My first business was teaching Spanish. It was a natural extension of my years as a teacher and my ability to speak the language. But, when God first called me into Direct Sales (yes, He called me), I was out of my element. I wasn’t sure about what to do or how to do it.
I want to talk about how God’s plan is not always our plan and that by staying aligned with Him and continuing to grow your faith, your business will grow, too.
Starting in business
Since I’m an educator, it was natural that teaching was my first route when I thought about making money. So, when God ‘called’ me to Direct Sales, it was not my plan.
Let me start at the beginning. . .
My husband and I had trained to be missionaries, but after a while, we determined it would not happen. I had stopped for a year or so of teaching Spanish, but when it was apparent we would not be going to the foreign mission field, I got a teaching job. The job lasted two weeks.
I remember coming home that day, exhausted and crying. After yelling at (I mean praying to) God. I was sure this was the solution to help me pay for the extra things my money had always provided (dance classes, music lessons, and college books).
In one instance, it was like God spoke aloud to me. I had a clear and distinct thought. It said, “Your sister does Blessings Unlimited”. That was a Direct Sales company. I had never thought of going outside my field. I shot back at God, “So!”
It took four months for God to convince me that thought was from Him and to be obedient. Why?
This is what was going on in my head
Was I smart enough? Savvy enough? Out-going enough?
I had never been in sales. I knew nothing. I’ll admit the company did an excellent job training its consultants. I learned a lot there. But God also brought resources and people in front of me that taught me to do things His way.
By being out of my ‘comfort zone,’ I had to rely on Him for my business to succeed. I had to trust that the opportunities, books, training, and coaches He put in my path were for my good. I had to step out in faith and do the work before me (and it was a lot of work).
How did I know what to do? How did my business grow? By deepening my faith. By aligning with God for my success.
Starting to grow your faith
The company I signed up with is now called Mary & Martha. It’s a faith-based company, so you might think it was easy to grow your faith – in a way.
I wasn’t satisfied just ‘selling’ home décor and hospitality items with scripture. It was important for my business and work to have more meaning and make an impact.
I read all I could about Mary and Martha from the Bible and other texts and learned about their differences and growth in their relationships with Jesus. After sharing their stories at my gatherings, we all realized that we are more balanced between these two women than we know. I even created a quiz for the women at my parties to show them they were more of a balance.
I also discovered that Jesus never asked Martha to change her personality after He scolded her. He never told Mary to be more like her sister. By digging into their story, I got deeper into God’s character, reflected through Jesus.
I stayed with Mary & Martha for six years. During my time there, I developed techniques for memorizing scripture, created journaling workshops, and shared how to Pray in Color. My ‘parties’ turned into teaching opportunities (no surprise there.)
By incorporating my faith-growth practices into my business, I grew in my faith (because I had to study God’s Word) and could share it with others.
What are you studying right now from the Bible that you can directly incorporate into your business?
- How to show up with integrity?
- Learning to love unconditionally?
- Standing up for God’s side even if there are consequences?
Starting to grow business
My next move was purely a selfish marketing technique (at least, that is what I thought initially). I zeroed in on one group of women: Christian Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners.
It was tiring when women told me they needed to call their husbands so they could spend $40. I figured Christian Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners had their own money, and it would be very practical for me to make them my niche market.
I was already networking heavily in my local area, but I needed to attract these women to me. So, I started a networking group specifically for Christian Women in Business. This was my second business—a membership group with perks, networking, masterminding, and social events.
This group continued for over eight years (even though I don’t sell Mary & Martha anymore). We had just gone online at the end of 2019 before the pandemic hit. Funny.
During the first few years of running the networking group, I served Christian Women in Business with networking and mastermind meetings, business and faith workshops, Christmas parties, and retreats. I even had a brick & mortar for a while where I held these meetings, facilitated workshops, and rented space.
But God had more plans for me, and not all business ventures work out how you plan. When the Center closed, it opened the next thing God intended for me. Those stories that started with Mary & Martha blossomed into an entire book profiling twelve working women of the Bible and the business principles they teach.
Starting to grow your faith and business
I learned more about these Biblical mentors by researching and writing the book CLARIFY. Discovering these women in a new way and seeing the impact they made for God on their culture through their work was eye-opening. I learned God has a place and a plan for me and you as Entrepreneurs and Business Owners.
Has there ever been a time in your business adventure when God closed one thing that led to the next better thing? I would love to hear your story in the comments. I could say God closed the Business and Educational Center so I could have time and focus to write the Clarify Book.
Connecting faith and business might be easy if you sell Christian products or coach Christian women, but God gave you this desire to do your business so you can be His ambassador in the marketplace. No matter your business type, you are called to serve your clients. You are called to work with integrity and show God’s goodness to others.
God is using your business to grow your faith and into His Son’s image.
And, because God has called you and me into the work world, that’s where He expects us to serve Him. He has equipped us uniquely and specifically to bring solutions to our ideal clients. He provides resources, coaches, and mentors to help us grow in faith and business.
So, are you ready for a growth spurt? Are you looking for a place where you can grow deeper in faith while growing your business bigger? Are you at a place in your business where you want more focus and clarity to have the impact you know you can have?
That’s where the Calling Clarity Community can help you to connect, learn, and grow. It is what God has called me into next. It is where I know I am staying obedient. When you can take all the pieces of your life, all those experiences, skills, talents, and giftings, along with your ideas, and create something impactful for the kingdom, you know you are aligned with what God wants you to do.
The Calling Clarity Community is full of like-minded Christian women who get you, support you in staying consistent, teach you new skills and strategies, and help you live out your calling in business and life.
Starting to keep going
God keeps growing my faith as He asks me to take the next step. I used to imagine standing on the precipice with an immense canyon below me, unsure what to do, afraid to take the next step (remember those four months to get started with Direct Sales?) When I finally took that step, God met me with the stepping stone I needed for support.
Now, I know the stone will surely be there when I take a step, and I am fearless when it comes to moving across that canyon. I have gone from that woman who didn’t know if she could sell a plate to a woman showing others how to put together their plates, serve their ideal clients, and serve God through their work.
My work is exciting, and yours can be exciting too. I want you to join me on the greatest adventure of your life, serving God through your work and your business and making an impact for Him on those you are called to serve.
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