Faith

If you get to know me, you'll learn that I'm very shy at times and I do not like attention at all. If I'm being honest, I've never had a great deal of confidence, so I never really took any risks and I never did much speaking up for myself. My family is really important to me, so I attended college close to home.  After college, I didn't even use my degree (social work) for a couple of years; just worked in the office at a family owned business, helped coach at another family owned business, and was a nanny for a few little ones in the family. 

It was a few ladies, alongside my mother and aunt, who God used to begin pulling me out of my shell after they finally showed me the value of personal growth and development. That came by way of a network marketing company and product that I fell in love with. I guess I can say I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. Not only did I need the product, but I needed the people.

The last 18 months seems like a blur: engaged, married, moved to a new city, new church family, building a business from home, first position using degree, moved again, second position using degree, attending another new church, launched another business from home (and that's not all). I absolutely HATE speaking in front of people and I'm doing more of that than I ever thought I would. Sharing these thoughts in this blog post is even uncomfortable. Now, I'm working on a second degree. In short, I have a dream of loving women and children back to life (restoration/biblical counseling) who have been rescued from human-trafficking, particularly sex slavery.

I share all of that to share this... It wasn't until I began trusting that God had something special for me that I really began to embrace the relationships and experiences around me, and how He was using them to shape me. I began learning how to take responsibility for what God has already given me (time, talent, touch, treasure), and I stopped wishing upon on a shooting star and I started working on my dream. I'm starting to see that what's behind one door will likely prepare you for what's behind the next door. 

And as I grow, I'm learning that it's not always about what door God opens or closes next... Often, it's about deciding what doors you will open or close, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's really about finding out where God is at work and choosing to join Him. There's an unexplainable holy confidence that comes with working with God. That confidence has helped me close doors I didn't think I could close and open ones I didn't believe I could open. And the beautiful thing about being married to someone who believes what you believe is the confidence that comes in knowing you don't have to walk through the next door alone.

Like Jeremy always says: love you guys, let's grow.

​Jaala

Business

​Everyone wants to hit a home run, but very few people are willing to strike out. It’s basically inevitable to have one without the other. Take it from “The King of Crash,” “The Sultan of Swat,” “The Great Bambino”… Mr. George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr., who not only set a MLB record for most home runs in a single season in 1923, but also for most strike outs that same year. He shared a timeless pearl with us when he said, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” At the closing of his professional baseball career he held records that stood in both statistical categories for decades. 

So, what’s the point here?  Here it is, don’t miss this… If you’re not failing, you’re not growing! Stop trying to be perfect. Squash the preconceived notion that successful people are far more talented than you. Toughness and tenacity have nothing to do with talent, and those who experience massive success usually do so because they have committed to growing through massive failure. The people who tip-toe on egg shells, worrying about messing up, and are scared to look silly in front of others for falling short, never get anything accomplished.

​Take the hard-working team at Murakami Manufacturing (MMUS) for example, a client who invited me in quarterly this year for corporate personal growth and development training with their leadership team (approximately 40 leaders). Glen, one of their outstanding servant leaders mentioned at the closing of our last session that they had been hit with several setbacks recently. But he went on to say that it was those very hiccups, missteps, and failures that allowed them to see that they had what it takes to figure things out, grow throught it, and get better as a team.

​Just like the team at MMUS, in order to produce, you must be willing to fail your way forward. Failure is a stepping stone to success, so work to fail intelligently so you can learn from your mistakes. And don't be afraid to swing for the fences to double your rate of failure. You will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Get ready… the bases are loaded and you’re on deck! Get ready to knock it out of the park in 2017!

Love you guys. Let's grow.

Ladies, you have to check out my friend, Brittany Young! She has some super creative DIY ideas for this Holiday Season: Certified Celebrator

We're loving on the stuggling youth in our community this Christmas by gifting them some essentials with the profits we generate from our special edition #ChristmasShirt. Shop here: This Is My Christmas Shirt