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What would it feel like to
radically pursue your goals today?
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We all have dreams we hope will come
true one day, but there are three major
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things that often hold us back, and
that's fear, failure, and finances.
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Unfortunately, these three obstacles
stop many people from fully pursuing
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their dreams, causing them to abandon
the very calling God has given them.
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However, there's a biblical principle
that can transform the way we approach
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these challenges, called stewardship.
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And many of us in the Christian
circle have heard this term before.
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But what does it really mean to
be a good steward of our time,
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talents, money, and resources?
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I've thought a lot about this over the
past few years, and I'll tell you that
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my perspective on stewardship shifted
ically during the pandemic in:
2019
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For many of us, the events
that happened that year made it
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impossible to ignore the reality that
everything in the world is temporary.
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Rapid loss and change forced
us to face this truth head on.
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And at that time, I was working as an
analyst for an options trading company.
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And just before the lockdowns,
I was struggling with a
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personal identity crisis.
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I was raised in a middle class family,
and I had been taught that the clear path
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to success was to go to college, get a
degree in a stable field, and work for a
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company long enough to secure retirement.
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My father, who is an engineer, also
made it clear that I should avoid
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risky paths like art or fashion.
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And this advice shaped my belief that
risk was inherently a bad thing and
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would inevitably lead to failure.
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And the indirect result of this
belief was that I started equating
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predictability with success.
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Now imagine how shattering it was
when I realized that the career
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I had chosen, though stable, was
something that I absolutely hated.
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And what I've learned is that stability
alone doesn't lead to good stewardship.
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True stewardship comes from trusting
that, with God's provision, you can
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live without fear of the future.
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And when circumstances change,
Christ remains the only constant,
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and you can trust that He will
never leave or forsake you.
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If you've made it this far into the
podcast, you're probably a dreamer who
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has a complicated relationship with risk.
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It's something that's consistent in your
life, but it brings a great deal of guilt.
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You have big dreams you want
to pursue, but you also have
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loved ones in your life who are
affected by the risk that you take.
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Maybe you've even questioned whether God
has called you to do something beyond
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your current circumstances or if your
ambition truly has a place in his plan.
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And I'm here to tell you that God
wants to see every gift and talent he
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is giving you for his purpose, but you
must surrender your ambition to him.
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I have a confession.
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I am a recovering hustler
and knowledge addict.
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Every time I see a new course
or shiny program, I feel an
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overwhelming urge to buy it.
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And so it's no surprise that I've spent
over 20k on courses, coaches, and online
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learning programs in the past two years.
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I love to learn, but God
challenged me this past year on
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my constant craving for knowledge.
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I realized I was spending
more time learning how to do
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something than actually doing it.
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And here's the truth.
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Knowledge comes from knowing,
but wisdom comes from doing.
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It's only when you challenge yourself
to take action on your dreams that you
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gain the confidence to steward them well.
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And in the pageant world, having a
list of accolades and degrees is often
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seen as essential for your success.
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But is that really what it
means to be a good steward?
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In Colossians 3, 23, we're reminded
that whatever you do, Work heartedly,
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as for the Lord, and not for men.
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And to me, this means that being
a good steward is about seeking
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to please God through your
work, not the people around you.
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Because God isn't concerned with whether
you have a master's degree, a fancy title,
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or thousands of followers on Instagram.
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He's looking at your heart, and how
you surrender your success to Him.
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And don't get me wrong, there's nothing
wrong with being educated or ambitious.
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In fact, these are desires
that come from God.
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And everything you do is meant
to give you wisdom through
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experience and bring Him the glory.
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The experience you gain in pageants is a
great asset in the entrepreneurial world.
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But here's the real question.
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How much do you value your own brand?
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I've observed that many women in
the pageant world rely heavily
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on securing sponsorships and
donations to fund their ventures.
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And while that approach works for
some, I believe a more effective
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strategy is to leverage the skills and
experiences you've gained from pageantry
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to position yourself for success.
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Relying too much on one monetization
strategy can cause you to overlook
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more effective methods for growth.
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And from my experience consulting
pageant women on brand building.
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It's about finding what aligns with
your unique strengths and calling,
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and that requires deeper exploration.
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Brand building is a continuous process.
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It's only when you trust that God
is more invested in your success
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than you are, that you'll discover
the path to fearless stewardship.
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So stop idolizing the outcome
and start being obedient to
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what God is calling you to do.
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In an episode four of this podcast
trailer series, we are going to talk
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about the difference between purpose
and popularity, and the key to building
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a meaningful faith driven brand.
