28. The Power of Resilience and Finding Your Calling with Na'Kedra Rodgers

Have you ever felt a void even when everything you've wished for is right in front of you? Our guest, Na'Kedra Rogers, embarked on an unexpected journey of self-discovery during the pandemic, which led her to realize her true purpose. Today, she takes us through her inspiring transformation, from creating uplifting videos to cultivating a personal ministry that not only enriched the lives of others but also her own.

Connect with Na'Kedra
www.nakedrarodgers.com
IG @optimisticallyke
FB @optimisticallyke

Connect with Heidi
Work with Heidi
IG @realheidisawyer

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Checkout the Heart First Leadership Podcast with Ryan & Heidi Sawyer

Transcript

Heidi : 0:34

As you listen to my conversation with Na'Kedra Rodgers, consider the following questions. Is there something that God may be calling you to explore in your life, and is there an area of your life where you might be letting the opinions and advice of others dictate your actions? Consider these questions as you listen to my conversation with Nikidra. Hope you enjoy. Welcome to the show. I'm so excited to have you here.

Na'Kedra: 1:00

Hi, Heidi. Thank you so much for inviting me. I'm really excited to be here and share with your audience.

Heidi : 1:07

Tell us a little bit about you before we get started.

Na'Kedra: 1:10

Well, I was born and raised in Monroe, louisiana, but I've been in Texas, going on 21 years now. Here in Fort Worth I came right after school. I graduated from LSU Go Tigers. Yes, louisiana born and raised, but I have made Texas my home now. I absolutely love it here by day. I work as a data analyst in healthcare. I have two beautiful daughters they're three and five years old and my husband, kelvin, who I've been married to going on nine years.

Heidi : 1:43

Wonderful. So this show, as you know, is all about reinvention, and so what I'd like for you to do is to, for everyone listening, just drop us into that moment or that turning point in your life where you decided that you wanted something to be different or you wanted to make a change.

Na'Kedra: 2:02

So for me it started in the pandemic. I was just looking around and seeing everybody creating all these different businesses, you know, because we were shut down, but people, they were coming up with creative ways to, you know, make money. And so I saw people. They were doing private shelves. They were still people were still having parties. They were, they were doing crafts, they were doing balloons and all of these things making cakes. And I was like, well, I don't know how to bake anything. I'm not very crafty, so it's looking quite slim on what I can do.

Na'Kedra: 2:38

So I started asking individuals in my circle what do you think I want to start my own business? And everybody said the same thing. Everybody said that I should do something, with encouragement, because every day I would post biblical verses. And they were like, well, just do that. And I said those aren't my words. And they were like, it doesn't matter, just post it anyway. And so I went back and forth about it, I prayed about it and I finally just said you know what? I'm going to record inspirational videos. So I sat in front of my computer on April 16, 2021. And I recorded my first inspirational video.

Na'Kedra: 3:16

What I did not know was that I was encouraging myself, because at the time, I had asked God for a husband, I had asked him for children, I had asked him for a career, making a certain amount of money. Everything that I had asked him for he gave me. Well, why wasn't I still happy? You know, why was I feeling as if there was a void, as if I would wake up in the morning and sometimes you just having this. I'm not going to say that I was depressed, but I did have a negative presence and sometimes it would just kind of come out in regards different areas of the way, you know, I dealt with people, dealt with my friends, my response or reactions to certain things. I needed some help.

Na'Kedra: 4:05

So, when I began doing these inspirational videos and I thought that I was uplifting other people, when actuality, the first person that I was ministering to was myself, and I needed that because I was broken, I needed to be humbled, I needed to be renewed, I needed to be refreshed. I needed God to just take some things out of me. You know that that just were ugly. He had to show me myself some things that you know. I don't know if I was in denial about it, but he had to say this is you. This is you. This is you the good, this is you the bad. This is you the ugly. However, I'm gonna clean you up and I'm still gonna use you, and so that's what I've been doing since that time.

Heidi : 4:48

I love that. I love that you know. So many people are in that place where it's like I have everything to be grateful for. Why do I feel like there's something missing? And I think it oftentimes it is one of the basic human needs of meaning and contribution. There needs to be meaning and contribution and that's why everyone is so you know so set on trying to find purpose. And it's right there. Like you said, all you had to do was just ask your friends what are my gifts? What do you see in me Exactly?

Na'Kedra: 5:26

But isn't that funny. Why did I go to God? Why did I ask him? What is my purpose in life, because you're absolutely right, I felt as if I was just existing. I wasn't thriving, I wasn't, you know, evolving, I was just there. I am so thankful that I had friends in my circle that could see something that I did not see for myself.

Heidi : 5:48

And isn't that the truth? People can see things in us and oftentimes we look around, like you did during that time, and you're like well, this person's baking, I can't do that. This person's doing this, I don't know how to do that and we kind of sell ourselves short for the gifts that we do have to share. So I love that you went and you and you asked some people that you trusted and you said what do you see in me? What can I do? And then I want to know what was the resistance you had to overcome to get on and do that first video, because there had to be a voice in your head that said well, who am I to be doing this?

Na'Kedra: 6:24

For sure, especially because I had no formal training as a speaker. I had no formal training, as you know, uplifting people or encouraging people. I didn't have a certificate. You know, sometimes they say, well, what are you the expert in? Well, not really anything, but I do know how to pick people up, I do know how to make them feel better. So I just really had to get out of my own head because it really just wasn't about me.

Na'Kedra: 6:51

Anyway, if you say that you're wanting to help people, if you say that you're wanting to encourage people, it doesn't matter how you look. You know, I've gone to school, so I can't hold a really decent conversation. Yes, I can articulate my words, but it's not even about that. It's not even about the person. It's about allowing God to just use you. It's about allowing his spirit to move through you, to touch people. And once I got out of my way and instead of thinking, well, what are people going to say? And and are they gonna ask well, why her? Who gave her that ability and why does she think that she is capable of doing such a thing? So once I got that out of the way, then you know, it was pretty much smooth sailing at that point.

Na'Kedra: 7:39

And there were people who actually did come to me and and gave me their unsolicited advice yes, and told me things as you know, critiques, so to speak. You're too long or you know you need to make it short and it just different things that people were saying or why are you doing this? Are you doing it for God and are you doing it for fame? And all of these things. Had I listened to them, I would not be where I am today. I wouldn't have a business, I wouldn't have a ministry, I wouldn't be pouring into people. You know any, none of those things.

Na'Kedra: 8:16

So I'm just thankful that I believed in the vision that he gave me, even if other people didn't understand it, and that I was willing to go. He called me out. He says who's gonna go? Who shall I send? And I raised my hand and says send me. And he equipped me so, even though I didn't have that training in the beginning. Since that time I have gone to courses. I have attended speakers conferences and writers conferences, so I've gotten the tools that I need to be successful. But I stepped out on faith and he took care of the rest.

Heidi : 8:48

What would you say to someone who has been listening to either that voice in their head that says I can't do this, why would anybody listen to me? Or there, maybe they're listening to the negativity of other people or the opinions of other people. What would you say to that person? What advice would you have for them?

Na'Kedra: 9:05

If it's consistently pulling at you, nagging at you. That's the spirit. That's the spirit telling you it's time to get up, it's time to move, it's time to position yourself, it's time for a change and you need to embrace it. That that's the biggest thing I would say. You have to embrace that calling in your life. You have to trust your instincts and you know, just really get down on your needs and just ask God, lord, are you, are you talking to me? Is this the direction that you're sending me? Is this the calling that you have on? Let make it clear. Make it plain, because he talks about writing the vision, and make it plain.

Na'Kedra: 9:44

I want to know for sure that it is your voice that I'm hearing and not my own, because I want my will to align with your will. So make sure that you are walking in the path that he has for you, because his, his plan is the best plan for your life. You are going to have some opposition. Absolutely. There's no one way to success. You will encounter some obstacles, you will have some disappointments and sometimes those people who are going to be naysayers are going to come from those who you value their opinion the most. However, if you believe that God has given you that vision, if you believe that he is calling you out, if he has separated you and chosen you for this assignment, then he is going to take care of you all the way, until the end.

Heidi : 10:35

I have heard people saying, and people in my life where they've been encouraged to do something and you know you can either use that as yes, this is God's plan for me, this is what I want to be doing, this is what I'm here to make a difference and find that meaning in what you're doing. But I've also heard people quit on themselves and say this isn't in the plan for me. What do you think about that?

Na'Kedra: 10:58

Quitting is not an option. There is a such thing as pivoting absolutely and taking detours. That's just like when you're in a course. They have evaluations, they want to hear your feedback what worked, what didn't work, what would you like to see, what topics would you like to cover and they take those things into account and they provide them so that you can continue to keep coming back or recommend them to others. So I would just say, even if it doesn't work out, I have this example when I first started my business, I actually went beyond speaking to becoming an entrepreneur, getting my LLC and all of those things, and I started selling t-shirts to help expand my business.

Na'Kedra: 11:42

Well, in the process of this, I had this individual that I was working with as a vendor creating my t-shirts, and she had worked with me several times before on a personal level. So now we're in business together and she did a 360 on me. She started ghosting me. She wasn't taking my phone calls and her policy was pay upfront, paying full, not 50%. So I was pretty much at her back and call and I said that to say because I couldn't have quit after that If I was under the belief that if this is how business is going to go. I don't want to have anything to do with it. I can do other things with my time. I don't want to be disappointed, I don't want to be upset, I don't want to be running behind someone. But the thing that I learned in that is that you have to put processes in place, ie. That is why you have contracts and agreements between people.

Na'Kedra: 12:40

So things are. I said all this to say things are going to happen and they may even happen early on, because this was in the very early stages of my ministry getting started. But that opposition it makes you stronger, it makes you wiser, it gives you insight and it allows you to see the of how you want to move forward and what things you want to change, what things you want to put in place, because you want to have some type of guidelines and things of that sort. So don't quit on yourself, because you absolutely don't know what will happen on that other side. Just think about it.

Na'Kedra: 13:16

I started my ministry in 2021 by posting inspirational videos. Since that time, I'm speaking everywhere, I'm traveling everywhere, I have a book that's available for sale online, everywhere books are sold. But just think, if I had stopped when she ghosted me with those t-shirts, I wouldn't have none of these things. So you just have to look back and say, look how far I've come and, man, if I did that, well, what else can I accomplish? But if you quit in the very beginning, then you never can see the other side and it's always well, what if I had done? And you don't want to, you don't want to have those questions. You don't want to say, oh, if I had stuck around. You don't want to do that.

Heidi : 14:02

Yeah, it takes. It does take a level of resilience. Absolutely. Tell me about in your life. Where did you start developing that resilience, that stick with it.

Na'Kedra: 14:14

I want to say I think it's, and I'm sure it was before this. But one thing that particularly stuck out to me was when I was in high school and all of my life I was a straight A student and I got into my senior year and I had to take calculus, and I may be there was the first time that I was making bees. So, needless to say, instead of graduating the valedictorian, I was a salutator. Well, we get up there and we have to do our speeches. Mine had gotten misplaced. It was not on. It was not on. Yes, it was. It was not there. And I just had to stand there and smile, you know, because now in my mind I was freaking out. I'm so sure I was 17 years old, but I had to keep my composure for the audience to just say it's going to be okay, and even if it doesn't, I can give some words of encouragement, because this is my life. I know my life. I don't have to write it, you know, I'm writing it down just to spark my memory, but I can tell you what has happened on my journey in high school. So I would have to definitely say that was the beginning of it. And then, you know, just moving through adulthood, I've experienced different scenarios, such as being laid off, not one, but being laid off twice from jobs where I it was my very first job out of high, out of college, it was the only thing that I had known. Been there nine and a half years, you know. So I'm comfortable, yes, and and I'm job security. I'm young. Why would they get rid of me? You know I'm a high performer. I get you know, I've never gotten a bad performance review.

Na'Kedra: 15:56

Well, I was one of the ones that they still let go and during that time I was, you know, again trying to hurry up and find something else. And you know, what am I going to do? How are my bills going to get paid? I didn't come with, you know, I wasn't born into money and all of those things. I've had to work hard for everything that I have, but God showed me that even the time that I was unemployed, he kept me. I didn't lose anything. I had a home. At that time, I was 24 years old. I had, yes, I had my home. I had, you know, a car, just so many things. I was becoming an adult, right, and so he took care of me and he, and it has happened several times that he's let me know. Even when you have this transition in your life, it's to pivot, to take you to a new level. That's pretty much what happens, because every the two times that I was laid off, the next opportunity was something so much better.

Na'Kedra: 16:58

So, it just gave me a time to reflect. It gave me a time to lean on him, depend on him, because so many times we we think, oh, it's us, it's, it's my, um, I'm smart, or it's because I worked so hard or I've developed all of these good traits, it's not you, it's his grades, it's his favor. So I had to to learn those things and to know that. He said you're going to suffer. He said that we're going to have some heartache, but because he overcame, you can overcome as well. So just like he brought you through before, he'll bring you through again.

Heidi : 17:34

I love that message of being able to trust, because in that moment, standing up there to give that speech, you just had to trust in your experience and trust that you'd be guided through being able to deliver that. And then again, in this situation of being laid off, and it's like, okay, I've just got to trust that when this door closes, the next door is opening. And my sister-in-law, on her email signature, she says when, um, I think it says when God closes the door, something about wait in the hallway. And I think of that because so many times in life we are in that transition place where we're really wondering what's next and, um, the key is to get on comp, to get comfortable in the discomfort of the unknown, because that's where we grow and that's where we have this chance to evolve and become the person that we're here to be.

Heidi : 18:35

And it is through those tough experiences where there's a lot of unknown that really shape us, and I think nothing is by accident, it's all by design in that way. That's right. I totally agree, absolutely. I'd love to hear from you what do you think your biggest lesson is that you've learned through becoming a speaker? You know, becoming this radiant, optimistic person that you are now, and I know you have bad days because you're human, right, yeah, sure, but what have you learned about life? What's your biggest lesson, your biggest takeaway from your journey so far?

Na'Kedra: 19:15

My biggest lesson is that I needed to transform myself. I needed to be transformed so that I could be used by him, and that meant, you know, taking off the mask, because when I was younger or growing up, I felt like I had to to be the certain person. I had to always make the right decisions, I had to make the good grades. I had to not, you know, upset my parents, which I did, you know. You know I messed up, but my point is I was trying to keep up an image, so to speak, and I had to let that thing down and just realize girl, you messed up, you make mistakes. You are not perfect Okay, no one is. So give yourself that grace.

Na'Kedra: 20:00

I think I never extended grace to myself. I never said it's okay to fail, you know, it's okay to to get a note because, again, you, you learn from that, like you said, being uncomfortable. That growth comes from that and I really think that I've grown over these, these past few years, out of, you know, looking Inwardly and so much at myself and realizing it's not about me again, it's about serving. Jesus came here to serve. You have to serve, you have to give, even if it means being Inconvenient, because that is what ministry is.

Na'Kedra: 20:41

You're going to be Inconvenient sometimes. Everything is not going to work on that schedule. Yes, you may have, you know, certain things planned out that you want to do, but you can't control someone that needs a word, someone that needs prayer, someone that needs lifting up in that moment, and you have to make yourself available To them, because that's what the Bible talks about is that we have to bear the burdens of others. So I had to get out of my own way and get out of myself and Realize it's bigger than you. Your calling is beyond more than what you can imagine or think. He has some great things in store for you, but you've got to totally surrender.

Heidi : 21:24

Yeah, surrender, that's Incredibly powerful world word and an incredibly powerful and courageous act when you do it, because so many people are afraid of that, yeah. So tell me, what advice would you have for your younger self? Tell me one piece of advice you'd have for her.

Na'Kedra: 21:43

I Would tell her Everything is gonna be alright. Yes, you're going to make some mistakes, but I promise you it is bigger than that moment that you are in, right there. You are resilient, you can get through, you can bounce back. You have faced a lot of adversity and I tell you, you're stronger, you're better for the adversity that you have faced. Only you could do this journey. It was designed specifically for you, so you just keep on traveling with your head held high. You are going to do some amazing things, girl.

Heidi : 22:19

And what age did you need to hear that message the most?

Na'Kedra: 22:22

16, yeah, 16. Yeah, I was. I was something else at 16. I that was at the age where I was like, I think I was a little rebellious. I didn't want to listen, you know, I wanted in my own way. My mother said do this. And I did that because you know, I haven't always been this person. You know that I am. I have learned Through heartache, you know, and so I think that's one of the other things when people are telling you something, it's really for your own good. You don't have to learn every lesson the hard way. Yeah, yeah so, but that's been my life. I guess. I mean, I guess I'll wake up and then realize that eventually. But yes, that's what I would tell her.

Heidi : 23:06

Yeah, and what are you reinventing in your life right now?

Na'Kedra: 23:10

Just self, love self. You know that, just loving on myself. I had a period in my life where I was on discovery. Who is Nikita? What does she like? Because for so many years I was living for others, if that makes sense. My parents Preach so much, or they didn't preach, but they just kind of really told me you're going on this career path, this is what you're gonna be in life. So everything that I did leading up that point Was to do that. But I don't even, I'm not even really interested in it. You know what I mean.

Na'Kedra: 23:47

But I had to discover that for myself and, like, going back to purpose, well, what is it that that excites you? What is your passion? You know what drives you, what makes you smile when you talk about something? What you know makes you light up. So I had to figure those things out and the things that I enjoyed and really finding balance, because I'm a mom, I'm a wife, you know I'm a motivational speaker. But who is Nikita? You know you have these different titles, but I had to find out exactly who I was and being that, that good, that bad, and the ugly, and the things that I like and embrace all of it. So I'm just learning to accept me for who I am, all of the flaws that I have, and, just you know, be intentional about Working on things that I want to improve in it and get and get better, because that's what really life is about. That's how you grow. You don't want to stay where you are, but if you don't acknowledge certain things, then how are you gonna evolve?

Heidi : 24:51

Yeah, I love that looking at yourself with that honesty in where you're at and where you want to go, and but also just loving and accepting all of those parts of you. Yeah yeah, beautiful. Now I know you have a devotional. Tell us about that, and then I'd love for you to tell everyone where they can find you online.

Na'Kedra: 25:14

Absolutely so. Again, when I started my ministry, I was posting inspirational videos every single day. Again, I did not have any training, so my messages were all over the place. But eventually I said you know what? I'm gonna start putting these words to paper because I had gone to a conference and One of the things that they told us at this conference was if you're a speaker, you're expected to write, and if you're a writer, you're expected to speak. So what that said to me was girl, you need a book.

Na'Kedra: 25:44

Yeah so that's how I began writing this book, and I just used my personal experiences and things that I had learned, the trials that I had been through. I talk about Anxiety. I talk about the loss of my baby. I've had a few miscarriages. I talk about all of these things because it didn't just happen to me. This happens to people all over the world and we have to share our stories because Certain times, I was feeling as if I was alone. I was feeling as no one could relate to the things that I was going through, because I hadn't heard them before. But it's because people keep it Inside. No, that's a form of therapy, that's a form of healing. So that's why I wrote this book, kneeling earnestly for Transformation. That's available everywhere books are sold. You can get it on Amazon, you can get it on Barnes and Noble. If you don't see it at Target and Walmart on the shelves, you can ask them to put it out. But it is also available on my website, wwwnakedrarodgerscom, and I would love to send you a signed copy of my book.

Heidi : 26:54

Wonderful, and I have to ask you, because you are such a woman of faith, what is your favorite? This is not a question I normally ask, but I'm gonna ask you what's your favorite Bible verse?

Na'Kedra: 27:04

It was it was Jeremiah 111, for I know the plans that I have for you to Claire's the Lord. But now it is second Thessalonians 111, that says and God will give you the power to do all of the good things that your faith prompts you to do. So if you believe it, you can achieve it.

Heidi : 27:26

I Love that I'm so inspired by you. I really enjoyed this conversation. I'm gonna put all of your links in the show notes so that people can find you, they can get their hands on the devotional and just hear the encouraging words that you have, because you do have a gift and you're here to share it, and I thank you for for shining your light so that others can too.

Na'Kedra: 27:48

Absolutely, and I thank you so much for this opportunity and just you know, wanting to hear more of my story and and just allow me to be on your Platform so that I can share it with others because, again, being in the same Field, your audience in my audience is different, but somebody that has never heard of me, they may need to hear exactly what I have said today to give them what they need to continue on their journey. Absolutely, thank you so much Thank you. You.