My Rough Draft

In this episode, I share a quick note from my journal on finding your space in the crowds. Always know there's room for you. This story is an ode to my hometown city -- Atlanta, GA

In today's episode, we interview business coach, project manager, and contributor Merlinda Francois!

Timestamps 

• 0:00 Introduction 
• 5:45 Merlinda’s career journey 
• 11:35 How your experiences and your career helps your business
• 14:28 How to manage different projects in your career and business
• 19:03 When you wont to quit your business
• 25:00 Best and worst investments  for your business
• 35:00 Balancing love and business
• 41:42 The burden of a successful career and business
• 45:00: Exit plan to full-time entrepreneurship
• 49:00: More on Merlinda’s business 

Merlinda's links  

Disclaimer: While the tools shared in this episode are for educational purposes, this episode should not be used as a substitute for prioritizing your own mental health journey. These techniques are broad for the sake of our audience, and it is essential to gain the personal, specific help you need. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

In this episode of My Rough Draft Podcast, we are talking with licensed associate professional counselor, Victoria Glover, on how to prioritize your mental health as an entrepreneur, content creator, influencer, creative or working professional!   

Building your brand and business can often come with stress, fear, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. But the fear, anxiety, and depression you're experiencing can also be a symptom of unresolved trauma. Today Victoria and I talk about why entrepreneurs can be subject to more triggers and deal with more mental health issues. We also share practical tools, resources, and exercises to heal, learn your triggers, and prioritize your mental health on a daily basis! 

Questions mentioned in today's episode

1. Are you outside your scope? 

2. Are there underlying mental issues?

3. Are you misaligned with your season? 

4. Are you misaligned with your why?

5. Are you being called to do things a different way?

6. Do you need to loop God back in? 

Links mentioned in today's episode:

Many times, we only keep track of how many times we fail. But, God keeps track of how many times we get back up.

Personal Links

Bible Reference John 11:1-44 CSB

Personal Links

Timestamp and Key Questions 

2:22 - Q: What has 2020 taught you? Describe your 2020 in one word, and state how that one word has impacted your life.

6:01 - Q: What were the biggest lessons you learned in 2020 about your faith, life, purpose, & work?

12:03 - Q: What has self care looked like for you in 2020? Is there anything you need to change or adjust? 

13:40 - Q: What's been the hardest part of your journey? What makes it easier?

16:38 - Q: What’s been the most rewarding thing that's happened to you this year? What are you most proud of?

19:23- Q: What are you excited for next? What are some of your 2021 goals?

Work Redefined Consulting Agency Links

Listen y'all as a fellow 9-5preneur, I did not have time to edit this podcast, so you are getting the raw version today! Done is better than perfect! But, take a listen to find quality tips & tools you can use to maximize your time and leverage your 9-5 for your other passions & businesses! 

Key Questions & Takeaways

Time Management

1 | How can block out time each morning to do a little of your passion before your 9-5 work? 

2 |Set office hours for your business or passion during the week, and set a clear intention for each office hours session.

Making your 9-5 Work for your Business

3 | Allow your 9-5 to fund your passion/business. Allow your 95 to provide flexibility when taking risks in your side projects.

4 | Let your 9-5 give you credibility for your business. Leverage the skills and experience to establish yourself as an expert in your field. How can you pivot your current skills to serve a business solution for someone else?

Other Helpful Episodes:

- Season 1 Episode 5 : Tips for Maximizing your 9-5 when Underemployed

- Season 3 Episode 3 : 5 Keys to Personal Branding & Social Networking for your Career

- Season 1 Episode 8 : Managing a 9-5 and a Side Hustle / Business/ Platform with Takara Smith 

- Season 1 Episode 4 : When God Told Me To Quit My Job - Interview with Tanay Abrams

Mentions from today's episode :

1. Book - I am my Brand - Kubi Springer

Main Takeaways

1. We have to do it with Him - We have center our desires around Him and for many of us this will be done through a time of prayer & fasting

2. Give space for the new. Don’t just look to current strategies and what you see. 

3. Prepare as if it’s already done. 

Takeaway's from today's episode

1. Shift our mindset from pending to final.

2. Spend less time trying to prove your gift, spend more time walking in it.

3. Your works alone won’t get you there. We must depend on God’s grace and power to finish the work.

Key Takeaways

1. When working with your clients, it's important to set clear communication channels and stick to them.

BONUS 2.  Set boundaries in your business by setting business hours.

3. Be clear on who you serve and what you do. Decide what add ons you and won’t allow.

4. Focus less on giving discounts and more on overdelivering in quality.

Scripture mentioned today : Proverbs 4:23-27 NLT

Key Takeaways

1. Guard our vision by guarding our thoughts.

2. Guard our vision by guarding our mouths.

3. Guard our vision by keeping our eyes on our own path TODAY and not getting sidetracked by TOMORROW.

Key takeaways

1- Business Plan doesn’t tell the WHY of your business. You have to incorporate your story using a storytelling plan

2- Business plan doesn’t tell you HOW the work will actually get done. 

3 - Business plan doesn’t tell you the WHEN every activity needs to get done and HOW much it will cost.

So, what you need is a PROJECT PLAN. A project plan consists of outlining each task, each task's deadline, each task's responsible person, and each task's cost.

I do offer project management services that comes with a 30 minute complimentary consultation. For the last 5 years, I’ve been helping launch projects in the healthcare industry managing multi-million dollar projects, and I bring that same expertise to the everyday 9-5 or solopreneurs.You don’t have to do this alone.

Having a project plan doesn’t just pertain to business, this can also be used for those who are transitioning to a new career, and you need a detailed plan and timeline of when you want to  apply to schools and jobs, when you need to reach out to certain people, when you need to focus on networking, etc. 

So, let me connect the dots for your next launch!

Verses from today's episode : Psalm 37:1-9 CSB

Bible used : She Reads Truth Bible

Key Takeaways

1. Identify your values and strengths. Communicate how they bring RESULTS.

2. Create a SIGNATURE LOOK.

3. Utilize Social Networking PERIOD specifically LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

4. Forget the myth that your Personal Brand has to always be PROFESSIONAL. Forget the myth that your personal brand has to be EITHER professional OR creative OR lifestyle. We want to see all of YOU.

5. Understand that your PERSONAL BRAND has little do with you and more about who is called TO YOU.

Bonus tip : 6. BECOME first. DO second. Your personal BRAND first starts from your personal BEING. Who you are WITHIN will show who you are OUTWARDLY. 

[Links!]

TIME STAMPS & KEY NOTES

3:20 //  Episode Start

5:54 // I know that I’m not going to get everything done today, but I’m going to do what I can with the grace I have for today.

Read Hebrews 4 

10:30 // ONE // Step back & understand the bigger picture. God’s view of you goes far beyond what you do. 

18:15 // TWO // God can do more than less because when His hand is on it, it’s on IT.

22:04 // THREE // Raise your Expectations and Standards 

25:02 // FOUR // Raise the level of Quality

27:26 // FIVE // Relax your timeline

30:20 // SIX // Realign to God's will through prayer and fasting

FINAL AFFIRMATION //  I understand that God is my Source. He has everything planned and worked out in His timing. Because He lives in me, I can work in rest and confidence knowing I’m being led through my gifts and talents. Everything can’t happen in on day. But, I won’t take for granted the importance to be faithful with each day. I won’t lose sight of what really matters today.

[Links!]

[Time Stamps from today's episode]

Trimming down spiritually - 3:00

Trimming down relationally - 12:49

Trimming down professionally - 18:00

[Links!]

Key Takeaways | Nehemiah 1-8

1 Rebuild your passion for the "people" God has called you to. Find your passion for the place vs only seeking to go to a higher "place". Pray & fast for the people God has called to you consistently. Do the research to learn their true problems and needs.

2 Learn the balance between speaking out in boldness and moving in silence. 

3 Expect Opposition. Know that opposition shows in many different forms. 

4 Delegate & organize your work. Build the proper system while you're starting out/small. 

Book Mentioned in Today's Episode : Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels

1:10 How do you handle low seasons when you still have to show up?

3:34 How is the book writing going? 

4:20 Do you feel like you’re making a difference? Why do you continue to post content?

8:28 Did you ever have a big come to Jesus moment?

10:40 If money, talent, or skill wasn’t an issue what would you be doing?

12:45 Are you enjoying singleness? Why or why not?

14:57 What are some changes/growth you’ve seen

19:20 You work so hard what do you do to relax? 

21:10 Where are you in your faith, work, & Business

28:05 What motivates me?

Takeaways from today's episode

(1) Stick to a system that works for you where you can build consistency.

(2) Be flexible and in tune with God & what He’s doing even when it’s “inconvienient”

(3) Forgo finishing your exhaustive to-do list and set 2-4 daily priorities instead.

(4) Make the decision to do a little every day or a lot on one day. 

(5) Set clear boundaries with yourself and others. 

(6) Know that it’s going to take up a lot of time initially, but time will free up as you go on and better your skill.

Scripture reference : Joshua 18:1-7 NLT

Takeaways from today's episodes:

The way to growth is simplification. 

- I simplified my overall goal in my work and business by reconnecting with my OVERALL WHY in life.

- I simplified my tools and methods in my work+ business by….eliminating unnecessary subscriptions, simplifying my apps, making smart investments, and focusing on consistency vs growth. 

- I simplified my tools and methods in my work + business by investing smart. This takes honest evaluation. The right investment at the wrong time is still a bad investment. Get clear on your vision so that you can get clear on what you actually need, and pray for discernment.

- Focus on consistency vs growth. If people’s affirmations determine your work ethic, you will never be stable in any plan God has for you. We allow THEM to control what’s supposed to be dedicated to HIM.

- Give yourself a timeline of consistency before you start something new or invest. What’s one small way you can invest your time and what you currently have to build momentum?

- I simplified my IDEAS by doing an honest evaluation of my time and resources to set realistic expectations.

- I simplified my IDEAS by limiting my knowledge intake and focusing more on my  application output.

- I simplified my IDEAS by sticking to what God tells me to say. 

Timestamps from today's episode

1:45 Intro to Victoria 

2:45 Where Victoria is spiritually, professionally, & mentally 

5:35 Victoria’s career journey to becoming a therapist 

11:40 The different types of mental health professionals & setting realistic expectations in therapy 

17:10 Faith + mental health 

21:10 Victoria’s faith journey

23:30 Healing from Toxic Relationships + The Journey is Celibacy 

33:10 Overcoming Shame 

36:42 Finding Healthy Balance in trusting God while still having your desires in singleness 

39:12 How to Put your Thoughts into Actions + Group Therapy 

45:10 Victoria’s Next Steps 

Finding a Therapist Resources

Takeaways from today's episodes

1 We embrace a form of self love called self discipline.

2 Real self discipline requires a surrender of our control.

3 Surrendering our control is how we trust Him with our unknown.

4. By trusting in Him, we become our best-self & grow in our purpose.

We become our best self & grow in our purpose when we trust Who created us for a purpose. We trust our Creator by surrendering our control to the Creator which requires self discipline which is a form of self love.

Videos mentioned in this episode

Find Helen on Social Media

Find Julya on Social Media

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:

This is our FINAL episode of Season 1 *literal tears*

Thank you everyone for your support on this new podcast!

We are going out with a bang!! This week, I talk about some of the lessons I've learned in my faith walk and living a life of purpose! Enjoy!

Today's Takeaways

1. God has to be THE ONE to fill every void, every insufficiency, every insecurity.

2. Self control is VITAL to really fulfilling your purpose.

3. Following God frfr is HARD, but total surrender and obedience are the keys to fully walking in your purpose.

4. Separation is God's protection. Don't hold on to people so tightly that you miss God.

5. Purpose isn't a destination; it's a beautiful puzzle with many pieces. When I stopped "finding" my purpose, I found my purpose. 

Email/DM us some of your lessons learned so we can share!

For the last series of the year, we are talking about lessons we've learned over the past decade!

Many times in the day to day circumstances, we may feel like we're not getting anywhere, but from God's perspective, we've come so far!

Today's Takeaways

Career Development

1. Job searching takes time and intentionality. Don't half way apply to anything, but follow up on everything. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job.

2. Instead of just applying on the larger job sites,  take the time to find companies within your field, and get as close to the inside as you can.

3. When interviewing, come with specific questions tailored to how your role plays into the larger company vision. Show that you're committed to the future of the company.

4. Don't allow work relationships to keep you from your bigger professional goals. Remain neutral, and don't engage with drama or allow workplace friendships to keep you stuck.

5. Make people remember you. Go the extra mile with every connection you make. Send thank you letters, send follow up emails, and go the extra mile when working with other departments.

6. Keep a work journal and QUANTIFY everything. Assess the current state of the role and your department before you arrived. Then, document the success (using specific data) you bring to the team and department.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

7. Build the proper policies, systems, and routines up front. Organization is the key to consistency.

8. Allow the big picture to inspire you, but don't allow the vision to deter you from starting small.

9. Use ready-made tools and templates if possible when starting out. Invest SMART.

10. You CAN DO BOTH. Stretch yourself. 

Email/DM us some of your lessons learned so we can share throughout this series!