The storms of life

roll in and stay for a while…,

disappear for a while.

There’s no telling when they’ll come, or when they’ll go. All can look totally calm when a sudden storm occurs. Sure, our weathermen can predict. The arrival and departure, the severity. The impact.

But it’s all guesswork. It’s all a prediction. It’s a projection. It’s uncertain. Though one thing is certain:

God either sent the storm, or God allowed the storm. For He is sovereign.

Sovereign means: the Big Boss. Sovereign means in charge of everything. Sovereign means in total control. This is not to say that God is the great puppeteer and that we don’t have a say in anything that happens; no. The bible says that God is sovereign, AND we have free will.

What this means is this: God created me and gave me a mind, a will of my own, desires, tendencies, instincts. I’m a free agent, and may choose to do whatever I will.

However, God knows all of my thoughts before I think them. He knows all the words I will ever say before I speak them. He knows where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. His Word says that He has written all the days of my life before I was born.

This fact boggles me. God wrote all the days of my life before I was born. Dang. Even the boring ones. Even the ones when I was sick. This afternoon I wasn’t feeling super great– I think it’s because I ran hard yesterday and didn’t do something properly afterwards. Not enough water, stretching, maybe an ice bath was needed? I dunno. Also, I may have simply done too much. I biked after I ran too… and then it got chilly outside so maybe subjecting my body to the elements was where I went wrong.

ANYWAY.

God knew that I would take a nap this afternoon.

Followed by an Epsom salt bath.

God knew I would be actively listening to His voice, and what conclusions I would come to.

Entrepreneurship is difficult. I want someone to tell me what to do. I want to have deadlines and pressure that keeps me accountable for getting work done.

I sat there wishing I had a boss. Then God reminded me that HE is my boss. He’s me Overseer. He’s my Counselor. He’s my Father. I report to HIM. For He says in His word:

“Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever I do.

Whether I sit or stand, speak or am silent. Run or walk, or am still. Whether I read or write or send messages or make phone calls or pray or weep or laugh; I should do it all for the glory of God.

I repeat, entrepreneurship is difficult. It requires a lot of research on my own to come up with business plans that actually work, time management that’s actually realistic, and goal setting that I can stick to. Sometimes I feel as though I’m juggling forty things at once and am not sure if I should give equal time to each one or really sit on one for a longer period of time.

To all you business owners out there, heed this advice: have some grace for yourself, especially if you’re a newbie like me. I shouldn’t expect myself to nail down an amazing business model and have a huge business after only a couple of months. I can’t help comparing myself to other people and see how they have advanced in a short time which gets me down sometimes. But it’s important to remember that those people are the anomalies.

Success requires small steps over time. Success requires many failures. Success requires consistency and being disciplined and picking the next right task and doing it. Success requires not attaching emotion to any outcome, and being okay with people expecting you to fail.

NF really did have it down in his song “Remember This”:

“These people gon’ tell you that you will never make it
Then when you do, they gon’ say they knew you were goin’ places
That’s just how it works, next thing you know you’ll be overrated
Hearing people say they miss the “old you, ” it’s crazy, ain’t it?
And perfect people don’t exist, so don’t pretend to be one
I don’t need pats on the back from people for my achievements
When I die I wanna know that I lived for a reason
Anyone can take your life, but not what you believe in, no”

Actually, the whole song is fire for entrepreneurs… it’s all about going and getting what you want out of life.

On that note, I’m going to go do what fills me up now.

Who’s with me?!?!

xxx

<3

V

Can I please say something

to small business owners:

God bless you.

Wow. It’s hard work owning your own business.

Making sure the customer is taken care of.

Making sure the customer is getting exactly what they need. Making sure the customer knows how to use the product.

Recommending other good products to them. Explaining why it will work.

Treating each person with patience, love, respect, and good service.

Business. Is. Hard.

It’s so rewarding too! It’s work, and there’s a payoff. Yes, there is a literal payoff. But also…

Having helped someone. Having given somebody a solution to their problem. An answer to their pain.

Today, I helped somebody find some products that would solve their dandruff issue.

I helped another woman with her extremely dry, damaged hair.

I helped someone else with frizz and breakage 3 days ago.

Another customer of mine has highlighted hair and I helped her find products that would keep her color in for longer.

It is SO satisfying to be able to help SO many people!

I LOVE my job. I love representing such an amazing company that heals people’s hair. Chemical-free, vegan, anti-aging.

But my goodness. It’s work. It is work. It does not come free.

So kudos, business owners. Small and large.

Kudos for time-management.

Kudos for patience.

Kudos for being available for your customers.

Kudos for tuning into your customers’ needs.

Kudos for using the correct verbiage and marketing well.

Kudos for the mental energy that you put forth pouring into your work.

Kudos for helping others.

Kudos for making it.

Kudos for working your way up!

Kudos.

Reminds me of Paul in scripture:

 

“You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to   

m  y       o  w  n      n  e  e  d  s  

and          those of my companions.

In everything, I showed you that

by this kind of        h   a   r   d       w   o   r   k

we must help the weak, remembering the

words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

Acts 20:34-35

 

Hard work pays off.

xxx

<3

V

Changes

Exciting changes.

Exciting opportunities!

Wanna be a market partner with me for Monat?? Ask me how and I’ll send you my link!

Network marketing is the way the world is moving… direct sales from the company to YOU… Through someone like me (an influencer!).

I’m super hyped about this experience. There was nothing to lose by signing up. I got a bunch of products that I already love and stand behind 100% and now my job is to tell the world about them so y’all can experience what I’ve been experiencing!

Great hair. Healthy hair. Hair care. The natural root. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Patented. Proven to restore and regenerate hair.

Yuuuuuup.

I’m a little bit scared to have signed up as a market partner, but I have a really good feeling about it.

Have you ever decided to take a leap of faith and sign up for something without knowing what the outcome will be?

Thank you Lord for leading me. Help me to always do things to your glory and for your glory. I love you!

xxx

<3

V