E122: The Tough Grace Episode

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

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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!

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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.

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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!

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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!

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

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!

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.