Deneen Troupe-Buitrago

Grow from your overflow

experiences

When there is no more to offer

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A while back I felt like I had nothing more to offer. I was going in so many directions, following so many ‘experts’ and trying to do it all to make my business grow.  I thought I was doing it right. I thought this was what God wanted. Then I crashed. The very thing I thought I was to be doing was taken away from me. It was hard.

I decided to rest for a while and regroup. During that time, I felt empty. I didn’t know how to pick up and start again. In this rest-time I also discovered God in a new way and He taught me to put everything before Him, allow Him to fill me, and wait. Waiting is hard for me.

It took about six months and I must say it was worth the wait. As I have given God each of my ideas, my programs, my personality, my gifts, my. . . well, everything, I have seen tremendous growth in my life and business.

Empty

How about you? After a day of kids, carpools, laundry, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, marketing, phone calls, meetings, networking, and clients you can feel like you are going in many directions. And, you can feel a little empty. Let’s face it, a lot of empty. I forgot to mention your self-care that includes exercise, eating well, and spiritual renewal (aka, time with God). Are you there? Do you feel that drain as you read the list?  I feel the drain just writing it.

It was like that for the Widow in Debt. Do you remember her (2 Kings 4)? She had run out of everything and now her sons were in danger of being taken from her. She was at the end of what she felt she could physically do. But what she did have was. . . a little oil.

You might feel empty, but I bet you have a little oil.

Filling

God wants us to trust Him with the little things. He builds our faith on what we hold out to Him. You may feel you have nothing to offer, but you do. Think about those tasks that come easily to you. Give it to God for His use. He will pour it out and bless it.

For the Widow, healing came from acting. She is given a project to do so she is focused on what she has, the little oil, and not on what she does not have. She displayed her complete trust in God by getting to work.

God asks you to offer what you have so He can use it (Rom 12:1). He asks you to start with the small things in your life- your schedule, attitudes, and relationship with Him. Then He expects you to look at the bigger things in your life and hold th’re you do. What qualities has God equipped you with for your business that you need to hold out to Him so He can bless?

Start offering the oil so you can pour it out on all that God has for you.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Schedule a FREE Clarity Session. I would LOVE to discover how you can use your ‘little oil’ to do MORE for God.

 

Get Out of the Trap

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Have you ever felt like your life is a puzzle but you have one piece, or a few pieces, missing? There is always someone else who is smarter, prettier, taller, nicer, tanner, kinder . . . should I go on? You know that comparison is a trap. I know it too. But I still get stuck in it, sometimes. What you need, and me too, is a plan to get out of the trap as soon as we know we are in it.

In the social media world of today we get caught in this trap on many levels. It can be a trap about our parenting style, our eating preferences, or our business choices. We are constantly able to see how everyone else is doing because it is all out there. I am exhausted just thinking about the perfect women in cyber world.

God created you perfect for what He planned for you. Your puzzle pieces have been selected exactly for you. AND, you have all your pieces! So, let’s first look at a plan to get your eyes off ‘them’ and placed on you. Better yet, on God.

God tells us in Philippians 4:8 to “. . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. . . “ Did you notice that there is an AND between each word? When that happens in writing it means you are adding depth, not more.

One piece of your puzzle is your expertise. Especially for your business activities. The trap is that you may see others with a degree or certificate in what you are offering, yet you have none. This was true for me when I started to call myself a coach. BUT, God.

Let’s run that thought through the verse.  What is true? I had been coaching many people about how to do their business better by helping them through their goals and action steps. What is honorable? I could give them a direction and plan for moving forward in a positive way. What is right? They were succeeding in their business through what I was teaching. What was pure? They were following God’s calling on their lives. What was lovely? I was developing lasting relationships with each person so that they were enriching my life. What was admirable? Together we were pursuing God’s calling on each of our lives and keeping one another accountable.

I became a coach without having the credentials. I had the expertise because I pursued excellence in learning how I could help others. It interested me and I learned on my own. It is something that came natural to me and I loved doing.

That is what you need to call yourself the ‘expert’. God has equipped you to do what He has called you to do. Figure it out. 🙂  You may want to study in a traditional setting, and your calling might include that. But, don’t limit yourself if you feel God tugging at your heart. Explore it fully and give yourself a thorough evaluation of your skills.

Another piece to your puzzle is your experience. This is another area where a degree is not required. The trap here is that you feel you don’t have the ‘right’ experience. BUT, God.

He has you go through things so you learn more about Him and so you can speak truth into others. Those difficult experiences are vital for you to be refined so you reflect Christ in your life. Those good things in your life are just as important to give you a way of approaching your business in a way that is authentic to you.

The worse experience in my life has become the catalyst for everything I am doing now. AND, a load of other experiences (e.g., drama, mission work, homeshooling) are filling in the unique parts of what I offer through my business.

Again, let’s put these experiences through the Philippians 4:8 filter to get out of the trap. What is true? I was diagnosed with MS while homeschooling my then six and ten-year-old daughters, going to Graduate school, and working a small business teaching Spanish. What was honorable? God was teaching me what true dependence on Him really looked like in my life so I could grow into a wise woman of faith. What was right? That I could speak into others’ lives about His goodness, His provision, His desire to want a relationship with them first and then use their businesses to bring Him glory. What was pure? That through suffering I was learning more about who I was and how God had creatively and uniquely designed me to be an equipper of others. What was lovely? That He showed me how the things I excelled at were the perfect fit for what He would have me do next in my business. What was admirable? That I learned to trust Him and was able to step into the next thing He had for me over and over again on this adventure of connecting my faith and business.

I am still surprised at how He uses the little things I have learned or experienced to bring me into a new place in my business. What He wants is obedience. He wants you to take the next step. You may have a big vision, a God-sized dream, but have you handed God each part of you for Him to use? Your experiences and your expertise work into your business in a unique way. God created you perfect for your calling. Get the clarity you need and get out of the trap.

Join my list bit.ly/PutMeOnList for more information about the Calling Clarity Course.

It begins with a day workshop where we will explore your business vision and the parts that make up you. You will be given tools as we advance together.

Then, 8 weeks of virtual meetings to check in with your assignments and to mastermind. (Assignments will be checklists, assessments, and journaling.)

The last part includes a weekend Retreat. We will put together all the things that make up YOU. You will know who you are, Whose you are, and how YOU can make a difference with your business.

You will walk away from this course knowing how you show up in your industry unlike anyone else. You will know God’s plan for you right now and show up whole, holy, and authentic in your business.

Get on ‘The List’ for even more details and information. No obligation. Click bit.ly/PutMeOnList and subscribe.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Find Your Sweet Spot

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I talk and teach a lot about personality profiles; goal setting, action steps; and, social media strategies.  But my focus is always first, that I am a believer in Jesus and second, that I am living out His calling in my life. Where are you? Are you living out His purpose for your life?  Are you sure?

Lots of entrepreneurs and business owners are frustrated. The frustration comes from one of three things.  They have Vision, yet no plan with actual steps to get to the vision or, they have Plans with no vision, so they are busy but not making progress. AND, there are those who do have the vision/goals in check BUT then something happens in life and they are overwhelmed by the problems that have come their way. You may sit in one of the first two camps? OR, you have been hit by the problems of life.  Frustration comes when you are not working in your Sweet Spot or have lost your Sweet Spot all together.

You, however, are a unique package.  There is no one like you and there never will be.  I love that God created you just for this time in history to live out the calling He has for your life.  Do you know that? You are Called to do the business that you are doing or that is in your mind and heart right now. You may have heard the expression, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”.  I say NO, most times He does Call the Equipped; we just ignore Him because we think we can do it alone.

Every part of your life has prepared you, equipped you, for this time.  The Vision of what you want to do in your business came from God.  The job you have right now is in your life to fulfill His purpose for you.  Believe it, know that you are in the right place and that you are equipped, or being equipped, to move forward.

What do I mean when I say, God does call the equipped? It calls for examination of your entire life, learning, and leadings.  Just because you are fabulous does not mean you need to do Everything for your business. Discerning what you do best and working in your Sweet Spot will eliminate frustration and propel you forward toward Vision & Calling.

It is looking at your life from an aerial prospective. Looking back into your life to see how it has effected your present. Looking at the present to move forward into your future. By taking this approach you can see how all of it works together to give you your unique value proposition (your Sweet Spot) in the Marketplace. Even if life has given you a ‘blow’ you can recover quickly by reevaluating and get back into your Sweet Spot.

The parts include knowing your Strengths, Personality, Spiritual Gifts, Talents, Experience, Values, and Expertise. Connecting them to your Vision & Calling is where I come into the picture.  I have tools for each of these areas.  I want to create for you a Personalized Plan that gives you clarity.  You are HERE for a purpose. Let’s discover you Sweet Spot, or get back to your Sweet Spot, together.

Connect with me to schedule a 15-minute FREE strategy session.

Reach out at-

Email: deneen@GrowFromYourOverflow.com

LinkedIn: deneeentroupebuitrago

Instagram: @GrowFromYourOverflow

Facebook: @GrowFromYourOverflow & Deneen Troupe-Buitrago

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen