Deneen Troupe-Buitrago

Grow from your overflow

Habits

P.R.A.Y.E.R.

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Prayer, What does it mean to you when you hear the word? Do you see yourself kneeling in church, lifting your arms toward the sky, or holding hands in a group? What does it mean to Pray without ceasing? How can Prayer help your life and your business?

PRAYER is-

Purposeful. Research shows that prayer is a powerful tool for self-control; making you a nicer person; increasing your ability to forgive; increasing trust; and, offsetting the negative effects of stress. But you probably don’t need to hear this. You know that prayer and praying are good for you, right?

And, prayer is part of your planning process. In the Bible, we learn that God used Rahab, a woman with a questionable reputation, to be part of the lineage of Jesus. She trusted God when she didn’t even know Him yet. She started with a Plan. Her thoughts were her prayers. She wanted to save her family, she wanted a different life, and God redeemed her through her Planning.

Make your prayers purposeful by bringing all your plans to God.

 

Real. Talk to God in the way you would talk to a friend. God wants your vertical relationship with Him to be your most intimate. How do you connect with people in the world? Through conversation, right? When we open up to God and are honest with ourselves before Him, then we are being real.

Our deepest need is that soul longing connection with God. In a conversation with a friend there needs to be authentic communication. Guess what? It works the same way when you are talking to God. He invites you to spend time with Him. You have to agree to have real connection with Him through prayer.

Charles Spurgeon said, “You learn to pray by praying.” That is the best communication practice you have that makes connection with God Real.

 

Adjustment. We are all following a path in this life. Some paths are straightforward while others meander in different directions. No matter where they go or how they are travelled we are each on our own path. It is okay. Galatians 6:4-5 says, Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

God wants us to align with Him for our success. He will give you the vision for what He wants you to do. AND you know what? He also equips you to do what He is calling you to do. By staying in communication with Him through daily prayer you stay close to Him, know His will, and have no fear for the adventure.

Prayer can look different too. Find a way to pray that helps you connect to God. (For me it is using my colored pens & pencils in my Journal.)

 

Yielding. God’s will for you is better than you can imagine. The vision you have for your business was put there by God. He asks us to be satisfied in the place He has us now; then we are ready to move into the next phase. Do you really believe He has your best interest at heart?

Remember, 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is how you react to it. So, the more you pray then . . . the better you can handle any situation. Do you see the logic? God wants to transform you into His image. He wants you to see your work as your way of serving Him. AND, He wants you to place Him at the head of life and business. Trust Him by doing what He is asking you to do.

Plus, prayer is your first line of defense so you show up in your business exactly as God planned for you.

 

Expectation. Your definition of success needs to be what God has designed for you. Many times, we can be caught up in the world’s definition of success. God has so much more for you. Celebrate successes along the way. Each time you obey God, success. Each time you make progress, success.

Expect God to show up in BIG ways for you. Ask Him for outrageous things. That vision He gave you when you began your business is small compared to where He wants to take you. And, don’t worry about feeling equipped. He will bring the resources you need to help you when you most need it.

Pray prayers of gratitude for all He has given you so far AND prayers of expectation as you plan the future together.

 

Routine. Have you found it hard to find time to pray? Do you think you are not good at praying? Are you not able to focus when you pray? You are like me (and a lot of others who are not being honest). I want to share a simple technique. Instead of working through an entire hour, stop what you are doing at the end of a ‘50-minute hour’ and allow yourself to switch gears by re-charging your brain. (This is science.)

Sit comfortably and quiet your mind by focusing on your breathing. Close your eyes or focus on an object/picture. Just breath normal and bring your attention to the breath moving in and out of your nose. Then feel the breath moving your chest and stomach as you inhale and exhale. Give yourself a minute or two just focusing on it. This gives your brain needed oxygen (yes, you will start to breath deeper, it is natural).

Now move into intentional thinking: Prayer

  • One thing you are Grateful for
  • One thing that is a Concern for you
  • One Friend
  • One Family member

No more than these four points. You can write it down or just think through it. By doing this exercise at various times during your day you will accumulate several minutes of prayer that will be better for your brain, your body, and your soul.

 

Pray, Plan, Pray MORE.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

Time Blocking and Serving God

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My day is broken down into time blocking tasks. For example, it is Monday morning and I have time blocked to write this blog. I ‘try’ to take away all distractions and just write.

During any day I have time carved out to get tasks and projects completed. I also have time blocked out for preparing dinner, going on appointments, and working with coaching clients. Is your day similar?

One thing I like about time blocking is that I get a lot more accomplished. Another thing I like is that I have an excuse not to deal with every distraction from others. I think that’s called, boundaries.

Advantages of Time Blocking

When you have many different things to do in a day, time blocking can make it easier. I am not just talking about in your business. I use it for everything (like when I said, ‘preparing dinner’). It gives me a way to break up my day and prioritize what I need to do.

So, with such a great tool for my schedule . . . How can I FIT serving God into my day? Since I believe I am called to the Marketplace, and I am assuming you are too, I need to figure out how to do it during my work day.

It may be simpler than you think. ? AND, I have an acronym to help you remember.

FIT in Time Blocking

The F in FIT is for Flair. The definition of flair is a natural ability to do something well. Some of the synonyms are Style, Aptitude, and Gift. You are exceptional, a one of a kind. God wants you to be your true self, not someone’s image of you or even someone you think you should be. You have something special that makes you the perfect person to do His work at any time.

The I in FIT is for Individuality.  This definition says, ‘a specific personality, character, or characteristic that distinguishes you from others’. Whoa! You need to grasp how special God made you. You are distinct from anyone who has ever lived or who will ever live. AND, He has called you to a specific job that is different from anyone else. He is shaping your character to be more like Him every day.

The T in FIT is for Timely. Again, you were born and live in this generation for His purpose. The business you’re in is no mistake. You are there to do the work, the calling, He has for you. Your service to coworkers, friends, and others belongs to you alone. God tells us that the ‘time is short’ and we are to make the most of each moment. Use your day-to-day moments to see God opportunities to serve Him.

Did you notice there was no time blocking in that? It’s because you have a unique ROLE that God has called you to. That ROLE also fits into your time blocks because it is designed for you.

Your Time Blocking ROLE

Of course, I have another acronym to help you. ?

R- Be the REAL you. God wants to grow you into His image so you shine for Him. Do it, every day, at home and in your work, while commuting and when having fun. See the people in your life as your way to serve God. Share yourself with them in ways that are natural and build relationships.

O- Be Obedient to Him. Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit pulling at your heart to do something or say something? Don’t squelch those promptings. Ask God for courage to act on them. He will not give you an assignment He has not equipped you for. It is in the little things, the care and attention you give someone that can show them Jesus.

L- Love others. On our own we are incapable of really loving others. Let’s face it, many people are not lovable. That coworker, boss, intern . . . will feel love when you allow God’s love to show through you. Make sure to fill up on God each day so you have His power to love others.

E- You will have an Effect. Those around you will take notice. Each day you will make others stop and think about you by the way you interact with them. Your depth of influence will grow. AND, opportunities will open for you to share your faith.

Time Blocking is a Tool

While time blocking is a great tool for you to grow your business and to take control of your life, it is not something you can utilize to serve God well. He doesn’t want you to FIT Him in along with your other activities. He wants to be woven throughout your day, your week, your life.

When you understand that your ROLE is to show others God’s goodness all the time then it becomes as natural as breathing. This Christian adventure is ‘figureoutable’ because it is simple.

Let me help you ‘figure it out’ with the Calling Clarity Course. God wants you to shine for Him in the way He has uniquely designed you. You have it inside of you to know how to FIT service into your life and how to live out the ROLE God purposed for you.

Check out the info and sign up today.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

Re-frame your Thinking and See God Opportunities Everywhere

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Lean In

One of my favorite ‘secular’ books is Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. In it she says, “We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.”

Are you leaning in to what God has for you?

I am intrigued with the idea of Leaning In . . .  to God.  Throughout her book one message rings clear, if you want something or want to do something then you have to stand up for it and sometimes fight for it.

Are you, as a Woman of Faith, ‘fighting’ for the ONE relationship that matters most?

Lean In to God

Connecting Faith & Business starts with your Faith. Let’s look at the concept, LEAN IN. Since I love acronyms, I have devised this one to help you visualize the actions behind it.

L- listen to God

E- evaluate and reframe your viewpoint

A- access His power

N- note or place your attention

I- imitate the Father and Christ

N- His name, your reputation, and whose you are

Lean In through God

Start with the vertical relationship to fill up on God. This is a daily habit that needs to be nurtured so it grows. Sitting with God each day gives you His perspective and aligns you with His plans for your day and your life. It allows you to LISTEN to what He wants to say to your heart.

Next, think about how you view your service to God. Do you think it is only when you are involved in a ‘church sponsored’ activity? When do you really think about asking God for opportunities to share Him? EVALUATE your pre-conceived ideas and ask Him to change your thinking so you see it more in your day-to-day activities.

Then ACCESS God’s power that lives in you. Because you are a believer in Jesus you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. You have God’s power to do what He wants you to do. God only asks that you trust Him and take the next step. Is that next step giving someone a smile? Is it asking someone to do something social outside of work? Is it doing something that is important to someone else? Get over any fear and know that God’s power will give you exactly what you need when you need it.

Take NOTE of what God is doing. We have heard slogans like ‘pay it forward’ and ‘acts of kindness’ BUT do you think to do those things? It is an opportunity to show God’s goodness. When you ask someone how their weekend was and their eyes don’t match their ‘fine’, take a minute to ask what is going on. Find ways to invest in the people around you.

As a believer in Jesus we are called to IMITATE the Father. What does that look like when we are reframing our opportunities to show God? Kindness, caring, attention and time. How did Jesus let others know He cared? He spent time with them, asked them questions about themselves, and listened to what they had to say. Start with a cup of coffee in the break room. Take someone to lunch who is having a hard time. Talk on the phone or skype and just be present with the person.

The people in your world are looking for hope and guess what, you have it. You can make God’s NAME known by being the woman He is calling you to be at work and in your business. Your reputation grows and in turn gives God glory. Don’t hide from Whose you are. Stand up and fight for your position at the table. Fight to show God to others as you LEAN IN to Him.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

Serve God More at WORK

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So, it’s Monday, time to go to ‘Work’.  How do you feel?  Excited? Depressed? Or do you feel just plain tired?  How do you see your work?  Is it something that pays the bills OR are you passionate about what you do?  How do you think God sees your work?

Your Week to Serve

I want to give you some statistics about your week. You have 168 hours to make the most of it. Here is the breakdown (on average):

40 hours- Work

05 hours- Commute

15 hours- Meal Prep & Eating

06 hours- Domestic Duties

35 hours- Sleep

03 hours- Health (physical, mental)

2.5 hours- Bible Reading

10 hours- Kids (homework, driving, talking, etc.)

If you are a numbers person like me I have broken it down into each day too. ?

8 working + .5 commuting + 3 eating + 1.5 cleaning + 7 sleeping + .5 exercising + .5 Bible/Prayer + 2 kids = 23 hours! (You have one hour to do whatever you want!)

Are you tired? Do you see this list and think, How can I do it all? That’s where a little planning can go a looooong way to create space for doing MORE to Serve God Daily.

Look at where you spend your most waking hours, WORK. This may be in an office, factory, store, or in your own business. It is the place you are most engaged with multiple people over the course of the day and week. This is EXACTLY the place you can be the most effective for God.

Your Day to Serve

As a Christian Woman in business or in the workplace you can serve God by serving those you have direct contact with each day. He calls you to use your unique personality, strengths, gifts, and abilities to show up as you. He wants to use you in a mighty way right where you spend most of your waking hours.

Let me give you a tool to begin thinking about this. Ask God to show you 5 people in your everyday life that do not know Him. Write down their names and commit to pray for them each day. Even if it a quick prayer when you see them in passing. Next, start to grow your relationship with them inside and outside of the ‘office’. Pour into those relationships until you have the opportunity to share your story about what Jesus has done for you.

There is no pressure here. BUT, this is what we are called to do as believers in Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). It begins with kindness, interest, affection, caring, and love. For me, Priscilla’s story in the Bible shows me how she not only used her relationships with other believers to give her strength but she also gives me an example of how to reach out, mentor, and tell others about Jesus while I am at work.

The plan is not hard. I am not asking you to preach on a soap box, start a Bible Study, or wear a button to proclaim your Faith. I am asking you to SERVE God by thinking differently about your Work. Don’t make the next volunteer activity at church take you away from spending time with your kids or giving up your exercise time. Make your everyday life count for God. Use the 40 hours of ‘marketplace time’ your place to show others the goodness of God.

Is this the first time you have thought about this way of connecting your Faith & Business? Are you shocked that I would suggest not doing something at church? We have been ‘taught’ for so long that in order to do anything for God it must be through the church. I want to shake you up to think differently and get your Faith ACTIVE in your daily ‘work’ life.

Sharon’s Service

I told this story a few months ago and want to repeat it now.

Sharon came to my Christian Women’s network group one month and asked this question. “How can I serve God at my work?” I began to laugh. Why? Because she had just told me this story. . .

“There is a new woman at work and she is having a difficult time adjusting to the culture of the company. Up until this point I have been the only female in the office. I have adapted my style of communicating and functioning to reflect the male dominated atmosphere. I had not realized how flexible I was at being able to adjust my style based on the person in front of me. I have been working with her the last two weeks to coach her through email language, speaking directly, and confidence issues. She has come a long way in being able to deal with what she has called ‘male abruptness’ and has learned to match her style with the person she is speaking with.”

Why did it make me laugh when she asked the question? For me it was clear that she was serving God by being a mentor to this woman. She was sharing her expertise and giving insight to this woman. I reminded her that she does not need to be at church, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or helping the underprivileged to be serving Christ. She was showing kindness, hospitality, love, and concern for someone at work. That is enough.

It really is enough.

Your Plan to Serve

God wants you to be in relationship with HIM first. That vertical relationship needs to be fed and nurtured before anything else.

Start with spending more time with God and reading His Word.

Pray for those He puts in your mind and on your heart.

Show those people how much you care about them through your words and actions.

Then be ready to share your Story about what Jesus has done for you.

THAT’s the Plan. God wants you to have an Impact. He wants you to make Him known to specific people, the people in your marketplace. That’s how you SERVE Him MORE.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

P.S. The Clarify Book will be released this month. If you are interested in being one of my Promoters please send me your name and email address. I need your help to spread the word about the Book. Thanks!

You Are Made To Lead

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Leading Daily

Each day there are many decisions you must make that create success for your business and family. No matter if you are leading one or 100 you display confidence, you inspire, and you focus on the task at hand. God will give you what you need to succeed just as He did for Deborah.

Deborah is a wife and she may have been a mother too. Her job is that of a political leader as well as a spiritual leader. Her office is under a date palm tree that sits in the hill country of Ephraim. The entire Nation comes to her for counsel (Judges 4:5).

Leading like Deborah

She must have had enough prestige and money to have others running her household. Do you think her husband, Lappidoth, was the first stay-at-home Dad? Since she was well respected and had a lot of responsibility outside the home we can assume someone else oversaw her household.

Taking your business to the professional level requires that you give up other ‘jobs’ you think belong to you: cleaning, grocery shopping, creating meals, laundry, social media marketing, accounting, etc. Unless one of these activities IS your business I think it is safe to say you can delegate them to someone else. Deborah knows what she is good at and that is what she does.

Deborah is a leader. God has called her to this position and she takes it seriously. Imagine sitting in the shade of the palm tree giving advice and dispensing justice to the Nation and then receiving a message from God.
Deborah’s message from God is about Israel’s victory over their 20-year oppressors. She tells Barak, the commander, ‘Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you.’ (Judg 4:14) She always puts herself behind God. She is willing to allow God to take the first place.

Leading with God

She knew she needed God in order to do the job He had given her because Barak refused to go into battle without her! She doesn’t back down from the new role as military leader, she embraces what God says she is to do and moves ahead bravely.

Many times we may feel we are not qualified to do the task in front of us. God is always stretching us to make us more like Him. It can be scary; I am sure Deborah was scared. Adrenaline coursed through her body that day as she led the fight. We also can use that adrenaline to move through the scary times. It can give you courage to take that step, right now.

Barak goes into battle that day under the specific instructions of Deborah. He does ‘win’ the battle; exactly as the Lord promised Deborah. However, because of his refusal to fight without her, she told him the specific victory over Sisera, the leader, would be at the hands of a woman.

Deborah was not that woman. . . though she might have expected it. A Bedouin woman named Jael had the honor. However, Jael stands in contrast to Deborah. Jael used what she knew best to complete the task, a tent peg. Deborah needed to depend on God for her leadership position that day because it was not in her experience.

Leading with Heart

Leadership takes risk, leadership takes courage, both women showed that. True leadership also takes trust. Only Deborah trusted that what God had said would come to pass. Trust God to give you the strength and courage to take risks in your business. Let go of things that are holding you back and lead by trusting Him.

You also must look beyond what you are capable of doing and see what God is calling you to do. Leading others takes dependence on God. Use leadership to set your business apart from others in your industry. Be the leader others want to aspire to be.

What qualities come to mind when you think about Leadership? Character, courage, focus, passion, generosity, responsibility, vision? In the comments tell me one way you show Leadership every day.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. The Clarity Retreat sign up is happening NOW. Get motivated to LEAD 2018 with way God wants you to and live in your Calling.

My Devotion to God Gives Me Strength

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Have you ever had a job where you were just going through the motions?  Just trying to make it through each day to get your paycheck? God calls us to more.  He calls us to pursue excellence no matter our circumstance.

As we enter the middle of Ruth’s story we see her doing just that, pursuing excellence, as she works in the fields.  She is our example of showing a good attitude and doing your best.

Ruth’s Devotion

Ruth is the devoted daughter-in-law of Naomi. When Naomi’s husband and two sons die, she realizes that she needs to return to Bethlehem for protection. Ruth is a Moabite (descendants of Lot), a beautiful foreigner. She begs to return with Naomi because of her devotion to her mother-in-law and her love for God.

They arrive at the beginning of the Spring harvest.  Ruth begins to work the fields ‘gleaning’ the leftover grain.  She is working to care for Naomi and herself.  The work may not be what she wanted, it may be beneath her pay grade, but it is what is in front of her so she and Naomi can survive.

Ruth’s Advantage

The work is hard and long, yet we don’t see Ruth complaining and grumbling. In fact, she works hard every day, picking up the leftovers from the field.  I am sure she is not the only person gleaning from the fields. This situation is fraught with dangers from the other gleaners to the hired harvesters.  To be a woman in this environment has got to be difficult.

The field Ruth ends up in belongs to Boaz, a relative of Naomi. God orchestrated everything so Ruth would be safe and not suffer.  Boaz notices and asks about the beautiful woman working in the field.  The foreman reports that she has a strong work ethic and this finds favor with Boaz.

He is an encouraging ‘boss’ and tells her to only glean from his field, to go behind the women for safety and to get all the water she needs.  He even instructs the others to give her extra food at lunch and to drop extra grain for her to pick up. This reward is for going beyond what is expected.  She shows that hard work can set you apart.

Ruth stays through the entire harvest time working diligently in Boaz’s fields.  The barley and wheat harvest together constituted about seven weeks’ worth of work.  In all this time Ruth’s only concern is to continue working to take care of Naomi.

Ruth’s Reward

Ruth is intelligent, strong and loyal to a fault and I believe she was planning for the next thing to do after the harvest. I don’t know if she had the same thought as Naomi, but Naomi’s shrewd, courageous and persevering nature was reawakened at the thought of Ruth finding favor with Boaz.

The story continues (and I have not included the details) and Boaz does identify Ruth as a woman worthy of his attention.  Ruth may seem like an unimportant person who is just looking to survive but God has other plans.  Boaz accepts Ruth by redeeming her in marriage AND she is redeemed through children.  In fact, she is the mother of Obed, the grandfather of King David.

We can never overlook the importance of our work by the size of our bank accounts, our popularity in the market, or by our position at the company.  God is looking at your heart, your devotion to Him, and shaping your character to be more like His.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. This excerpt is from the NEW Book, CLARIFY 12 Principles to Illuminate Your Calling to the Marketplace. PRE-Order your copy TODAY. This week only for Pre-orders. Be the first to have it in your hand in January. AND, each week before it arrives, I will be drawing two names for a 30-minute Clarity Mentor/Coaching Session with me. HURRY to pre-order!

Building YOUR Reputation

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Building Takes Time

Statistics say it takes ten years of focused study to become an expert in any field and building a reputation can take just as long. That is not meant to discourage you, it is meant to encourage you to keep going. God only requires that we take the next step, trust Him, and do what is in front of us.

Huldah has spent her entire life in the pursuit of knowledge.  She loves learning and God has rewarded her by giving her the gift of discernment.  Huldah is not famous but she is known.  During her time in Jewish history (2 Kings 22:8-20) the temple is destroyed and the Jews are worshipping other gods.  Her sphere of influence is very limited because of this disarray. Life is full of turmoil for the Jewish nation and there is no stability.

Building Takes Behavior

Our own world today is the same.  Everyone is doing their own thing and there is no moral authority.  We can feel like it doesn’t matter what we do or how we act; that no one is paying attention.  But someone is always watching our behavior, our reactions to situations, and how we respond to others.  Huldah was being watched and so are you.

Huldah’s husband has the position in the royal court as the keeper of the royal wardrobe.  This gives him and Huldah daily access to the King and Queen. They are known instructors and confidants to the royal family. I imagine Huldah helping the Queen with her outfits each day; using her time wisely, as an insider, to give counsel while she is assisting.

Jewish literature says that Queen Jedidah was a godly woman because when King Josiah takes the throne at the age of eight he has been influenced greatly by his mother.  As the Queen’s ‘dresser’ Huldah also has opportunities to share knowledge and teach not only the Queen but the young prince.

Building Takes Opportunity

Huldah’s day comes eighteen years after Josiah has become king.  He is still under 30 and Huldah is much older and wiser.  Since he was sixteen, Josiah has implemented many spiritual practices that had been lost to the nation of Israel.  This has given Huldah many opportunities to teach and guide eager students in this new-found enthusiasm for God. Her reputation has grown as more and more Jews are returning to follow the Law.

When a lost scroll (a piece of original manuscript) is discovered during the restoration project of the temple in Jerusalem, it is delivered to the king. It is not good news; in fact, it speaks of destruction because God is angry with his people. The priests go to Huldah for counsel.

Huldah first authenticates the scroll.  Her years of study and experience have taught her to recognize God’s Word. She is clear in the work she is being called to do. She does not try to make herself look more important but works at the job she is asked to do.

Building Takes Commitment

Too often we choose to do the work we want to do instead of the work that is in front of us. We must earn respect, and a good reputation, by doing the job given to us; only then, can we move up.

There is no fast lane in building a good reputation. It is in the choices you make every day, the things you do that go beyond the expectations of your customers, clients, colleagues and co-workers that builds the reputation you want and the one God wants for you.

What are three attributes you can incorporate into your daily routine that will grow your reputation as an expert? Integrity? Loyalty? Intelligence? Stability? Honesty? Reliability? Sincerity? I would LOVE to know your words. 🙂

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Your next step is to join us at the GFYO Christian Women’s Network Group Christmas Celebration. If you are in Metro Detroit we would LOVE to spoil you at our Party. Tickets available through THIS Friday, December 1st, 2017. Start building your reputation with like-minded women who want to assist you in connecting Faith & Business so you can SERVE God more.

Creating Your Unique Business Style

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Choosing WHAT you will do for your business and choosing HOW you will do it requires different thinking. The WHAT can be as easy as the pull God has on your heart, the things you are really good at, or the job you are already doing. The HOW is where you get to shine in your unique way.

Let’s chat about my expertise experiences and I pray you have some AHA Moments for yourself.

Drama

I have been in drama since elementary school. I LOVE being on stage and being backstage. I have been an actor, a singer, a director, and a writer. The theatre is a FUN place for me to be. I am energized by practicing drama games and by the applause of the audience.

When I think through what God is calling me to do in my business I see the drama gene coming through. I am a purpose coach who really thrives on stage by giving motivational talks. I am comfortable taking people through a process whether in a workshop, a lecture hall, or an auditorium. My drama gives me confidence, presence, and ability to show up uniquely. (I also like to do exercises with my audience so they can have FUN too.)

Teaching

When you played ‘teacher’ with your friends or siblings growing up, Were you the teacher? I have been teaching since I can remember. I perfected this skill in college by getting a degree. God sometimes calls us to do things that come easily. I know He did that for me. Little did I realize how transferable this skill is from the elementary classroom to adult business people.

One area I LOVE is curriculum development (nerd, I know). I get a real kick out of creating something NEW. My Calling Clarity Course is my newest thing and I am super-excited about it. One of my values in Challenge. Creating NEW things and implementing them is definitely a challenge. It is also one of my Strengths. Funny how God uses what He has given you and me naturally to show up uniquely in our businesses.

Bible

The choice of a Christian college was not my first (just being honest). God orchestrated that, not me. I studied more Bible in college than most because it was Christian. I had also been a student of the Bible throughout my schooling through quizzing (you know, study the Bible and then compete against others). BUT, knowledge of the Bible and application are two separate things. God has asked me to apply His Word is unique ways to my target audience, Christian Business Women.

Creating a business focused around the Bible is unique. Showing others what God wants them to do with their business is an honor (and somewhat scary). My slogan is Connecting Faith & Business. God has chosen me to bring this unique message to Women, my ideal clients. Having the knowledge and being a serious student of the Bible has introduced me NEW ways to interact with the text. The insights I have been able to pull from the historical characters of the Bible confirms to me how ALIVE God’s Word truly is.

Pulling it Together

I have a coaching business, and it is unique. I want to stand out from all the other ‘coaches’ out there. AND, I have discovered just what makes me show up in a unique way to my ideal clients. No one else has the unique combination of skills that I have. You are the same. When I got serious, I looked back over my life and asked God to show me how my expertise could make me stand out the way He wanted.

What business is God Calling you to do or has you already doing? Is it in a saturated industry? Or, Are you educating people in a new area? HOW can you show up differently?

Examine your life and PULL from it those unique skills you LOVE and that have been part of your life over and over again. Don’t filter yourself. The quirkiest knowledge will lead to creating your Unique Value Proposition (what you bring that no one else does). In fact, that is HOW you will make your business stand out and be special.

God really does give you the desires of your heart. He places you in the business uniquely designed for you. He gives you all the skills you need to do it well. AND, He uses ALL the parts of your life to bring your business into the world exactly as He wants it. You just need to take the step and trust Him.

Are you excited, and a little scared? Let me help you discover your HOW based on the WHAT God has given you. Contact me to set up a 15-minute discovery session.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen