There's a LATTE Work to Do!

A CONFESSION

Well, hello there, stranger!

First, let me apologize. You haven’t heard from me in a months—MONTHS—and I’m sorry. (Just writing that sentence was embarrassing). Looking back, I wish I had written down everything that has transpired because it’s A LOT.

Allow me to explain.

On October 15th, my husband and I bought a coffee shop.

A COFFEE SHOP!

Sounds crazy, right?

Trust me, I'm as surprised as you are!

I never dreamed I would one day own a coffee shop, but the funny thing is that all the things I ever DID dream are all wrapped up in this one place. Again, I haven’t written anything here in months, but my journals over the years chronicle seasons of caring for children, volunteering in church, cooking for friends, planning parties, and serving the community in a multitude of different venues.

One of the ways God blesses us is by ensuring that no experience is ever wasted.

I have always been drawn to places where conversation and connection can happen organically. In our shop, we experience that every day! We like to say, “There’s lots of places in downtown Woodstock you can go. We want to be the place where a person can simply BE.” Some people have really taken that mantra to heart. Case in point—there’s a consistent crew who park themselves in our seats every single day to work, study, or read or don’t buy a single thing. GAH! Slowly, we are turning the tide. I am beginning to hear stories about the happy place we’ve created, and every week I’m seeing our regulars for breakfast (keto bowls!) or for their twice daily dose of peppermint tea.

I have to be honest, though. The learning curve for running a business like this is steep. We have more than 20 team members, over 5000 square feet of space, and a full kitchen in addition to our coffee counter. And when we bought the coffee house, I didn’t even know how to make coffee!

I want it to be awesome.

WHAT I’M LEARNING

The other day, I was chatting with a friend who stopped by for some avocado toast and tea before her hot yoga class. I told her I was overwhelmed.

“Just remember,” she said, “you only have to do it once.”

And she’s right.

• Updating the vendor contact lists.

• Enrolling in bill-pay.

• Hiring a CPA.

• Scheduling cleaning.

I only have to do these things once, and then I can move on to whatever is next on that never-ending list of daily to-do’s.

My friend, Maureen, acknowledged the magnitude of the work and put it in perspective.

Nevertheless, now we’re five months into this adventure, and we’re still encountering all kinds of firsts.

• We need a new air-conditioner.

• There’s a leak in the dish room.

• Our Point-of-Sale system is outdated.

• The doors need to be replaced.

• And on and on and on….

Such is the nature of owning a business.

As overwhelming as these last few months have been, I finally feel like I’m at a place where I can return to my first love: writing. The coffee house has given me plenty of content!

One thing I’ve learned is that when we choose to do hard things, we exercise all kinds of muscles we didn’t know we had. Consistent exercise leads to increased strength and endurance. I don’t know what the future holds, but these last five months will surely equip me for whatever is next, whether that’s more time at the coffee house or something altogether different.

Only God knows. All these “firsts” will not be wasted.

Follow along here to join us on this journey. In the coming months, we will have to make some hard choices. Together, may we find value in the work we choose to do.

Can a Toy Teach a Kid How to be a Successful Adult?

In 1999, business partners Jennifer Fine and Jennifer Hamlin collaborated to create a line of dolls designed to take the world by storm. These career-forward icons of the doll world would topple Barbie on her pretty little head by re-imagining how girls play.

Girl power!
Achievement!
You can be anything!

Unless you’re Ashley the Attorney or Emily the Entrepreneur. These “smart friends for smart girls” captured the public’s attention for one brief moment at the turn of the century.

Game over.

Like 90% of new businesses, the company folded in 2001, a real tragedy considering the dolls were even featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things of 1999.

Ouch.

Being an entrepreneur is hard.

I should know.

A few years ago, I also launched a doll company with the goal of reimagining how kids play. Built on a foundation of generosity and friendship, our dolls honored kids with cancer and helped kids who care learn how to be better friends.

What we discovered, however, is that kids don’t need adults to tell them how to play with their toys.

They’re really awesome at doing that all by themselves!

Every mammalian kiddo across the planet engages in some form of play. Play helps animals discover their abilities and learn their limits, two skills crucial for both survival and success.

At a seminar I attended way back in 2001, parenting coach and author John Rosemond said, “Kids only need like three or four toys: a ball, some blocks, a few crayons, and a stack of books.”

Just three or four toys?

I couldn’t believe it!

And yet…

Think about all the the things you can do with just the toys I mentioned:

Let’s take the ball, for example:

Bounce it.
Throw it.
Catch it.
Carry it.
Roll it.
Pass it.
Pop it.

A ball can be used to play a game of kickball, baseball, tetherball, or 4-square.

And what little girl hasn’t stuffed a ball under her shirt, and shouted, “Look! I’m pregnant!” Who hasn’t used a giant ball as a makeshift seat or a tiny one as ammunition aimed at a younger sibling’s head?

Sure, Taylor the Teacher, Destiny the Doctor, and Jessica the Journalist arrived with some really cool accessories: miniature chalk, stethoscopes, and press passes, just to name a few. But while those things were cool (and teeny weeny), did they really inspire kids to be attorneys, doctors, and journalists?

I would venture that using math to perfect the ratio of dirt and water for a proper mud pie would be better preparation for a career in education. Following a stray ball into the woods and ending up with an angry case of poison ivy might ignite a passion for medicine. And staying up late into the night pouring out our feelings into a journal could be just the confidence-booster our kids need to realize a career in journalism.

The REALITY

Playthings don’t really prepare kids for the roles they will one day lead. Over and over again, psychologists point to toys such as balls, blocks, and books as the devices that do the real heavy lifting. In fact, scientists confirm that fewer toys actually help kids focus longer and play more creatively.

The smart lesson we should have all learned by now: A child doesn’t need to be told how to play, no more than a kitten needs instructions for pouncing on a string or a puppy needs his mama to show him how to catch a frisbee.

All animals instinctively know how to play.

We spend our lives playing because we spend our lives learning. It’s all one big “Choose Your Own Adventure” where anything can happen. What prepares us for our roles—whether we’re a homemaker or a hack saw operator—is the time we spend figuring out how to innovate, create, solve problems, work out solutions, make amends, and adapt—using whatever the heck is right in front of us.

We don’t need fancy stuff. We just need…STUFF.

But if Emily the Entrepreneur taught me one important lesson it’s that there’s no such thing as a “big break.” Just because you land on Oprah’s List of Favorite Things doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy a lifetime of success.

When the blocks fall down, rebuild.
When the ball rolls away, go after it.
When the crayons break, color gently.
And when the book ends, write a new story.

It’s true—90% of first-time businesses do fail. But you know what else is true? 90% of entrepreneurs who pick up the pieces and start again—SUCCEED.

The first game I ever played I played without any toys at all, and I bet you played it too. Remember the magical world of MAKE BELIEVE? Yes! That fantastical place where anything can happen and anything can be? You can go there right now. If you can dream it, you can do it.

If you are one of the 12.3 million female entrepreneurs in the United States today, my advice to you is this: Never stop playing.

You’ll figure it out.

And if at first you don’t succeed, you can always try again. Chances are good—next time, you’ll find your way.

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Focus is a Profound Motivator

Ah, the holidays are here, and with them comes a mix of complex emotions.

I need to start this post by letting you know that I never, ever cry. Well, hardly ever. Like twice a year. I think I even skipped last year. So I guess I’m due.

The other day, while watching Gingerbread Giants on the Food Network, I discovered actual tears on my cheeks after learning Ann Britt Bailey won the grand prize for her 2017 gingerbread creation titled “Three Ghosts,” an edible interpretation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

I like gingerbread, but I wouldn’t say I’m emotional about it. I’ve never gotten teary-eyed over any house I’ve ever decorated. In fact, I tossed the two we decorated this year two days before Christmas with nary a fleeting regret.

I’m not even that big of a fan of A Christmas Carol. It’s cute, but I’ll take How the Grinch Stole Christmas any day of the week. There’s something magical about the Christmas spirit in Whoville.

What is it about Christmas that brings out all the feels?

I think it’s a combination of two very important emotions:

1. Gratitude for what happened last year

2. Expectation for what will happen in the new year

“Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go next.” ”

— Frederick Buechner

For someone who hardly ever cries, it seems dumb to admit that a gingerbread competition I had never heard of nor knew any of the contestants at would cause such salty discharge to stream down my cheeks.

But it’s the truth.

Ann Bailey’s prize was a respectable $5,000. Was the money the reason for my tears? It seems like a paltry amount when you consider the nearly 800 hours of work she put into the piece, not to mention the expense, travel, and (I’m only guessing here) physical toll it took on her body (Not only is she a breast cancer survivor, but anyone capable of that kind of intricate detail would have to experience some degree of eye fatigue and back pain.)

I think I saw something in Ann that reminded me of myself.

No one feels fully equipped and has the unlimited funds, time and energy to achieve their goals. All of us are terrified of failure, looking silly, and disappointing our friends. So what causes some people to give up and go home while others continue to hone their craft until they become the best in their field? And what is it that attracts us to those people?

Still emotional, I got curious about Ann Bailey. I learned she discovered the National Gingerbread Competition in 2006 while channel surfing in her living room. At the time, she was already an accomplished artist but everything she had baked up until that time had come solely from a box. Can you believe Ann doesn’t even like gingerbread?

She didn’t place until 2009.

Ann said, “I refuse to underachieve. I love to challenge myself. If have to do something 35,000 times, I will master it.”

That’s what dedication looks like!

Ann Bailey is a learner. So am I. And so are you. That’s what we say, anyway. Every year, my friends and I decide how many books we’re going to read—usually somewhere between 25 and 60, a paltry amount compared to book nerds like Bill Gates and Gretchen Rubin. We love to read together because reading is fun, but it’s not…focused.

And focus is a profound motivator.

What if this year we decided to do something different? What if together we chose one topic that interests us and then read/studied/did everything we could related to that one subject? So instead of piling up a mix of fiction, memoir, business, and poetry, we would vow instead to focus on our one thing?

Choose your topic. What is it? Write it down.

This year, I’ll be focusing on Women and Work.

Ann Bailey has finally given up on gingerbread. But she’s not hanging up her apron yet. Now that she’s mastered cookies, she’s turning her attention to wedding cakes. There’s no doubt she’s got the talent. After seeing her success in one medium, I’m excited to follow her progress in this new one.

What will you focus on this year?

Here’s to new adventures in 2020!

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WINSday on Wednesday--Your Mentor is the Key to your Success

So you want to experience life doing more of what you love. That’s amazing! If more people did that, we’d live in a joyful, more passion-filled world.

But you’re running into problems. You’re pouring all your passion into your work, which is great, but you’re experiencing none of the joy. You feel stuck because you’re unsure about where to begin and you have no idea what to do even after you start. Whether you’re starting something new, pivoting into a different role at your current work, or just need help figuring out a tough problem, you’re at a crossroads and need to know what’s next. You don’t want to do this thing alone.

What’s going on?

In August, I ran into my friend, Kristi Porter, at a conference for social entrepreneurs. We knew each other via email because I had been following her blog for a couple of years and in November 2018, I interviewed her for Mission Driven Monday. At that conference, we sat down and chatted for about an hour. I felt like a little kid in the classroom because I got to soak up all Kristi’s business wisdom in person, and it was a treat.

Kristi is the founder and executive director of Signify, a company that helps small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications.

The conversation that followed turned out to be exactly the medicine I needed (and I think we all need when we’re starting a business). But an hour later, I moaned, “Kristi, I thought we were just going to have a nice chat. That was really hard!”

And it was really hard in the same way that training for a big race is hard. Or working on a tough math problem is hard.

It was hard but so necessary and so good.

Kristi started by asking this question:

“Where is the value that you, as leader, are providing for your readers and clients?”

That’s a hard question!

But that’s what good mentors do. They ask the hard questions, and they don’t quit until you give them a satisfactory answer.

When I interviewed Kristi the year before, she told me the one thing—the ONE thing—everyone needs is a mentor and an accountability partner. Actually, that’s two things, but you get the point. Pretend that you are a coin—on one side you have your mentor and on the other side is your accountability partner.

I was going to insert an inspiring quote about mentoring right here because I’m sure Oprah or John Maxwell said something inspiring on this topic. But you know what? Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, already said everything that needs to be said. He said, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Think back over your life. Whatever you do—if you’re doing it well—it’s probably because someone somewhere sometime came along and helped you. Maybe it was an encouraging word. Maybe it was a connection to another person. Maybe a beautiful partnership was born. And your life was never the same.

Mentors help us become the best version of ourselves. They bring out the wonderful things that exist inside of us, showing us that we can do infinitely more than we ever thought possible. And the accountability partner? That person is like your supervisor at work, except you chose this guy to watch out for you. This is the guy who makes sure you get the job done. You report to her, and if you’re a slacker, she’ll tell you. But you won’t be a slacker because you want to do well. You are responsible for your life, and you want to prove to your accountability partner that you are more than capable of doing the work.

(Need help finding a mentor or an accountability partner? Be sure to read next week’s post! Sign up on the form below, and I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing!)

Here’s to your success!

Chantel

P.S. If you missed my interview with Kristi Porter, you can check it out here. Also, don’t forget to visit the Signify website. If you’re a nonprofit or a small business with a social mission, you have to check out Kristi’s resources. Kristi was a guest blogger for Mission Driven Women a few months ago. She wrote about discovering the work you’re meant to do, and it is pure gold. You can read it here.

A book Kristi recommends, and I’m excited to re-read in the new year is Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. There’s a new edition out since I did this study more than a decade ago. Let’s do it together!

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WINSday on Wednesday--Discovering Work That Matters

“Choosing a life-long career path is SO easy. “(Said no one ever.)

So why am I still surprised when I hear someone talk about the work they do and it has nothing to do with the words emblazoned on their college diploma?

This week’s WINSday on Wednesday inspiration comes from my friend, Deanna McCurdy, a trained physical therapist but a real-life competitive runner and philanthropist.

How did it happen?

In 2010, Deanna’s daughter, Hayden, was diagnosed with a rare neurologic disorder called Angelman Syndrome. Both motherhood and work began to look different than the life she originally imagined for herself. Suddenly, all the pieces in the puzzle began to make sense.

Deanna was a gifted runner. She understood science. She knew the human body inside and out.

And she found her why.

Although Deanna’s daughter might never be able to run alongside her, in fact, she may never utter a single sentence, Deanna began competing in endurance races, and inspiring other parents to set their own running goals—all in the name of finding a cure.

In conjunction with FAST, the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, Deanna launched Wings to Fly, the fundraising arm of FAST.

“God gave me the ability to run and the ability to understand the human body. When he gave me a child who can’t do those things, I discovered my purpose.”

I’m intrigued when I hear people talk about the work they do. For them, the “work” has nothing to do with what we commonly think of as “our job.”

How do we plan and prepare for the lives we lead? Is purpose something we’re born with or something to be discovered? Can we find meaning in the circumstances that chose us?

Unpaid work can be a springboard for the work you’re meant to do.

Ree Drummond is one such example. You know her as the Pioneer Woman. Ree has a degree in Gerontology, the study of aging, but after meeting and falling in love with cattle rancher, Lad Drummond, Ree said goodbye to law school and moved back to her home state of Oklahoma to raise her family.

In 2006, she launched a blog detailing life on the ranch and what it was like to be a wife and homeschool mom to four kids. Eventually, she began adding recipes to the blog. Her fan base began to grow, and the rest, as they say, is history. Her engaging persona and beautiful smile also attract a large viewership to her Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman, and additional millions purchase her cookbooks (filled with beautiful photos she takes herself). I, myself, am a thoroughly satisfied customer. On any given week, you can find me in my kitchen leafing through one of her books and daydreaming about meatballs and chocolate pie.

This millionaire business woman probably never imagined a life like the one she has now. Remember, she studied GERONTOLOGY, not GASTRONOMY for goodness’ sake.

And she started out just like me!

Ree Drummond, of course, is not the first woman to find fame and fortune through the pursuit or in spite of the unpaid work she felt called to do. In Mason Currey’s book Daily Rituals: Women at Work we find profile after profile of smart, driven women who treated their art like hobbies while they raised their kids and supported their husbands. In some instances, the work wasn’t a hobby at all and yet the expectations of the day demanded these women devote their first hours to childcare and housework, only to spend time doing the things that made their souls come alive after the dishes had been scrubbed and put away and the children had been tucked snugly into their beds at night.

Women like Clara Schumann, Penelope Fitzgerald, and Shirley Jackson.

Last year, I interviewed more than fifty inspiring women as part of my Mission Driven Monday video series. In all these interviews, we talked about work, marriage, family, and service. Not one of the mothers I interviewed said she regretted having a child or family, although many said their lives look a lot different than the ones they imagined for themselves.

You will always be most successful at those things that are most personal to you.

But the real question is : Can you live with the ambiguity of not knowing what’s next or how long it might take to find the work you’re meant to do?

I hope that wherever you are and in whatever you’re doing you feel valued and appreciated. In the context of a loving, equal partnership, women just like you are free to pursue their curiosity.

Because your degree didn’t come with directions for your life.

And that’s pretty cool.

WANT MORE GOOD STUFF?

Ever wondered what it takes to be a Mission Driven Woman? Get my Free Guide: 5 Things Mission Driven Women Do Differently.

You can catch my interview with Deanna here.
Or learn more about Wings to Fly and Team Miles for Smiles here.

I’m still interviewing women about the work they’re doing. If I can contact you to ask you questions about your personal story, please sign up below and feel free to share this post with all the inspired women you know.

Mission Driven Monday--Orly Wahba

Meet Orly Wahba!

Orly might just be the most interesting woman in the world. I’m not kidding! When you read her bio, your jaw will drop. This woman is a mover and a shaker! She was first introduced to me by my friend, Lydia Mays, founder of See Beautiful.

I had the distinct privilege of being one of the first to read Orly’s book, Kindness Boomerang. It’s beautiful and deceptively simple, not because it’s lacking in any way but because Orly envisions a world where kindness isn’t the exception but rather the EXPECTATION.

Orly Wahba is an educator, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author and community activist, passionate about inspiring and motivating people to make the world a kinder place. Orly began her career in kindness as a middle school educator at the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn, New York, teaching the children to embrace unity, build their self-esteem, and use the power they have to influence the world for good.

Yearning to make a larger impact with her philanthropic work, Orly founded Life Vest Inside——a non-profit organization with a mission to empower and unite the world with kindness——in 2011. Through Life Vest Inside, Orly encourages people to embrace the incredible power of giving and recognize that in times of hardship, kindness——like a life vest——keeps the world afloat.

Life Vest Inside gained international acclaim when Orly’s award-winning film Kindness Boomerang went viral, receiving over 30 million views, landing her a spot at TED2013, where she presented a talk on the magic of kindness. Orly and her work have been featured on The Today Show, CBS, NBC, Bloomberg TV among others.

Orly's first book Kindness Boomerang: How to Save the World (and Yourself) Through 365 Daily Acts was released in January 2017 and serves as a lesson-a-day guide to living a kinder, happier life. Her cross country Kindness Boomerang tour was a huge success, delivering over 50 talks in a 5 week period. The mission: to spread kindness & foster positive dialogue. Orly created and runs Dance for Kindness, an annual global event uniting people in over 50 countries, 120 cities under the banner of kindness.

“We are all unique, significant and special in our own way——each of us with something to contribute to this wonderful world that only we can give.”

— Orly Wahba



In 2014, the seeds for a new venture were planted and in the summer of 2019 finally became a reality called - Abraham's Legacy: A Social Network for Prayer launched on both iTunes and Google Play. Orly created the app in memory of her grandfather and hero, Albert Nackab Z’L

Orly attended Trapeze School NYC, directed community theater, plays drums and piano, figure skates, plays basketball, softball and is a mean ping pong player. She also has hopes and dreams of infusing positive change in the political arena by focusing on ethics, character and values.

Orly serves on the Board of the Pay it Forward Foundation and the Brooklyn College Foundation. Orly received her BA in Film Production and English from Brooklyn College, and her MA in Jewish History from Touro College.

Orly is following her mission, not the madness. I’m excited for you to join us for this conversation.

Important Links from this Episode:

Orly’s 2013 Ted Talk: Kindness Matters

Kindness Boomerang: How to Save the World (and Yourself) through 365 Daily Acts

Dance for Kindness: Worldwide Flashmob on Sunday, November 10th, 2019

Abraham’s Legacy: A Social Network for Prayer

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Mission Driven Monday--Sharon Moye

Meet Sharon Moye!

Sharon Moye is the founder of Peony Market, an online shop of carefully curated products designed to encourage women's worth and identity in Christ. It was inspired by the message of Isaiah 61. In this episode, Sharon shares the story of discovering God's grace and learning how to live with intention and purpose with the people around her. The good news is it's never too late to become the person we're meant to be! Check out Peony Market at www.peonymarket.co and Sharon's life verse:

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

Important Links from this Episode:

Peony Market: Gifts for home and those you cherish

Ready to take it to the next level?

A Simple Exercise to Discover Your Purpose

By Guest Contributor, Kristi Porter, Founder and Chief Do-Gooder at Signify.

“I first met Kristi about three years ago. At the time, I was just beginning my own journey into entrepreneurship, and the learning curve was steep. I felt like I had no idea what I was doing! Someone sent me the link to Signify’s website and blog and there I found a guide who seemed to know exactly how I was feeling and exactly what I needed in order to lead my growing business with confidence. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unequipped, or just plain stuck, then I encourage you to check out both the free resources and paid offerings at Signify. You won’t regret it!”

I

And now, here’s Kristi:

I’m sure this has never happened to you, but there are times in my life when I’ve felt aimless.
Directionless.
Purposeless.

 It’s not a good feeling. In fact, it’s a pretty discouraging feeling.

 Ever been there?

 At times like this, one of the best exercises I’ve found to get back on track is one I discovered in the Experiencing God workbook. Three times I’ve done this Bible study, and three times it’s changed my life.

I’ll give you the 50-cent tour of this exercise below, but what I think it does so well is give me perspective. Perspective brings clarity, both for where God has brought me, and potentially where He is leading me.

When we’re feeling sad, restless, or like we have no vision for the future, I think it’s often because we’re caught up in our own stuff. It’s like not being able to see the forest for the trees.

However, when we have perspective, we can rise out of our own circumstances to see the path we’ve been on and, possibly, the direction we’re headed—even if it’s only the next step.

Share Your Story to Gain Perspective

I’ll give you a small example from my own life to illustrate. I’m a solopreneur, so I have no co-workers. If you’ve ever tried to do something big on your own, you know there are lots of moments of doubt. I go through those pretty much daily! Plus, because I have no one working alongside me, there’s no one to constantly talk me down off the metaphorical ledge.

It’s at these times God has been so faithful. Without a doubt, He sends me someone new, and I get to tell my story. It could be in a new client meeting, someone I met at an event, or just a new friend. Regardless, they don’t where I’ve been, so I get to tell them.

In the process of sharing my story, I listen. And by the time I arrive at the present, I think to myself, “Wow!

That’s MY story! I got to live that, and now I get to serve the people and causes I care about. That’s amazing!”

Just like the exercise below, sharing our stories gives us perspective. It’s not about our busy calendars; it’s about the journey. And I think it’s that kind of outlook that truly gives us vision.

So, if you’re feeling restless, burned out, or looking for deeper insight in your life, give this exercise from the Experiencing God workbook a try. It can be an incredible opportunity for breakthrough, especially when trying to discern those things that bring meaning to your life, and maybe even your purpose.

Take an Objective Look at Your Past

The first step is to figure out where you’ve been. Getting perspective can be incredibly difficult in the day-to-day. There’s so much being thrown at us all the time to keep us busy and distracted. This could be a source of great unrest for a lot of us, because we feel like we’re just moving through life on autopilot. And autopilot is the opposite of what we’re after—purpose.

So, to move forward, we’ll start by looking backward.

Essentially, what you’ll need to do is list your “sign posts,” as the study calls them. These could be major milestones as well as meaningful moments. Think about the points in your life that stand out.

Oh, and before you begin to “put pen to paper,” also think about how you personally like to process information.

Me? I love bullet points, so I keep a list of these sign posts in Evernote. I’m a list maker at heart, and I don’t like keeping up with paper.

But if you’re a more artsy type of person, maybe you want to take a big piece of paper and create a map or draw your sign posts visually.

Find a way to help you get the information out of your head so that you can analyze it later.

 Okay, back to it! Here are a few prompts to get you started:

·      What are the major milestones that have occurred in your life? (ex: moves, college, marriage, kids, jobs)

·      What moments have been meaningful? (ex: pivotal conversations, experiences)

·      When/where/why have you grown spiritually? (ex: What did this look like?)

·      What other times stand out in your life?

Having done this study three times, I started with the big transitions and then began to fill in the gaps. Now, I add to it annually with anything I think adds a dot to my personal timeline.

The important thing here is write down anything that stands out to you, and that you consider to have shaped you in some way. 

Look for Common Threads

Whew—that’s a lot, right? Some good stuff and some not so good stuff? Me, too.

There are definitely days I’d rather forget about heartaches, bad bosses, and having chronic health issues, but those experiences shaped me, too.

So, after you’ve written what amounts to the abridged story of your life out of your head, move on to the evaluation. Basically, connect the dots of your life.

Look for common themes, threads, and occurrences.

What continues to pop up?
What trends do you see?
What makes you happy?
What makes you sad?
What do you want to see more of?

If you’re having trouble spotting themes, ask someone you trust to take a look. They might be able to spot them more quickly.

Next, add your own summary section so you have a dedicated place for your takeaways. You’ll want these to stand out for future reference.

Move Forward with More Clarity

Hopefully, you’re starting to see more clearly. You’re able to identify lessons, ideas, and values you couldn’t see as easily before.

Maybe it reinforced your thinking, or maybe it surprised you. Regardless, I hope and pray God has revealed Himself to you.

 Here are just a few of my own insights:

·      Justice has looked different to me over the years, but it’s always been important to me. I volunteered for years with social justice organizations, but I realized that I needed it to be a bigger part of my life. So, while I love working with all my clients, my favorites are definitely in the social impact space.

·      Writing has been a big part of my life since I was a kid. Even when I wasn’t doing it full-time, I had to start a blog to not only keep up with the practice of writing, but feed this source of creativity.

·      Traveling brings me both enjoyment and clarity. Over the last couple of years, I’ve made it a point to figure out ways to travel, even short distances every couple of months. It’s not just for fun, but to use as periods of reflection for my business.

·      It’s not uncommon for me to have major spiritual breakthroughs after moving to a new location. I think one of the reasons I’ve felt spiritually stagnant recently is because I’ve been in the same place for too long!

 And remember, new experiences can change your perspective. I think it’s a good idea to do this exercise each year to see what new insights appear and where God might be leading you next. Your purpose might indeed look the same throughout your life, or may shift from season to season or year-to-year.

What about you? What has been revealed to you through this process? With all of this newfound knowledge, what will you do next?

 Whether you found a new direction or purpose or not, you should see that there is order to the chaos we call life. You have been created and called, loved and led, gifted and given, restored and redeemed—over and over again. You have not been forgotten, you have been favored.

 Kristi Porter helps nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications. She also teaches solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate easy philanthropy strategies. Essentially, Kristi makes cause-focused organizations look and sound more professional so they can build a larger audience, increase sales or donations, and do more good. Connect with Kristi here.

Kristi Porter, Founder and Executive Director of Signify. Focus and Shine!

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If you missed our interview with Kristi Porter for Mission Driven Monday, you can catch up HERE.

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Mission Driven Monday--Chantal Sheehan

Meet Chantal Sheehan!

I’ve never met an accountant I didn’t like. There’s a special place in this world for people who choose to do math. And Chantal is a special kind of accountant. She doesn’t just calculate the value of numbers, she provides value to her clients by simply being helpful. I am grateful for the wisdom she’s shared with me, and I think you’ll fall in love too.

Self proclaimed numbers nerd Chantal Sheehan is the founder of Blue Fox Accounting. If you thought accounting was boring, then you haven't met Blue Fox. Chantal believes the key to a successful business is knowing where you've come from, where you are, and where you're headed. That's what we believe here at Mission Driven Woman, too! The past, present, and future shape the stories of our lives. Can meaning and purpose be QUANTIFIED? Watch and find out! And follow your mission, not the madness.

And if you are a nonprofit or a social entrepreneur, let me be the first to recommend Chantal Sheehan for all your accounting needs! (Yes, I know that was a shameless plug)

Important Links from this episode:

Blue Fox Accounting: Take a moment and check out their incredible website and helpful blog. You’ll find all your most pressing money questions answered here.

I just love their manifesto!

The Blue Fox Manifesto

This is what makes us tick and keeps us on track.

We believe in having fun every day.
We believe that life is short and work done well makes a workday worth living.
We believe in solving problems.
​We believe that there is no substitute for authenticity.
We believe in making the world a better place.
We believe that egos get in the way of progress, so we try to check ours at the door.
We believe in servant leadership above all other forms.

​We believe in giving back - always.

We believe that our clients deserve to be served with dignity, respect, and heart.
We believe that our clients are doing critical work effecting our planet and our communities.
We believe that the world is best served when our clients focus on change making and we focus on counting the change.
​We believe that our impact in the world can be magnified by our clients' success.
We believe in a service model of true partnership and collaboration.

We believe in outfoxing the competition.
We believe in intrapreneurship, innovation, and iteration.
We believe that a warm, kind human + the latest tech = an accounting superhero.

We believe that we can help create an accounting and finance industry that actually makes a difference.

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Mission Driven Monday--Jennifer Robinson

Meet Jennifer Robinson!

She and her husband are the founders of My Audio Pet, which was born out of a need to create new work for their family after her husband was let go from his corporate job. Jennifer and KJ hit the ground running, hustling hard, and putting one foot in front of the other until some big companies took notice, including Oprah Magazine and Good Morning America. She’s a firm believer in the power of prayer and her unofficial motto is: “Keep going.” God’s grace lives in the midst of the mistakes.

“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”

— Isaiah 50:4

Important Links from this episode:

My Audio Pet: the tiniest, cutest, most kick-butt blue tooth speaker on the planet. Makes a great gift! Use Code MISSIONDRIVENMONDAY for 20% off until 10/31/2019.

Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore

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Mission Driven Monday--Dara Buczynski

Meet Dara Buczynski!

Dara Bucynski opened Ephiphany Athens in 2014. But her life of faith and adventure actually began many years before. After adopting a daughter from the Ukraine and learning more about orphan care there, Dara decided to use her gifts to partner with global organizations caring for children around the world. Her beautiful boutique is grounded in a simple truth: "God decides you're beautiful." May this episode inspire you to follow your own mission (not the madness) because where purpose lives, love thrives. Thanks, Dara!

Important Links from this Episode:

Epiphany Athens: Check out their new arrivals! Free Shipping over $75!

Heart for Orphans: provides support and care for teens aging out of the orphan care system in the Ukraine and the former Soviet Union

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

— Proverbs 31:25

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Mission Driven Monday--Jen Guynn

Meet Jen Guynn!

Everybody wants their kids to care about their community, but not everybody knows where to start! How do you find the projects that include families and allow KIDS to be a part of the process? Kids love to play and they love to help. Guess what? There’s a place for them!

Because my husband works at a church, and I’ve been leading an adventure club for girls for the last five years, people are always asking ME how they can get their kids involved in service. I’m not the expert, but I know someone who is, and here’s what I tell them—Check out Pebble Tossers! They are the leading platform for kids to find the opportunities and resources that will fuel their leadership skills for a lifetime.

In this conversation, Jen and I talk about proudest accomplishments, how we’re practicing mindfulness in this new season, and future dreams. The world is full of incredible opportunities—somebody needs to seize them!

Important Links from this Episode:

Pebbletossers—Start a ripple of giving! Their mission is to empower and equip youth to lead through service. Ahhh…don’t you just love that?

Plywood Presents—Get your tickets now—ATL Ideas! A festival of all things good!

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Mission Driven Monday--Amanda White

Meet Amanda White!

What does it REALLY mean to find meaning and purpose in your life?

Today, Amanda and I addressed one of the biggest tensions we have as moms: Am I JUST a mom? Is that enough? Who am I and how do I navigate this changing, crazy world?

“I start fast.”
”I work hard.”
”I finish strong.”

That's Amanda White in a nutshell.

She's a writer, blogger, mom, and empathetic friend. Today, she's your friend too! I loved talking about what she's learning and how she's growing. Seriously, y'all, there's so much wisdom jam-packed into this episode. Don't miss it. Follow your mission, not the madness.

“Until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words,—‘Wait and hope.’”

— Alexandre Dumas--The Count of Monte Cristo

Important Links from this Episode:

Oh Amanda: Helping You Impress God’s Word on Your Kids’ Hearts

Truth in the Tinsel: Experience the Christmas story with your kids

A Sense of the Resurrection: An Easter experience for families

The Disciplines of the Christian Life by Eric Liddell. ”I believe God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

We Choose Virtues: Inspiring Character that Lasts

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram journey of self-discovery

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place .... Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.—Hebrews 6:19

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Mission Driven Monday--Amber Pert

Meet Amber Pert!

Amber Pert helps turn young dreamers into real-life doers. Her Navigator book series chronicles how leaders across a range of disciplines built their brands. Amber is passionate about purpose, and she brings it to life through the inspiring words she shares with young leaders. I loved hearing about her vision for the future because kids truly ARE our future. Experience is a great teacher, but for young people--learning from the experiences of others is EVEN BETTER. Follow your mission, not the madness.

Important Links from this Episode:

Wellspring Crew—Information and Navigator Book Series

Book she recommends: Measure What Matters

And a book I recommend: Barking to the Choir by Father Gregory Boyle

Millennials and Money

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Mission Driven Monday--Abbey Glass

Meet Abbey Glass!

When you were a little girl, did you ever make clothes for your Barbies or baby dolls? Did you spend hours drawing fashions in a notebook? Abbey Glass is a maker, too. For as long as she can remember, she's been making things. Today, she is the owner of Abbey Glass Studio, a fashion design and manufacturing house located in Atlanta, Georgia. But that's not all she does. Abbey is motivated, driven, and committed to pursuing the biggest challenges she possibly can.

In this conversation, we talk about the challenges and joys of owning your own company and transferring your personal values to the brand you're building.

At the end, the conversation takes a philosophical turn as we talk about what it's like to be a business woman who is not married and does not have kids.

Follow your mission, not the madness!

Important Links from this episode:

Want to be the most stylish woman in town? You can! Click here.

Visit the Flagship store in Atlanta.

A Podcast Abbey likes: How I Built This

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Mission Driven Monday--Steen Jones

Meet Steen Jones!

Steen Jones is a serial entrepreneur and writer who lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She has a husband, two beautiful teenagers, and a treehouse office that would make Tarzan jealous. When we say "Follow Your Mission, Not the Madness," what we really mean is: FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY. The world is full of beautiful things, and as seasons come and go, there's time for enjoying ALL of it. I hope you enjoy this fantastic conversation.

I promised you some pictures of Steen’s amazing treehouse office, so here you go!

The outside of Steen’s Treehouse—a tranquil little spot in the woods!

The treehouse office—Inside. I think anybody could find their muse here!

Important Links from this episode:

And fun fact: We talked about Steen’s first business, COLORS, which trained women coming out of the sex industry on how to crochet. In the pic above, Steen’s wearing some of them. And in the pic of ME on this website, I’m wearing some of them too!

Steen’s TedX talk at Georgia Tech

Buy the book, The Door Keeper by Steen Jones

Learn how to WAKE YOURSELF UP with Wim Hof. Follow him on Instagram! Here’s everything you need to know about the Wim Hof Method.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Book, Big Magic

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Mission Driven Monday--Monica Lage

Meet Monica Lage!

What started as a senior project grew to be one of the premier entrepreneur camps in the country.

Meet Monica Lage, the founder of Break Into Business, where kids move from idea to pitch to profitable business in just five short days. Monica says launching Break Into Business and being present for her children is the hardest thing she's ever done. (And this is coming from a person who has an MBA from Harvard!) She makes it look easy, but don't be fooled--Monica has worked VERY, VERY hard.

One of the things I love most about the Break Into Business business model is its emphasis on generosity. That's a core value of Monica's, too, and it shines through loud and clear. Monica is following her mission, not the madness, and inspiring hundreds of kids along the way.

In THIS interview, Monica confesses that she's learning how to be INefficient. What? You'll have to watch to find out what she means.

Want to learn more about how your kid can be a part of Break Into Business? Click here!

If you have a child between the ages of 9-14 and live in the Atlanta area, this is a summer camp worth exploring!

Kids build real businesses and have the chance to earn real money. And this summer is extra special—camps just for GIRLS and even a camp for kids who want to learn more about SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP are available. Campers also have the opportunity to sign up for one of Break Into Business’s fall accelerator programs. USE CODE GIRLBOSS FOR $30 OFF GIRLS CAMP THROUGH 5/17/2019.

My own son participated in camp for four straight summers and loved every minute of it. He loved hanging out in Atlanta’s coolest co-working spaces, pitching his business, and coming home with cold, hard cash in his hands. I am a thoroughly satisfied customer and recommend B. Camp without reservation!

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Mission Driven Monday--Kitti Murray

Meet Kitti Murray!

“Can we have coffee?”

We hear this phrase so much, it's become a bit of a cliche. Coffee is the conduit that supercharges so many new relationships. For Kitti Murray, the connection between good coffee and good stories became the impetus for the dream of a lifetime. She's the founder of Refuge Coffee, the most welcoming place on earth, in the city that's been described as the most diverse square mile in America. Where bigotry and hate and prejudice might have found a foothold, instead neighbors find shelter and love and support. Refuge provides a living wage to a dozen employees. That original question: "What if?" was answered with a resounding, "Yes, we can."

I've had a chance to experience Refuge Coffee firsthand, and if you ever find yourself in Atlanta, I hope you will too. Our differences make us beautiful and our shared stories create connections that cannot be broken. Thank you, Kitti, for following your mission, not the madness.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

— James 1:27

Important Links from this Episode:

Refuge Coffee

The Grit and Grace Project

Giant Worldwide Leadership Coaching

Enneagram

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Finish strong TODAY.

Mission Driven Monday--Kim Gentry Meyer

Meet Kim Gentry Meyer!

Kim Meyer is an accomplished singer and songwriter with a passion for animal welfare. She's channeling her creativity and love for animals into a brand new project aimed at helping kids understand how to better care for animals. Kim is partnering with a children’s book author to write an accompanying soundtrack full of songs about animals. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Kim is living the dream alongside her husband, Adam, in Boston, MA. In this conversation, we explore how you don't have to be the BEST at one thing as long as you can be PRETTY GOOD at two or three different things. "Use all you have," is a motto we won't soon forget. Thanks for following your mission, Kim!

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’
”

— Erma Bombeck

Important Links from this Episode:

Animal Welfare Work: What Baxter Started

Kim’s Music:

Connect with Kim: Instagram Handle and Facebook

whatbaxterstarted.com and https://www.facebook.com/whatbaxterstarted/

The children's songs she wrote for the two books will be available at this site: https://petpunditpublishing.com/. The website is currently being redone, but they will be up soon. Stay tuned!

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Mission Driven Monday--Sarah Sasson

Meet Sarah Sasson!

Are you a risk taker?

That was the question I asked Sarah Sasson, Founder/Executive Director of Kula Project, an organization that provides industry training, business investment, and life and leadership skills in Rwanda. When I first met Sarah, she was a jet-setting woman on-the-go, with one foot firmly planted here in the United States and one straddling the ocean and chasing her heart to the faraway beauty of Rwanda, Africa.

Today, the incredible fellows of Kula Project are building profitable businesses, raising healthy families, and sending their children to school. It didn’t happen overnight, but rather over many, many years of fostering strong relational ties and empowering leaders—young and old alike.

In this episode, Sarah and I talk about the highs and lows of running a nonprofit, celebrating wins, and enjoying hobbies that have their own measurable results. I asked Sarah if she was a risk taker because I've always felt like she was a girl who knew how to take adventure to the nth degree. You know what? She's just like you and me. She's following her mission, not the madness, and that has made all the difference in the world.

Important links from this episode:

Check out the beautiful photography on her site! You can even sponsor a budding entrepreneur. And if you’d like to buy some of the yummy coffee produced by the Kula fellows, you can do that here.

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It’s time to DREAM BIG!

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