Life is often full of unexpected challenges, and when we are truly following God's calling, we can listen to him and be led to profound transformations. It is essential to keep your faith as your guiding light and to hear the message God is sending you.

When facing unexpected challenges in life, remember to lean into your faith. God is extraordinary and has a plan for us all. When you can listen and follow God's calling, you will find strength and may even discover that your trials are guiding you toward a greater purpose.

Following God's calling involves embracing what you have gone through and sharing your unique gifts with others. This calling can lead you to learn new tasks and even embrace the world of entrepreneurship, but you do not have to do it all on your own.

She Steps Forward is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire women who are following God's calling and equip them with the tools necessary for growth. This is a community where women are supporting and lifting each other up. She Steps Forward is dedicated to coaching and empowering women to step confidently into their God-given purposes.

It is truly astounding what is possible when you are following God's calling and keep your faith at the center of your journey. Take a moment to reflect on what doors God has opened for you, and remind us to be open and willing to listen and walk through those doors.

Let us all support each other in stepping forward into our destinies.

About Elaine Lankford

Elaine Lankford is a former nurse practitioner and founder and CEO of She Steps Forward International. A non profit organization established to equip women with the tools they need to build successful businesses, ministries, or non profits that align with their God-led purpose.

She Steps Forward International Website

Additional Resources

5 Crucial Strategies to Start and Grow a Business for Sustainable Success

Episode 279- Are you an example to follow?

Episode 360- Businesses and nonprofits need organizational efficiency to succeed

Episode 358- Nonprofits need these strategies for fundraising

Unlocking Marketing Success through Customer Analysis: A Roadmap to Standing Out in Your Industry

As you strive to capture attention and convert audiences into loyal clients within your business, you must understand competitor and customer analysis.

Embrace the Foundation: Customer Analysis

A successful marketing strategy begins with a deep knowledge of your target audience. Customer analysis is not just a buzzword; it's about gaining clarity around the needs, wants, and pain points of the people you aim to serve. When you understand your customers, you are able to communicate more clearly and effectively, ensuring that your marketing strategy connects you with your soulmate clients.

The Voice of the Customer

Start with surveys and interviews to gather qualitative data directly from your customers. Ask specific questions to uncover their motivations and challenges. This approach lets you know what your customers value and gives you the words and phrases that they are using to describe their struggles and successes. Customer analysis lets you use your clients' exact words and phrasing in your messaging. As a result, you are now able to connect on a more personal level with future clients who are looking for the solutions that you offer.

Customer Analysis Questions to Include

1. Before working with you, what was the client doing to improve their business? Any specific courses, training, coaching, etc.

2. When did you realize that you needed something like [the product or service you offer]?

3. How did you find out about this business?

4. Why did you choose this particular business over other options?

5. What happened to make you feel confident that this was the right choice for you?

6. Now that you've completed working with me, what is the number one thing you are able to do now that you couldn't do before?

7. Is there anything that you wish this particular product or service had that it doesn't today?

Know Your Playing Field: Competitor Analysis

In evaluating your competition, the goal isn't to dwell in comparison but to carve out your unique space in the market. You gain insights into positioning, differentiators, and market gaps through competitor analysis.

About Rita Barry

Rita Barry is the owner of a digital marketing agency with a specialty of marketing strategy. She offers fractional chief marketing officer services and Facebook and Instagram ads services.

Website for Rita Barry

Free Download- 5 Crucial Strategies to Start and Grow Your Business for Sustainable Success

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Unlocking your potential to be number one in your industry requires more than just skill or expertise; it’s about building meaningful relationships, embracing your identity, and staying authentic in everything you do. In this journey, having a strong foundation in faith, a commitment to continuous learning, and a focus on serving others can set you apart from the competition. By following a few key steps—such as asking questions, building trust, and sharing your story—you can create lasting connections that propel you to the top of your field.

Building relationships is at the core of your business. When you have a strong relationship with Christ, that becomes foundational to your entire life and how you build relationships with others.

Ask Questions

Your first interaction with someone is the very start of building a relationship with them. You want to show interest in the other person rather than only speaking about yourself. You want to make that other person feel important and know someone is there to serve them.

About Mike Ciorrocio

Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco is the Co-Founder of the innovative tech platform blooprinted, the powerhouse behind the "What Are You Made Of?" podcast, and the best-selling author of ROCKET FUEL Convert Setbacks. Become Unstoppable.

He is a performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, tech visionary and thought leader.

Mike is consumed with the passion to help people break free from the confines of complacency and propel to untapped levels of success.

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Each of us has unique gifts God has put in our hearts. Following what you are called to do can often be blurred by societal pressures. The story of Deborah is one in which we can draw inspiration and follow in her steps of listening to the Holy Spirit and following what God has called us to do.

1. Integrity
2. Uncommon Courage
3. Commitment to Purpose

How we can incorporate her lessons:

• Embody Servant Leadership
• Trust in a Higher Calling
• Act with Courage and Integrity

Sandra’s book: Deborah Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Unlikely Heroes and the Book of Judges (Epic of Eden)

Learn more about Sandra.

Additional Resources

Stay grounded in your faith and aligned to God's Purpose this year. Sign up for Monthly Bible Verse intentions sent right to your email.

When family Christmas traditions are adopted and implemented, you can alleviate stress. Instead of being like Mary, become more like Martha and enjoy the time with family. Holiday traditions make shopping easier and create memory-making opportunities for generations to come.

“We reveal to ourselves and others what is important to us by the way we celebrate.” ― Noël Piper, Treasuring God in Our Traditions

Scripture provides many examples of Biblical and familial traditions. Many are in the Old Testament, and our friends in the Jewish community still celebrate them today, for example, Passover.

Our Christian traditions honor Christ: waving palm branches on Palm Sunday, fasting during Lent, lighting the Advent wreath, displaying a nativity, and many more.

Several years ago, I read Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noël Piper. It was a beautiful reminder of incorporating traditions into our daily lives while raising our children. Treasuring God in Our Traditions inspired me to implant traditions more deeply in my children's hearts.

We have always had family traditions. It was a priority for me to establish them as our children grew. I wanted specific expressions of love foundational for our children and, someday, their children. I dreamt of hearing them request certain traditions or share their memories with new additions to the family. Some of our traditions have become non-negotiable; they are must-haves, especially during the holiday season, special days, and birthdays.

Our family traditions include meals, special foods, gifts, and attending church services. There is no greater tradition than honoring, praising, and worshiping the Lord with family and friends. What if, especially at, but not limited to, the holiday season, we create new traditions that honor the Lord and set aside time to show our gratitude for him and the blessings He has generously bestowed upon us throughout the year?

Not all traditions, however, must be rooted in faith, but when we are faithful, our traditions will reflect love and our relationship with Christ.

In Luke 10:38-42, we learn the story of Martha, who, alongside her sister Mary, welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary immediately sat at Jesus' feet and listened to him teach. Martha, stricken with anxiety over her to-do list, quickly became upset that Mary was not helping her. When she asked Jesus if he cared that Mary had left her to do all the work, Jesus said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Read the full show notes for the list of family Christmas traditions.

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Schedule a discovery call with Robyn.

Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noël Piper

These essential strategies to master sales include shifting your mindset and integrating effective branding, marketing, and sales systems.

Moving from an entrepreneur mindset to a CEO mindset involves letting go of the do-it-all mentality and focusing on being the master of vision and strategy. Focus on doing the things only you can do, and hire a team to accomplish other tasks over time. This allows you to concentrate on high-level strategic initiatives. When you stop overthinking and let go of the need to handle everything, you are less exhausted and have more energy to continue building your purpose-driven business.

Branding, marketing, and sales form the foundation of business success.

Branding

Your personal brand defines who you are and what you stand for. It should be centered around your values. Your unique personal brand is what your clients see and feel; ultimately, it's their perception of you. To maintain a strong brand identity, your personal branding should be consistent across all platforms.

Marketing

Marketing is an attraction conversation; it is about attracting and getting people to look at your offerings.

Sales

Sales is a conversion conversation. It is not enough to have people look at you. Your marketing messaging must be clear and direct people where to buy.

About Dena Patton

Dena is dedicated to helping people own their worth, unleash their greatness, and create lasting impact in their businesses, families, and communities. As a global keynote speaker and bestselling author of The Greatness Game, Dena has inspired audiences worldwide. Dana shares her expertise on leadership, a great mindset, and purpose-driven living. Her work has been seen on CNN, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Business Journal, and various other media outlets.

Website for Dena Patton

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Are you ready to eliminate the guesswork of building a sustainable business? Schedule a free discovery call today!

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The foundation for success in businesses and nonprofits lies within organizational efficiency. Learn more about how the impact method can bring clarity to your nonprofit.

Starting a business can be a gamble, with 23 % of businesses failing in the first year and 50% failing in the first five years. One huge reason for this is a lack of a solid foundation. Setting up systems and processes and having organizational efficiency are key components of a solid business foundation.

The Impact Method helps organizations identify any bottlenecks in their current workflows and move toward organizational efficiency. It's an acronym for Investigate, Map, Prioritize, Act, Codify, and Train.

• Investigate: This first step involves understanding where things are not working well. It requires an honest look at existing workflows and an openness to change for organizational efficiency.

• Map: The next step is mapping out solutions. It's crucial to look at other systems and, as technology advances, to look at the features of your systems so that you are making the most of the systems you have.

• Prioritize: Not all problems can be solved at once. Your budget and timeframe can help determine which tasks to tackle first.

• Act: This is a crucial step to see change. Once you have mapped out your plans, you need to put your plan in motion.

• Codify: You must document your processes. Strong SOPs allow your organization to retain valuable knowledge when team members leave, or new ones join.

• Train: Ensuring everyone is aware of and trained in the new processes is vital for maintaining organizational efficiency.

Efficiency in processes doesn't just benefit internal operations; having strong SOPs impacts donor and client retention. These SOPs enhance customer service, ensuring that clients and donors feel valued, which is crucial for long-term success.

About Stephanie Sloan

Stephanie’s niche is helping nonprofits master organizational efficiency. Her passion is helping them thrive through strategic tech solutions and simplified and documented workflows. Organizations work with Stephanie to unlock their organization’s potential, one process at a time.

Website for Stephanie Sloan

Stephanie's EBook 6 Myths about SOPs...and why your organization can't afford to ignore them!

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This can often feel intimidating. The key to successful marketing is to align it with your purpose and values.

Focus on these three components to achieve successful marketing with purpose: authenticity, intention, and generosity.

Embracing Authenticity

With so much focus on social media, fake authenticity may feel rampant. Genuine authenticity comes from being transparent and truly understanding your purpose. It involves knowing why you started your business and having the courage to share your mission consistently with your audience. Being transparent and honest with your audience builds trust, which is foundational in relationship marketing.

The Power of Intention

With so many tools and marketing platforms available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, and frequently, businesses are doing too much. Less is more when marketing with purpose. You want to be intentional about where you spend your time and who you surround yourself with. Think about your soulmate client and look for 2-3 of the biggest blocks that they are facing and provide thoughtful and impactful solutions for these potential clients. Rather than spreading your efforts thinly across multiple marketing channels, focus on 1-2 areas, do them well, and stick with them. Marketing with purpose means being very intentional about where you focus your efforts and keeps you aligned with your broader goals.

Generosity as a Superpower

Generosity is not commonly seen as a marketing strategy but is a crucial component of marketing with purpose. Giving without expecting anything in return helps build relationships. When you ask someone to meet with you, you ask them for their time. Instead, try offering something that you believe will be helpful for them; giving something without asking for anything in return helps form strong connections and trust.

You can provide a lot of information without giving it all away. Consider what you can offer that provides a sound idea of the bigger picture of your services - what you offer and how you help your clients—the solution you provide for them.

Marketing with purpose is not just about selling products or services; it's about building relationships grounded in authenticity, intention, and generosity. Entrepreneurs can build trust and cultivate lasting connections with their audience by focusing on these core elements. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or starting your business, these principles (authenticity, generosity, and your superpower) can guide you to more meaningful and effective marketing strategies.

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