take time this week to step back and evaluate the calling God has placed on your life. Meet with a friend, small group leader or pastor and ask them for their wisdom. Often times, people can see gifts and talents in us that we might have trouble identifying.

Give glory to God. Whether you are a professional, run your household, or are a student, each of us has the opportunity to daily give glory to God. For some it might mean acknowledging him to hundreds of people at a speaking engagement and for others it might be a simple conversation with a neighbor or friend. It is okay to be nervous. Pray and ask God to give you the strength and His words for that moment.

Have vision. It can be so easy to get discouraged. Instead, post reminders to encourage you. These can be Bible verses, positive sayings or even photos of events or people that are a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Whenever there is an opportunity to have a discouraging moment, look at the quotes and pictures and remember all of the things God has brought you through and the ways that He has provided for you in the past.

To read our entire interview with Chris Johnson, click here.