{Random} Your Marketing BFF has been M.I.A.

I am fascinated by entrepreneurs. Actually, their behind-the-scenes “backstage pass” kind of stories…The WHY they started their business. HOW they started. Their biggest MISTAKES. Their PERSONALITY. WHAT makes them tick. Their HEARTACHES and small VICTORIES along the way. You get the drift.

I love the raw, uncensored exposure.

This is part of my on-going education. Like most things in life, the more I study, the more I understand.

I submerge myself in a world of learning and soak it all in.

Which is why I’ve been mostly M.I.A. for the past year on the blog.

Here’s my personal, behind-the-scenes story…

In January of 2012, I was asked by my mega-church to come lead their production/marketing department. And because of my love for God and wanting to make him famous, I said yes. (But first I said no, then cried, then prayed, cried and prayed some more, until I finally said yes.)

For a year, people questioned my decision, and I have to be completely honest here, “I questioned my decision.” Why would I leave my own business (do whatever I wanted, work 30 hours a week, lots of time for family/friends, my love for this blog, connecting with all of you) to work for a church? How long would I do this? I never had an answer other than, “I don’t know, but when God asks you to move, you move!“

For those of you that know me, you know I’m a planner! When I set my mind to something, I devise a PLAN and then jump in feet first and do it. Living in “I don’t know” is very uncomfortable for me.

It’s been a crazy roller-coaster year of working 60+ hours a week, little time for family/friends, barely time to breathe let alone blog, raising over $216K for two global mission projects, bringing thousands of people to Christ, and pretty much exhausted all the time.

Then a few things occurred…

A horrific tragedy struck a close friend of mine ten weeks ago. Her husband and two sons were in a car accident. Her eldest son died at the scene and her other son is still fighting for his life. In this time of aching, I’m reminded that life is so precious and I want to be spending more time with my family and friends. Please pray for Aidan’s full recovery.
I had a chat with Bianca Juarez-Olthoff (fighting for justice alongside the A21 Campaign) and Jasmine Star (international wedding photographer and fellow blogger). The thrill of chatting with entrepreneurs again gave me excitement and energy – energy that had been missing for a year!
I decided to resign from the church and begin writing an e-book for churches (how to market your church on a budget, of course) – thus, still able to make God famous and still help all of you!

Time is so very precious with family and friends. And connecting/talking with entrepreneurs about their business journeys is truly what feeds my soul!

Why am I telling you all of this?

This post isn’t about my year of doing marketing for a church. It’s about providing something applicable to your business. So here it goes…

I am an entrepreneur, a researcher, a marketing person who doesn’t want to merely sell you something; I want to have a conversation. I use myself and my knowledge as the major components of this blog.

The defining marker of any website, blog or business is personality. Because that’s how you stand out!

Do whatever it takes to showcase who you are, what makes you tick and makes you different from everyone else in your industry…sharing YOU with others, builds trust. And with trust, you will build and grow your business.

So there you have it.