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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 practical tips to improve your mind, business, spirit, relationships, 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.
Edna Harding [00:00:47]:
Well, hello, everyone. Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the estherpreneur podcast. My name is Edna Harding, and today we are tackling a tough but freeing question. How do you know when you've outgrown the role, the model or business God wants use to grow you? Okay, what do we do when it feels like the grace has lifted? Because this is such an important thing. Because a lot of times we get so comfortable that we stay in the place where God no longer wants us to be. So the cloud has lifted, but we are still in the same place. One thing that I know would really speak to the hearts of those, especially those who have already been in their field or in their space for a while. We know this, that entrepreneurship is not just about starting, about sturging, starting, starting.
Edna Harding [00:01:53]:
It's about discerning when to pivot, when to scale, and when to leave behind what was once fruitful but now feels heavy. Because what I found is growth. Yes, it's spiritual. And yes, frustration is also spiritual, too. I'm going to say it again. Growth is spiritual. And yes, frustration can also be spiritual, too. Guys, I'm sorry if I sound a little raspy.
Edna Harding [00:02:22]:
I am still recovering from my. Whatever this is. So I'm losing my voice. But that's all right. I'm going to continue going on. Welcome. If you guys are new, just wanted to say welcome. Welcome.
Edna Harding [00:02:35]:
Welcome, everybody. For those who are new to this podcast, in this podcast, we talk about business and life, God's way. And so, welcome. All right, so let me get back to this. You know, that heaviness you feel doesn't necessarily mean you're in the wrong place. In fact, it could just be a divine nudge. A divine nudge from God saying, hey, I no longer want you here. A lot of times we blame the devil, but it's really God, you know, it's really God that's moving you along.
Edna Harding [00:03:10]:
So my prayer for you this morning, today, this afternoon, this evening, whenever you're listening, this is that he will give you discernment to know when you're shifting, when you're shifting to a new assignment, and that you'll have the courage to follow, even when it feels risky. In the name of Jesus. Excuse me. You know, in my own journey, I've had seasons where a role or a business model worked beautifully. You know, it paid the bills, it blessed clients, it gave me credibility. But then it stops. Like, you no longer have the joy you don't really have. You know, the fruit that it was before.
Edna Harding [00:03:52]:
It's not a sudden thing. It's a gradual thing. It's. It's like slowly feeling like, this is too easy for me. It's not challenging anymore. I'm not growing here, and it feels like I'm just coasting. And. And it didn't feel as fulfilling anymore because it was too easy.
Edna Harding [00:04:10]:
Does that make sense? It wasn't challenging me. And what. Or. Or it came to. There were some times when. What once was fruitful and once, like, once that were making me happy all of a sudden was draining me when I had to change my audience and things of that sort. And one thing I've learned is that God often uses that role or that season or even that market as a training ground. But then when the grace lifts, when the joy is not there anymore, so staying there is disobedience.
Edna Harding [00:04:43]:
And I had to really seek God and be like, okay, what am I missing? What am I not seeing? And what are some things that I need to do so that I don't feel this way? I don't feel like I'm not in line with your pace. Does that make sense? And so today we're going to talk about seven signs. That means that you've probably outgrown that role, that entrepreneurial role that God used to grow you. Okay, number one, you don't feel valued. Luke 10:7 says that the labor is worthy of his wages in business. This shows up when clients nickel and dime you, when your pricing feels like it's undercut, or when you're constantly proving your worth. If your market, hear me, my friends, no longer honors the gift you carry. It may not mean you're in the wrong calling.
Edna Harding [00:05:33]:
It just means that you're serving the wrong audience. So God may be shifting the who you serve part. So you need to ask yourself, are clients nickeling and diming you? Are you constantly proving your worth? If so, you need to ask God, is this. Am I serving the right people? Number two, your role hasn't evolved. Entrepreneurs thrive on growth. But if your business looks the same year after year. The meaning, there's no innovation. There's no expansion.
Edna Harding [00:06:06]:
That's not loyalty. That's actually stagnation. And so you need to ask yourself, is this fertile soil or has it hardened into cement? Because Isaiah 43:19 says that, see, I am doing a new thing now. It springs up. Do you not perceive it? Remember that God is always doing new things. Okay, if your assignment is done, if your role hasn't evolved, it may be time to ask God, where is he calling you next to innovate or to pivot? Number three, you're running on autopilot means that Jesus promised an abundant life. Yes, in John 10:10. But if your business leaves you drained, uninspired, joyless, you may be in maintenance mode, not growth mode.
Edna Harding [00:06:52]:
And remember, God wants us to multiply. He wants us to be fruitful and multiply. He doesn't want addition. He wants multiplication. And from an entrepreneurship standpoint, it looks like running offers you've outgrown, managing clients you no longer exciting to you. You're focusing on survival, not vision. If you're stuck there, this may be time to realign with God's fresh vision. Number four, you're not learning anymore.
Edna Harding [00:07:20]:
Every assignment from God typically comes with stretching. Entrepreneurs are called to grow in leadership systems and innovation. Now, if your role is no longer challenging you, you can do it in your sleep. For example, you may have stayed past the season. Okay, And I know this is hard for a lot of people because they're like, but I already. I'm the expert in. This is what I do. Yes, but God also wants to expand you.
Edna Harding [00:07:47]:
He wants us to enlarge our tent, make room for more. Hebrews 5:14 reminds us that maturity comes from constant use. And, and that if, if, if you're not learning, the assignment might be complete, that that assignment might be done. And you're. You're missing out on a whole nother space because you have not moved to the other land. Number five, you're to go to expert, which means you. You're the one that everyone goes to. And it's not always good, because if you're constantly pouring but never being poured into, you've outstayed your oil.
Edna Harding [00:08:30]:
What does that mean? This can look like will only see you a service provider, not a strategic leader. Your team leans on you for everything. But you're, You're, You're. You're. You're not being stretched. You've capped your growth because you're trapped inside your own expertise. And in fact, Matthew 25 reminds us to keep our lamps full of oil because staying past your grace drains your reserves. Okay, so what does that mean? It means that if, and I know everybody wants to be an expert in something and staying in your lane.
Edna Harding [00:09:03]:
You hear that all the time. But we also need to ask God, like, I'm not going to limit you in what you're going to do through me. I'm not going to limit you based on what I know. In fact, a lot of the people I've interviewed in this podcast always talks about, like, they did things that they've never done before, and they thrived in it. And I want you to ask yourself, is there something that God is calling me to that I don't have experience and that I'm not tapping into because I'm afraid that I'm going to fail. And I want to stay in somewhere where it's comfortable when really God's. That yes, on the other side will bring forth harvests and souls that you cannot even fathom if you just say yes to that part. And number six, you're seeking challenges elsewhere.
Edna Harding [00:09:48]:
So remember that entrepreneurs are wired for vision. So if you're constantly dreaming about other industries, other projects or opportunities, don't dismiss that as distraction. It may be God stirring you for what's next. Because in Philippians 2:13, it says, it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. And sometimes that fresh desire, sometimes that desire to learn something that you've never done before, those could be divine invitations from the Holy Spirit saying, hey, I'm calling you to more. Number seven, you're watching others advance. This is the last one. I'm sorry if I'm rushing because I got to go pick up the girls from school.
Edna Harding [00:10:27]:
Entrepreneurs often feel that pain when they see others launching, scaling, or innovating. That feeling isn't always jealousy, my friends. Sometimes it's the Holy Spirit saying, hey, you're overdue, sir. Hey, you're overdue, ma'. Am. Okay. Hebrews 6:12 says that you need to imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. That means whatever you admire in others may actually reveal what God is calling you into.
Edna Harding [00:10:58]:
So what do you do if this resonates? Okay, what do you do if these signs, all these seven signs are hitting you home? Number one, I'm going to get. Gives them the practical revisit your last divine instruction. Did you obey fully or did you just endure? Number two, ask boldly, Lord, is this grace for this business model or role still? Here is the Grace for this business model or role still there? Do I still figure a piece? I still feel your joy or my angsty? Do I feel like I don't belong here anymore? Number three, move when God moves, even if it's financially risky, I know this is the opposite of what business advisors or financial advisors would tell you. If God is telling you to pivot, go ahead and do that. Exodus 13:21 says, Israel followed the cloud by day and fire by night. Staying in a business or a business model after the cloud has lifted isn't faithfulness. It's actually misaligned. And when you're misaligned, you will not see see the fruits of your harvest.
Edna Harding [00:11:53]:
Okay, so let's get practical. I want you to audit your client base and offers. Where is their fruit? Where is their frustration? Okay, Number one. Number two, experiment small before pivoting big. Test the waters with new offers or markets and see what you find. Okay. And number three, create transition Runway. What does that mean? You have to prepare spiritually and financially for the move God is calling you into.
Edna Harding [00:12:21]:
So if you're calling into an industry where you might have to make sacrifices, you have to plan accordingly. Okay? Because remember that your business is not just a livelihood. It's actually an assignment. And when we think of our businesses as an assignment, you'll obey the Lord of the assignment. Does that make sense when the grace lifts? Obedience is the most strategic move you can make. And because it's no longer about you, it's about him. It's about what he wants to accomplish on the earth as it is in heaven. Okay? So if you're seeing the grace has lifted in your business, I'd love to walk with you.
Edna Harding [00:12:58]:
I want you to reach out to me. Go to favor malt.com, schedule a discovery call, and see if there's anything I can do to help you support you in this transition. Next week, we are going to to continue on and and give you some tips on entrepreneurship, specifically in seasons of transitions. And I pray that this blesses you. I pray that this encourage you. Thank you guys for listening weekly on a regular basis. Thank you for sharing with your friends and family. Thank you for subscribing and rating the podcast.
Edna Harding [00:13:36]:
It truly helps me and just the. And just the kingdom, because I know that these messages are definitely needed in a marketplace. Let's just go close in prayer, Father. We thank you, Lord, for using business as a tool to grow us. Give us discernment to see what a season is over, Lord, and boldness to step into the new year preparing for us in the mighty name of Jesus. Well, guys, thank you guys for joining and I hope you have a wonderful stay, season, week, month, whatever it is ahead. Take care. Bye bye.
Edna Harding [00:14:13]:
Thanks for joining us this week on Estrepreneur. Make sure to visit our website, favorandwealth.com for more information 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 Ugly 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.