Business by the Book

09/24/2026

💍 Marriage + Money. What could possibly go wrong? 😄

Sherman & Cristina Merricks know a thing or two about both.

They paid off an incredible $203,000 in debt in just 27 months while raising three children, running businesses and navigating marriage along the way.

But this conversation is about much more than getting out of debt.

We’re going behind the numbers to talk honestly about marriage, finances, business, sacrifice, stewardship, teamwork and what it looks like to trust God through the process.

Come ready for a real, practical and probably pretty fun conversation!

📅 Wednesday, October 7
🕛 Business by the Book Luncheon
📍 The Rock of Gainesville
🎟️ No cost to attend this month, but registration is required so we can plan for lunch.

Bring your spouse, a friend, coworker or fellow business leader!

👉 REGISTER HERE: https://elevate-lead.com/businessbythebook/

This is our final complimentary luncheon before our new membership and guest pricing begins in November, so it’s a great month to come experience BBB!

08/25/2026

We’re just one week away from kicking off a new season of Business by the Book, and we’re genuinely excited about what’s ahead!

We’re looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces, welcoming new guests, and starting another season of faith, business, and community together.

Join us Wednesday, September 2 from 11:30–1:00 as Chance Smith shares “More Than a Burning Bush: Learning to Recognize God’s Voice in Business.”

We’d love to have you with us! Register here: https://elevate-lead.com/businessbythebook/

08/14/2026

A new season of Business by the Book begins September 2!

We’re kicking things off with Chance Smith speaking on:

More Than a Burning Bush
Learning to Recognize God’s Voice in Business

How does God guide us in everyday business decisions? Chance will share biblical principles and real-life examples of recognizing God’s voice in leadership, hiring, and navigating business challenges.

📅 September 2 | 11:30–1:00
📍 Abundant Grace Community Church

Bring a friend and join us!

Learn more + register:
https://elevate-lead.com/businessbythebook/

07/07/2026

If you or anyone you know is suffering from burnout, it may take longer than you think so give yourself the time you need.

Burnout doesn't heal on the same timeline it took to build. That mismatch is why so many people feel confused when a vacation doesn't fix what took years to create. 🧠

Your mind and body built patterns of chronic stress over months or years of running on empty. Undoing that takes real time, often one to three years of consistent repair, not a weekend of rest.

That's just an honest timeline. Rest still matters. A bubble bath still matters. They just aren't the whole recovery. They're one piece of a much longer process your mind needs to fully reset.

Take the long road here. Real repair was always going to take longer than a long weekend.

Send this to someone who thinks they should be over their burnout by now.

07/06/2026

📣 We're Growing...and Looking for the Right Person to Join Our Team

As Elevate continues to grow and we prepare for another season of Business by the Book leadership luncheons, we're excited to add a part-time Communications & Administrative Coordinator to our team.

This is an independent contractor position (approximately 10 hours per week) with a flexible schedule, primarily remote work, and occasional in-person meetings and event support.

We're looking for someone who is highly organized, proactive, dependable, flexible, easy to work with, and enjoys coordinating projects, communicating with people, and helping meaningful work move forward behind the scenes.

This role supports our leadership events, partnerships, communications, memberships, and initiatives, including the work of Looking4Answers.

Business owners and leaders, I'd love your help. If someone immediately comes to mind as you read this—someone who is organized, trustworthy, takes initiative, communicates well, and would enjoy working in a mission-driven environment—I would be grateful if you'd share this opportunity with them.

If you're interested, or would like to receive the complete job description, please email me at [email protected] with your résumé and a brief introduction.

Thank you for helping us find the right person to join the Elevate team!

07/06/2026

Here's a quick recap of our final Business By the Book luncheon of the season, where we explored practical ways leaders can reduce stress, navigate burnout, and overcome overwhelm. Thank you to our outstanding panelists for sharing nuggets of wisdom, practical insights, and encouragement to help leaders on their journey.

A special thank you to Justin Short and Luke Lower of Sky Palm Studios for bringing this event to life through video. We appreciate their passion for helping businesses and organizations grow through the power of video marketing!

See you in September as we kick off a brand-new Business By the Book season!

07/03/2026

Thanking God for our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Grateful for all who have sacrificed—and those who continue to sacrifice—to protect those freedoms. God bless America! 🇺🇸

06/12/2026

🌟 Business by the Book Sponsor Spotlight: Clarity Wealth 🌟

We’re grateful for the support of Clarity Wealth, a longtime supporter of both Elevate and Business by the Book. Their commitment to helping individuals, families, and business owners make wise financial decisions has made them a valued partner in our community.

One of the most common mistakes business owners make is focusing only on this year’s tax return instead of building a long-term tax strategy.

As economist John Maynard Keynes once wrote:

"The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward."

Good financial planning requires understanding how investment decisions, retirement plans, insurance policies, estate plans, business structure, and future income all work together over time in light of taxation.

At Clarity Wealth, they take a tax-focused approach to financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan services. They work alongside clients' tax professionals to identify forward-looking opportunities that might otherwise be missed, because some of the best outcomes happen when trusted advisors collaborate on behalf of the client.

Sometimes the biggest financial wins don’t come from earning more—they come from keeping more of what you already earn.

Thank you, Clarity Wealth, for your continued partnership and support of Business by the Book!

Learn more at https://www.claritywealthplan.com/

We provide financial planning and investment management services near you in FL & surrounding states, helping you with informed investment decisions.

06/11/2026

"If you don't show appreciation to your best people, another leader will and they will leave" - Craig Groeschel. Wow! Best 15 minutes of my day. Just wanted to share!

Praising the people you lead is a great instinct, but the greatest ...

05/28/2026

Business by the Book wrapped up the season with one of our most meaningful conversations yet — an honest discussion on leadership burnout, stress, mental health, and the importance of not suffering alone.

Thank you to Jon Bird with Jon Bird Photography for capturing the day so beautifully.

Thank you to our moderator, Brandon West, for leading such a thoughtful and engaging panel discussion, and to our incredible panelists:
• Dr. Lisa Merlo Greene
• Dwain Allen
• Joe Cirulli
• Erin Green

Thank you for sharing your wisdom, experience, and practical insight with our community of leaders.

We’re also grateful to Looking4Answers for helping bring greater awareness to mental and relational health and reminding leaders that support matters.

What a strong close to this season of Business by the Book. Grateful for every leader, sponsor, volunteer, and attendee who made this year so impactful.

Recap video coming soon.