The Unemployed Entrepreneur
Today, I celebrate one year as a full time entrepreneur. WHEW! This past year has been excruciatingly hard, but not once did I get the urge to slide over to indeed.com to look for a new job. And that is major in my eyes, okay!
The beginning of this journey was definitely giving ‘unemployed entrepreneur’. The original vision for my business didn’t feel completely right, but I also had no other ideas developed. And for me, if things aren’t clear, I’m not budging or I’m going to move really slow until more clarity comes. Long story short, I like to control my outcomes and avoid problems. Completely reasonable, right? I must say, being a mom of a ‘threenager’ and this entrepreneurship journey has done a good job of breaking me out of that mindset.
You see, the benefit of excessive control is an illusion. As humans, we have limited capacity. We can’t control it all, we can’t do it all. So the more we take on (unnecessarily), the less control we actually have over the things we should control like our time, emotions, energy, thoughts…the list goes on and on.
So why did I quit my job? Very simply put, because I felt God told me to. I also got a revelation, that as good as life was, there was more available for me IF I wanted it. I heard a voice tell me that Jesus did not die on the cross for me to have a good life. My God is great and has greatness stored up for me if I was willing to accept the invitation. And you know what? That was enough for me. That voice was enough for me to deny my naturally-cautious self. That voice was enough for me to step away from my good job with a promising future. That voice was enough for me to follow in faith.
Faith produces a response, an action. So, although this past year started off confusing, emotional, and even a bit scary, my initial reason for accepting the invitation was enough to keep me going. My faith kept me going even when this journey seemed pointless (and dare I be transparent and say at times it even seemed counter-intuitive). But as I began to dig deep and settle in to each moment, I got a glimpse of purpose, passion, and progress. In all the turmoil of trying to figure things out, I must say, I managed to accomplish much. And in all the things I’ve done, I’m most proud of who I became.
Much of my identity was tangled in my accomplishments – being a Christian, wife, mom, homeowner, college grad, good steward over my finances, decent human being. All that made me feel like I was somebody, like I had something valuable to offer the world. I mean God should be pleased with me taking advantage of the life He’d given me, right? Well, the unemployed entrepreneur phase got me no faux ‘value points’. Being an overachiever and perfectionist…without a job, who was I? What did I have to offer the world? How would I measure my worth?
Those questions without a readily available answer left me no choice but to circle back to the basics. What does God say about me? When a product doesn’t work properly, what better source of truth than the manufacturer? So, before I could establish any purposeful business, I had to first redefine who I was in God. And that’s when I really began to bloom.
I’m so glad to be on the other side of 2022. A lot of great learning experiences and momentum established, but I’m ready to see what’s next for me, for Blooma, for you. So in the vein of doing new things and stepping out, I’ve started this blog - It’s All for a Purpose. Here I plan to share my thoughts that have been shaped by experience, education, and the wisdom of God.
If there are ever any topics you want to read about, just hit me up. We’re in this thing together!
Until next time, be sure to show yourself a little truth, love, and grace.
Key Takeaways:
Control is an illusion.
So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. Pslam 55:22 TPT
My God is great and has greatness stored up for me if I accept the invitation.
For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as a sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give. Romans 8: 32 TPT
Faith produces action.
So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony. James 2:17 TPT
What does God say about you?
Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus – all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts! And in love he chose us before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace – for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure! Ephesians 1:3-6 TPT
Stay tuned for all things Blooma!