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The Estherpreneur is a weekly chat about doing business and life God’s way. Join your host, Edna Harding as she offers biblical strategies and practical applications to improve your mind, business, spirit, relationships, and finances. Listen along as she talks with guests on how to thrive in all areas of life. Edna is a Wife, Mother, Growth Strategist, Author, Minister, Certified Maxwell Business Consultant and Executive Coach, an accredited Master Mindset Coach, and Speaker whose message of hope, truth, and wisdom reaches people all around the world. FavorandWealth.com Estherpreneur.com
Edna Harding [00:00:03]:
Welcome to Estrepreneur, a podcast for entrepreneurs and leaders doing business and life God's way. Each week, we discuss biblical and finances. Listen along as I speak with special guests on how to thrive in all aspects of life. Hi, I'm Edna. Like many of you, I wear many hats. I'm a military wife, mother, author, certified John Maxwell business and executive coach, trainer, and founder of Favor and Wealth where we help the good guys win. So tune in as we bring on the light. Well, hello, everyone.
Edna Harding [00:00:47]:
Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the Estapreneur podcast. My name is Edna Harding, and I'm nothing but a messenger of life, hope, and truth in your business and of course your life. So if you are new here, welcome. Again, I am such, I, I sometimes a pinch myself, like I have people just hungry for the things of God, and I happen to be one of the vessels God is using to share his revelation in the marketplace. So I'm definitely excited that you guys are tuning in to my existing subscribers. Thank you so much for the just encouragement and the support, whether if you share it with someone else or, just send me a message. I mean, especially connecting with me on LinkedIn, how it impact your life. That really brings so much joy.
Edna Harding [00:01:43]:
So, again, this is not a one woman show. This is truly a one god show. This is the god of the universe utilizing imperfect vessels like myself to just be the light and to remind each and every one of us on the earth that the life here is temporary. That the end of the day, the only thing that matters is eternity. And so I say all this to say that, I know right now there's a lot of push, you know, for, like, metrics. Thank you, holy spirit. Worldly metrics that we tend to compare ourselves to, especially with everything that's going on, you know, in media and whether if it's good or bad. You know, there's a lot of a lot of tactics of the enemy.
Edna Harding [00:02:33]:
Obviously, you have, fear. You have rejection. You have comparison. You have pride. You have all these things. But I think the the the thing that the enemy is really coming against is our rest. And so I hope that this episode will encourage, you guys. This is not what I'm talking about.
Edna Harding [00:02:53]:
But as we meditate on a new teaching that that it will give you rest for your soul. Because as I've been I was actually talking with several people this week, trusted, colleagues or, you know, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are very strong in the spirit and hearing what God is doing, in this season. They have all confirmed that there is a lot of warfare right now among the body of Christ, against the body of Christ. Thank you, holy spirit. And I think it's because of what God is doing, in the atmosphere, in the natural realm, even though it seems as if, everything is same old same old, it is not. And so, I had a little disruptive day today. My day is getting cut short because my girls are, being sent home early because I guess there is a storm coming again. So I, I'm gonna have to rush to this quickly, but I know that God's gonna get his message, through this short and sweet podcast.
Edna Harding [00:04:00]:
Okay. So again, you know, this show is all about activating the anointing in business. I want us to break out of the boxes of tradition or religion and build what only heaven could design. Okay? So this episode is very personal. It's It's very strategic. And if you're a CEO, a founder, or a high level decision maker of your business, this is going to shift again the way you see again, profitability forever. Okay. You know, there's a lot of scriptures where it says, let the let your ear, something those who have ears, let him hear those who have eyes, let them see.
Edna Harding [00:04:40]:
Why does he say this? Because a lot of times, God is speaking to us. He is trying to wake the church up, but we are blinded, and we're looking through our human lens versus our spirit man inside of us. So as I read, my notes that as I talk to you guys about, you know, what the holy spirit is dropping in my spirit as I read my notes, I pray that you will decipher, with your spirit man and not your intellect. Okay. And not your heart, but your spirit man, because it takes the spirit inside of you to hear the, the holy spirit inside of me. If that makes sense. Okay, here we go. So I know a lot of you guys have survived some fires.
Edna Harding [00:05:24]:
You have scaled some mountains and you've even made decisions others couldn't imagine. Tough decisions. Decisions that a lot of us wish we don't ever have to make. But now that you're on the other side, it's not about how you make it through the heat or how you have made it through the heat, but most importantly, how you lead others through theirs. Okay. A lot of times we think the warfare is about us, but it's really about the people we're called to or assigned to. So for example, I was telling, one of my friends, new friends, Sam, that, of for the past I think it was about a week ago, it every day I was crying, and it was a heaviness. And I was I thought I was depressed.
Edna Harding [00:06:17]:
I thought I was going crazy. In fact, my husband and I would have, like, these tough conversations. I'm like, what is going on? I shouldn't be depressed. Like, I should be excited right now. I should have joy and peace. But for some reason, I'm crying all the time, and it felt heavy. I couldn't sleep. And I was trying to pray it off of me, but I felt like this heaviness just came upon me.
Edna Harding [00:06:38]:
And I thought it was demonic at first and having conversations with Sam made me realize it wasn't demonic. It was the heart of God. The the the Lord was sharing with me what a lot of people in the body of Christ was feeling. Okay? So I I went through that. So I know because I'm an intercessor, because God has called me to s to intercede on behalf of his agenda on the earth and and to bring forth in holy spirit, bring forth this agenda on the earth. I had to experience even for a little bit, even though it was torture. It was I it was the most horrible feelings because I started thinking horrible things about myself and doing horrible things to myself. Like, that's how bad it was.
Edna Harding [00:07:18]:
And I realized, wow, this spirit that's coming against the body of Christ in the marketplace and maybe even more other, not just outside the market is maybe within the church is really destroying their their ability to see and hear above the storm. Does that make sense? And so I pray that as I speak that you'll you'll you'll hear me now because this is a serious matter. Okay? Remember that refinement isn't just for you. It's actually for what's coming through you. And the more refined you are, the more responsible you become for the people under your leadership. It's all about stewardship. Okay? So let's look at the foundation of this is in Daniel chapter three. We know the story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Edna Harding [00:08:08]:
And one thing about them was they didn't avoid the fire. Okay. God didn't deliver them from it. He actually preserved them in it. So a lot of times, we're wishing these storms away or we're wishing these challenges away. We're wishing that we didn't have to go through the wilderness or the death or the fire season or, like, the hellish season that a lot of us has been in for many years. But in reality, he does not want us to get out of it. He actually wants to preserve us in it.
Edna Harding [00:08:39]:
And the Bible says that when they came out, Daniel three thirty says, then the king promoted them. Oh, I fear the heart of God now. You know, I I feel like God has wanted me to encourage you guys who have been in the storm. Remember that promotion followed fire. Promotion followed fire. So if you're in a think of thick of this things, remember that promotion is going to follow your fire, so you have to stand firm. Promotion isn't just a reward though. K? Here's the deal, guys.
Edna Harding [00:09:12]:
This is not a reward for for your good works. People think that promotion is about you. Again, it's not about you. Promotion is actually a responsibility. When you when you went after you go through the fire and God promotes you to whatever it is, you're you're not only been promoted, you've actually also been entrusted. Okay? Because you've been refined not just for survival, but for stewardship. Okay? So if he's gonna promote you within the next, I would say within the next month or so, this is what I'm sensing and I'm speaking and faith. This is what I'm hearing.
Edna Harding [00:09:48]:
And again, don't take my word for it. I've just speaking you know, one of the things that Holy Spirit told me is that I just have speak what God is revealing to me and not worry about what other people think. I'm not here, you know, like, with a glass, what do you call it, a, a magic and timetable. But I'm sensing in the spirit, the reason why the warfare has intensified maybe a thousand times is because you're about to get promoted. You're about to get entrusted. And so the question becomes, how do you lead others to the very thing you've survived? How do you build a business that doesn't just produce results, but actually refines people into their God given potential or God given identity? Okay? So today, I'm gonna give you guys three strategies that are not just spiritual, but they're actually directed, not directed. Sorry. Directly tied.
Edna Harding [00:10:41]:
Sorry. My brains go up, like, to profitability. Okay? Directly tied to profitability. So number one, build fire rooms, not just boardrooms. Here. Okay. Here we go. Every successful company has meetings.
Edna Harding [00:10:55]:
Right? But kingdom companies have movements. Hear me because they create space for the spirit of God to lead the leaders. So don't just build a team that executes. Hear me, my friends. Build a culture that discerns. Because whether it's through, labs, inner circle conversations, leadership prayer calls, if you have those, and I highly suggest if you're a Christian CEO and you're a business owner, you could totally do that. You don't have to make a mentor for people to go, but offer it. So I really can't wait till I start having a team because we are going to have that on a weekly basis because that's what sustained me.
Edna Harding [00:11:35]:
Okay? I don't have time to go over all the hell I've been through all this time since I launched my business in 2014, but I can tell you that what got me through it was prayer. Not just my prayer, but other people praying for me. So you wanna ensure that these are how you create fire rooms instead of just board meetings. Okay? You make room for reflection. You make room for for the holy spirit to speak through you, to speak to you, to heal you, okay, from the past. All of us need this because we have a lot of wounds that may have not been healed yet. Okay? We need to align with the vision of God for our business. Okay? Not so much what we think the trends is telling us to do or the gurus are telling us to do.
Edna Harding [00:12:26]:
In fact, I just got off of a LinkedIn webinar, which is very insightful. So thank you so much for for allowing me. I forgot of Chris and I forgot the other guys name. I'm so sorry. I'm not really, name people, but they were very helpful. But I was, I was listening to this, the Holy I asked the Holy Spirit. Okay. So I need to create more of these type of posts.
Edna Harding [00:12:46]:
And he's like, no. You create what I tell you to create. You create what I tell you to share. You do what I tell you to do, not follow the algorithms, not to get more followers, not to get more likes, not to get more comments, but to share my heart and share the words that I am speaking into the earth realm. I need you to share that and stop trying to compete with the masses, but I want you to be a vessel of my truth. Okay? And that is hard. That is very difficult because for me, my whole thing is I go from known to known. And here I am going against what their the gurus are recommending.
Edna Harding [00:13:26]:
Meaning, like, I am doing the opposite of what they say not to do what they say to do. Does that make sense? And so understand this, that this is when you allow the holy spirit to intervene because you're not acting out of your own intelligence, out of your own free will, but you're doing what God is telling you to do. That's what you call, internal wealth. Okay? Internal wealth. Okay? Because you're building the things, in the spirit realm, if that makes sense. And internal wealth let me just say let me cut it back up. Because here's the deal guys. When your people are emotionally whole and you're spiritually grounded, so emotionally whole when you allow the healing of the Holy Spirit to remember right now, God is after souls.
Edna Harding [00:14:12]:
Okay? He's not after followers and likes and comments. He's after souls. So my job and my responsibility to speak the truth, to heal the wounded soul of individuals looking at my LinkedIn posts. It's not about making external profitability, external wealth, but it actually is about the condition of the soul. That's what god cares about. Jesus cares about souls. Okay? Now let me see how it's it's how it's linked. Let me show you how it's linked.
Edna Harding [00:14:46]:
So when your people are emotionally whole and spiritually grounded, they produce better and hear hear me stay longer and innovate more freely because internal wealth creates external performance. Okay? When they're healed from the inside out, they will perform well because they no longer worried about things that cripples their soul or or blocks them from experiencing true joy. They no longer have to pretend to be happy when in reality, they're dying inside. Do you hear me? Alright. Number two, I gotta wrap up really fast because I have another meeting in thirty minutes. So lead with testimony, not just talk tracks. K? Lead with testimony, not with just talk tracks. And I apologize for these, you know, these these titles for these sections because I wanted to make it catchy, but now that I'm reading it, I'm like, it doesn't sound that catchy.
Edna Harding [00:15:47]:
But lead with testimony. Bottom line, testify. Okay? Your team doesn't need another metrics meeting. Okay? They don't need an another, okay. We're hitting our KPIs and all these goals and stuff. Yes. That's important and there's a time and place for that. But you know what they really need to know? They need to know the miracles you've walked through.
Edna Harding [00:16:06]:
They need to see and hear what God is doing in your life. My friend, what did God teach you in the fire of betrayal, loss or pressure? What did you respond? How what did you do respond? But how did you respond when the bottom dropped out? When everything fell apart? How did you respond? Because here is what happens. When you share that strategically and with wisdom, you don't just motivate. You actually mobilize people to believe they can rise too. Because here's what happens. Transparency builds trust. Trust drives ownership, then ownership fuels growth. Okay? So what does it encourage your your employees and your team members who are all gonna experience some sort of challenge, whether if in business or in life? What it does is it helps them see that even though you are dealing with challenges in life that like storms, like like galore.
Edna Harding [00:17:02]:
Okay? That you could still continue to build and battle at the same time. Right? Because what happens is a lot of thick people think that you cripple down or you have to stop when life comes against you. But in reality, this is what your past true. Right. Yeah. This is where you press through. And just just to give you guys an example, as I am dealing with I'm talking about intense warfare, not just in lack of sleep, because God is waking me up at night, but also because I am building stuff. I'm building stuff while I'm dealing with regular life stuff.
Edna Harding [00:17:40]:
Okay? Like family stuff, financial stuff, I mean, issues with a renter stuff, like those type of stuff. Okay? And and here's the deal. As I'm dealing with all this warfare, I mean, left and right. It's like with one comes, another one come, like it's like even my past is coming back to haunt me, like, things like that. You know what I was able to do? I now have a a a group online community, a directory, a global directory for Christian businesses, and I also have an app for my business. How is that happening? I've experienced and I've what I have oh, gosh. What's, what is it? I, who how many how many conversations have I had were not conversations. I'm sorry.
Edna Harding [00:18:30]:
Talks. I had three talks these past couple weeks that are all going to CEOs. Right? A business. He's opening doors that no man can shut. I built stuff in less than two in two weeks I've been trying to build in years. How is this possible, my friends, while I'm battling intense warfare? It's Jesus. It's the Holy Spirit. It's only God.
Edna Harding [00:18:56]:
Because what I realized is I have to really cling to the Holy Spirit and cling to his promises, cling to his word as I'm dealing with challenges galore and and still build as I battle. And I think this is so important that you encourage your team, you encourage your vendors, you encourage your your enemies. I don't care. Be the testimony that God wants because people are not looking for fake. They're looking for real people. Who's who have overcome some things who have dealt with some things and are doing amazing things in spite of it. Okay. Number three, coach identity over performance.
Edna Harding [00:19:36]:
Yes. KPIs matters. Like I said, yes, revenue matters, but if your team only knows how to do and never discovers who they are, you're building productivity without purpose. This is why it's so important that you get to know your team members, not just as a number, but as individuals. Okay? And I understand this. I've been talking about this for many, many years. Okay? And a lot of times, you have CEOs of companies not saying hi to, like, the dock workers. You know, they just walk by as if, like, okay.
Edna Harding [00:20:08]:
You know? And and and and and that's not godly, my friends. That is prideful, egotistical, and you and and you I think you forgot where you came from. Okay? You you need to be approachable. You need to be servant like, just like Jesus did. Okay? This is what what is happening in the world today is that we have become so successful and so far fetched up high the high horse that we forgot where we came from. Thank god there there are there's a shift happening in a marketplace. There are people who are realizing that, hey. I can't be doing this.
Edna Harding [00:20:43]:
I can't forget the little guys. I have to remember that just because I'm up here doesn't mean I I can't help be a blessing to the little guys still or or, encourage the little guys. Right? And I'm saying this not to be demeaning, but I'm speaking to people who are about to get promoted. K? I don't know how that's gonna look like for your life, but I sense it and I hear it, and there's a clarion call, my friends. You're about to get promoted. Okay? Promoted by God himself, by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, by the Holy Spirit who's gonna empower you to do great and mighty things for God's kingdom. But as he promotes you, don't forget your people. Don't forget to remind them who they are.
Edna Harding [00:21:30]:
Okay? That their identity is not tied to their role. K? Their identity is not tied to how much money they make. Their identity is not tied to their scores and if they're on the top of the sales board or whatever. Okay? Their identity is tied to who God says they are, and I want you to remind your team who they are. Remind them that God loves them. Remind them that God doesn't care about the external things. He cares about their heart. He wants them hold, heal, and delivered.
Edna Harding [00:22:03]:
He wants them set free from the bondage that the world tends to trap people in. This is how you make changes in your company. This is how you shift things in your marketplace, in your in your industry, in your nation. Okay? This is what happens when you stop looking at the numbers and you start looking at the heart. My goodness. I feel the spirit of God upon me right now. Okay? So when your people are going through the fire, pay attention. Look at their demeanor.
Edna Harding [00:22:36]:
Pay attention to what there's the subtle clues, the ones that they're not saying. If you ask them how are they doing? Oh, not bad or could have been like, actually, like, have real conversations. I'll I'm gonna speak on this. Okay? Because a lot of people, you see them in the hallway, you see them on the elevator, you see them in your lunch break. Say, hey. How are you doing? I'm good. How are you? How are things? I mean, like, very, like, superficial, but not really, like, real conversation. Pay attention, my friends.
Edna Harding [00:23:01]:
Pay attention to the demeanors. Okay? And I'm guilty of this because sometimes I get so busy that I forget to have genuine conversations But when God so funny things there are times when I do listen a holy spirit would tell me ask another question and then they start venting they start sharing and then I'm able to pray with them but this is a time when especially if you have you have a company and you have people inside of your teams and inside a comp customers like you, this is a time where you truly need to be like, Hey, you're not broken. Okay. You're becoming, Hey, you're not failing. You're being forged. Hey, you're not weak. You are strong. Hey, you're not poor.
Edna Harding [00:23:38]:
You are rich. Speak life and not death into their situations. Speak to identify in moments of pressure. And remember guys that when you do this, hear me, my friends, when you speak life, when you see them for who they are, when you share with them the will of the father for their lives, you'll create loyalty. You'll create innovation and retention like nothing else. They're gonna be loyal to you. Okay? They're gonna they're just they're just gonna serve you in every capacity. Why? Because they know that you genuinely care.
Edna Harding [00:24:12]:
I can't tell you how many times I left companies. It wasn't even about the money because they paid me good. But it was the and then some of them didn't, but the other people did. And I left because I felt like just a number. They didn't care how their rules and regulations, how they made these drastic changes to protect the bottom line or to increase profitability affected their workers. They didn't care how they made people feel and the way they talk about like, I remember I was in a in a role, and I was in these manager meetings and, leadership meetings. And the VP or the direct I forgot. I think it was like a managing director was talking crap about some people, some employees in front of everyone, and they're just laughing.
Edna Harding [00:24:57]:
And I'm like, what in the world? What kind of company does this? What kind of leader does this? You're not people you create the environment. Okay? As a leader, you create the environment. And when you're over here bad mouthing your employee in front of your your inner circle, what it does, it speaks to the people who that you don't care about people. Okay? You're all about, I don't know, ego, maybe pride. I don't know. Making power trip. I don't care. At this point, what I'm trying to share with you guys is God looks at that stuff.
Edna Harding [00:25:33]:
He pays attention. How are you stewarding your people well? Alright? So let's bring this together. Let's be clear. Okay? You want to see growth? Yes. You want to scale with peace. Absolutely. And you want to multiply without burnout. But in order for you to do that, you have to start refining the culture first.
Edna Harding [00:25:54]:
That's carrying the vision. Okay? You have to, again, refine the culture. You gotta refine the company culture. Okay? A refined leader multiplies clarity. A refined team produces creativity, and a refined company walks in longevity. Okay? This is how internal wealth becomes external profitability. Remember, guys, that the fire didn't break you. Okay? Whatever it is that you're going through right now, whatever things that you've overcome, remember that it branded you for eternal impact.
Edna Harding [00:26:27]:
Now your role as he promotes you to whatever it is this looks like in this coming season, your role is to carry it forward. Okay? Carry it forward to where the area that he's gonna give you. Okay? So remember this, my friends. If you're a CEO who's walked through the fire, it's time to stop hiding the heat. Stop acting like you got it all together. It's time to sir turn your survival story into strategy for your team. You wanna create the kind of culture that outlast trends, and you wanna raise up leaders who know how to stand and pressure and still praise. Because let me tell you, my friends.
Edna Harding [00:27:06]:
Let me tell you, my friends. Let me say for those in the back. There is a war coming. Okay? And this war isn't in the natural. It's actually a spiritual war where he's about to separate the goat from the sheep. Oh, God. Jesus help me, Lord Jesus. Okay? The true Christians from the fake Christians.
Edna Harding [00:27:25]:
Okay? This there is a a divisive line that think holy spirit. There's a line that's being drawn in the sand. Okay? You're either for him or not against him and or or or against him. And guess what? This could be very clear. It's gonna be very clear where the hand of God is on. He's it's gonna be very clear who his people is and who they're not. Okay? Let your story, my friends, become the blueprint. You have hear me? This is a warning.
Edna Harding [00:27:56]:
This is, like, get your act together type of call. Remember that the fire that you're about that you've gone through wasn't for your destruction. It was actually for your distinction. That's one group. The people who've gone through stuff and about to get promoted. And those people who have two one foot in the world, one foot in the church and you're wondering why, okay. No. Life is not bad for you.
Edna Harding [00:28:19]:
My life is actually pretty good. I don't know what you're talking about. And now why why are you saying all this stuff is happening? Well, maybe you're not a threat to the enemy. Maybe the reason you're not experiencing warfare is because you're lukewarm. The enemy comes against those who are truly surrendered, those who are truly committed to the things of God. If you are not getting any type of attacks, any type of warfare and everything is fine and dandy in this hour when a lot of people in the body of Christ are literally sounding the alarm that they're going through some hardships right now, that they're standing firm in this promises, that they're telling people to hold on to their faith. If this is happening, guess what, my friend? It and you're not dealing with this? That's a problem. That's a serious problem, and you better get a heart check if you're really saved.
Edna Harding [00:29:12]:
Okay? Alright. That was a very strong word. That is not my intention today, but, apparently, this is what God wants to share. So, my friends, it's time for you to refine others. Okay? This is not just for performance. This is truly for God's purposes. He is looking for the harvest. He is ready for the harvest, and he wants us as believers in the marketplace to play our part.
Edna Harding [00:29:36]:
Now if this episode starts something in you, share it with another leader who's walking through the fire right now or who have gone through the fire. Remember to leave a review because that really helps me, as far as, you know, build the credibility as well as increase my reach. And it also helps me reach, more forerunners like yourselves. And if you're ready to cultivate also a fire tested culture in your business or your team, message me on favor and wealth dot com or feel free to do it in estrepreneur.com. You know, I'll be honored to walk with you in this next level of your leadership. And, I I honestly I mean, if you you'll know. The Holy Spirit will tell you. Edna is your gal.
Edna Harding [00:30:19]:
Okay? So just remember my friends that I am in this trench I'm in the trenches. I was gonna say in the storm with you, which I technically I am. I'm in the trenches with you. This is not I I I just happen to be able to, be a few steps ahead of you. K? So see you guys next time on the entrepreneur podcast. Thank you again for tuning in, and I look forward to hearing all the testimonies and all the insights you've learned from this week's episode. Take care, my friends, and have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for joining us this week on Estrepreneur.
Edna Harding [00:31:00]:
Make sure to visit our website, favorandwealth.com, for more on our services. While you're at it, if you found value in this show, we'd appreciate a rating on iTunes, or if you simply tell a friend about the show, that would help me out too. Also, check out my book, The Old New Side of Sales, available on Amazon, where I share seven of my secrets on how to win and grow business the right way. Until next time, keep shining.