Have you ever thought about the difference between goals and priorities? Did you even recognize that there IS a difference? Join me in Episode 130 of Just One Simple Thing as we dive into this idea. We’ll talk about the difference, what happens when they are aligned, and what to do when they can’t be aligned. Shall we?

Hello, friends! Today, I want to loop you into a conversation that’s been happening in my membership, The Honor Circle, AND in some real life circles where I have been hanging out. It’s this idea of the difference between goals and priorities, and, specifically, what to do when your goals and priorities are not aligned.

Goals are the targets we set for our ministries or businesses.  They drive us forward, giving us purpose and direction. They are born out of the passion the Lord has given us for our message.

Life's priorities are the realities we face.  They often dictate how much time and energy we can devote to our goals. 

Aligning goals with life's priorities becomes a frustrating tightrope walk. You're torn between pursuing your dreams .... The dreams that God has given you ....and fulfilling your responsibilities, which have also been given to you by God. It's a dilemma many of us face, isn't it?

We can all agree that life is so much easier when our goals align with our priorities. We have clarity, balance, and consistent progress. But what do we do when our goals and life's priorities don’t match up?

First, we can practice patience and give ourselves grace.  It's okay to reassess our goals and adjust our expectations as life unfolds.

Secondly, we can embrace flexibility and creativity in our approach. 

Pro tip .... Keep a 20-minute List handy ... a list of quick but productive things you can knock out whenever you find a few unexpected minutes. You’ll find more ideas about this way back in Episode 11. It’s also something we work on in our monthly free Plan & Pray sessions.

And finally, let's prioritize self-care and rest.  It may sound funny to say I’m working hard to rest, but I know you other go-getter Jesus girls totally get it.

You’ll never NOT feel a little guilty that you aren’t doing more for this dream that God gave you, because there will ALWAYS be more to do. But when God called you to this dream, He also knew your priorities. 

ACTION STEP
Put a circle around the last Saturday of every month. That’s when we have our monthly Plan & Pray or Quarterly Strategic Planning sessions. Keep an eye on my email newsletter or social media to get connected.

Thank you for joining me today on Just One Simple Thing. If you have a friend who is also struggling with the balance between goals and priorities, please share this episode with her. You’ll be glad you did, and so will she.

RESOURCES
Episode 11 How to Make 10 Minutes Matter
Plan & Pray Facebook Group
Build A Better Quarter Strategic Planning sessions

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Have you created your plan for this month?  How do you know if it’s a good plan, or a frustrating one that will keep you from moving forward?  In Episode 129 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m sharing the four things I look for when I review plans for my clients.

As I am recording this, we are at the start of the 2nd quarter of 2024. I can’t believe the first quarter is over! 

 In this quarter of the Honor Circle, we are going back to the basics of creating solid plans to move our goals forward. I just finished reviewing everyone’s plans and giving personal feedback. I thought it might be helpful to share with you guys what I look for when I review plans, and some of the feedback I’ve given. So you can review your own plans for the month 

Take a look at your plans for the month and

• make sure your actions support your priorities 
• The plan is not unnecessarily complicated
• It can actually all get done, and predecide what will drop off if things go haywire
• And your plan fits into your life and is it good for your life?

 ACTION STEP

Head over to my free Facebook Group, Plan and Pray with Do A New Thing, and grab my Monthly Plan worksheet. 

If you are unsure about your plans and want a professional review, I’d love to do that for you. Click here to sign up!  I’ll get personal feedback to you within 48 hours. 

 RESOURCES:

 Personal Plan Review sign up

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

You’ve heard the question before … you’ve probably asked it yourself.  If not now, when? But what are you really asking when you say that?  It could be one of three things, depending on where you are with your ministry or business.  In Episode 128 of Just One Simple Thing, we explore the rallying cry, the desperate prayer, and the honest question.

I know that stickers are a trendy marketing tool.  I found a great designer who gets my vibe and she’s developed a whole bunch of stickers for me.  Kelly was sharing some of her designs on social media and I saw one that I loved.  It said “If not now, when?” Kelly re-created that sticker in my brand colors, and I used it in a promotion at a conference last fall, and in the Do Your Thing retreat swag and at home boxes.

As I was handing out those stickers, it hit me that you could ask that question in a lot of different ways at different stages of your ministry or business.  And they are all ways that lead to a deeper understanding of God’s purpose in your current situation. 

“If not now, when?” can be a rallying cry, a desperate prayer, or an honest question.

First, a rallying cry.  When you first started, you may have asked the question then … if not now, when?  There’s no time like the present!  It motivates you to take those first actions that will lead to clarity in God’s calling.  If you aren’t careful, that rallying cry can carry an undertone of hustle culture. Like if you don’t do it right now, you’ll never have another chance, so sacrifice everything to follow this dream. 

And it can lead to the second way we think of this question.

A desperate prayer.  Lord, if not now, WHEN will you bring growth and success?  I see it happening for other people …. When is it going to happen for me?  Friend, if you are hearing those thoughts in your head right now, I want you to shut off your social media, close your laptop, and invite the Lord into those emotions. God definitely wants to use you.  He has gifted you with skills, abilities, resources, and a message that He wants to use in ways that maybe you haven’t imagined.  Sit with Him and let Him unfold that vision in your heart.  It may be more simple.  It may be more grand.  But you won’t know until you deal with those emotions with the Lord.

Then, you’ll be able to ask the honest question.  If not now, Lord, when?  What do you need to do in me before I can step into this calling?  Where do I need to grow? What do I need to learn? 

After evaluating it honestly, you may find that the when IS now.  It may be time to take that first step, or the next step towards the vision God has given you.  But you’ll be able to do it without the hustle or the desperation.

ACTION STEP
First, head over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing , and grab  your Honest Questions worksheet.  It will help you think through all those things I mentioned. 

And second, check out my group program, The Honor Circle.  In the program, you’ll be surrounded by other ladies with a dream that are honoring all the work that God has given them to do.  And they are working through these questions just like you are. You can learn all about it here.

Alright … that’s it for this week.  Can you believe we are almost through the first quarter of 2024?  It’s flying by. Be sure to invite some f

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Hey there. my friends. Let’s dive deeper into this idea of community and see what happens when you connect with others on a deeper level, and how I have seen this play out in different parts of the Do A New Thing community.

1. Connections between networks.

Now y’all probably know by now that making connections between people is one of my favorite things. I love to connect one person’s need with another person’s solution. But I am only one person. In a thriving community, you get access to EVERYONE'S network.

2. Over-the-top promotion for your projects.

Most communities give you a chance to share about your latest work and people may check it out or make a comment or share it on their own social media to help you out. But in the very best communities, the support is over-the-top.

3. Community offers comfort and confidence.

Discouragement and loneliness come so easily in the online space. It's so hard to NOT look around and imagine lions surrounding you to take what you have you have given your heart and soul to gather.

In community, encouragement is more than just peppy words. It is heartfelt belief in you and your message that reaches to your very soul. Friendship is more than checking in on a Voxer group. It's praying for your deepest needs and asking God to unlock his big picture plan in you. We see this every month in our Plan & Pray sessions.

ACTION STEP:

Look in the communities that you are a part of. Is there someone there that you can bless with one of these unexpected benefits?

And if you aren’t part of this type of community yourself, reach out to me. Let’s talk about some of the ways you can connect with the Do A New Thing community. You can find the link to schedule a free call with me in the show notes.

RESOURCES:

Finding Home by Susan Macias

Empty Nest Awakening by Ruthie Gray

Schedule a call with me

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Can an email list become a community? You bet it can! In Episode 126 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn how you can transform your email list into a vibrant community that nurtures, supports, and inspires.

Welcome back, friends! In the last episode, we talked about some ways that you can promote your email opt-in freebie. But once you’ve had some people jump at the chance to get their hands on your valuable resource, what do you do with them? How do you develop the relationships that turn freebie-seekers into connected community-members?

 I have some ideas for you, but before we dive in, let's ground ourselves in the Word. In Romans 12:5 (NIV), Paul reminds us, "so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." This simple truth highlights the community and belonging we all want to see within our online ministries and businesses, and gives us clues on how to foster it.

Your email subscribers are more than just names on a list; they're individuals wanting connection, guidance, and encouragement.
 
Here are some practical steps to turn your email list into a thriving community:

Step 1: Personalize Your Communication
When crafting your emails, try to create authenticity and personal connection. Address your subscribers by their first names.  share personal stories, insights, and struggles from your own journey.

Step 2: Foster Engagement
Encourage interaction and dialogue by asking questions, inviting feedback, and sparking discussions within your emails.  When they feel heard and valued, they're more likely to engage and connect with you and each other.

Step 3: Create Exclusive Content and Offers
Make your email subscribers feel special by offering exclusive content, resources, or discounts that aren't available elsewhere. By providing unique value, you strengthen the bond between you and your community members.

Step 4: Facilitate Connection
Facilitate opportunities for your subscribers to connect with each other.
Consider creating a private Facebook group or other online space where they can share ideas, offer support, and collaborate on projects.

Step 5: Cultivate a Culture of Encouragement
Strive to cultivate a culture of encouragement, positivity, and love within your community.  By being the hands and feet of Jesus in your interactions, you create a safe and nurturing space where women can flourish and grow together. 

Remember, building a community takes time and patience. Be consistent in your efforts, stay true to your values and your voice, and trust God to work through your ministry or business to touch the lives of others.

ACTION STEP
Review your email communication strategy. How can you incorporate more personalization, engagement, and exclusivity to foster a deeper sense of community among your subscribers? Choose one practical step to implement this week and watch as your community grows and flourishes.

And if you aren’t already on my email list, you can join today to see all of these things in action. Just go to doanewthing.com/podcast and you’ll find a place to sign up. I’d love to have you as part of the community.

RESOURCES:
Plan and Pray Facebook Group
Sign up for my email list here

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Are you getting email sign ups from your subscriber opt-in freebie? You put a lot of work into it and it helps your audience solve a problem. But if you want to actually get people to sign up for it, you need to treat it like the valuable resource it is and give it a proper launch. Stay tuned for Episode 125 of Just One Simple Thing where you’ll learn four ways you can launch your subscriber freebie.

I think we’ve all been convinced of the importance of growing an email list, especially if you are not too keen on using social media to promote your ministry or business. But I often hear from people who say they have created an amazing subscriber freebie but no one is signed up for it.

Crafting a great opt-in freebie and creating an easy, reliable way for people to sign up for it is only the first step. In order to actually get people to sign up, you have to treat it like the valuable product it is and give it a proper launch. Here are my best tips for launching your subscriber opt-in freebie.

1. Find your launch team

Prayerfully select a few people and ask them to help you promote your new freebie.
Send them a copy and ask them to help promote it. One fun way to do this is to line up a newsletter swap. You promote their freebie in your newsletter and they promote yours in their newsletter.

Make it easy for them to promote for you. Give them the URL where people can sign up, and one or two square graphics they can use. The easier you make it, the more willing they will be to help.

2. Send it to your current subscribers

Your subscribers have entrusted you with their email address and invested in your ministry or business. You should treat them like gold, because they are. Always send any new freebies to them first.  You can incentivize them to share by offering a special bonus.   

3. Mention your freebie in your social media and guest post bios

Sometimes we spend too much effort in our bios telling people what we do, instead of giving them an opportunity to experience a taste of it themselves. Your new opt-in freebie should be mentioned in your social media bio with a link to opt in.

4. Promote your freebie on social media

Create a couple of Instagram and Facebook posts about your amazing freebie and schedule them out over the next few weeks.  Schedule your promos once a week for the first month, then once a month for a few months after.

ACTION STEP
Choose just one of these ideas and use it to promote your opt-in freebie. Hint: The easiest one is to send it to your current subscribers and incentivize them to share it. If you post about your freebie on social media, be sure to tag me @doanewthing so I can share it for you!

You worked hard creating something special for your audience. Now it is time to get it in their hands! I hope this episode made it easier for you to do that. Join me back here  for the next episode, where we will talk about turning those subscribers into a community.

RESOURCES
You can see the Facebook ad for my subscriber freebie here!

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Are you constantly second-guessing yourself? Unsure of your next steps or the direction you should head? So were some of the women who attended the Do Your Thing retreat recently. 

In Episode 124 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m sharing my closing message from the retreat. I hope it encourages you like it encouraged all of us there.

Sometimes God brings together the perfect storm of people, place, and revelation to create a beautiful moment of clarity. I feel like that is what He did for us at the Do Your Thing retreat, my annual getaway for Christian women in ministry and business to focus on whatever needs doing. 

We had an amazing time and God really showed up for us during the weekend.I thought I’d give you a little taste of what we experienced by sharing my message from the closing session. I’ll warn you now that the audio quality is not the best, I was emotional, and I was still recovering from a cough, so the recording is a little rough. 

I thought about recording it fresh, but I knew it would not have the same power as the original.

ACTION STEP
Maybe you need to pull out a card, write down all of the things distracting you, concerning you, or worrying you.  Then lay that card before the Lord.  If you are comfortable sharing, snap a picture of it and send it to me in a private message on social media @doanewthing. I'd be honored to pray for you.

I hope this special episode encouraged and blessed you. We’ll be back next week with our normal format. In the meantime, I’m praying for you aswell that God confirms in you His calling .... that He sets you resolutely in a certain direction.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Finally! I’m back! After almost two months of an unplanned break, I’m so happy to be back to creating Just One Simple Thing. In episode 123, I’m sharing four things I learned while I was sidelined and how I’m using them to kick off the year.

You have no idea how glad I am to be back. It has been the most frustrating two months I’ve ever had! In mid November, I developed a cough and head cold. Not covid, strep or flu. Just a bad head cold. About the time I thought it was over, it migrated into bronchitis. And then it because pneumonia. And then I got covid. It’s been awful.

But we know that with God, nothing is wasted. Not even a never-ending cough. My podcast break was unplanned, but the Lord has been speaking to me. Here are four things I learned while I was sidelined.

1. Some of the things I considered non-negotiable are actually very negotiable.

2. Reducing down to the bare essentials shows me what is really important.

3. My hope is in the Lord, not in a new schedule or routine.

4. Rebuilding doesn't have to mean building the same thing again.

It's been an uncomfortable period, but I think it was necessary to teach me these lessons. My expectations of this new season were unrealistic and would lead me right back in to a place of burnout. And maybe that is the biggest lesson of all. If you get unexpectedly sidelined, instead of whining (and I did my fair share of whining), look for the lessons the Lord is trying to teach you. It may be a redirection or refinement of where you thought you were headed.

ACTION STEP
Re-evaluate your non-negotiables. If push came to shove, what would you adjust? What priorities would you use to choose? You’ll make better decisions about that if you do it now, rather than waiting until your brain is oxygen-deprived.

Thanks for your patience during my break, and your kind messages checking on me. I’m grateful to be back, and grateful for you. This year is going to get better. I just know it. So invite some friends to come along with us!

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

While it’s great to get encouragement and positive feedback, sometimes you need to hear the hard things. I call it “tough grace”. So here in Episode 122 of Just One Simple Thing, I’ll share five tough grace thoughts from me and my friends.

As we move towards the end of the year, you’ll hear me and others start talking about year end reviews and starting to make plans for next year.

Part of evaluating your year is getting very honest with yourself about where you have been and where you are headed.  And once you admit it, give yourself some grace and move on.

So let’s dive into these things you may need to admit as you review your 2023.

1. Take care of the money stuff.  Even if your thing is more of a passion project than a business, the money things can get away from you in a hurry.

2. Renew your mind because our thoughts really do matter and pave the way to our success.  If your year hasn’t gone like you thought it would, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel defeated.  Allow the Lord to speak truth into your situation ... to show you the learnings and the small steps of progress ... the ways He has been with you all the way.

3. Trying to push through when you are tired rarely yields the results you want.  Sometimes you have to push through to make a deadline.  Making that a way of life rarely yields the results you want.

4. Progress may be slow when life is full.  We all have to make decisions about where we spend our energy and when life is full, we may not be able to focus on the dream work like we want to.

5.  You can’t expect results like a business when you treat it like a hobby.  You have to adjust your expectations to match your effort. Or find a way to ramp up your effort to match your expectations.

Okay .... I hope this hasn’t been a downer episode for you. We’ve talked about some tough things. But don’t forget the grace part. Give yourself a heavy dose of it, learn from where you are, and carry those lessons forward with you.

ACTION STEP
Grab your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to do your year end review and annual planning. If you want to plan your year with me, circle January 6th on your calendar and watch for details on my social media and in my newsletter.

And speaking of my newsletter, are you a subscriber? It's is a unique combination of encouragement, exclusive subscriber discounts, and resources chosen just for you. Subscribe by going to my website at doanewthing.com, scroll down to the bottom of the home page, and sign up to get my best to-do list tips. I’d love to have you as part of the Do A New Thing community.

RESOURCES
Cindy Yorks His GPS for Your SOS Podcast
Erica Goode Coaches, Consultants + Money Podcast
Erika Millard Get Comfy With Numbers Podcast
Melissa Dickey Empty Nesting On Purpose Podcast
Cathy Lawdanski @retired_empty_nester IG
Grace Workman Beautiful Art and Meaningful Gifts

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

As we head into November, there is one thing on the minds of online businesses and ministries .... It’s not turkey or dressing. It’s “what will I do about Black Friday??” Join me for Episode 121 of Just One Simple Thing where you’ll learn three ways to maximize your Black Friday, and two ways to stand out in the noisy crowd.

Hey friends! Welcome back to Just One Simple Thing, where we are motoring towards the end of the year. It will be here before you know it!

Black Friday isn’t just a day now ... it’s a whole week. And then you tack on Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. It’s enough to make your head spin.

But let’s simplify the whole thing with a few tips and two ways that you can stand out among the crowd.

1. Don’t feel like you have to offer major discounts, especially if you are a service-based business.
Cutting the price on your regular offers devalues them, and if you get a big response, delivering on all of those cut-price sessions could be draining for you. Instead, try adding bonuses to your regular offers that increase their value or you can go the other way ... a mini-version of your regular offer to give people a taste of what you do and how you can help.

2. Create a signature Black Friday offer.
My core audience expects it and plans to purchase that weekend so they get the best deal.

3. Leverage affiliate promotions.
One easy way to do this is to create a gift guide

So you have a great offer in mind ... but with all the noise, how do you stand out in the crowd?

1. Tease your offer in advance.
If you catch their attention before all of the noise starts, they’ll be watching for your email so they can jump on it.

2. Make it personal.
Segment your email list based on previous interactions and send different emails to each segment, addressing their specific pain points and how your offer can help.

And finally, as just one word of caution ...As you make your Black Friday plan, keep in mind the other things you want to do during that week and the Thanksgiving weekend.

Think ahead about how much time you really want to spend during the weekend when you plan your promotions.

ACTION STEP

Look at what you already have available and how you might promote it over the big holiday weekend. Can you turn it into a signature annual offer? When you decide what to do, tease it on your social media. Be sure to tag me so I can cheer you on AND share the amazing things you come up with!

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I don’t know about you, but things feel really unsettled all around me. I’m praying that by keeping things simple, we can find peace in the chaos and use our gifts to bring peace to others as well. If you’re in on that, send me a DM and let me know! That would be a huge blessing to me.

RESOURCES
Go-Getter Jesus Girls Gift Guide

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Y’all know I’m a big advocate for doing quarterly planning for your ministry, business, or even just for life in general. But planning for the last quarter of the year has some extra things you need to think about. Join me for this super short episode to learn the two questions you need to be asking at the end of the year.

It happens every year. October gets here and we are surprised that it is already the last quarter of the year.

Last weekend, I met with some members of The Honor Circle for our quarterly planning time. They have been working their plans all year and seeing the benefits that come from consistently working on the most important things.

Our planning took on a little different vibe this time as we looked towards the end of the year. I asked the ladies a couple of important questions as they framed up their plans for the last quarter. And I thought they might help you as well, so let’s dive into them.

1. What can you do to finish the year well?
And finishing well does not necessarily mean killing yourself to catch up on work you haven't been able to do all year.  "Finishing well" might mean taking the first few steps because making some progress is better than making none.  Finishing well also means you need to take into account all of the things you have on your plate this season.

2. What can you do to set yourself up for success next year?
Start by looking back at the fourth quarter last year. How did it go? Were there lessons you can learn from the way things went? If you can name the things that derailed you then, you keep them from happening again. 

Another way to set yourself up for success is to think ahead about what you want next year to look like. Themes you want to cover in your content, programs you want to start, products you want to develop. You’ll be miles ahead next year if you start being intentional about those things now.

That’s it! Two simple questions. What can you do to finish the year well? And what can you do to set yourself up for success next year? I told you it would be super short this time!

ACTION STEP
Grab a sheet of paper or your journal and write the answers to those two questions. I’d love for you to share what finishing well will look like for you. Shoot me a DM on FB or IG @doanewthing and let me know!

Thanks for being here with me for this quick little episode. If you are listening to this in real time at the beginning of October, hop over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing. I have a lot of exciting things planned for the end of year. The Looking Back to Move Forward challenge, Build A Better Year annual goal planning workshop, the Do Your Thing Retreat ... hang out in the Facebook group to get all the info!

RESOURCES
Do Your Thing Retreat –My annual “get it done” working retreat. Join us for a weekend designed to support and encourage you as you do whatever needs doing in your ministry or business!

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

It’s great to see numbers and sales rack up, but as a creative, it’s helpful to have a visual representation of your progress. In Episode 119 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four fun ways to keep your eyes literally on the prize.

I’ve been traveling some lately and it’s nice to be home.  When I’m traveling, I start off focused on the destination. I want to get there and get off the road. But shortly, I start looking for the mile markers. Those markers tell me how far I’ve gone, and how far I have left to go.

In Jeremiah 31, God was talking about gathering his nations that had been dispersed, and he said, “Set up road markers for yourself; make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went.
 
Let’s talk about a few ways you can create visual markers for your business or ministry to reflect the progress you are making.

1. The classic kanban chart: The chart is divided into three sections: To Do, Doing (or In Progress) and Done. As you work on tasks, you move them from one section to another.  Not only does the kanban chart help you see progress, it also is an accountability tool. Keep your eye on that Doing section. If you start accumulating things there that you have started, but not finished, you know it’s time to focus on actually finishing things to make real progress.

2. Put a name to a numbers goal: I had a goal to talk to 50 new people. After each call, I put the name on a sticky note and put the note on a big poster board. If the call resulted in an ongoing interaction, I put a check-mark on the sticky note. This process could have turned into a numbers game with a dopamine hit for every check mark.   With the poster board near my work area, I often prayed over the names. It reminded me that my work isn’t about growing numbers. It’s about helping actual people with their problems using my expertise.

3. Use your progress to motivate people to be part of something important: During registration for the Do Your Thing retreat, as people sign up, I put their name on the floor plan of the house where we are staying, and share that on my social media. When they can picture themselves staying in a specific room, they want to be part of it.

4. Make a thermometer graphic: This seems to work especially well for sales or fundraising goals, because it makes people feel like their contribution, no matter how large or small, is part of making something special happen.

When your destination still seems far away, look at your markers and see that thus far, the Lord has helped you, and be encouraged that He will help you to the next marker.

ACTION STEP
Pick one of these visual markers and find a way to use it with your own goals. Snap a picture and share it on social media. Be sure to tag me @doanewthing so I can cheer you on! 

Thanks so much for listening in. I’m so grateful for every person who listens, shares, or leaves a review. Those things are an encouragement in a space that can feel very lonely, and I appreciate your generosity. 

RESOURCES
Do Your Thing Retreat –Registration is open for the January, 2024 retreat!
Episode 54: Ten Creative Ways to Use Sticky Notes
Move Forward Journal –One year line-a-day journal

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Are you in a program that has group coaching or mastermind calls? Are you making the most of that opportunity? Listen in with me on Episode 118 of just one simple thing, and you’ll learn four ways to supercharge your group experience.

Let’s talk a  little bit first about the difference been masterminding and group coaching.  We often use these terms interchangeably, but they are really two distinct types of interactions. Group coaching is led by the coach.  A mastermind is led by the group.

In group coaching, the coach may have a specific topic to cover or a question to answer posed by a group member.  They may teach by asking questions and leading group to their own answers. 

In a mastermind, the conversation can be more free-flowing.  There is often one person on the “hot seat” and everyone else offers input and insight into an issue based on their own experience.  

Now that we understand the difference between group coaching and masterminds, that leads into our first tip for making that most of them.

1. Know what type of group interaction it is. If you aren’t sure, ask the leader. 
2. Prepare for your  mastermind hot seat.  Remember that the hot seat is ALL about YOU, and it can be the single most valuable source of ideas and direction.
3. Help the person on the hot seat get to the heart of the issue by asking pointed questions and reframing the problem.  Sometimes the most casual comment can make all the difference.  
4. Group coaching is NOT all about you.  If you coach asks for suggestions on questions she could answer during your group coaching session, this is the time to ask some of the bigger picture questions that may be applicable to several others in the group.

So there ya go … group coaching is driven by the coach and all about what you learn from her.  Masterminds are driven by the participants and how they can learn from each other.

ACTION STEP
Give a shoutout to your group on social media and tag me so I can learn what y’all are up to. 

Speaking of social media, are you following me there? If not, find me on Instagram and Facebook @doanewthing.  I often use that space to expand on the podcast topic and go a little deeper. I can’t wait to meet you there.

RESOURCES
Do Your Thing Retreat – My “get-it-done” retreat opens for registration soon, so head over there to get your name on the priority list!

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Are you ready to join with other creatives and entrepreneurs in a membership program? There are a lot of things to consider before you join one, so listen in to Episode 117 where you’ll learn five things you need to know before signing up.

After a summer of fun and family (and maybe a little work!) it’s time to start looking at the last part of the year and make a plan for finishing the year strong.

One part of your plan may be to join a membership program. There are a ton of them out there, each with a little different twist, and you’ll see most of them open up this time of year for new members.

But let’s assume that you’ve decided that joining a membership would be helpful as you make the push towards the end the year. How do you decide which one is best for you?

Now, full disclosure .... I do have a membership program called the Honor Circle and I’ll share about it throughout this episode. I’d love to have all of you join us in the circle, but it may or may not be the right fit for you.

Let’s look at the some of the key things to consider as you choose.

1. Is the program a fit for your faith and values?
Make sure it’s not going to put you in conflict or make you uncomfortable.

2. Is it designed for the stage that you are in?
Information and training provided may not apply to you and it would be a waste of money.

3. Is it a membership or a mastermind? And which of those are you looking for?

• Membership is content-driven and tends more towards serving up training and information.
• Mastermind is relationship-driven and focuses more on community. It gives the members opportunities to get specific input from each other and from the leader on issues in their business.

4. Are you able to use the resources that are provided?
Do the meeting times fit in your schedule?

5. Does it fit in your budget?
The more expensive programs tend to be smaller and have more personal input.  Less expensive programs tend to be larger with less one on one.

With all the membership and mastermind options available, there is surely one out there right for you.

ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing. I’ve created a worksheet you can use to compare different programs.

I’d also love for you to check out my group program, The Honor Circle, and see if it is a fit for you.

Thanks for hanging out with me today. I bet you have some friends who are thinking about joining a membership so maybe you could share this episode with them? They would thank you, and so would.

RESOURCES
The Honor Circle –A group program for Christian women building their God-inspired dream with working full-time
Uplift Mentormind –Mastermind + Coaching for Christian Business Women
Christian Woman Business Podcast Epsiode 111–5 Problems a Business Mastermind Can Help You Solve

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

There is a ton of information out there about creating a social media content plan. But content is only half of the social media equation. The other half is the most overlooked part of growing a social media presence. Wanna know what it is? Join me for Episode 116 of Just One Simple Thing.

Welcome back, friends! We are spending this month talking about social media. It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked. In fact, one of my clients asked me just this week. How much should I post on social media to grow my ministry or business?

It’s not surprising that many people want to limit their time on social media. Much of it has become a toxic, triggering place.

But engagement is not just randomly scrolling through your feed and sprinkling likes around. It’s also not sending spammy DM’s to every new follower. And it doesn’t have to take hours every week.

Let me share some of my favorite engagement tips that are genuine, strategic AND productive.

1. Engage at all levels
2. Use Comments and Likes strategically
3. Message

• Remember that social media is meant to be social ... people don’t want to be marketed to. But they do want to feel noticed, that you understand their struggles, and that you have a solution.

4. Groups

• Divide your FB groups into 2 categories: Interaction and Reference. Make a schedule to show up in your interaction groups weekly.

Let’s all go out and make social media fun again. It takes great content AND consistent engagement.

If you want to get more detail, check out my upcoming live masterclass, Simplify Your Social. It includes a quiz to determine your Social Identity, tells you your target number of posts, stories, and videos depending on your identity, and more than 50 ideas to get you off the blank page. Visit doanewthing.com/simplify for all the details.

ACTION STEP
Practice your social media engagement by snapping a screen shot of this episode where ever you are listening. Post it on your social media and tell me your favorite way to engage. I promise to share it if you tag me @doanewthing

RESOURCES
Simplify Your Social –Create a custom social media plan based on your Social Identity

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

How often should I post on social media? It’s a question that everyone who is building a business or ministry online has asked at one point or another. And no matter what the gurus say, the answer is not the same for everyone.

In Episode 115 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four things that can determine how  much time you need to spend promoting on social media.

If you are a regular listener, you know that the podcast has been on a break for a couple of months. I’ve enjoyed the time off, but I’m glad to get back here with you. You’ll probably notice a few changes.

I’ll be releasing a new episode every other week instead of every week.

Instead of having fully scripted episodes, I’m gonna try to work just from an outline.

Let’s dive into the topic for today .... How often do you need to post on social media?

I want you to know that Social media is A way to promote your business, but it is not the only way. For some people, social media is a toxic, triggering place. And the right choice for you may be to stay away from it. BUT, if that is the choice you feel led to, you’ll need to invest your time and energy into other ways to grow. Through referrals, collaborations, good SEO ... there are a bunch of other ways.

And if you need some ideas OTHER than social media for getting eyeballs on your message, check out my five-day email challenge, Rocket Your Reach, to learn how to create a visibility plan that doesn’t necessarily require social media. You can learn more about it at doanewthing.com/rocket.

Now let’s talk about what goes into deciding how much you need to post. There are four things to consider.

What type of ministry or business do you have?

• One-on-one coaches or service providers need less social media
• If you are more based on selling courses or products, you depend on volume and need to build a larger following to support sales

How many followers do you have?

• When you are starting, focus more on authentic, organic engagement
• As you get larger,those raving fans and partners will create engagement for you and you can focus on establishing your expertise through valuable content

How many hours per week can you spend on social media?

• The more time you can spend, the more you can do, BUT be sure you are getting a return on those hours

How do you feel about social media?

• If it is toxic for you, limit your time there, BUT be sure to find other avenues to increase your visibility
• If you love interacting on social, make the most of something that you love!

If you want to get more detail, check out my upcoming live masterclass, Simplify Your Social. It includes a quiz to determine your Social Identity, your target number of posts, stories, and videos depending on your identity, and more than 50 ideas to get you off the blank page. Visit doanewthing.com/simplify for all the details.

Join me back next week when we’ll talk about the most overlooked part of your social media plan.

RESOURCES
Rocket Your Reach –Create a visibility plan to increase your reach and impact
Simplify Your Social –Create a custom social media plan based on your S

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Are you taking a summer break from your ministry or business?  While you might want to just drop everything and head for the sun, a little bit of planning can make for a better break and a better return from your break. Listen into Episode 114 of Just One Simple Thing as I share the things I’m doing to prepare for my upcoming break and get ready for when I come back.

As I record and air this at the end of May, this episode is the last one before my break in June and July. So I thought I’d share with you some tips for preparing for a summer break and along the way, I’ll share exactly what my break is going to look like, so you’ll know what to expect.

1. Consider your goals for your break:

• Reflect on the purpose of taking a break and what you hope to achieve.

2. Decide what you will do and what you won't:

• Use a spreadsheet or similar method to outline activities.
• Consider important tasks before and after the break.

3. Make a financial plan for your break:

• Evaluate your finances and ensure you have sufficient passive income or savings to cover expenses.

4. Inform your team and be clear about what you want them to do during your break:

• If you can’t afford to pay them during the break, provide notice well in advance. 
• Consider if your team members also wish to take a break.

5. Inform your audience:

• Let your audience know about the upcoming break and when they can expect for you to be back.

6. Make a plan for coming back:

• Consider making changes or pivots during the break.
• Pray and seek fresh directions for your ministry or business.

Listen in to the episode to learn what my break will look like!

ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan and Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your Summer Break Planning work sheet. 

I hope this episode has been helpful for you and I really look forward to being back with you in August. In the meantime, revisit some of the old episodes you may have missed.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Summer is right around the corner, and maybe your mind has already started wandering in that direction. How will you keep up with your ministry or business with the kids out of school, changing routines, and a body of water somewhere calling your name? Join me for Episode 113 of Just One Simple Thing where you’ll learn four strategies to keep your goals on track for the summer.

Among my Christian business and ministry friends and clients, I find there are two types of summer people ... some who shut it down and take a break during the summer, and others who try to keep the wheels turning while navigating all the challenges that summer can bring. And even some, like school teachers or staff, or homeschooling mamas, who use the break to lean into their work a little extra. This episode is for that second group ... some practical tips and strategies to keep you focused on your goals, while still enjoying the fun summer times.

First strategy: make sure your goals for the summer are realistic.
Before you run yourself ragged, adjust your expectations to fit easily into your summer plans.

Second strategy: automation and systematization.
Small tweaks can have a big impact on your productivity, the power of delegation and getting some help.

Third strategy:  the power of delegation and getting some help
You'll not only lighten your workload but also foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration within your ministry or business.

Fourth strategy:  Find creative ways to involve your family in your work.
Your family members may find new passions and skills to develop.

Vacations and changing schedules may disrupt our routines, but they don't have to derail our goals. By applying these four strategies—set realistic expectations, automation or systematization, delegation, and family involvement—we can still have fun over the summerwhile staying firmly on track.

ACTION STEP
Lay out your summer on a calendar and make sure your summer goals are realistic. Then list out three ways you can use these strategies to reach those goals. When the leaves start changing in the fall, you’ll look back and be proud of what you’ve accomplished in your work and in your family.

I’d love to know what you are planning to do for the summer. Are you one of those who keep the wheels rolling or are you thinking about taking a break? Find me on IG or FB @doanewthing and let me know.

RESOURCES
If you need help with those systems and automations, check out my friend Shannon Baker. She’ll do an assessment of where you are now, and give you a plan to set everything up. You can find her on Instagram or at her website.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Have you ever been at a place where you didn’t feel like you had any goals? You are just rocking along, keeping up with your work, and content with where you are? Listen in to Episode 112 of Just One Simple Thing where you’ll learn the benefits of having goals that are not related to big projects or results, and how they can keep your work fresh and fun.

A few months ago, I was doing some accountability check-ins, which happens to be one of my favorite things to do. Holly gave me a good report. Things were going really well in her business.  Holly asked an interesting question. “Is it okay to not have any goals?”

Hmmm. I had to think about that for a minute.

I said, It’s okay to not have any major projects or big goals. You don’t have to always be creating something new, or stretching to push farther than you’ve ever been before. It’s okay .. healthy even ... to rest between runs. But you do need to have something that you are working towards, even if it is little .... A small improvement in a work process, learning a new skill, or intentional steps to grow your network.

Working towards goals accomplishes a lot more than just the results you achieve. Let’s explore some of the benefits:

1. Stewardship: As a Christian, you are called to be a good steward of the resources and talents God has given you. This includes your business.

2. Faithfulness: Without goals, it’s easy to become complacent and miss out on opportunities for growth. Setting goals allows you to challenge yourself while honoring God through your work.

3. Kingdom Impact: We’re called to be like salt and light in the world, serving and making a real difference in people's lives. When you set goals for your business, it's a chance to line up your efforts with God's purposes and find ways to bless others.

4. Personal Development: Setting goals can enable you to continually learn, develop new skills, and deepen your relationship with God.

When you are feeling like things are going great and you are searching for motivation beyond keeping things moving day to day, look at those four things and find ways to make progress in those areas.

Stewardship - How can you find new ways to use the resources you have?
Faithfulness –Have you gotten complacent and stopped doing the things that really light you up?
Kingdom Impact –How can you make a bigger impact in the things you are already doing?
Personal Development – What new skills or tools can you focus on to improve your operations?
 
ACTION STEP
If you feel like you are in a good place in your ministry or business and don’t have any big projects or major goals to work on, head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray With Do A New Thing and grab a copy of the Micro Goals Worksheet. 

Keep your eyes open for an episode where I’ll share what I’m doing to prepare for my summer  break. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast where ever you listen so you don’t miss a thing

RESOURCES
Rocket Your Reach –Create a visibility plan to keep your business moving during the summer without being chained to your computer with this five-day email-based mini-course.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

In uncertain economic times, you might feel like you are taking hits from things you can’t control. But there is one thing that can keep you growing when the world’s on fire, and it is totally under your control. That’s to develop a reputation for delighting your audience through above-and-beyond customer service. Here in episode 111 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn three ways that you can create raving fans who will come back again and again.

When something delights me, I am a loyal fan for life. Don't we all want clients and readers like me? People who come back time and time again because they are delighted by what we do?

Through the years I have been in business, I have been blessed by people who have truly delighted me.  They have three things in common ... they are kind, generous and fair.

These aren’t just character traits of genuinely nice people. They are Biblical instructions on how we should conduct ourselves as Christians in the marketplace.

 It is good for people to be kind and generous and to be fair in business. Psalm 112:5 (ERV)

How do we display kindness, generosity, and fairness? .

1. Show kindness by being there and being dependable.
There is a lot to be said for just showing up. In the big things, like consistently producing content and learning opportunities for your audience, but even more importantly, in the small things.

2. Be generous with your knowledge and your platform.
Share your platform. Your peeps want to know you see them. Watch for how they are using your products or sharing your content, and acknowledge what they are doing.

3. Display fairness by offering value above and beyond what is expected.
Ask a lot of questions of your audience to understand exactly what they want. When you tailor what you offer to what your readers or clients want, you are sure to delight them. Someone who offers personal service that meets a specific need at a fair price is going to have people returning again and again.

Kind, generous, and fair. Those guiding principles will help you weather the roughest economic storms. But that’s not the reason we do it. We operate that way because it’s the right thing to do.

ACTION STEP
Look at the people you follow and work with. Has someone delighted you recently? How can you emulate their kindness, generosity, and fairness? And while you are thinking about them, give them a shout-out to show how much you appreciate them.

I want you to know how much I appreciate you! We quietly crossed more than 25,000 downloads of the podcast last week and I’m thankful for each person who has spent a few minutes here with me. Reach out and let me know you are listening so I can tell you personally.

RESOURCES
These are some of the people who have absolutely delighted me with their products and services. Go get to know them:
Ruthie Gray –Host the Authentic Online Marketing podcast, Instagram Coach and Newsletter Strategist
Esther Littlefield –Host of the Christian Woman Leadership and Christian Woman Business podcast, business coach, and creator of the Uplift Mentormind.
H

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Have you ever taken a step you thought was the right one ... then it wasn’t? Or maybe you’ve made decisions based more on FOMO than faith. Those are just two of the things my friend Avery Forrest and I talked about, along with a little fashion advice. So join me for Episode 110 of Just One Simple Thing.

I’m so glad you are here because you are in for a treat! In the last episode, I shared part 1 of a conversation I had with my friend Avery Forrest a few months ago all about managing your capacity. If you missed that, head back to Episode 109 to learn the capacity equation and some thoughts on reframing your boundaries.
 
But we talked about so much in that conversation, I couldn’t leave all of it behind. So I’ve grabbed the best bits and put them all together for you here. It may sound a little choppy but I hope you’ll get something from this discussion about making good decisions AND bad ones, FOMO, and managing seasons. 

In this episode, we discussed:

• What to do when you take a step and get ahead of God
• How to avoid getting too much on your plate
• My two best tips for managing your capacity.

You can’t miss out on what God did not mean for you. ~ Avery Forrest

I'm so thankful that God has put people like Avery in my life to help me wrestle through some of these rough spots that could derail me from His plan.

ACTION STEP
We talked about the capacity management tool in this episode, so head over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab a copy for yourself.

This little change of pace has been a lot of fun! I’d love to hear from you this week. What stood out to you during the episode? Snap a screen shot of the episode wherever you are listening and share it on social media.

RESOURCES

Pastor Avery Forrest is a wife to her husband of 15 years and mother of two wild boys. She and her husband are the founding pastors of Anchor Point Church in Foley, AL. Avery spent the last two years coaching Christian female entrepreneurs for their mission in the marketplace through her podcast, mentorship program, and retreats. Recently, she stepped out of coaching into a full time position on the teaching and leadership team of their church. Her heart is for you to live in transformational relationship with God daily. She does this through preaching, teaching, and mentoring the people God has placed in her life. You can connect with Avery on Instagram. 

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

What do you do when your to-do list is longer than the space in your calendar? You might think you just need to figure out how to create more time in your day. But did you know that time is only ONE way you can manage your capacity? Join me for a special conversation in Episode 109 of Just One Simple Thing as I talk to my friend Avery Forrest to learn about the capacity equation and how God showed up on a physics test. 

Today’s episode is a little different than normal. Last year, my friend Avery Forrest invited me to have a conversation about managing your capacity for her Christian Business Camp podcast. God had other plans for Avery and our episode never aired, but she graciously allowed me to use the audio so I could share it with you. 

If you’ve been trying to figure out how you can get it all done, I think you’ll be encouraged by our conversation. 

Let’s jump in. In this conversation, we discussed:

• The Capacity Equation: Capacity = Energy x (Time+Money+Experience)
• How God multiplies your capacity
• Reframing our idea of boundaries

This was such a rich conversation. I love talking to Avery because she challenges me to lean into the Lord rather than depend on my own experience and knowledge. 

ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your capacity worksheet. It will help you find realistic swaps you can make to increase your capacity and decrease your overwhelm.

That was only half of my conversation with Avery. I’ll air Part 2 in a future episode. Be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don’t miss a thing!

RESOURCES
Pastor Avery Forrest is a wife to her husband of 15 years and mother of two wild boys. She and her husband are the founding pastors of Anchor Point Church in Foley, AL. Avery spent the last two years coaching Christian female entrepreneurs for their mission in the marketplace through her podcast, mentorship program, and retreats. Recently, she stepped out of coaching into a full time position on the teaching and leadership team of their church. Her heart is for you to live in transformational relationship with God daily.  She does this through preaching, teaching, and mentoring the people God has placed in her life. You can connect with Avery on Instagram.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

If you are a Words girl instead of a numbers geek, which I think most of you probably are, measuring what’s working and what isn’t might make your eyes glaze over. But I promise it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. In Episode 108 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn the three types of information you should be tracking, and how to know if what you are doing is working.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about taking the next big step in your ministry or business.

How do you know if those things ... or ANYTHING ... are working? How do you know if you need to tweak it or head in a completely different direction?

Data can show progress when the ultimate results are not there yet, and help us see the connection between our efforts and our results.

Your data can keep you from giving up on things too soon, before you start seeing the results.

Three types of data we need to look at.

1. Lagging Indicators –these are usually the results we are looking for.
You need to know before you start what your goal is for each strategy and figure out how to measure it.

2. Leading indicators –these are the things you do that generate the results. When you can track leading indicators and correlate them to lagging indicators, you know how much effort it will take to get the results that you want.

3. Intangible indicators –These are things that are difficult to measure, but worth noting so you can spot the trends.

Those little accomplishments that help you know you are on the right track even if the numbers on the scale are not moving.

Another way to think of it is that leading indicators are things that you do, lagging indicators are things that your audience or clients do, and intangible indicators are things that fill you up.

ACTION STEP
If you are ready to decide on a few key indicators to measure, head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab a worksheet that will help you determine your lagging, leading, and intangible indicators.

I know that if you are a words girl, you may be feeling unsure about figuring this all out. If that’s you, feel free to reach out to me on IG or FB @doanewthing and I’ll be glad to see what I can do to help.

RESOURCES
Rocket Your Reach –A self-guided course to create a visibility plan that grows your reach and impact without feeling overbearing, overworked, and overwhelmed.

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

Is the next step you want to take in your ministry or business so big that it scares you? So scary that you can’t make yourself do it? In Episode 107 of Just One Simple Thing, I’ll share three ways you can right-size that idea and make it just scary enough that it excites you again.

Welcome back to Just One Simple Thing, where we are in the middle of a series about taking your next step ... not necessarily your first step, but the next one that is going to help you level up your ministry or business. Sometimes, that next step looks huge ... like, not even a step, but a mountain.

We need to figure how to right-size that step so it fits into our life. When you are trying to grow while working full time or have other major things going on, you may not be able to do things the way everyone else does. In fact, right here and now, I give you permission to adjust, modify, or down-size your big idea. It’s better to do it the way you CAN, than not do it at all.

1. Limit the scope.
You don’t need all the bells and whistles, especially when you are just starting something new. Limiting the scope means cutting out anything that is not essential so you can focus on doing the important parts really well.

2. Limit the scale.
If the thing is too big, make it smaller. Make it more simple. Make it shorter.

3. Limit the space.
Limit the footprint it takes in your time, your finances, your capacity.

Let me make this clear .... I’m not suggesting that you limit your dream, or limit what God can do through you. We aren’t about small thinking that keeps you stuck. We ARE about making the steps doable so you can keep moving forward.

Say you want to use Instagram to grow your influence and impact, but the thought of reels and carousels and lives and stories make you want to crawl back in your shell. You don’t have to put it off any longer. You can limit the scope by focusing only on feed posts and stories to get started. Limit the scale by only posting to your feed three times a week. Limit the space by repurposing your other content into captions and using a scheduler to auto-post for you.

ACTION STEP
Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab a free worksheet to help you right-size your next step.I’d love to hear from you this week. Which of the three tips ... Limit the scope, limit the scale or limit the space ... will help you most with an idea you have been toying with? Screenshot this podcast episode and share it on your social media. Be sure to tag me @doanewthing so I can cheer you on!

RESOURCES
Podcast in a Weekend course from Esther Littlefield
Stories to Market Instagram workshop from Ruthie G

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!

What is an influencer? Are you one? Are you trying to be one? Even if you don’t identify yourself as an influencer, to grow your ministry or business, you need to be able to influence people. So let’s learn how to ask for what we want, get people to say yes, and while we are at it, we’ll peek in on an OG influencer in the Bible.

We are in our Next Steps series. Maybe you’ve taken those first steps to establish your ministry or business and you are looking for the thing that will push you to the next level. Once you have the basics down, it becomes less about learning all the things and more about the behaviors and the way you operate to grow.

In this episode, we’ll look at influencing ... getting people to do what we want them to do.

It all comes down to the way you ask .... to ask in a way that makes people want to say yes. Here are four ways to do that.

1. Make it personal
Your ask should show that you understand the person and what they need.
Make sure it is something the person you are asking needs, and that your ask incorporates some of the language they use themselves to describe their need.

2. Make it direct
A clear and direct ask lets people know your offer should be seriously considered.

3. Make it easy
We often unintentionally put up barriers that keep people from saying yes.

4. Make it worth it
In addition to making the benefits of the ask clear and compelling, a little incentive can go a long way. It doesn’t have to be huge.

Going to the next level with your business or ministry will take a lot of yes’s. But if you can make it personal, make it direct, make it easy, and make it worth it, you’ll get all the yes’s you need to meet your goals.

ACTION STEP
Look at the next ask you need to make. How can you apply just one of these principles to improve the likelihood of a yes?

Well, we are halfway through our series on Next Steps. In the next episode, we’ll talk about right-sizing that step into something that is doable to reduce overwhelm and confusion. I hope you’ll join me then. And if these episodes have been helpful to you, I’d really appreciate it if you would leave a rating and review wherever you listen.

RESOURCES
Trust Your Own Voice: Growing Your Influence Through Confident Communication by Karen Laos

Did last month get away from you with little progress on your plans?

If only someone could make sure you are working on the right things at the right time.  Let me review your plan for the month and give you personal feedback, just like my one-on-one clients get. It's the most cost-effective way to get personal coaching and feel confident in taking your next steps.

Click here for details!