005 : What’s Your WHY?
We believe that everyone, no matter what title they may have, should have a ‘why’ behind what they do. Whether you are a mom, business owner, or you have another special purpose in life where you serve others, there should be purpose in what you do. In this episode, we talk all about what a ‘why’ is, why you should have one, and how you can use it to serve your purpose in whatever you do. We speak about our own ‘why's’ behind what we do and how our souls are lit on fire to keep going every single day. If you have been struggling to find purpose in the season of life you are in, this episode is for you. We help you unpack how to find your ‘why’ and give you tangible tips on how to wake up every single day knowing that you are walking in your calling. Let's find your ‘why’ together!
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In this week’s episode we get to learn about what a ‘why’ is and why it is so important to day-to-day life. A ‘why’ is a reason behind why you do what you do–it is what keeps you going each day and pushes you in the direction of your goals.
MADDIE: “Kaitlin, what is your ‘why’ in your business? What sets your soul on fire? What makes you keep going?”
Kaitlin says that the easy answer for this is a typical Sunday school answer–Jesus. Continuing on, Kaitlin talks about how her ‘why’ has shifted as she grows as a person and as her businesses grow. She also talks about something we can all identify with: how hard it is for Jesus to be your ‘why’ because it is a very broad reason.
Maddie tells listeners that she feels the same way: “I have run my business in a way, from the very beginning, that was ministry minded. And there have been times when my flesh has come out and I haven’t put Jesus first. And I have seen how destructive it can be, and how the Lord does not honor that when he is not at the forefront. But when he is at the forefront, you just see everything that I do point back to him.”
Maddie also shares that her ‘why’ is also the people–her clients, friends, family, etc. Maddie has shared in the past about how she originally wanted to start her photography business as a way to serve both God and others, and both of these reasons are still her ‘why’ for doing just that. The people that she has gotten to love through her business also keeps her going because through that, she is still serving the Lord.
Kaitlin shares that she has noticed that on the wedding days where she spends time in prayer, praying over her clients, she is in a better headspace and just all around it is a better experience.
When we are conscious of things such as this the Lord reflects out of us and we are able to show His love through our work.
Piggy-backing off of this, Maddie shares that when she started her business she vowed to get to venues/locations early for her shoots to pray over the day, the shoot, the client, whatever is on her heart. Because of this, both of our co-hosts feel that the Lord has really honored their businesses.
Continuing the conversation, Kaitlin talks about a situation last year when she was asked to take pictures of a wedding that was going on in a house so that a father who was dying could be a part of his little girl’s big day. In this situation, Kaitlin says that she had to take a step back and ask the Lord what to do and He made it evident that she needed to go, not charge anything, and just absolutely serve this family who was going through something so hard, stressful, and life-changing. Sometimes business decisions such as this are hard because the point of a business is for income. But more than that, the point of business is to serve God using the abilities He has given us, which is what Kaitlin chose to do and internally felt the reward as she watched this family share such irreplaceable moments that she got to capture.
Maddie then shares a pivotal moment in her own business that cultivated a similar stirring in her own spirit. Maddie talks about how her number one goal of her business was to lead someone to Jesus one day, and this goal came to fruition early on in her business.
A while ago, Maddie booked a wedding for 2022 and on the way to meet them for the first time, before officially booking, she remembers the Lord laying it on her spirit to book them no matter what. This was before she knew their budget, anything about the couple, or any wedding details other than their wedding date. Maddie knew going into it that she would say “yes” to being their photographer no matter what, and God had a reason for that.
Some time after booking, Maddie wrote a blog about what the Lord had done in her life over the past year and sent it out to her email list, to which she got a reply from the aforementioned client that God laid on her heart to book before even meeting. In this email, the girl told her that through Maddie’s social media, and from Maddie’s vulnerability with sharing about her own relationship with the Lord, this girl decided to dedicate her life to Jesus and run full force after God. Prior to this, the girl had no relationship with the Lord, it was solely Maddie’s diligence and dedication to God that led this girl into a relationship with Jesus.
In both of the situations shared by our co-hosts, God uses their businesses as a means of ministry and Maddie and Kait both ran towards what the Lord was telling them to do and in return he rewarded their faithfulness by their businesses growing and flourishing continually.
KAITLIN: “It [Maddie’s testimony of her client accepting Jesus] was just one of those moments that you just know God is real, and you know He is working through you. And it is one of those things where it is like: I can do things that are honoring to the Lord, and I can see Him tangibly make them happen because I am being obedient. And, at the end of the day, we want to be obedient in our business.”
Kaitlin shares that Maddie is part of the reason that her [Kaitlin’s] ‘why’ is what it is– because she got to see Maddie tangibly live it. Kaitlin also shares that her ‘why’ has changed because she originally started her business because she thought photography was fun, but as she shifted into making it a business she knew that she needed a ‘why’ so it became about what Kaitlin can do for them vs. what can GOD do for them?
Maddie shares that her ‘why’ hasn't really changed but it has evolved. Instead of wanting to photograph every wedding that comes into her inbox, she decided she wanted to cherish the seasons of life she is in and do the jobs she is capable of doing.
If you are wanting to figure out what your ‘why’ is, our co-hosts discuss the importance of praying for God to show you what your purpose is and your ‘why’ will stem from that. Maddie reminds listeners that you do NOT have to be a business owner to have a ‘why’, no matter what stage of life you are in, you can find your ‘why’ and let that lead you back to God and through life.
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Thank you SO much for being here. We hope you leave today feeling more encouraged than you were when you started listening and like you are a welcome part of this community— because you ARE.If you want to connect with us and other listeners in the Refined Sisterhood community, join our Facebook group here.
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Music : Better Than Life by Oliver Dodge