Have you found your 2023 Planner yet? There are so many amazing options these days, and it can be hard to choose! So here in Episode 88 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn three important things to look for in your new planner, and a little about some of my favorite planners.
If you're anything like me, picking out your planner for the next year can be exciting, but at the same time it can also be daunting.
Let’s dive into the tips first.
1. Think about how and where you’re going to use your planner.
Consider if your planner needs to be portable or will you only use it at your desk?
2. Consider how much time you can commit to spending with your planner each day.
Carefully consider what you need to keep track of in your "second brain".
3. Pick the most simple planner that meets your most important needs.
Most of us are pre-wired to be discouraged by un-used space. If you have a complicated planner and can't use all the features, you may feel like you aren't doing enough. Keep things simple.
Now, let’s talk about a few planners I love.
My favorite is the Golden Coil planner. Using the interactive tool on their website, you can select every page in your planner, plus plain or designer cover prints. Find it at goldencoil.com and follow them on IG @golden.coil.
Another of my favorites is the Spaces Planner. If you are a lover of making lists, this is the planner for you. Find it at spacesplanner.com and follow them on IG @spacesplanner.
I also love the Dream Planner from Horatio Printing. It has both vertical and horizontal versions, and plenty of space for dreaming and planning. You can find it at horatioprinting.com and follow them on IG @horatioprinting.
Grace Goals is a Biblical Goal Setting System to help you understand and fulfill the good works God has given you to do. If you want to make progress in your spiritual, professional, and personal lives this year, Grace Goals gives you the tools you need. You can find it here.
ACTION STEP
Before you get bombarded by the Black Friday ads, make a list of what you need from a planner next year, and set a budget. You can go to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing to grab a worksheet to help you do that, and compare features of different planners. And if you have a planner you’ve created, or one you love, share about it on social media and tag me @doanewthing. I’d love to check it out, and you just might see your post shared in my feed.
RESOURCES
Golden Coil
PlannerSpaces Planner
Dream Planner
Grace Goals
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Wonder what it looks like when someone makes a pivot in their business? How long does it take to re-gain forward momentum after a shakeup? In Episode 87 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m sharing what it has looked like for me, almost two months after making some big announcements.
About two months ago, I started making a big change in my business. In Episode 80, I talked about how I made the decision to shift in a slightly new direction. I heard through my Instagram stories that y’all wanted to hear more about how it has been going, so that’s what we are going to do in this episode.
Let’s dive in to what I’ve learned and how it’s going since I made the announcement.
In shifting my focus to women pursuing their God-inspired dream while working full time, it’s been interesting to see how it applies to women in other situations. So while I worried that I was narrowing down too much, I found the audience is a little broader than I thought.
A survey of my new audience gave unexpected results, and is helping me frame the content. I was surprised to learn that only about 40% of women who identified as having a dream AND a job actually want to quit the job.
I’m currently considering how to use these results to create a new group program for them after the first of the year.
As far as how long it took to regain momentum, I’d say it took about six weeks.
I’m not sure if people were confused about what I was doing, or what, but everything dried up about the time of my announcement.
I’m so thankful for the friends in my network who have shared about what I’m doing, sent me referrals, and invited me on their podcasts. With their help, things started picking up again by mid-October.
Making a shift like this is a project that requires dedicated time in your weekly plan, just like any other project.
Pausing the mastermind was a difficult, but wise, choice. Removing that from the plate for a time has created a spacious place for me to be creative, to think, to pray, to talk, to experiment.
I knew the direction I was taking about a month before I announced it, giving me time to start putting some pieces in place (like a new email opt-in) before I made it public. Overall, I’d say the shift is going well.
I’m more relaxed and have accepted working at a little slower pace.
ACTION STEP:
If you feel God is leading you to make a shift in your focus, I encourage you to look at the things you keep bumping into.
Are they barriers that can be moved with a little hard work and patience? Or are they boundaries that could have catastrophic results if you cross them? If it’s time to make a shift, make a plan so you can do it with confidence and intention.
And I want to end today’s episode by thanking you ... the listeners of this podcast and my social media followers ... for going on this journey with me. The Do A New Thing community is the best, and your support has meant the world to me.
RESOURCES
Episode 80 How God Uses Boundaries and Barriers for Protection and Provision
How to Pursue Your God-Inspired Dream While Working Full-Time free guide
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve talked to lots of women who are working while pursuing their God-inspired dream on the side. I bet you can guess the most common struggle they expressed. If you said it’s all about time, you would be correct. In Episode 86, we’re gonna chat about how to get all the things done ... and the way I do it might be a little surprising.
Hello friends! Welcome back to Just One Simple Thing. A couple of months ago I announced in Episode 80 that I’m narrowing the focus of my strategic planning and project management services to creative women (like writers, speakers, and podcasters) or small business owners, who are pursuing their God-dreams while they’re still working their full-time job. That is the situation I’m in and I feel like I have a lot to share in that area.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know that the most common struggle they face is having time to do all the things.
So today I want to share with you how I get all the things done. Okay, here’s the secret. I don’t get all the things done because no one can get all the things done.
It’s not about getting all the things done. It’s about getting the right things done. And guess what? I don’t even get all the right things done.
Here is what I get done: I get done what I can get done. Sometimes that’s a lot depending on what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not very much but it’s always what I can do. And the really cool thing is that because I can’t get all of the important things done, I have to rely fully on God to do the things that only He can do.
So let’s dive into the things that I can do.
I rotate my strategic focus every month. I have a clear strategic plan for my business ... specific things I want to implement in the areas of Marketing, Content, Finances, and Administration. (For more details about these strategic focus areas, head back to Episode 76.) I’ve learned that I can’t focus on all of these areas at the same time every month. But I can focus on them one at a time.
I commit to a small list of non-negotiables... a very few things that I do every week no matter what.
Some weeks the only thing I get done may be those non-negotiable items and I don’t have any time left to work on new content and or new products or different projects. Those very important strategic focus areas just have to wait until I can do them.
I don’t commit to things I can’t do. I have to be very careful about opportunities that come up and say no to things I’d love to do but I can’t do because it would impact my non-negotiables and other strategic focus areas.
Develop your network of partners. Sharing the workload with a friend can be a huge time-saver.
ACTION STEP:
Spend some time thinking about what your non-negotiables are and how will you fit those into your week. When you do what you can, I promise that God will show up and do what only he can.
RESOURCES:
Episode 78 Four Strategies You Need to Stay Focused and Save Time
Episode 80 How God Uses Boundaries and Barriers for Protection and Provision
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
It’s been a long wait. You’ve been patient and trusted God through the waiting. But now, God says it’s time to go ... to jump into the dream He’s given you. So, what do you do now? Welcome to Episode 85 of Just One Simple Thing, where you’ll learn what to do when the wait is over.
I hope you got some good tips in Episode 84 about how to get out of the procrastination pit. But in Episode 83, we looked at what David did between the time when he was anointed as the future king, and the time that he actually became king. You might think that after years of waiting for God to release you to do your thing, it would be easy to jump right in and finally take some action. But that’s not always the case. You’ll have to create some momentum to get things moving.
There are four things David did to make that transition and move into the space God had created him for.
1. Leveraged his relationships
David didn’t have to go out and gather these people up. When he finally became King, they came to him. If you have been investing in people and relationships while you are waiting, when it is your time to step into the spotlight, people will rally around you and want to help you succeed.
2. Set up a home base
One of the first things David did as king was to take back control of Jerusalem and set up his home. As he continued to go out and battle for his people, he always had a safe place for himself and his closest advisors to come back to. Find the safe place for you, your team, and your followers to land in a strategic plan. Head back to Episode 78 for more details on the four strategies you need to stay focused and save time.
3. Kept his eyes on God
David recognized that the Lord had established him, not for David’s own benefit, but for the sake of His people. Like David, we need to keep our eyes on God and remember that any growth or opportunity He gives us is for the sake of His people, not our own benefit.
4. Made imperfect progress
We know the stories well of all the ways David messed up. Adultery, scheming, murder, lying. But one thing David didn’t do ... he didn’t quit. He learned to listen to his advisors. He asked for forgiveness and leaned into his relationship with the Lord. And he kept moving forward, for the sake of God’s people.
As you step out in ministry or business, I promise you … you WILL mess up. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. It’s time to learn from your mistakes, take refuge in God’s mercy and grace, and move forward imperfectly... for the sake of the people who NEED the transformation you can offer.
ACTION STEP:
What are you waiting for? Has God told you to go, but you’re still holding back? Look at these four things David did after the wait and decide which one will help you most .. then make a plan to do it! And if you need help making that plan, let me know!
If one of the waiting or procrastinating episodes 82 through 85 has been especially helpful for you, please share it on your social media and let me know.
RESOURCES:
Episode 78 Four Strategies You Need to Stay Focused and Save Time
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Are you a chronic procrastinator? I think we could all say yes to that question at some point or another. Maybe you’ve tried all the tips and tricks to avoid procrastination and are wondering why it’s still a problem for you. In Episode 84 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn the one secret to overcoming procrastination.
We are in the middle of a series on Waiting and Procrastinating. In Episode 82, we talked about how to tell if you are waiting on God, or procrastinating. In Episode 83, we learned from King David about how to wait well. And in this episode, I’m going to share with you the one surprising thing you can do to overcome procrastination.
If you google “how to stop procrastinating”, you’ll find a ton of articles with all kinds of helpful tips .... Like starting with one simple step, making the thing you want to do the easiest thing to do, and creating short-term deadlines.
But jumping straight to those strategies skips an important step ... the MOST important step in overcoming procrastination.
You have to understand WHY you are procrastinating.
Because all those tips and hacks and strategies address the symptoms of procrastination, but if you don’t address the WHY, you’ll just find another way to avoid doing what you need to do.
Let’s look at a few real reasons you may be procrastinating, and how you can deal with those, and them maybe you can make some progress in your battle against putting things off.
1. Sometimes you procrastinate because you are overwhelmed by a big project and don’t know where to start. Either you have no plan ... just a long, jumbled to-do list, OR you may be trying to over-plan... lay out every little detail before you start. For a big project, it’s best to break it down into phases, then create a plan for each phase.
2. Maybe you procrastinate because you are afraid whatever you do, it won’t be good enough, so why even start? Remember that YOU get to define the standard of what “good” is ... of what “finished” looks like. Progress happens in different ways for everyone.
3. You put off doing the things you don’t like to do. And honestly, this one is the easiest to overcome. It’s where those hacks and tips come in handy ... make the thing you need to do the easiest thing to do, limit your distractions, commit to work on it just 10 minutes.
ACTION STEP
Look at the one thing you’ve been putting off the longest and figure out why you are avoiding it. Then come up with one simple step you can take to get started.
In the next episode, we’ll wrap up the series by talking about what to do when a season of waiting is over. I’ve heard from so many people about how this series has helped them. If you are one of them, please share it with a friend!
RESOURCES
14 Practical Ways for Procrastinators
A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
When God asks us to wait, He asks us to trust Him. But what should you do, if anything, while you are waiting? Listen in to Episode 83 of Just One Simple Thing to learn four things that King David did during his 15 year wait.
We are in the middle of a series about waiting and procrastinating. In the last episode, we talked about how you can tell the difference. If you missed that, head back to Episode 82 and check it out.
A few years ago, my friend Merritt Onsa did an episode on her Devoted Dreamers podcast with Holly Christine Hayes. One thing they talked about was how hard it is to pursue your dreams during certain seasons of life. Holly shared the difficult truth about pursuing a God-shaped dream –that it’s hard and it may require everything of you.
As a result, this may not the season for stepping out. It is a difficult truth, indeed. There are times in your life when your family, your job, your other responsibilities require all of your time, energy and focus, and there’s nothing left over for dream work.
It almost seems unfair, doesn’t it? I mean, why would God give you this dream and then ask you to wait? Why not wait to strike you with the inspiration at a time when you can do something about it?
David knew a little something about waiting. It was more than 15 years between the time that Samuel picked him out of the family line-up and declared that he would be king, and the time when he actually became king. So David did a lot of waiting.
Even though David spent a long time in a holding pattern, he also did some practical things that prepared him for his destiny without running ahead of God. And he gives us some clues of how we can wait well.
David stayed faithful to his current assignment.
God has something for you to accomplish in your current assignment. Staying faithfully engaged honors God’s purpose in your life and the work he’s given you to do.
David matured as a man after God’s own heart.
This is when you learn the spiritual skills you’ll need to step into your dream .... to hear God clearly, to depend on him for direction, and to believe He is working for your good.
David learned what he needed to be king.
David learned by serving before he stepped into his role as leader. Look for places you can serve while learning the things you’ll need to know when the waiting is over.
David built his tribe.
Start developing a network of people who may be part of what you are doing in the future.
ACTION STEP
If you are in a time of waiting, create your own Wait Plan. Head over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, to get a worksheet to help you step through these practical tips and decide which ones are for you.
In the next episode, we’ll tackle the second half of our waiting or procrastinating equation and talk about how to get out of the procrastination pit. I hope you’ll join me for that one.
RESOURCES
Episode 53: Simple Strategies for Capturing Leads and Ideas
Devoted Dreamers Podcast, Episode 115: 4 Opportunities You’ll Find On The Way To Your Dream.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Sometimes, God has us in a period of waiting. Sometimes, we put ourselves in a period of procrastinating. And often, we get the two mixed up. In Episode 82 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn ways to discern the difference between Godly waiting, and plain old procrastinating.
I’ve said before that many of the podcast episodes are based on old blog posts. This one is based on my very first blog post, from September of 2015, and I remember exactly how I was feeling. I had already launched my website to promote my coaching services, but I never thought I would actually blog. I procrastinated on the blogging for about three months, and when I decided it was time to just do it, I figured I should drag some people along with me!
Many times we truly are waiting on God before moving forward. We wait for God to make it clear it is time for a change. We wait. And we wait. And it is good.
But sometimes, we use "waiting" an an excuse ... as a euphemism for procrastinating. The challenge God has put in front of us is so big, so audacious, that we just can't wrap our heads around it. So we wait. And we wait. And it is procrastinating.
So how do we know the difference?
1. Waiting renews your strength. Procrastinating saps your energy.
When God calls usto a time of waiting, it's not for a time of doing nothing. He has a purpose when He is preparing us.
2. Waiting inspires hope. Procrastinating instills dread.
God-ordained waiting brings a hopeful excitement. Something big on the horizon is going to change everything and because God is in it, we know it is worth the wait.
Procrastination brings a burdensome dread.
If we don' t get up and do what God has called us to do, the loss will be crushing.
3. Waiting focuses on God. Procrastinating focuses on me.
When God asks us to wait, He asks us to trust Him.
We are listening for His voice and watching what He is doing around us. The fear of failure will cause us to put things off, being more concerned about how we will look than how God will move.
Waiting can be a productive time of refreshing, preparing and drawing closer to God. But when God says, "Go", it's time to jump in with our whole heart.
ACTION STEP
Do this little assessment. On a scale of 1 –10, are you getting stronger or feeling drained ... 10 for stronger, 1 for drained. 10 for feeling hopeful, 1 for feeling dread. 10 for focusing on God, 1 for focusing on you. If you scored less than 15 points, friend, you are probably procrastinating. Decide now to take your first step of obedience. (Check out Episodes 9 and 10 for more ideas on taking your first steps.)
RESOURCES
Episode 9 Take Your First Steps Part 1
Episode 10 Take Your First Steps Part 2
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Are you overwhelmed by trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Or maybe you are homeschooling, raising tiny humans, or caregiving in some other way. Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side? Here in Episode 81 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four principles that will help you honor all the work God has given you to do.
It’s never been a secret that I work full time while working on my business on the side. But recently, I’ve felt led by the Lord to be more transparent about that part of my journey. I want to help answer those questions about if it’s worth it or possible to build a ministry or business while working full time.
I know those questions well. I’ve lived them for more years than I care to think about. I have good news for you.
It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.
That’s why I’m glad to share with you the four-part Honor System, to help you build your work into your life, instead of building your life around your work. You can get the outline of the Honor System in my new guide How to Pursue Your God-Inspired Dream While Working Full Time at doanewthing.com/guide.
Principle 1: HONOR YOUR DREAM
Your God-inspired dream matters and needs to take its proper place in your life. The hard part is figuring out the proper place. Settling this in your heart is the key to avoiding unmet expectations, the comparison trap, and long-term dissatisfaction.
Principle 2: HONOR YOUR EMPLOYER
Whether you love your job or you hate it, God has a purpose for it in your life. No matter where your job falls in your list of life priorities, when you are at work, it is your top priority. Be all-in when you are the re and give it your best effort.
Principle 3: HONOR YOUR BOUNDARIES
God’s protective boundaries give you space to do His calling while helping you avoid overwork and burnout. We covered this pretty well in the last episode, so if you missed it, head back to Episode 80 where I shared about the difference between barriers and boundaries.
Principle 4: HONOR YOUR CIRCLE
Get input from a variety of perspectives, including others who are in a similar circumstance and those who are a little ahead of you in this journey.
Build your circle of support ... a coach or mentor, freelancers and contractors, a sharing community ... from people who are available when you are.
ACTION STEP
The guide I mentioned has some additional questions to ask and a worksheet to help you create an action plan. Grab the guide at doanewthing.com/guide and work on your action plan. Share a picture of your plan on social media and tag me @doanewthing so I can cheer you on!
RESOURCES
How to Pursue Your God-Inspired Dream While Working Full-TimeGuide–Brand new resource to help you work through the Honor System and create an action plan
Planning & Accountability Package–My most popular one-month one-on-one coaching package. Includes a strategy plan call and weekly accountability check-in.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Recently, I made three big announcements about the direction of my business. Here in Episode 80 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m sharing how I made those decisions, and I hope it helps you make decision in your own ministry or business.
These decisions all stand on the foundation of a biblical principle that God has been unraveling in my heart for the past year.
In Jeremiah 5:22. God said, “I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.”
A barrier is movable. It’s usually temporary and there is a way over, under or around it.
Boundaries are more permanent ... an “everlasting barrier.”
In Psalm 16:6, David say, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant spaces; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
See, God doesn’t give us boundaries to frustrate us or harm us. He gives them to us for our protection and for our good ... and when we live comfortably within our boundaries, we find ourselves in pleasant, spacious places. Let’s talk about how that plays into the three announcements I recently made.
1. I’m making a shift to focus in on women who are building their God-inspired dream while working full time.
I'll be sharing more of what I've learned about doing both, and promoting my resources and coaching that are available nights and weekends. My goal is to provide for those of you experiencing these same boundaries the resources and opportunities it has been difficult to find for myself.
The first thing I’ve created for you is a guide to the Honor System .... The four principles that help me honor all the work that God has given me to do. You can grab it here.
2. The Move Forward Mastermind will end after September.
There is another verse about boundaries in the Bible and it speaks to the second big decision I made. 2 Sam 22:20 says, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."
It will take a lot of work to make the shift, and I don’t believe God wants me to pile that work on top of all the things I’m already doing. Right now, I’m thinking I’ll come back in the first part of next year with a new group program based on what I learn about my new target audience.
3. I'm hosting a retreat!
I wanted to create a spacious place for you ... space for you to focus and set yourself up for success in 2023 by knocking out a big chunk of work. So, I'm hosting a working in-person retreat to give you 20 hours of time and space to do whatever needs doing in your ministry or business. You can find more info and reserve your spot at doanewthing.com/retreat.
If you don't fall in that group of "women working full time while building their dream on the side", I want you to know you are still welcome here.
ACTION STEP
Look at your boundaries and your barriers. Are you clear on which are which? Have you been treating your boundaries as a barrier, and killing yourself to move them?
RESOURCES
Download the new guide, How to Pursue Your God-Dream While Working Full-Time
Join us for the Do Your Thing Retreat!
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Curious about what I learned by doing 30 Reels in 30 days on Instagram? Maybe the better question is what did I learn by getting out of my comfort zone and doing the hard thing. I’ll answer both questions in Episode 79 of Just One Simple Thing. Stay tuned!
Y’all. Do you ever get a crazy idea and then wonder what ever in the world made you think it was a good idea? For a lot of us, that happens at least once a day.
I decided to do a series of Instagram Reels .... One every day in the month of August.
As it turned out, it wasn’t as hard as I expected and it was actually fun ... sometimes. So here are a few things I learned from doing 30 reels in 30 days.
1. There is no guarantee of instant growth.
While it may be tempting to buy into the hype that this is a super growth strategy, it actually re-inforced my belief that there is no “one thing” that is going to make all the difference in your ministry or business journey.
2. Some things work, and other things don’t.
It’s more important than ever to learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and doing a Reel every day gave me plenty of opportunity to try different things.
3. A plan and a system make everything easier.
I would have never made it to the end of the month if I had tried to create all new stuff for this series.
4. Everything is more fun with a friend.
My friend Wren Robbins and I discovered that we were both doing reels every day in August. During the month, we checked on and encouraged each other.
Overall, I’m glad I did 30 reels in 30 days. I learned a lot about how my audience consumes content on Instagram, how to create good reels, and how things are changing on the platform. But most importantly, I learned a lot about myself. I can do hard things outside of my comfort zone, but in order to do that, I have to set myself up for success.
ACTION STEP
What is the hard thing you feel God leading you to do? The thing that could help you grow or learn a new skill? Name it, then make a plan to do it! If you head to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, you’ll find a template you can use to capture your commitment. Share it on your social media and tag me @doanewthing so I can cheer you on!
RESOURCE
Rocket Your Reach –Create a plan to increase your reach and visibility by showing up, growing up, and glowing
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, relationships are the engine of growth. But some people struggle with building a network of relationships to support their ministry or business. Hang on for Episode 78 of Just Simple Thing, where you’ll learn the 4 things you need to be to make connections.
When I say, “What’s the key to growing your ministry or business?” what’s the first thing you think of? Social media? Paid ads? Splashy events?
What if I told you the best answer is relationships. Would you believe me? Well, it’s true. Relationships are the hidden passageway to open doors. Referrals, opportunities, resources ... they can all come through maintaining a wide network of relationships.
So if you are wanting to create new connections and develop relationships that can be mutually leveraged to help you both, listen up for these tips.
1. Be a noticer.
When you see the same person pop up in several places, you might want to get to know them better, because you obviously have some things in common.
2. Be a promoter.
Be generous with your platform even if your platform is much smaller than their’s.
3. Be an initiator.
Reach out with an email or message to initiate a relationship. If you are nervous about reaching out directly, see if you have any mutual friends who could make an introduction for you.
4. Be a connector.
Once you’ve gotten to know people, start introducing them to each other. Help them connect with people who can solve their problems or help them move forward in some way.
ACTION STEP
I want you to identify one person that you’d like to connect with ...just one. That’s not so hard, is it? Reach to them and ask if they’d be willing to have short call with you to get to know it each other. Then let me know how it goes for you!
And if you’d like to connect with me, you are welcome to schedule a free 20-minute Define call. I look forward to chatting with you!
RESOURCES
Schedule your DEFINE call here
Better Together: Grow Your Reach and Influence Through Collaborations and Partnerships
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Is your schedule changing as fast as the fall leaves on the trees? If you are adjusting to a new rhythm, jump into this episode where you’ll learn three ways to transition into the changing seasons.
For many people, the transition between Summer and Fall marks a significant shift in their schedule.
If you aren’t careful, you’ll wake up one morning and find yourself wrapping Christmas presents, wondering where the last quarter of the year went. But a few simple strategies can help you create some momentum and make progress on your goals and projects before the end of the year.
First, tie up all the loose ends from the summer. Unpack from vacation, close the books on any special events you did, change out your wardrobe .... Whatever that looks like for you.
Second, set aside a few hours to decide what you want to accomplish in the rest of the year. Check back in on those goals you set at the beginning of the year, but don’t be too proud to adjust them based on how the year has gone.
And third ... this is the most important ... block out your time and create a new schedule. And then for at least two weeks, violently protect the schedule.
While you are sticking to the schedule, keep a list of things that you wanted to do, but didn't.
Then, at the end of the week, look at the list of things you DIDN'T do.
Should you adjust your schedule to allow time for them? This method helps you balance your schedule between the things you NEED to do and the things you WANT to do and arrive at a middle ground that keeps you productive AND happy.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about the changes coming, and not just because I’m a lover of pumpkin spice everything. The change in seasons is a chance to reset ... to reconnect with what God has called me to do and who he has called me to serve. Afterall, the seasons may change, but God never changes. His calling hasn’t changed. So let’s huddle around our PSL’s, pull out all the plaid flannels, and bring our best to the new season.
ACTION STEP:
Grab your planner and map out that new schedule. Then stick to it! Snap a picture of it, share it on your social media and tag me @doanewthing so I can come cheer you on.
And I want to give a shout out to Kari Bartkus, host of the Let’s Encourage One Another podcast. Kari had this to say about Just One Simple Thing: I’m big on making sure that what I do is founded on what God shares with us in His Word, so I absolutely love that Christa offers us practical action steps based on His truth.” Thanks, Kari! If you want a shout out on a future episode, be sure to leave a review on Apple podcasts and you just might hear your name called!
RESOURCES:
Build A Better Week –my signature weekly planning system that will help you craft your new schedule.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Creating a strategy for your ministry or business may sound like a complicated, overwhelming thing. And who needs one more overwhelming thing on their plate right now? But when you break it down into four key areas, and keep things simple, you’ll get all the benefits of a strategy, without the overwhelm. Let’s see what that looks like.
On the last episode of Just One Simple Thing, we talked about strategy.
We broke it down into a simple formula to wrap our heads around .... Purpose + a Plan + a System = A Strategy. If you missed it, go back to Episode 75 and listen to a Biblical example and a modern-day example of how that breaks down.
A strategy is more than something you just write down in your planner and check back on a few times a year. It’s an important tool that can simplify things for you if you use it right. When you have taken the time to create a good strategy, that strategy will act as a filter.
It also helps you stay focused and saves time.
And when you are using it as a filter and to stay focused, you’ll have more confidence in your decisions and stop second guessing everything.
Four strategies that you need for your business or ministry.
1. Marketing Strategy
2. Content Strategy
3. Financial Strategy
4. Administrative Strategy
I know that sounds like a LOT ... but really, it’s not so bad. Break things down in these buckets, and then develop a strategy for where you are headed in each area.
You can put up simple, intentional guardrails to guide your work so you can move toward your goals with confidence.
ACTION STEP:
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab the strategy worksheet, if you didn’t already get after the last episode. I’ve also added a checklist to consider for each strategy area, and a few tips for creating your strategy. Pick the one area that feels the most out of control for you, and start working your strategy. Remember ... keep it simple .... A Purpose, A Plan, and A System
And hey .... Can you do me a favor? Let me know how this is working for you. I’m creating a new resource for you with more detail on developing your strategy, and I’d love to know what questions or sticking points you come up against. You can email me at christa@doanewthing.com or catch up with me on Facebook or Instagram@doanewthing
RESOURCES:
Confused to Confident Webinar -Three essentials to pick your next right step and implement it like a pro
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
You may have heard me talk about the Idea Tornado ... the swirl of ideas floating around in your head. But did you know you really have TWO tornados in there? You also have a problem tornado ... all the things you think are standing in the way of progress. The only thing that can tame these twin tornados is a strategy. So let’s dive in to Episode 75 of Just One Simple Thing and learn how to create one.
I’ve found that a lot of people, especially Christian women, and most especially Christian women in ministry, dislike the word “strategy”.
But if you’ve been around here very long, I hope one lesson you have taken away from Just One Simple Thing is that God is very strategic, and he left us many examples of his strategic nature through the stories in His Word. So let’s break down one of those stories and learn how you can create a strategy.
In 1 Kings 5, you’ll find the story of two kings ... Solomon, who was trying to build the temple, and his neighbor, Hiram.
In this simple story, we see all the elements for a good strategy. Purpose + plan + system = strategy.
It starts with a purpose. Solomon was very specific about the problem he was trying to solve. He needed wood and had no way to get it. When you are picking the problem you want to solve, be very specific, and get away from the low-hanging fruit. Solve the problems that are impacting you the most.
Which brings us to the second element of a good strategy ... a plan. Solomon’s plan was to reach out to Hiram for help. In his message, he was very clear about what he needed and how he hoped to get it with Hiram’s help. When you are creating your plan, you always want to be clear on what “solved” looks like and devise a plan that is going to deliver that solution.
And the third element of a strategy is a system. You need a way to implement your plan. Solomon implemented his plan by exchanging grain and olive oil for cypress and juniper logs. How will you implement your plan?
Purpose + Plan + System = Strategy
Solomon needed a strategy to get the materials needed for the temple. The purpose of the strategy was obtaining wood. The plan was negotiating an exchange with a friendly partner. The system was trading grain and olive oil for cypress and juniper logs. He had a strategy.
Let’s look at a modern day example. Say your problem is that your audience is not growing. You need a strategy to solve that problem.
The purpose is get in front of new people so you can attract new members to your community. Your plan could be to speak at more events. Your system might be to hire a speaker coach to help you develop your signature message, and research event planners and how to apply to speak at their events.
ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan &Pray with Do A New Thing and grab the Strategy Worksheet. Use it to brainstorm through the purpose, plan and system for a strategy to solve one of your biggest problems.
Need some help taming your tornados? I have some spots open for free 20-minute calls and I’d love to help you. You’ll find the link to schedule your call below, or reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram @doanewthing
RESOURCE
Free 20-minute call with Christa –Schedule here
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Congratulations! Your ministry or business is growing! You are finally seeing the fruit of all your hard work. But that hard work has worn you out and it’s time to find some help! In Episode 74 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four tips for building your team by looking at how Jesus built his.
I know that many of you are solopreneurs or ministry leaders and when you’ve built something born out of your gifts and passions, it’s hard to let anything go. Nobody can do it quite as well as you can, right? Deep down, you know that attitude is an accelerator on the road to burnout. When things get bigger than you can handle on your own, it’s time to build a team. But how do you find the right people? People you can trust? People are great at what they do so you can be great at what YOU do?
Whether you are hiring your first freelance help, or gathering a ministry leadership team around you, there are some lessons we can learn from the way that Jesus built the team that would share his work and his life.
1. He got to know them before calling them to His inner circle.
2. Jesus evaluated people based on their potential, not their current position.
3. Jesus watched them when they didn’t know he was looking.
4. And as he did before every other major event, Jesus prayed about it.
Yes, it can be scary to start building your team when you have been doing everything yourself. But when you build with the right people, it frees you up to do your own best work.
ACTION STEP
Head to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and you’ll find worksheets to help you research and interview so you can make intentional decisions.
I love hearing from podcast listeners .... Kristine Brown, author of the book Cinched: Living with Unwavering Faith in an Unfailing God said, “I love listening to podcasts that help me grow as a speaker, writer, and communicator. But I also struggle to find an extra 45 minutes in my day to listen. Christa gets me on the right track with one simple, doable step forward in just 10 –15 minutes. Now that’s progress.
If you’d like a shout out, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a review. You just might hear your name on a future episode.
RESOURCES
Cinched: Living with Unwavering Faith in an Unfailing God by Kristine Brown
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
How do you handle doubt? Do you wallow in it and allow it to throw you off your game? Or do you confidently fight back with God’s Word? Somewhere in between? In Episode 73, we’ll learn how to stand up to doubt, whether it is attacking from the outside, or from inside.
If you are actively pursuing a calling, you have probably encountered doubt. It can come in different forms. Sometimes, it comes from the outside. Other times, it comes from the inside.
However it comes, we don't have to give in to the soul-crushing fear that often follows doubt. When we are confident in God's calling and are walking in faithful obedience to our purpose, we can stand up to those internal or external attacks of doubt. A great Biblical leader shows us how in Nehemiah 6.
When doubt and fear tried to attack Nehemiah with rumors and frightening thoughts, Nehemiah taught us two principles for standing in our calling with confidence.
1. When doubt attacks with hurtful comments from others, speak the truth.
Nehemiah spoke truth into the situation and didn’t allow others to fill in the gaps and tell their own version of his story. He didn’t allow them to assign motives that weren’t his. So own your story. Share it with passion and conviction.
2. When doubt attacks with frightening thoughts, pray for strength in the area of attack.
Nehemiah recognized the tactics of his enemies.
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9 (NIV)
Nehemiah prayed for God to strengthen him in the exact place where doubt was attacking.
When God has given us a clear vision of our purpose, we need to rest confidently in that vision and faithfully ask for strength instead of constantly begging for confirmation.
I love Nehemiah. He was a strong, confident leader who never wavered in his dedication to his assignment. By speaking truth and praying for strength, he stood up to doubt and inspired a nation to do what his enemies said was impossible.
ACTION STEP
Let’s take a challenge together. What one area of your business or ministry is being attacked by doubt? Will you commit to praying for the next 30 days for God to strengthen you in that area? Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook and share what you are praying for so I can pray with you.
RESOURCES
Are you struggling with doubt because you haven’t figured out your next step? Check out my free webinar From Confused to Confident.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Have you ever joined a group or a community, or maybe started a new job … and they just threw you in, expecting you to know how things work? That’s what it’s like for your new email subscribers. They sometimes feel like they’ve dropped into an ongoing conversation and they aren’t quite sure how to catch up. In Episode 72 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn how to create a simple email welcome series to develop a relationship with your new subscribers and get them engaged.
Let’s think about why you need a welcome series. There are three main reasons:
- It Introduces you and your message to your new audience member and develops your relationship with them.
- It “trains” them to open your email.
- It weeds out unsubscribers, which increases deliverability of your main emails.
Before you start writing your welcome series, you need to know the goal of your specific series. What is the main thing you want readers to do when they complete your series?
People are more likely to do what you want them to do if they know, like, and trust you.
The basic welcome series has four emails ... the Know email, the Like email, the Trust email, and the Wrap Up or Buy email.
The Know email tells them who you are, what they can expect from you, and why it matters.
The Like email demonstrates your style and your voice. It is highly relatable, with links to your most helpful content.
The Trust email shows your experience and expertise, including feedback and testimonials from other readers, clients, or students.
The Wrap-up or Buy email is a gentle ask for what you want to happen next.
Tips for a Successful Welcome Series
- Be sure to let them know what to expect
- End each email with an opportunity to respond
- Leave a “cliffhanger” for the next email
- Give your current subscribers an opportunity to read your new series
Levitcus 19:33-34 says “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
I think that’s really good advice. I know I have felt like a foreigner in a new space, and in those situations, I tend to hold back around the edges until I feel like I know, like and trust the new people I am around. So that’s what you want from your email welcome series … to help your new subscribers go from foreigners to friends.
ACTION STEP:
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your free Welcome Series planner. It’s a handy worksheet that will help you map out your Know, Like and Trust emails before you start writing.
RESOURCE:
You’re Welcome Webinar – A training webinar that goes into more detail about creating your welcome series.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
What do you need to do in order to have a great launch? Is there a formula for guaranteed success, or is it all just one big shot in the dark every time you launch?
We’re wrapping up our mini series on launching with a special episode. You’ll hear a conversation between my friend Esther Littlefield and I all about how to have your best launch ever. You’ll learn the3 essentials to having a successful launch... including one that you may have overlooked in the past. Oh, and be sure to stick around to the end of our conversation for a special time-sensitive announcement!
Over the past 6 years, we’ve launched everything from coaching to services to freebies to courses and memberships... and we’ve had some launches that completely flopped, and others that flourished. After years of being behind the scenes of dozens of launches PLUS doing several of our own launches, we’ve learned that every successful launch must have 2 key components: A solid marketing strategy AND clear launch plan.
That’s why last summer, we created the Level Up Your Launch Method and taught it inside of a masterclass. But over the past year, we’ve talked with our community members and clients and we realized when you have to go through the launch process alone, it can be really tough. We realized that there’s one more key ingredient, aside from a strategy and a plan, that will supercharge a launch: support.
There are 3 main types of support that you could benefit from in your launch:
1. A guide / coach / mentor
2. Accountability
3. Community / friends / biz besties
We’ve learned that anyone can develop a strategy and create their launch plan-especially if they use our Level Up Your Launch method. And you CAN have a successful launch on your own. BUT it’s a whole lot more fun, and it’s often more successful, when you do it with support.
So now you know what you need in order to have your best launch ever. But we wanted to find a way to support you even more. We both have students and clients who are often looking for that added support to get their launch accomplished. So we have created Level up Your Launch LIVE -An 8 week guided experience to your best launch ever!
Level Up Your Launch LIVE will help you:
- Feel confident that your offer and marketing strategy will appeal to your community (instead of launching something that might not be what your community needs)
- Be prepared and equipped to complete the tasks necessary to get your launch out the door (instead of randomly doing tasks that may or may not be important)
- Actually enjoy the launch process (instead of feeling lonely and confused)
Learn more about what is included in Level Up Your Launch Live here.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
If you are thinking about launching a new product, course, or service, you are probably mapping out your plan, figuring out tech platforms, and honing in on your sales copy. But there is one ingredient for a successful launch that you probably haven’t thought of. Join me for Episode 70 of Just One Simple Thing to find out what it is!
We’re here in the middle of a mini-series all about the resources you need to successfully launch a new product, service, or course. In the last episode, we talked about how much time you’ll need to launch. We went over a basic launch timeline, and you might have been surprised to learn that you need somewhere around 8 weeks to properly prepare yourself and your audience for your launch. If you missed that, head back to Episode 69 to get the breakdown.
Then if you are listening in real time, you may have seen a post on my Instagram feed where I talked about the tech resources and platforms you might need for your launch. I shared three priorities and three questions to ask when selecting the right systems for you .... Because what’s best for me is not necessarily what’s best for you.
So in today’s episode, let’s talk about the one resource you need for your launch that you probably haven’t thought of ... and that’s community and accountability. Actually ... that’s two different resources. Sometimes, you can get them in the same place, but it’s usually best if they come from different sources or perspectives. Community is built around a shared experience. It could be an experience everyone has had before, or an experience the group goes through together. The shared experience bonds the members of the community, even when they have very little in common otherwise.
Accountability is a completely different thing.
Accountability is more than just reporting in on how you are doing, and being encouraged and cheered along your path. True, active accountability comes after you when you don’t check in.
I often see people going to their community, to their friends, for accountability. And I have to be honest with you ... most communities and even most friendships are not mature enough for the consistency and hard conversations that accountability requires.
So where do you find community and accountability for your launch? Here are three suggestions.
1. Launch with affiliates.
2. Launch with a partner.
3. Launch with a coach.
ACTION STEP:
Before you start engaging people for community and accountability, you need to be sure your business or ministry is ready to launch something new. Esther and I created an assessment you can use to figure that out. Go grab the assessment here, add up your points, and decide if you are Good to Go, On Your Way, Not Quite Ready. I’d love to hear your results. DM me on FB or IG @doanewthing to let me know what you have going on.
RESOURCES:
Instagram Post: Deciding on Your Launch Tech
Simple Conversations interview with Emily Saxe
Unearthing Everyday Faith subscription box
Pre-launch Readiness Assessment
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
How long does it take to prepare for the launch of a new product or service? It really depends on what you are launching. In Episode 69 of Just One Simple Thing, I’ll give you some rough guidelines so you can start thinking about your launch plan.
If you are planning to launch something in the Fall, it’s time to start thinking about your plan now.
Your launch will be as unique as you are ... a combination of your personality, experience, and resources. I like to compare a launch to the last instructions Jesus gave his followers in Acts 1:6. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth.”
Amazing things can happen when you surrender your message, gifts, and skills to the power of the Holy Spirit. But there is also an orderly, logical process for spreading that message and using those gifts.
So to figure out how long you need to launch a product or service, we’ll work our way backwards from your launch date. Let’s start with how long the cart should stay open. For a standalone low-or medium-cost course or product, the cart is usually open 5 –7 days.
Before the cart or registration opens, you want to be preparing your audience for your offer. This could include blog posts, podcast episodes, emails, or social media content that highlights a specific pain point and helps your audience envision what life would look like if this problem was solved. You want to share this kind of content for 2–4 weeks before your offer is open.
Another common launch strategy is to build your email list prior to your launch by offering a subscriber freebie related to the content of your offer. This should be done 4 –6 weeks before your open cart, because you want time for those new people to get the freebie, then get through your welcome sequence and establish a relationship with you before your launch.
If you are planning to work with affiliates who will earn a percentage of sales they refer to you, you should start lining those up around 6 weeks before the launch.
And before you can do any of those things, you need a clear marketing message for your offer, so the first draft of your sales page copy should be done about 8 weeks before your launch.
You certainly don’t need to do allllll of those things and these are just rough guidelines, but when you add it all up ....
2-3 weeks of pre-launch content
2 –4 weeks of list building
2 weeks of messaging and copy writing
That’s about 8 weeks! It is definitely not too soon to be thinking about your fall launch.
ACTION STEP:
My friend Esther Littlefield and I created an assessment to help you decide if your business or ministry is ready to launch something new. Take the assessment here, and then let me know what your results are. You can tag me or message me at @doanewthing on FB or IG.
RESOURCES:
Episode 85 of the Christian Woman Business Podcast –All About Launching!
Sales Copy Shortcut –My favorite resource for quickly creating powerful sales copy.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
One of my favorite things to do every month is review the plans submitted by the Move Forward Mastermind members. Whether it’s the plan for the upcoming month, or the plan for a major product launch, the characteristics of a good plan are all the same. In Episode 68 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m letting you inside my head to learn the four things I look for when reviewing a plan. (Be careful ... it’s a little scary in there!)
I love reviewing the plans that other people make. For me, a plan is just like a giant puzzle, and if any of the pieces are out of place, I spot them right away. So if you’ve made a plan for the rest of the year, or you are making one for a big project or goal, I want to share with you the four things I’d look for if I was reviewing your plan.
1. Is there alignment between your goals and your plan?
2. Is everything in the right sequence?
3. Have you allowed enough time for the tasks on your plan, AND left enough white space to handle the unexpected?
4. Do you have the resources you need to complete the plan?
ACTION STEP:
I’ve created a Plan Review Checklist you can use to evaluate your upcoming plan. Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing to grab your copy and run through the checklist once you’ve completed your next plan. I’d love to hear what you learned or adjusted after using the checklist, so give me a shout on Facebook or Instagram @doanewthing.
RESOURCE:
Build A Better Week Toolkit –This simple pdf will teach you how to manage your quarterly to-do list and your quarterly plan using my Planning Six-Pack and Weekly Plan process.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
As we are coming up on the mid-point of the year, you may be asking yourself where six whole months have gone! I know I am! This is the perfect time to review your progress towards those goals you set back in January and update your plans for the rest of the year. In Episode 67 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m going through the process I use to conduct a quarterly or mid-year review. So grab your Planning Six-Pack, Powersheets, or whatever you use to set and measure goals, and let’s dive in.
Does anybody else start to get a little panicked when you go to write the date and have to start it with a 6? It makes me wince every time. Almost half a year gone. The questions come flooding in. Did I accomplish all I hoped to? Am I any farther along towards my goals? Is it still even possible to reach my goal by the end of the year?
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we are flexible and resilient in the face of chaos and capable of adjusting to whatever craziness comes our way. (Check out episodes 27and 28for a deeper dive on flexibility and resilience.)
Let’s go through the nine questions I ask myself during a quarterly review.
You can hop over to my Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, and download a copy of the Quarterly Review worksheet. Or, if you purchased the Deluxe Move Forward Journal, you’ll find the quarterly review worksheets in the back.
1. What successes did you have that can be built upon?
2. What barrier held you back that you can learn from?
3. What good habits can you carry forward?
4. What bad habits need to stay in the past?
5. What was left undone and how did that affect you?
6. How can you celebrate?
7. What do you need to consider in prayer?
8. What themes and trends do you see?
9. What are your focus areas for the next quarter?
ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook Group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, grab the quarterly review worksheet and complete your review. I’d love to know which of the nine questions gave you a new perspective or fresh motivation for the rest of the year. Snap a picture of your review and tag me @doanewthing when you share it on social media.
RESOURCES
Deluxe Move Forward Journal –This unique line-a-day journal includes quarterly review and goal setting pages to help you stay on track all year.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Are you facing a season of transition? It might a big one, like becoming an empty nester. Or a smaller one, like having kids out of school for the summer. If transitions and changes tend to bring anxiety and discomfort, tune in to Episode 66 of Just One Simple Thing, where you’ll learn four ways to keep things moving forward when life takes you on a detour.
Over the last couple of months, I have had three different clients reach out to me and ask for help navigating a life transition, from a time management standpoint.
As I’ve worked with these ladies, I’ve noticed some patterns that seem to pop up as we are moving from one season to another.
Transitions are a special kind of change. Most disruptive changes come up unexpectedly and without a lot of notice. But transitions happen over time and you usually know that they are coming.
If we let thetransition sneak up on us, the effect is more like a sudden change. But if we take advantage of the advance notice, we can be more prepared and able to make a graceful transition.
If you are going through a season of transition, here are few things to keep in mind:
1. Adopt an attitude of blessing.
2. Your new season may require a new schedule and priorities.
3. You’ll probably need some new processes and routines.
4. Set aside time to evaluate how things are going.
ACTION STEP:
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing to grab the Transition Check-in Worksheet and map out your transition plan. Transitions can be unsettling, but they can also be a blessing and the next step in God’s plan for your ministry or business. If you need help creating your plan and someone to hold you accountable as you establish your new habits, let me know. I’d love to walk through it with you. We’ll work out your new schedule and processes, and I’ll check in with you every week to make sure you are working the plan. Let’s hop on a free call and chat about it.
RESOURCES:
Build A Better WeekToolkit–My signature resource for developing your weekly plan with any to-do list or planner you are already using, or you can use the worksheets included in the ebook.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
Are you planning to go to a conference or in-person event soon? If you are an introvert like me (and I know that most of you are!), networking at in-person events can be nerve-wracking. Back in Episode 63, we covered my best tips for preparing for the conference. Here in Episode 65, you’ll learn how to survive networking during the event, and what to do when you get home to extend the impact. Let’s dive in!
I’m getting excited about the conference I’m going to later this summer. I’ve already been doing some of the prep work that we talked about back in Episode 63. I have a list of people that I want to be sure and connect with, and I’ve recently been working to clarify my elevator pitch.
I’ve got my mental attitude straight and I’m feeling equipped and prepared to have some great conversations, so now what? Here are some practical points to consider during the conference.
1. Put serving others before your own awkwardness.
2. Balance social time with alone time.
3. Sit in the middle of the room.
You survived the conference and now you are back at home. You may think you are safe now, but connecting continues after you get home. You probably collected a pile of business cards or digital connection cards along the way. Divide them into two piles: One pile for people that you met and just want to stay in touch with, and another pile for people who made a deeper impression on you... people who could be potential partners or clients.
Even if you implement all of these tips, I'm not promising that networking time won't be awkward or uncomfortable. But with a little preparation and confidence inspired by your God-dream, you can make it through without throwing up in your purse. That's progress!
ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your Conference Networking Cheat Sheet. Tuck it in your conference notebook and take a peek when you need some conversation starters or a little pep talk! You’ll also find a handy Conference Planning Worksheet to keep all the important details at your fingertips.
I’d love to know what conferences you are going to this summer. Maybe I’ll see you there! Snap a screen shot of this episode, share it on your social media, and let us know where we can find you during this conference season. Be sure to tag me @doanewthing!
RESOURCES
These posts have some other great tips on how to networkat a conference:
10 Tips on Networking Like A Pro at a Conference
8 Great Icebreakers for Your Next Networking Event-Meredith Lepore for Levo.com (the conversation about a "whatsit" in the Comments of this article is really interesting!)
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
There is a lot of talk going around right now about stepping away from social media, either for an extended break, or for good. Is that the right decision for you and your ministry or business? In Episode 64 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four things to consider as you make that decision, and a special word of encouragement for those who feel the Lord leading them to stay on social media.
Today’s episode is inspired by what’s been happening over in my Instagram stories. If you have been following me there @doanewthing, you may have seen me sharing about a podcast episode from my friend Esther Littlefield. In Episode 80 of the Christian Woman Business Podcast, Esther answered a question that’s been circulating among Christian business and ministry leaders for a while, but really amped up in recent weeks. “Can You Grow A Business Without Social Media? (And if so, should you?)”
As our world grows more divided and volatile, and the words used on social media become more harsh (even among Christians), more and more people are asking themselves (and God) if they should stay online or go.
There are four reasons that I hear (or feel) most often.
- The barrage of information and harsh opinions triggers anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. If you need to step away in order to support your mental health, then by all means, do so. But first, you may want to try some of the apps or browser extensions that help you manage your news feed if that’s what is affecting you.
- Overwhelmed by the pressure to show up all the time to engage and constantly create new posts, reels, and videos. It can definitely eat up a ton of time and energy. Keep in mind that YOU decide how often and what you post. Take in the expert advice, and then do what fits in YOUR life, for YOUR business, and for YOUR audience.
- A prompting from God for rest and obedience. Sometimes God calls us away from what we are doing so we can quiet all the noise and hear more clearly from him.
- You’ve been influenced by the influencers. When we see other people we love and respect making this decision for their business or ministry, we can feel guilty about staying. We feel less spiritually mature, or not as close to God. If you’ve settled this between you and the Lord ... if you feel like social media is where God wants you to show up and serve people with your gift, to connect with people you can help, then you don’t have to feel bad about that at all.
ACTION STEP
The most important action we can take on this topic is to pray. Spend some time with the Lord and allow him to examine your relationship with social media. Do you need to make some adjustments? Incorporate some tools or processes that make it a healthy place to show up? Or is it time to take a break and build your business or ministry in a different way?
RESOURCES
Episode 80 of the Christian Woman Business Podcast: Can You Grow a Business Without Social Media? (And if so, should you?)
Don’t Go Naked On Social Media - Do A New Thing blog post
Kill News Feed Chrome extension.
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If you don't have time to sit down and journal every day, but you want the benefits of journaling, I've got you covered.
The one year, line-a-day Move Forward Journal has small spaces to write just a sentence or two each day. You'll cycle through each month and start seeing God's faithfulness and your progress unfold in just a few weeks.
E88: How to Choose Your Next Planner
12:02
E87: What Happened When My Focus Shifted
9:56
E86: How I Get Things Done While Working Full Time
11:08
E85: What to Do When the Wait Is Over
9:52
E84: The REAL Secret for Overcoming Procrastination
9:47
E83: What to Do While You Are Waiting
9:30
E82: Are You Waiting or Procrastinating?
8:29
E81: Honoring All the Work God Has Given You
11:11
E80: How God Uses Boundaries and Barriers for Protection and Provision
11:07
E79: What I Learned from Doing 30 Reels in 30 Days
9:14
E78: How to Develop Connections & Relationships for Growth
7:46
E77:Changing Seasons, Changing Schedules
7:10
E76: Four Strategies You Need to Stay Focused and Save Time
8:21
E75: Tame Your Idea Tornado With A Strategy
8:13
E74: How Jesus Built A Team
9:32
E73: When Doubt Attacks
8:58
E72: Engage New Email Subscribers with a Welcome Series
12:42
E71: How to Have Your Best Launch Ever
24:28
E70: One Thing You Didn't Think Of For Your Launch
11:45
E69: How Long Does It Take to Launch?
8:30
E68: Is Your Plan A Good One?
9:45
E67:How to Do Your Quarterly Review
10:15
E66: Making Graceful Transitions in Seasons of Change
8:58
E65: How to Network at a Conference Part 2 - During and After
7:33
E64: Is Stepping Away from Social Media the Right Decision for You?
9:56