Recently, I made three big announcements about the direction of my business. Here in Episode 80 of Just One Simple Thing, I’m sharing how I made those decisions, and I hope it helps you make decision in your own ministry or business.These decisions all stand on the foundation of a biblical principle that God has been unraveling in my heart for the past year.In Jeremiah 5:22. God said, “I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.”A barrier is movable. It’s usually temporary and there is a way over, under or around it.Boundaries are more permanent ... an “everlasting barrier.”In Psalm 16:6, David say, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant spaces; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” See, God doesn’t give us boundaries to frustrate us or harm us. He gives them to us for our protection and for our good ... and when we live comfortably within our boundaries, we find ourselves in pleasant, spacious places.  Let’s talk about how that plays into the three announcements I recently made.1. I’m making a shift to focus in on women who are building their God-inspired dream while working full time. I'll be sharing more of what I've learned about doing both, and promoting my resources and coaching that are available nights and weekends. My goal is to provide for those of you experiencing these same boundaries the resources and opportunities it has been difficult to find for myself. The first thing I’ve created for you is a guide to the Honor System .... The four principles that help me honor all the work that God has given me to do. You can grab it here.2.  The Move Forward Mastermind will end  after September. There is another verse about boundaries in the Bible and it speaks to the second big decision I made.  2 Sam 22:20 says, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."It will take a lot of work to make the shift, and I don’t believe God wants me to pile that work on top of all the things I’m already doing. Right now, I’m thinking I’ll come back in the first part of next year with a new group program based on what I learn about my new target audience.3.  I'm hosting a retreat! I wanted to create a spacious place for you ... space for you to focus and set yourself up for success in 2023 by knocking out a big chunk of work. So, I'm hosting a working in-person retreat to give you 20 hours of time and space to do whatever needs doing in your ministry or business. You can find more info and reserve your spot at doanewthing.com/retreat. If you don't fall in that group of "women working full time while building their dream on the side", I want you to know you are still welcome here. ACTION STEPLook at your boundaries and your barriers. Are you clear on which are which? Have you been treating your boundaries as a barrier, and killing yourself to move them? RESOURCESDownload the new guide, How to Pursue Your God-Dream While Working Full-Time Join us for the Do Your Thing Retreat!++++++++++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. 

Curious about what I learned by doing 30 Reels in 30 days on Instagram? Maybe the better question is what did I learn by getting out of my comfort zone and doing the hard thing. I’ll answer both questions in Episode 79 of Just One Simple Thing. Stay tuned!Y’all. Do you ever get a crazy idea and then wonder what ever in the world made you think it was a good idea? For a lot of us, that happens at least once a day.I decided to do a series of Instagram Reels .... One every day in the month of August.As it turned out, it wasn’t as hard as I expected and it was actually fun ... sometimes. So here are a few things I learned from doing 30 reels in 30 days.1. There is no guarantee of instant growth.While it may be tempting to buy into the hype that this is a super growth strategy, it actually re-inforced my belief that there is no “one thing” that is going to make all the difference in your ministry or business journey. 2. Some things work, and other things don’t.It’s more important than ever to learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and doing a Reel every day gave me plenty of opportunity to try different things.3. A plan and a system make everything easier.I would have never made it to the end of the month if I had tried to create all new stuff for this series.4. Everything is more fun with a friend.My friend Wren Robbins and I discovered that we were both doing reels every day in August. During the month, we checked on and encouraged each other.Overall, I’m glad I did 30 reels in 30 days. I learned a lot about how my audience consumes content on Instagram, how to create good reels, and how things are changing on the platform. But most importantly, I learned a lot about myself. I can do hard things outside of my comfort zone, but in order to do that, I have to set myself up for success.ACTION STEPWhat is the hard thing you feel God leading you to do? The thing that could help you grow or learn a new skill? Name it, then make a plan to do it! If you head to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, you’ll find a template you can use to capture your commitment. Share it on your social media and tag me @doanewthing so I can cheer you on!RESOURCERocket Your Reach –Create a plan to increase your reach and visibility by showing up, growing up, and glowing ++++++++++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. 

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, relationships are the engine of growth. But some people struggle with building a network of relationships to support their ministry or business. Hang on for Episode 78 of Just Simple Thing, where you’ll learn the 4 things you need to be to make connections.When I say, “What’s the key to growing your ministry or business?” what’s the first thing you think of? Social media? Paid ads? Splashy events?What if I told you the best answer is relationships. Would you believe me? Well, it’s true. Relationships are the hidden passageway to open doors. Referrals, opportunities, resources ... they can all come through maintaining a wide network of relationships.So if you are wanting to create new connections and develop relationships that can be mutually leveraged to help you both, listen up for these tips.1. Be a noticer.When you see the same person pop up in several places, you might want to get to know them better, because you obviously have some things in common.2. Be a promoter.Be generous with your platform even if your platform is much smaller than their’s.3. Be an initiator.Reach out with an email or message to initiate a relationship.  If you are nervous about reaching out directly, see if you have any mutual friends who could make an introduction for you.4. Be a connector.Once you’ve gotten to know people, start introducing them to each other. Help them connect with people who can solve their problems or help them move forward in some way.ACTION STEPI want you to identify one person that you’d like to connect with ...just one. That’s not so hard, is it? Reach to them and ask if they’d be willing to have short call with you to get to know it each other. Then let me know how it goes for you!And if you’d like to connect with me, you are welcome to schedule a free 20-minute Define call.  I look forward to chatting with you!RESOURCESSchedule your DEFINE call here Better Together: Grow Your Reach and Influence Through Collaborations and Partnerships++++++++++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. 

Is your schedule changing as fast as the fall leaves on the trees? If you are adjusting to a new rhythm, jump into this episode where you’ll learn three ways to transition into the changing seasons.For many people, the transition between Summer and Fall marks a significant shift in their schedule.If you aren’t careful, you’ll wake up one morning and find yourself wrapping Christmas presents, wondering where the last quarter of the year went. But a few simple strategies can help you create some momentum and make progress on your goals and projects before the end of the year. First, tie up all the loose ends from the summer. Unpack from vacation, close the books on any special events you did, change out your wardrobe .... Whatever that looks like for you.Second, set aside a few hours to decide what you want to accomplish in the rest of the year. Check back in on those goals you set at the beginning of the year, but don’t be too proud to  adjust them based on how the year has gone.And third ... this is the most important ... block out your time and create a new schedule. And then for at least two weeks, violently protect the schedule.While you are sticking to the schedule, keep a list of things that you wanted to do, but didn't.Then, at the end of the week, look at the list of things you DIDN'T do.Should you adjust your schedule to allow time for them? This method helps you balance your schedule between the things you NEED to do and the things you WANT to do and arrive at a middle ground that keeps you productive AND happy.I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about the changes coming, and not just because I’m a lover of pumpkin spice everything. The change in seasons is a chance to reset ... to reconnect with what God has called me to do and who he has called me to serve. Afterall, the seasons may change, but God never changes. His calling hasn’t changed. So let’s huddle around our PSL’s, pull out all the plaid flannels, and bring our best to the new season.ACTION STEP:Grab your planner and map out that new schedule. Then stick to it! Snap a picture of it, share it on your social media and tag me @doanewthing so I can come cheer you on.And I want to give a shout out to Kari Bartkus, host of the Let’s Encourage One Another podcast. Kari had this to say about Just One Simple Thing: I’m big on making sure that what I do is founded on what God shares with us in His Word, so I absolutely love that Christa offers us practical action steps based on His truth.” Thanks, Kari! If you want a shout out on a future episode, be sure to leave a review on Apple podcasts and you just might hear your name called!RESOURCES:Build A Better Week –my signature weekly planning system that will help you craft your new schedule.++++++++++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. 

Creating a strategy for your ministry or business may sound like a complicated, overwhelming thing. And who needs one more overwhelming thing on their plate right now? But when you break it down into four key areas, and keep things simple, you’ll get all the benefits of a strategy, without the overwhelm. Let’s see what that looks like.On the last episode of Just One Simple Thing, we talked about strategy.We broke it down into a simple formula to wrap our heads around .... Purpose + a Plan + a System = A Strategy. If you missed it, go back to Episode 75 and listen to a Biblical example and a modern-day example of how that breaks down. A strategy is more than something you just write down in your planner and check back on a few times a year. It’s an important tool that can simplify things for you if you use it right. When you have taken the time to create a good strategy, that strategy will act as a filter.It also helps you stay focused and saves time.And when you are using it as a filter and to stay focused, you’ll have more confidence in your decisions and stop second guessing everything.Four strategies that you need for your business or ministry.1. Marketing Strategy2. Content Strategy3. Financial Strategy4. Administrative StrategyI know that sounds like a LOT ... but really, it’s not so bad. Break things down in these buckets, and then develop a strategy for where you are headed in each area.You can put up simple, intentional guardrails to guide your work so you can move toward your goals with confidence.ACTION STEP:Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab the strategy worksheet, if you didn’t already get after the last episode. I’ve also added a checklist to consider for each strategy area, and a few tips for creating your strategy. Pick the one area that feels the most out of control for you, and start working your strategy. Remember ... keep it simple .... A Purpose, A Plan, and A SystemAnd hey .... Can you do me a favor? Let me know how this is working for you. I’m creating a new resource for you with more detail on developing your strategy, and I’d love to know what questions or sticking points you come up against. You can email me at [email protected] or catch up with me on Facebook or Instagram@doanewthingRESOURCES:Confused to Confident Webinar -Three essentials to pick your next right step and implement it like a pro++++++++++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. 

You may have heard me talk about the Idea Tornado ... the swirl of ideas floating around in your head. But did you know you really have TWO tornados in there? You also have a problem tornado ... all the things you think are standing in the way of progress. The only thing that can tame these twin tornados is a strategy. So let’s dive in to Episode 75 of Just One Simple Thing and learn how to create one.I’ve found that a lot of people, especially Christian women, and most especially Christian women in ministry, dislike the word “strategy”.But if you’ve been around here very long, I hope one lesson you have taken away from Just One Simple Thing is that God is very strategic, and he left us many examples of his strategic nature through the stories in His Word. So let’s break down one of those stories and learn how you can create a strategy. In 1 Kings 5, you’ll find the story of two kings ... Solomon, who was trying to build the temple, and his neighbor, Hiram.In this simple story, we see all the elements for a good strategy. Purpose + plan + system = strategy. It starts with a purpose.  Solomon was very specific about the problem he was trying to solve. He needed wood and had no way to get it. When you are picking the problem you want to solve, be very specific, and get away from the low-hanging fruit. Solve the problems that are impacting you the most.Which brings us to the second element of a good strategy ... a plan. Solomon’s plan was to reach out to Hiram for help. In his message, he was very clear about what he needed and how he hoped to get it with Hiram’s help. When you are creating your plan, you always want to be clear on what “solved” looks like and devise a plan that is going to deliver that solution.And the third element of a strategy is a system. You need a way to implement your plan. Solomon implemented his plan by exchanging grain and olive oil for cypress and juniper logs. How will you implement your plan?Purpose + Plan + System = StrategySolomon needed a strategy to get the materials needed for the temple. The purpose of the strategy was obtaining wood. The plan was negotiating an exchange with a friendly partner. The system was trading grain and olive oil for cypress and juniper logs. He had a strategy. Let’s look at a modern day example. Say your problem is that your audience is not growing. You need a strategy to solve that problem. The purpose  is get in front of new people so you can attract new members to your community. Your plan could be to speak at more events. Your system might be to hire a speaker coach to help you develop your signature message, and research event planners and how to apply to speak at their events.ACTION STEPHead over to my free Facebook group Plan &Pray with Do A New Thing and grab the Strategy Worksheet. Use it to brainstorm through the purpose, plan and system for a strategy to solve one of your biggest problems. Need some help taming your tornados? I have some spots open for free 20-minute calls and I’d love to help you. You’ll find the link to schedule your call below, or reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram @doanewthingRESOURCEFree 20-minute call with Christa –Schedule here++++++++++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. 

Congratulations! Your ministry or business is growing! You are finally seeing the fruit of all your hard work. But that hard work has worn you out and it’s time to find some help! In Episode 74 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four tips for building your team by looking at how Jesus built his.I know that many of you are solopreneurs or ministry leaders and when you’ve built something born out of your gifts and passions, it’s hard to let anything go. Nobody can do it quite as well as you can, right? Deep down, you know that attitude is an accelerator on the road to burnout. When things get bigger than you can handle on your own, it’s time to build a team. But how do you find the right people? People you can trust? People are great at what they do so you can be great at what YOU do?Whether you are hiring your first freelance help, or gathering a ministry leadership team around you, there are some lessons we can learn from the way that Jesus built the team that would share his work and his life.1. He got to know them before calling them to His inner circle.2. Jesus evaluated people based on their potential, not their current position.3. Jesus watched them when they didn’t know he was looking.4. And as he did before every other major event, Jesus prayed about it.Yes, it can be scary to start building your team when you have been doing everything yourself. But when you build with the right people, it frees you up to do your own best work.ACTION STEPHead to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and you’ll find worksheets to help you research and interview so you can make intentional decisions. I love hearing from podcast listeners .... Kristine Brown, author of the book Cinched: Living with Unwavering Faith in an Unfailing God said, “I love listening to podcasts that help me grow as a speaker, writer, and communicator. But I also struggle to find an extra 45 minutes in my day to listen. Christa gets me on the right track with one simple, doable step forward in just 10 –15 minutes. Now that’s progress.If you’d like a shout out, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a review. You just might hear your name on a future episode.RESOURCESCinched: Living with Unwavering Faith in an Unfailing God by Kristine Brown++++++++++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. 

How do you handle doubt? Do you wallow in it and allow it to throw you off your game?  Or do you confidently fight back with God’s Word?  Somewhere in between?  In Episode 73, we’ll learn how to stand up to doubt, whether it is attacking from the outside, or from inside.If you are actively pursuing a calling, you have probably encountered doubt.   It can come in different forms. Sometimes, it comes from the outside.  Other times, it comes from the inside.However it comes, we don't have to give in to the soul-crushing fear that often follows doubt.  When we are confident in God's calling and are walking in faithful obedience to our purpose, we can stand up to those internal or external attacks of doubt.  A great Biblical leader shows us how in Nehemiah 6.When doubt and fear tried to attack Nehemiah with rumors and frightening thoughts, Nehemiah taught us two principles for standing in our calling with confidence.1. When doubt attacks with hurtful comments from others, speak the truth.Nehemiah spoke truth into the situation and didn’t allow others to fill in the gaps and tell their own version of his story. He didn’t allow them to assign motives that weren’t his.  So own your story.  Share it with passion and conviction.2. When doubt attacks with frightening thoughts, pray for strength in the area of attack.Nehemiah recognized the tactics of his enemies.They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed."  But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9 (NIV)Nehemiah prayed for God to strengthen him in the exact place where doubt was attacking.When God has given us a clear vision of our purpose, we need to rest confidently in that vision and faithfully ask for strength instead of constantly begging for confirmation.I love Nehemiah.  He was a strong, confident leader who never wavered in his dedication to his assignment.  By speaking truth and praying for strength, he stood up to doubt and inspired a nation to do what his enemies said was impossible.ACTION STEPLet’s take a challenge together. What one area of your business or ministry is being attacked by doubt? Will you commit to praying for the next 30 days for God to strengthen you in that area?  Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook  and share what you are praying for so I can pray with you.RESOURCESAre you struggling with doubt because you haven’t figured out your next step? Check out my free webinar From Confused to Confident. ++++++++++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. 

Have you ever joined a group or a community, or maybe started a new job … and they just threw you in, expecting you to know how things work?  That’s what it’s like for your new email subscribers.  They sometimes feel like they’ve dropped into an ongoing conversation and they aren’t quite sure how to catch up.  In Episode 72 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn how to create a simple email welcome series to develop a relationship with your new subscribers and get them engaged.Let’s think about why you need a welcome series. There are three main reasons:It Introduces you and your message to your new audience member and develops your relationship with them.  It “trains” them to open your email. It weeds out unsubscribers, which increases deliverability of your main emails.Before you start writing your welcome series, you need to know the goal of your specific series.  What is the main thing you want readers to do when they complete your series? People are more likely to do what you want them to do if they know, like, and trust you. The basic welcome series has four emails ... the Know email, the Like email, the Trust email, and the Wrap Up or Buy email.The Know email tells them who you are, what they can expect from you, and why it matters.The Like email demonstrates your style and your voice. It is highly relatable, with links to your most helpful content.The Trust email shows your experience and expertise, including feedback and testimonials from other readers, clients, or students.The Wrap-up or Buy email is a gentle ask for what you want to happen next.Tips for a Successful Welcome SeriesBe sure to let them know what to expectEnd each email with an opportunity to respondLeave a “cliffhanger” for the next emailGive your current subscribers an opportunity to read your new seriesLevitcus 19:33-34 says  “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land.  Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."I think that’s really good advice. I know I have felt like a foreigner in a new space, and in those situations, I tend to hold back around the edges until I feel like I know, like and trust the new people I am around.  So that’s what you want from your email welcome series … to help your new subscribers go from foreigners to friends. ACTION STEP:Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your free Welcome Series planner.  It’s a handy worksheet that will help you map out your Know, Like and Trust emails before you start writing.RESOURCE:You’re Welcome Webinar – A training webinar that goes into more detail about creating your welcome series.++++++++++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. 

What do you need to do in order to have a great launch? Is there a formula for guaranteed success, or is it all just one big shot in the dark every time you launch?We’re wrapping up our mini series on launching with a special episode. You’ll hear a conversation between my friend Esther Littlefield and I all about how to have your best launch ever. You’ll learn the3 essentials to having a successful launch... including one that you may have overlooked in the past. Oh, and be sure to stick around to the end of our conversation for a special time-sensitive announcement!Over the past 6 years, we’ve launched everything from coaching to services to freebies to courses and memberships... and we’ve had some launches that completely flopped, and others that flourished. After years of being behind the scenes of dozens of launches PLUS doing several of our own launches, we’ve learned that every successful launch must have 2 key components: A solid marketing strategy AND clear launch plan.That’s why last summer, we created the Level Up Your Launch Method and taught it inside of a masterclass. But over the past year, we’ve talked with our community members and clients and we realized when you have to go through the launch process alone, it can be really tough. We realized that there’s one more key ingredient, aside from a strategy and a plan, that will supercharge a launch: support.There are 3 main types of support that you could benefit from in your launch:1. A guide / coach / mentor2. Accountability3. Community / friends / biz bestiesWe’ve learned that anyone can develop a strategy and create their launch plan-especially if they use our Level Up Your Launch method. And you CAN have a successful launch on your own. BUT it’s a whole lot more fun, and it’s often more successful, when you do it with support.So now you know what you need in order to have your best launch ever. But we wanted to find a way to support you even more. We both have students and clients who are often looking for that added support to get their launch accomplished. So we have created Level up Your Launch LIVE -An 8 week guided experience to your best launch ever!Level Up Your Launch LIVE will help you:Feel confident that your offer and marketing strategy will appeal to your community (instead of launching something that might not be what your community needs)Be prepared and equipped to complete the tasks necessary to get your launch out the door (instead of randomly doing tasks that may or may not be important)Actually enjoy the launch process (instead of feeling lonely and confused)Learn more about what is included in Level Up Your Launch Live here.++++++++++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.