Business Women’s Lunch
It has been a while since I’ve been asked to speak on a panel at a conference lunch this week and as I prep this week to speak to 150-200 women in business, I thought about the topics this group in particular might be interested in and what they may ask.
Since it will be a Q&A format, I thought I’d free-write out some of my responses to sample questions and share them with you here! Please ignore the writing itself and listen to the response since I am just letting this flow from me naturally and not trying to think of “the right answer.”
I don’t really know what they will ask at the lunch, but that’s what makes it exciting and real! If you want to come and check it out for yourself, the info is in the button link below. It’s this Friday, February 24th! A special shout out to Inspire Collective for this invitation to the Arise Conference Women’s Business Lunch!
What is one of your business secrets?
Let the Holy Spirit guide you. No joke I never did and still sometimes don’t know what I am doing, but I know God is in control and seek Him first and put him at the top of our organizational chart. So many of the things I am grateful for today, was because I followed His lead in faith. Reading the Word daily means becoming familiar with His voice and God gives me the direction and the wisdom on what to do and what not to do. As long as I am following the Word, I know that He will take care of us and He has. If you don’t know where to start, it says in the Bible “To love one another.” Start by loving your people who work next to you and who support you.
The second thing I’d say is there’s no magic secret, it takes hard work and consistency showing up again and again to do the work. Don’t be fooled by the highlight reel. We are all human and we have to show up and do the work He calls us to too.
How does your business give back to the community?
We love to give back through a variety of ways from donating in-kind gifts to at least one nonprofit organization per month + thousands of dollars every year, to actively serving on the Honolulu Advisory Board for The Salvation Army & Echelon, actively doing community service from gathering school supplies for students, going into the classroom to teach lessons, do our team annual Angel Tree shopping, and speaking at community events, I think we do back simply by the work we do every day.
In our chocolate, on the phone, via email, I believe we are in the customer service ministry and we are trying to bring peace to our world with every chocolate friend/customer we come into contact with. Whether it’s taking a little time to help them work through tech challenges and learn new skills, listen to their success or stress in the shop and provide some hope, or offer a real open dialogue via our email campaign and blog, we are truly trying to be there for our chocolate community of friends. The more peace they have, the more they will spread too.
How do you balance it all?
LOL I don’t! I’m constantly juggling being a daughter of God, a wife, mom to two littles, family member, friend, business owner, marketing manager, author, blogger, volunteer, greeter at my church and whatever else is going on at the moment. What I like to think of life is more of a dance.
As a former dancer and choreographer, some parts of the dance are dynamic and you’re jumping in the air then rolling on the floor and other times you’re spinning, balancing, or holding still in a pose. It’s kind of like life and the seasons we go through. Sometimes we are on it and jumping for the world to see and performing in our business. Then we go home and are rolling on the floor playing with our kids and it’s a mess. Sometimes we’re spinning and feel out of control as we try to balance on one thing at a time and sometimes, we are trying to just stay still. Hold a pose and asking God to hold us for a minute. Moving through life like a dance allows for more joy and grace.
What’s something people don’t know about you?
I have struggles just like you. I have a disability that’s not visible, I have a disorder that’s not visible, I have chronic allergies, I struggle with insecurity from time to time, and I have my own demons like not feeling worthy enough or not doing good enough. It takes personal work and discipline to overcome these things daily, but it’s possible.
What would be one takeaway you’d share with our women?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. -Proverbs 2:5-6
What you need is in the Bible. Stay close to Him and He will stay close to you. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Him. He wants to help because He loves you.
