It’s Not Necessarily Linear

At different points in our business I have made the statement that one of the things I enjoy about working for myself and with women specifically is that it’s not necessarily linear.  But what does that mean really?  I have enough corporate experience in my background that I cringe slightly when I say it.  A part of me thinks, “so how do you get anything done?”  A meeting a few weeks ago was a perfect example and so I thought I’d share a thumbprint for those of you who would like a bit of clarification.

It had been awhile since Gale, Kathy, and I had gotten together.  Kathy is often traveling with her husband and Gale is in the final stretch of planning a wedding for her beautiful daughter.  It has made it difficult to meet regularly.  But yesterday (10/31/11), we met.  The plan was to work on our business and spend some time helping Gale address over 400 invitations.  I have spearheaded a few of our projects and I had a lot to tell them.

In terms of some background on this, it’s important to note that although I hadn’t told either of them yet, I had been struggling with a recent project.  We are a team, but Kathy and Gale have not had the time to devote to it that I have.  I wondered if I should just plan on doing it on my own.  That didn’t sit well with me and I was also struggling with motivation when wrestling with some of these issues by myself.  It seemed overwhelming.  I went into the meeting hoping that we could sort some of this out.

When I got to Gale’s house we decided to start with prayer especially after realizing that both Kathy and I had felt impressed to fast for the day.  I do not like fasting so the impression had to be pretty strong for me to follow through.  It started with thinking about a client who had endured satanic ritual abuse and really struggles on Halloween.  Every time I felt hungry yesterday I prayed for her and for all others who have been harmed or impacted in a negative way by the holiday.  I shared that with Gale and Kathy and what ended up happening was prayer time that lasted several hours.  There were moments where the “linear” side of me popped up and I wondered how we were ever going to get this project launched if all we do is pray when we get together.

But here’s the thing.  All those concerns I had about the business, all the concerns I had about my future, the doubts and fears, the things I hadn’t even shared out loud yet. God addressed them directly in our prayer time.  Gale felt impressed to share some things with me that spoke to things I hadn’t even voiced. Kathy felt impressed to pray specifically for my physical body.  I had been struggling with some physical discomfort and struggling with my diet.  Gale had just gotten a large order of Mannatech supplements and felt impressed to give me some that I hadn’t tried yet.

We had approximately an hour to address invitations and go over the business items.  We had planned to take all morning.  But you know what?  I said everything I needed to say in approximately 10 minutes.  We spoke about the time needed for our project and Gale admitted that she won’t have any extra time until after the wedding.  Kathy committed to certain aspects, and Gale talked about her impression that part of the reason things are moving slow is that God is waiting to line certain items up.  That when we do this launch we need to have time and organization available to follow up and support our team.  I walked away realizing that every single concern I had about the business was answered AND I had been ministered to in areas completely separate from the business.

This is what we mean when we say the business is Spiritual and doesn’t have to be linear.  Kathy is famous for saying, “When we work, we work.  When we pray, God works.”  This is the belief of our team and I’m  grateful for a God who gently reminds me when I forget.

Four Praise Songs

 I have a dear friend.  She is 57 years old and has raised 4 kids.  She has been one of my dearest friends for approximately 14 years now and she has seen me through some of the darkest times in my life.  

Recently she told me she had realized a need to lose a few pounds and while I heard this report by phone it was a month or two later before I was able to see her in person. The next time I saw her she had not only lost weight, but she had toned up.  I could see the muscles in her arms, even when she wasn’t flexing.  I asked her what she had been doing for a work out.  She proudly announced “Four praise songs!” while she dragged out a Nordic Track she had gotten at a garage sale for $7.00. 

My friend was doing the Nordic Track daily while listening to four praise songs. I couldn’t believe the difference in how she looked and it hit me that this might be my answer as well. I HATE working out.  In high school and college, I was an athlete and played every sport my school had to offer: Intramural softball, basketball, volleyball, flag football, and for one glorious year I held my high school's record in the quarter mile.  Somehow when I was competing it wasn’t about exercise.  It was about...well, competition, and I happen to be a bit driven. 

After I graduated, though, chances to play were fewer and farther between and since I’ve always had a high metabolism I didn’t HAVE to exercise.  It didn’t really show and I maintained a thin physique.  Since hitting my mid 30's, for the first time in my life, I have had to consider starting an exercise routine or getting a new wardrobe.  The other thought that occurred to me was some recent research I had come across. The research demonstrated that exercise done with a negative attitude or thought process didn’t bring the benefits of exercise done that was enjoyable.  At the time I thought, “I’m screwed.” I had not found a workout that I could stand.

A few months after Mary’s disclosure I went to a personal growth seminar.  (More on that soon.) As a part of the seminar you are asked to pick two things that you will say “yes” to.  I decided to say yes to praising God in a physically active way 2-3 times per week.  To some degree I put this down out of desperation and not any stitch of me was looking forward to fulfilling this commitment.   On the last day of this seminar I was leaping around cheering for one of the other participants (not the norm for me) and I felt something in my ankle pop.  It didn’t hurt...not until later after I continued leaping around on it.  On some level I was relieved.  I could legitimately put off my physically active praising.

So here I am  today.  My first day back from a fantastic vacation with the love of my life.  My ankle is still tight but improving.   I decided this was the day.  I turned on the stereo and began to bounce on our woefully ignored mini trampoline.  Casting Crowns was first and I began to sing with them.

I was jumping up and down vigorously and would likely have harmonized nicely with a dying cow.   The craziest thing happened.  I lost myself.  I raised my hands.  The things I woke up worrying about in the middle of the night disappeared and my spirit felt like flying.  I had brief thoughts of what the neighbors would do if they saw me through my back windows and laughed as I realized I was happy to endure a little embarrassment in order to feel this way.   Praising left me with the joy.  It left me feeling indomitable.  Like a superhero.  There is nothing God and I can’t do.  On a side note, I worked up a killer good sweat.

So what does this have to do with being a woman entrepreneur?  You figure it out...try some leaping and dancing to four praise songs and let me know what happens.

The Name String of Pearls

The name for our team is String of Pearls and we wanted to tell you a little bit about how that name came about.  We feel as if God gave us the name and in that way it is extremely significant.
 

Our team started to come together on our way to Dallas for a conference for a business we are in.  Kathy and Gale had been in it for many years and I had just joined.  We decided to take a road trip and had 13 hours together in a car.  We laughed about how it must have been the first time in history where people were concerned 13 hours wouldn’t be enough to talk about everything they needed. 
 

We had a fantastic time at the conference.  In random moments throughout our time together pearls came up in some form or fashion.  Initially we didn’t pay much attention, but later it became too regular not to notice.
 

Months later we began to work on our first internet launch.  Those of you who follow our blog will likely hear more about this as we go.  It is a cornerstone of our team and our business.  We were praying about what name we should use for our team members and we decided to research pearls a little more.  We looked it up in the dictionary and were very excited about what we found... 

“A small bead composed of a mineral deposited in concentric layers as a protective coating around an irritating foreign object.  Valued as a gem when lustrous and finely colored.  Something precious or choice; the finest example of anything.”  

How many of us have had irritating foreign objects in our lives?  We think it would be safe to say all of us.  With a pearl though, this object has become the source of great beauty and value.  We know what some of you are thinking...”I’m not lustrous or finely colored.”  

Don’t worry, neither is an oyster.  It takes time to develop a pearl and really, when it comes down to it, that is what our team is about.  Developing pearls.  We all have the capacity.  It is our choices that grow us into pearls.  What are we going to do with our irritating foreign objects?  Will we stay victims?  Constantly scratching and complaining?  Will we try to ignore it and walk with limps?  Or will we do the work it takes to make that foreign object a thing of beauty and value in our lives and in the lives of others.  Will we take our innate value and preciousness as children of God and let it be molded into the finest example of anything?  If this is something you long for, this blog might just be for you.