Deana Farrell

Encouragement for your faith, life & business

Working on things vs. Things that are working

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We are constantly working!

Working on things like our incredibly frustrating at times…FOUR F’S!
(in case you’re too busy to click the link – the Four F’s are our Family & Friendships, our Finances, our Faith and finding the thing that Fuels us)

Our working to-do lists consist of personal projects, home improvement projects, projects we hope to get to and those we have to get to!

Oh, and my least favorite…school projects. (I try not to get too involved in these other than providing the supplies, support and strategy, but these projects often wear on the nerves of the whole family! Can I get an amen?)

But how often do we stop to assess – IS IT WORKING?

Do we really take the time to ask ourselves the tough questions?

Probably not, because we already know WHY that project is yet to be started. 

Our reasons are often as endless as the ocean is deep.

We tend to focus on the excuses more than the possibilities!

Excuses like…not the right time, not the right place or pace…not enough time, money, energy…being afraid, feeling inadequate or just paralyzed by “what if”! 

Living in the land of gonna or maybe will get you NO WHERE!

There are seven days in a week and SOMEDAY is not one of them.

Every day has the opportunity to be one day or DAY ONE.  You get to make that choice.  [free CHOICES printable HERE]

*** ACTION PRECEDES MOTIVATION ***

“Objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion.” Sir Isaac Newton

Inspiration comes in the doing! So get to the doing and you will soon be inspired to do more.

Accomplishment breeds an amazing result – it drives you to want more accomplishments!

Start something today even if you don’t feel like it. (you’re never going to feel like it)
[secret: I didn’t feel like writing today, but I’m glad I did and I feel good about it!]

Making progress one choice, one day at a time right there with you,
~ Deana

What are you working on today? COMMENT so we can give you a WOO! HOO!

 

Success Comes In Stages

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success

Until a few days ago I had no idea that success comes in stages and that my own business has been through three stages.

Here’s how this revelation came about…

You see, I have an intentional circle of influencers in my life that I “meet” with regularly for the purpose of perspective, growth, feedback and of course some creative brainstorming. (so thankful for technology because some of these people are states away!!)

So during a Zoom meeting with a friend and fellow coach, we were discussing our business “sentence”. This is what you say when others ask, “What do you do?” and allows you to answer in a succinct way that shares who you help, how and why.

(in case you’re curious) Here’s mine:
I help professionals prioritize focus in order to empower growth both personally and in the workplace.

He shared that he hadn’t quite got his down yet, but a definite work in progress. (my favorite word!)

He then panned his computer around so that I could see his white board with the three main words that have been on his heart and already such a big part of his life and business – Hope, Peace & Purpose.

As he explained the value of each of those words to him and how it’s incorporated into his coaching, it was like an epiphany for me.

At that moment I realized that those were the STAGES of my business!

Let me explain how his 3 words Hope, Peace & Purpose helped me SEE 3 stages of my own business:

Stage 1 
His word was hope, but for me this was the DREAM. That vision of “something” far off in the distance that I knew was meant for me.
Free Build Your Dream printable HERE!

Stage 2
CLARITY, the relief that yes, in fact it wasn’t a “crazy dream” because opportunities keep presenting themselves!! Once this stage comes there’s a sense of peace; that it will happen.

Although I had some peace & clarity, I had to learn to be patient. Every time I tried to rush things, it did not go so well. It was in those moments I realized it was because I wasn’t quite ready. I had to take that “wait time” to prepare, plan and learn.**

**This is where you feel like “nothing” is happening, but you have to trust that your preparation will pay off!! You may be IN this stage longer than you “want” or even repeat it, but trust me it’s worth it! (caution: don’t allow yourself to be paralyzed by perfection and not move at all!!)

Stage 3
WORK! This stage has been the hardest for me to recognize, not for the sake of having to do “work”, but from the confusion of “purpose“.

Success is never going to “find me” if I’m not actively pursuing it!

How many things have you and I read about “finding your purpose”? Countless right?
We all know we were meant for more, but then what?

Here’s what I’ve learned about that ever elusive purpose. We are often too busy chasing someone else’s definition of “purpose” or what a dream should look like…NO ONE’S dream should look exactly like yours.

So trust me when I tell you to pay attention to your dream because it will become clear if you are committed to pursue it and do the work it takes to get you there!

I’ve learned that these stages are also somewhat of a formula, if I get stuck.

No matter if it’s in my everyday life or in my business, I’ve learned that if not headed in the right direction or feel stuck, it may be because I’ve lost sight of my dream, I’m not taking the time to prepare and plan or I’m not committed to the work it’s going to take to get me from where I am to where it is I want to go.

How about you?
Have you discovered your “formula” for getting yourself unstuck in your pursuit of your dream?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below.

Pursuing, Planning & Working my Dream right there with you,
Deana

 

Hot Purse-suit!

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God has used my purse-suit of bag success to fuel my passion to GROW!
God has used my purse-suit of bag success to fuel my passion to continually find ways to    Give & Reward Other Women!

 

For the last several years, sharing an affection for the use and functionality of totes, wallets, pouches & purses is how I get paid. But, it’s not my passion.

No, that’s not an April fools joke, so if you are a Thirty-One Sister who thinks I just threw some shade on our company, calm down. Or if you’re a fellow entrepreneur in direct sales ready to ‘recruit’ me because clearly I must not have found the right company…let me be clear. I love my business and the company that supports it.

But, when it comes to your work vs. your passion, here’s what I have learned the hard way and I pray it gives you a fresh hope and perspective about your work and what you are passionate about.

I’ve learned that I don’t have to love every aspect of my business, but if I’m not loving everything that it provides me with and affords me to achieve…then it’s nothing more than a JOB.

What does that mean?

It means that my deanzbags.com business, aka paid/work/job…

  • provides me with the needed finances to pay bills and fund extracurricular kid activities.
  • affords me the flexibility I want in my life to be a better wife, mother, friend, volunteer and mentor.
  • gives me a platform to meet new and amazing women I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
  • fuels my passion to pursue my calling, which is to continually find ways to Give & Reward Other Women! AND thanks to my ‘work-job’ I’m able to continue GROWing!

This is why you will find me happily in HOT PURSE-SUIT at my JOB, because it’s what allows me to fill my cup with what I’m truly passionate about!

I encourage you to give some thought to what it is you are pursuing in your life and why.  

I hope it’s not the ‘almighty dollar’ because its never about the dollar, but what the dollars can DO!  Focus rather on THE Almighty and what He created you to be and think about why He planted you where He did to ‘work’ right now.

Listen, it’s okay if your work right now is not your dream job – really. Your work/job could just be a season you are in right now.  If you’re not in love with your work-job right now – think of it as your passion’s sponsor instead!  Meaning, it gives you the support you need to pursue what you want. You’d be surprised how much more motivated you’ll be and how much harder you’ll work when you know your work-job is a way of funding and giving you the ability to pursue the things you are passionate about!

So I may not be in love with the process of getting my calendar filled each month, but I LOVE the rewards it brings my way.

GROWing right there with you – one day and one bag at a time,

Deana