WHOA That's Good Podcast - You Don't Have to Be Scared of the Thing That Sounds Impossible | Sadie Robertson Huff

Episode Date: April 17, 2023

Courtney Leatherwood took a big chance and a big leap of faith when she said "yes" to Sadie asking her to start working with her years ago — but that decision wasn't an easy one. What started as doodling and designing in her spare time has morphed into her role as LO's Brand & Creative Marketing Manager! Sadie and Courtney look back on those moments that will encourage others to take a big leap, and they encourage you not to be so quick to say "no" if something sounds too "far out." First, ask, "Am I willing to try?" Plus, how do we know when the voice of God speaks to us after we've sought His guidance? Saying "yes" even when you don't feel qualified might be the most freeing thing you could do! Sadie and Court remember some big "failures" in the early days of LO, but is it really a failure if they were growing, learning, and finding new ways to reach people? Sadie drops in a Lionel Richie quote that stuck with her: "If you win, you win; if you lose, you learn!" And don't miss the story about beignets!  https://www.mykitsch.com/whoa — Get 30% off your entire order RIGHT NOW with code WHOA! https://give.cru.org/whoa or text WHOA to 71326 — Get a free copy of Sadie's book "Live on Purpose" with your gift! https://nativedeo.com/whoa — Get 20% OFF your first order with code WHOA! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh my god! What's up, sisters and friends! Happy Monday, everybody! We are getting started on a great week here and I am so, so thrilled to have the guests that I have on the podcast today. She has been a friend for over six years now. We've worked together for almost six years. Actually, we are coming up like on six years now. We've worked together for almost six years. Actually, we are

coming up like on six years. Yes. This month pretty much because it wasn't about April or May that you move. So that's actually really sweet and really awesome. And so she's my long standing work mate. And I'm so excited to have Courtney Leatherwood on the podcast today. And y'all are just going to learn so much from her. I just have to say and I just said this in our prayer, but truly whenever I need someone to speak truth in my life where I need to confess something to a friend or talk to a friend about the hard things, court is who I call. Like me and Christian always have about how thankful we are that I have a court in my life. And so I'm thankful that you get to now be on the podcast and talk to all these girls and guys who are listening

to just fill up with them. That's way too much. No pressure, but thanks. You guys, I'd rather fall a little bit more before you start talking. No, but seriously, and I told her I said, this is the easiest podcast in my life to prep for because last night I was thinking,

oh, you know, I probably need to think about this in the morning, I'll set some time to prep and then within like five minutes of sitting there while I'm watching Madame Secretary, my Netflix show. It's so good. Have you watched it? I forgot about that one. Yes. Is a good show. Anyway, cyborg. As I was watching that, I sat down and I just like within five seconds had six questions that I was like it was just so easy and I think that it's easy to prep podcasts for people who live their life just really loudly for Jesus which is funny because you are more quiet person but the things that you I guess the the goodness of who you are is so loud. And so it was easy to prep. So I'm excited. I'll start by those,

which you will hate. But I want you to tell everybody what you have done through, like, L.O. Like what are the things that you've personally done and accomplished and that people would know because I know you're so humble and like you would be like, now I hate this. But don't be humble right now because I want people to know what you've done because so many people do follow along L.O. C.L.O. stuff, have black words of affirmation, have come to conference, have seen all these things, and they don't know that you're behind it.

So tell us a little bit about that. Really say, really start and off there. Honestly, gosh, I don't even know. I mean, it all started with Instagram graphics. Yes, it started like how do we share truth on Instagram? And it went from, in an original way. Yes, hand-drawn truth. A gosh, what podcast?

It mean, you've done so much. Clothing, we've done clothing together, we've done the podcasts stuff together. All graphics or anything like visually that you've seen for L.O. Court has steered. Like you've come up with. I mean, as far as like if you've ever bought anything from Words, Court designed that for a podcast, whether it's like the image that we use or all the social media graphics,

you definitely started that now. You have people under you who help facilitate that. But I mean, the graphics and the visual you have been a total charge of conference. When you come to conference and you see all of the visuals of conference, that was your creative mind. So I feel like it is pretty good. The website. You did the website. Yeah, it's kind of like anything. You're like, hey, Quirk, can we do this? Sure, let's do it. Yeah, which is what I love about you

and I can't wait to talk about that later. But I wanted to say that to say, that is not all how you started a LO because we didn't even know we were going in that direction. We did not know a podcast was coming in the future. We didn't know a conference was coming. We didn't know anything. When coming. We didn't we didn't know anything when you started We literally had an Instagram and we had

That was about it because we didn't even have our website done It was an Instagram and the whole way it started. I just kind of tell the story so This is kind of sidebar funny. I was kind of dating Quartz's brother, which is how we met. And the lower works all things out. And so I was at their house and I saw, I think it was like an invitation or something that you were. I think it was like a friend's wedding invitation. It was like a friend's wedding invitation.

And there were several of them out. And so it was homemade, but it was so beautiful. And I was like, this is really good. You're like, oh, I do this. Yeah, it's like my side hobby, you know, I like to do cards and invitations. It's like, you're really good at that. So I just took note of it.

And then next time we hung out, we were on a ski trip together. And I was saying with the sister, and the sister's room, we just got to talk in and I just loved your heart. And we really hit it off. And I just saw your doodles, like he was like doodling and I was like, you're so good at doodling. Like, I don't know why I was so infactuated by like

your doodles and your drawings. All these things, I was like, this is like very impressive. It was a God giving gift that you had. Malik to doodle, but I'm like, John, a sunshine and a flower and it's not good. Honey thinks it's good, but it's nothing to show the world. It's nothing to show the world. I've seen your doodles. I'm looking at it like this is so good. Now, in the meantime, I was kind of in this lullaby land in my head of, God, where you taking me, what are you going to do through me? I want to do some type of ministry thing. I didn't know what

that looked like. And I'm seeing these doodles, and I'm like, this is anything to do with each other. And again, like even saying that sounds so crazy. I don't even know why I thought that. But within that trip, I asked you a question. And I was like, what are you doing for your job? At the time, you were, we're gonna, great marketing job.

Yeah, I was just kind of cruising. I'm like, I have this job. I like to make cards, I like to doodle, do invites on the side that's like my outlet, but like I could never have that as a job. Yeah, and you were like, I remember saying that. I could never have that as a job.

I could never have that as a job. And I was kinda like, well why? Yeah, you're like, you never, it's not a job. Like this is my, this is like my side hobby. Yeah, I have my job. And I said, well, do you feel like you're doing what you feel purpose to do? And that one slapped you in the face.

I didn't have an answer. I was like, in my parents are sitting right there. I was like, I don't know, I don't know. But the answer is no. I, yeah, I couldn't fully say I was like living that out. And I think even in my response of like, I could never do that as a job. I was just so limited to like, what God could do

versus what I should go do. Yeah, I remember that. And even when I said that though, I had no intention of like, I didn't know, I was gonna hire you think I didn't know it was going to hire you I didn't know that this had to do with me. I was just asking as a friend like, Hey, Do you think you're doing what your purpose to do? I mean, you have a great job. You lived in Malibu. I mean, you're just like very great situation. But there was something that I saw on you that was like,

I have these deep passions for these other things, but it could never be my job. I think I was more so pressing in on the idea of, like, why do you believe it couldn't? Because if God put it in, you maybe there's a way it could. And I was just kind of dreaming with you. And then I go home and I tell my mom, I was like, do you think I could hire a court? I'm all like, for what? What are you gonna do?

I'm like, well, actually, and at the time, I was about to move to Nashville. And I was like, you know, I think that what I wanna do is this ministry thing. And, you know, I was seeing like ministries post like quotes, like if a pastor pre-present a message, they post quotes. And I was like, well, maybe we can post like quotes for my book And stuff like that and it'll be like inspiring on Instagram

And I was doing videos on YouTube so I was like maybe we can just take this around with it And I said she's a really good doodler and maybe she can make like all original hand-drawn Quotes for me and so I called you and essentially hired for me. And so I called you an essentially hired job to do on Instagram for me. And the job was also good I require you to move from Malibu to Nashville. And so I have so many questions within this realm of it. But just from your perspective, kind of tell the story from your side of when you got that call and what some of your first thoughts were whenever I asked you to come, you know, leave

your marketing official job in Malibu. It's moved to Nashville for a job that was so unknown. I mean I definitely was I did not expecting that. I was caught off guard. I was always you you know, ready and expecting. Okay, my friends calling did not think that that would happen. And I think, if I'm being honest, the first thing that rises was just the insecurities of, again, of, wait, why is she asking me? Like, she could ask anyone to go do this.

Oh, there's so many other good people at this. Oh my gosh, I can't do this. I mean, it's so wild how quickly, like your insecurities can just light a fire within you in a sense. Um, but I remember saying, okay, like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna pray about it. And genuinely, that was such a sweet time in my life of feeling like I had this big decision but not feeling the weight because I really felt God's presence. Well, and I feel like I took a couple weeks.

Like I didn't call you the next day. Within those weeks, me and your brother broke us. True. For a couple twists and turns. There were some moments of pause. Okay, guys, what are you doing here? But ultimately that question and then my yes, like really grew my face, Sadie.

We talked about that, but I remember worshiping one night at church and just like desperately praying, like I think I just wanted him to give me such a clear answer. And the reality is he doesn't always do that. Yeah. He just doesn't. But this time I felt the clear by saying yes to her. You're saying yes to me.

Well, and it just took the weight off that it wasn't even that I'm just accepting this job to work with my friend. It was like, no, I'm gonna say yes because I believe God has given me this opportunity. It's good. Through you. And I really stretched my face. It's good.

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spelled M-Y-K-I-T- NYKITSCH.com slash woe. One more time for you, that's mykitsch.com slash woe for 30% off your order. So I hope I said this to you and I'm not sure if I did the time and I know I've said this to you in a sense. I was saying to you all like, you're yes they has to be bigger than me like it can't just be for me because if it was for me like it's not gonna work out you know like if you were saying yes to hello for any reason and at the time there was no really reason for hello but even if it was just like oh well you were just on dance with the stars you just had this like it

wouldn't work like you're yes had to be for the Lord. And it had to be what he was doing in your life. Not what he was just doing in my life. And I think that was so cool about what God did by you saying yes, and by staff and other people on our team. It's like it's it's not about like what God's doing in me. It's about God's doing it all of us. And then all of us collectively going together on this one mission. I mean, it makes this beautiful thing because there's so many different giftings and so many different minds and so many different talents and passions and even faith, you know, levels at times. And so like, it's just been really cool. And I love that you said that, like, by saying yes to her, you're saying yes to me. And the bigger yes was really to him. And I was going to ask you that like what you know what

were you looking for and what you got because I think a lot of people are looking for like clarity from the Lord. And God doesn't always give you clarity like he gives you faith or trust. And I think that you know you had that. But what did that practically look like when you heard him say that? Was it in a church service? Was it just like this kind of underlying feeling? And I know it's hard to explain. It's hard to explain when the voice of God speaks, but I want to ask you that because there are a lot of people in your position who are searching for an answer. And I just want to give them a, you know, proper expectation of what that might be.

Yeah, no, that's a good question. I mean, that's one of like two times in my life. I've had that moment. So think about how many years have passed since then, and I might not have had that clear moment, but it was in the middle of like a church worship time. So I remember being there, and at the time, I was just really into journaling, like during church,

so like worship and then sit down in journal. And like that is what flowed out of that. And I didn't write a lot, but I wrote that. And I felt like that's what God was like leading me to just like put on paper of like pen in this moment. And I just kind of took that as my answer. It's like, okay, and I think with that too, I felt such a relief and not a burden. Sometimes decisions, like big decisions, things to look for.

Moves or new jobs or starting school or where to go to school. Should I go to grad school? All these things, like they can be burdensome. It's true. And the reality is you might not get this clear answer all the time, but if you really trust that like you are doing your best to walk in God's will for your life, he will redirect you where that has

to be. And I think when you're sitting in that, you're not feeling the burden. Yes, you're feeling free to keep moving in that direction and trust that, okay, hey, he might redirect me and that's okay. and trust that, okay, hey, he might redirect me and that's okay. But I just remember feeling like very light and free. And I think the other thing with that on just a practical like worldly sense, I might have said this in like an old podcast, but you know, sometimes when God's leading you somewhere,

it's like the opposite of what makes sense in the world. That's so true. And I feel like I remember that in that season too, of like, not that it didn't make sense, but it wasn't an easy thing. It wasn't an easy thing. It wasn't clear. It was.

It was hard to what you had. Yeah. It definitely didn't make sense. It didn't make sense. You had a very like established like good paying job with a good direction. I mean, you could have kept doing that and you're really good at that, you know?

It could have. Yeah. And you also grew up on the water. So we talked about like little things that it's like, oh, I wanted to live by the water. I want, like, there are some things that you had to be like, okay, this isn't makes sense. This might be a little bit of a surrender to what my personal preference is,

but it's worth it because of what this is for. Yeah. And I think that right there shows your confident trust in God and what he's going to do, like, with and for your life. And I think just for any of those people who are just trying to make those decisions, if God's leading you somewhere and it's okay for people to question it or, you know, hey, what's going on here? But if you feel really confident that that's what God's doing, like be confident in that direction.

Because people are gonna have wonder and sometimes he's up to something else. That's good. Okay, so I wanna talk about just feeling qualified to do something because you mentioned like immediately the insecure thoughts of, you know, someone else could do this a lot better all this stuff.

And, you know, perhaps there are people in the world who are more talented than all of us and the things that we're doing, yes. I mean, reality is that it's true. Like, if we're gonna like look at it like that, it's like, actually, no, that's actually true. There are people around the world, but there's some reason that God's calling me to this.

How did you get to the point of saying yes to even like your own ability? To me sometimes I'm like, God, I trust you. I don't trust in me. Like you're here and easy, yes. I'm the yes I'm worried about because I don't know if I can do it, you know. And then it's that whole put in the piece together. Okay, it's going to be you and me, yes. But like how did you, did you feel qualified?

Did you ever get to the point? And because I remember, even when you started working for me and we worked together in our house, there were insecurities that were rising and like, how did you kind of work your cell pass that because I don't see that in you at all anymore. Well, I will say that, I think is the fruit of this like getting to work together for so long

and also just focus on the mission and not in the little details. Like I do feel that freedom now where I'm not as like nervous to show you designs or be like, she can like this. But I was really nervous in the beginning and you are even like the most positive like cheerleader type of friend and teammate and even then I would be like, I don't know if she's going to like this.

And I think it honestly, it just took practice. And yeah, it just took time. And I think that's okay. I think when you're learning new things, especially I was this trying to learn how to be a graphic designer without having any training on how to be a graphic designer, you figure it out. And you learn how to do things quicker differently. And so honestly, I think it just took time to find confidence in it, but it's okay if you're not confident in the beginning. Yes, I think that's so true. Because for you, it wasn't from,

and I remember saying like, we're like, I've never not liked what you'd done or I've never shamed you for it. And I remember it was just we're like, I've never not liked what you've done or I've never shamed you for it And I remember it was just like a true like self-doubt of like, I just don't feel like it's good enough to show you I just don't feel like, but then like this confidence grew over time I'm like, okay, like I actually do have a real gift in this and like, you know, and you you Started creating a lot more too. It was like all these different designs like just start coming out of you Which I want to talk to you about just your creativity but I

was asking you to make original design which is hard because it's a lot easier to you know copy someone else what they're doing or look at the trends and be like oh well this is where everything is heading but I was like hey I don't want it to look like everybody else is because you'll notice on Instagram it's like so many of them and everybody has the same thing and I was like I don't want to look like everybody else is ministerial like, we need like if our name has lived original and it's the original, which is a hard thing to do.

And so with all of your creativity, like how did you, I guess, grow and just your ability to create original content? And for you, speaking to creators out there, do you have any advice for like how to get in that space? Yeah, that's good, Seid. Oh, I feel like, and just real side note on this, this is like when we started doing the original hand drawn

graphics for a original, this is like before it was super easy with an Apple pencil and everything. Like you were like we were actually like drawing or painting or writing. Got the the iPad look at how it's easy. This is amazing. I know I use it every day. But that it really took time. So it was like a lot more time consuming and now I feel like there's just so many great resources and tools where you can really do that to have your original handwriting, your original touch. [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ music playing in background, [♪ feel peace and time to trouble, just really been the thing I cling to. And that's why I'm so excited to tell you about one of our favorite partners, crew. Crew is a ministry that shares Jesus all over the world

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just take time to like like get away and like I just watch you like stretch your mind into these places and I think in trying to do something that's original or new it is going to require a stretching of your mind and not it's almost like the transforming of your mind and not conforming to the pattern of the world. It's kind of like that verse coming to life. Actually it really is because it's it requires you to like retreat. I mean maybe even the same way that you might go prepare for a message. And you're like, I'm gonna retreat from maybe these things I'm seeing or this worship song or anything like,

I'm gonna retreat and like really just step away. And it's kind of similar to that of like, how do I step away from Pinterest and Instagram and honestly just devices. It's truly like unplug. I remember those days where I was like, okay, I really need to come up with XYZ for this project and those are days where I would genuinely just go on walks.

Like I would just move my body, I would be outside in creation and I just, I feel like a lot of ideas and clarity often float from that. But yeah, I think it's important to like step away. If you're really, if you're really just trying to do something different and or some grace to that because it doesn't always just download.

Yeah, and it's not that you can't take inspiration for me, but inspiration is always gonna be there. And then you make it your original touch. I mean for me even preparing for messages sometimes. I'll be like, okay, I know I'm gonna talk about You know, let's just say I'm gonna speak on first on four. Yeah, and then I might look up literally Pursuita-shar first on four Chris and Kane first on four John Piper first on four like all these different types of voices, and I'll watch things that they've said to spark inspiration, and then I'll go

re-commentaries, and I'll, and it's like I have this collaboration of all of these great thoughts. You know, I make them my own, now take it into my period of time, and then I stop watching everybody else, and I think, you know, and I let God speak to me on what He's teaching me through these other people And then it becomes my own ideas my own thought this new message That's all a point to the same Bible so it's gonna have the same stories It's gonna have some of the same messaging, but it's in my voice

You know, it's in what God teaching me and I think like with creative stuff with like graphics and stuff like that is the same thing. It's not that you're not going to take inspiration like even for instance from my book that uh Krishna are putting out in October. This is a really good example. So I'm watching um the US open tennis you know finals and this guy was wearing this outfit and I just loved it. It was a maroon and pink and red combo and I hadn't seen anything like that and I sent it to outfit and I just loved it. It was a maroon and pink and red combo. And I hadn't seen anything like that. And I sent it to court and I said,

I love this combo. Let's do something with it. Well, courts also design my book covers. And so it came to the time to actually design a new book cover. And courts like, oh, this is great. Let's try to use that pink and maroon that we really like from the US Open. So it was inspired by this one tennis outfit,

but you made it into how to put love first cover. And so I think that's a good example. And plus you did hand-drawn stuff or you made it look like that. And I think that the handwriting, one of the things that why we do that is because then it's always gonna be original because no one has your handwriting, like no one things that, why we do that is because then it's always going to be original, because no one has your handwriting, like no one has your finger print.

So there are some things that you get to do. There are. But I love that you brought up that example though, because I think that's another part of it, of things that are inspiring, or whether it's a color palette, or some typography, or just even like this background imagery, you're like, that is just beautiful. That makes me feel ex-wisey. I do collect things as I go. So on those days where I'm like,

okay, I'm working on a project, I feel like I have this bank of either screenshots on my phone, or things I've saved and said aside that I can go return to those inspiring things versus feeling like I need to scroll or search in that moment. And so that's like a perfect example of that. That's cool. Oh, let's use this for something.

Let's tuck this away. Yeah, we tuck a lot of things away, I feel like. Can I do? And then we do go back and use it. I want to ask you about because we talked about this before starting this podcast because we were like, one thing we don't want people to hear is even in talking about, is this shirt, is this what you feel purpose to do all this stuff that you can't do? Cause I believe this is true.

I believe you can do anything on purpose with a purpose. Like I believe if you are like, you know, I have all the desires in the world to be the American Idol, but right now I'm a janitor, then that can be on purpose for a purpose and you can use that season of your life while still singing and working hard on your voice and going to voice lessons.

So I wanna speak to that a little bit because you had this dream in your heart and not even a dream because you didn't even know it could happen. But you had this passion for creativity, you had this passion for even doodling and art and all this stuff. But you also had like a really practical job at the time. Speak to the person who is the creative,

who's like, man, I have all this creativity in me. But like right now it's just not practical for me to have a creative job. Like I need this marketing job. How do you say faithful in that season? Yeah, I mean, first of all, that's okay. That's actually so normal. Like most people have these like passions and these

skippings and these things that they want to stew in in these dreams. And a lot of that starts as a hobby or it starts at these, you know, late nights where you're like winding down from your nine to five and you finish your commute and you're at home and you finally made dinner and you have this hour of free time. And it might be in that hour.

And so just speaking to those people, like, I just totally okay. And honestly, I think I think it really comes down to stewardship of your passions and your dreams because, you know, what we stir with a little, we can stir with a lot someday. And I think it's just like really enjoying like what we have in that season to stew our like at that time that you met me, I was just so excited and honored my friend wanted me to design her wedding invitation. I'm like, this is so fun.

This is life giving to me. I'm not a professional, but I love this. And I think even today, I still love doing those things for my friends because it's this sweet stewardship of, okay, I'm not a wedding designer at all, but I really enjoy doing this. I really enjoy working with my friends or blessing my friends with a baby shower design

or this little sign or, hey, I'm gonna create these cool t-shirts. Like, I think whatever you're able to steward with those dreams, like start small. And it could be something big or it could not, but like, what that'd be up to the board. Yes.

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And I think you really know where your hard set if you'll do it before you get paid a dollar for it, you know. I mean I talk about that with this podcast like I wanted to interview people my whole life because I love talking to people and we did this by guest for two years without getting paid a dollar because I probably went negative because I had to buy all the equipment and hire people to help me do it. You know, and but I just loved it. Like I just I love learning from people. I love talking to people. But then also I'm challenged by okay if no one's ever going to listen to this conversation and I'm sitting there talking to someone at Waffle House, do I invest in them with the same

amount of interest? You know, asking the questions of even how I ask you that day without even really knowing why. So how would you feel perverse to? Like, I just love asking people of these questions. And so it's like, will you do it when the camera's not on you? Will you do it when you have no platform? Will you do it when you're not getting paid for it? Will you do it when the camera's not on you? Will you do it when you have no platform? Will you do it when you're not getting paid for it? Will you do it? Because that's like the abundance of your heart, because that's what God's really gifted you with because that's what makes you come alive.

And it's like work full rest for you. You know, it's your movement and hands that's so restful. Like you just love it. And so I think that's such a good way to put it. It's stewardship. And you were love it. And so I think that's such a good way to put it. It's stewardship. And you were doing it behind the scenes before you ever were doing it on a big platform. And because you did it faithfully then, you were able to say yes knowing, oh, I can do this, you know, like I can do this. And you've done an incredible job. And you're still like you said, you so do your cards and you still do all these little things and I think that that's when you also know too when it does become

your job but you still want to do it on the side because it's just like it's just what's in you. It is and I feel like that's still just as important to continue in that maybe you do get this amazing dream job of something that you're super passionate really talented at and it's okay to still do it in the small parts outside of your job at. And it's okay to still do it in the small parts outside of your job. It's okay to like exercise and practice those things. Good. I love that.

One thing I want to ask you about, and this is something that is hard to teach people. And I've realized this because now you and Steph and I, lead our team and we have different people on our team who are under each of us that we get to help teach and we get to help grow. And they're like miniature versions of us in some ways, you know, they're creative or they're they love social media, they love creating graphics for those are the people that are under you and right now, you know, you have one girl under you who you're kind of mentoring up in that. And one thing that I have seen you teach all the girls on our team and

stuff teaches us to is that y'all are not scared of the things that sound impossible. The things that sound too far out because my dreams are big. Not gonna lie. We have we have dream meetings or vision meetings. Normally my thoughts start with, okay, this sounds kind of crazy. I'm not sure if this is possible, but I'm just gonna throw it out there. And I've never seen, and I'm truly trying to think,

I don't think I've ever set a dream that you and Steph had looked at me and said, not possible. Like, y'all have never done that. Like, I don't think you've ever done that. I might have posied them in like, I might have been like, hey, crazy. And that's fine because some of them are.

But like, and there have been hesitations and reservations and y'all have always been quick to be like, hey, that just might not be a good idea, which I appreciate. And that's about what I'll work with my best friends. But y'all have not been like, it's a no. You've always been like, let's try it. Or let's see.

We can see how this is going to work. And we had a moment recently with our team where someone, we asked someone to do something. And they said, you know, that's just not going to happen. And you quickly looked at her and said, well, surely we can figure out how to make that happen. And I stopped everybody at that moment. I just want to make sure everybody heard that because that is such a good spirit to have

on our team to say, well, surely there's a way. And I just, I feel like that is something that is hard to teach people. It's something that's not really natural for everyone. But you and stuff lead in such a good example of, okay, let's try it. Where does that come from? How do you grow in that? Because it's a hard thing to grow in. Ooh, that's a good question.

I do remember that moment. I think part of it, my nature is I do like solving problems. So I'm like, okay, how can we figure this out? And I feel like you and Steph also are very skilled at solving problems. Between the three of us, we can figure this out. We can figure this out with many options. There's always an option.

There's always an option. Even if they all fail, it's we're gonna try it. So I think that's part of our nature as well that it's not intimidating for us to solve these problems or step into these big dream ideas of like how do we bring this dream or vision to life? But I also think it, I think it just has to go back to like your spirit of, are you just willing

to try new things? Like are you willing to fail at something? Yeah. And you know, we're really blessed that we get to work like as teammates and good friends because there's such a safety and comfort in that. and we're really blessed that we get to work as teammates and good friends because there's such a safety and comfort in that. And when you're in relationship,

whether it's someone you're dating or your spouse or your team or your best friends, I mean, those are your safe people. And so those are the people you're probably more willing to be like, all right, yeah, let's go for this. If we fail, it's okay. But I've really been thinking on this lately of like, just, am I having a spirit that, am I willing? Yep. And you can go as deep as you want with that

and whatever season of life you're in. But I think that kind of even applies to lights good. Like this. So are you willing to try? You're willing to try. And are you willing to fail? And that's, are you willing to fail? You'll get back up. And I mean, we've had one of our biggest epic fails was something we worked the hardest on, which was our box. Yes, the box. And I think this is a good thing to know because this was a good idea that just didn't work.

So when the whole box thing was big, like, you know, people buy subscription boxes, I was like, you know what would be subscription boxes. I was like, you know, it would be so awesome is if we did a Bible study box because so many girls say that they want to start a Bible study and they're like, oh, I wish you could teach it. I'm like, we have a great idea. You know, and they're like, I don't feel qualified or I don't know how to teach or I don't know what to make, I'm going to have to cook, I'm going to have to host. Also, I was like, well, we are going to answer all these problems for you. And we are going to create a box that has everything in it that you need to do about

the study. We wrote the sermons for it. We had a whole magazine that had the sermons, there was crafts in it, which we included the crafts that you could use all of the stuff. There was cooking, there was recipes, there was videos that went along with all of it. And we worked hard on this box. This box did not sell. And we lost money on it, we lost like a lot of money on it because it was just a lot of work and materials that we bought. And people just didn't buy the box. And we were like, man, that was a great idea, but they just did not work, you know.

And so I think we did it one of their time. We tried it twice. Yep. And it didn't work again. And we were like, hey, we have to move on. And from that though, it really led us to starting the app, Elisister app. It prepared the way for that.

And now I look at Elisister app, and I'm like, you know what, this is really everything in a sense of what we were trying to do with the box. Now it's just on an app, which is just some more, you know, I mean, it's where people are at, where people are at, you know. And so I say that to say, you know, that saying it's like shoot for the moon, you might hit the stars, you know, I think that's happened a lot of times with us. If you're willing to shoot for the moon, then you might actually land on the star and then look at what happened. Look at where we've

gone and it wasn't our original idea. Elon Musk is like, this guy trying to do all these crazy things I was reading his article about his life one day and it said he has set out for us to all people live on Mars one day or whatever. And it was talking about how he has not actually reached his goal of doing that yet. But in the meantime of trying to do that, he's created four billion dollar industries. Like, I mean, that's crazy.

That's crazy. And so in trying to do one outlandish crazy thing that might work one day, in the meantime, here's four other billion dollar industries that have helped change a lot of what the world looks like today. And so I think that is kind of innocence too, of like when you look at something that feels and possible or too hard, are you willing to say, well, try.

And then in trying, that's gonna lead you to maybe where you land, where you end up. Yeah, or you'll just, you really like embracing that learning process of just the doing. Yeah. And I think even like, we've talked a little bit about creativity, but when you are truly just embracing, whatever it is you're creating, maybe that's cooking for today.

Whatever recipe you're doing, you're just embracing it, it might not turn out how you want. That recipe does not actually always work, like Joanna Gaines're just embracing it. It might not turn out how you want. That recipe does not actually always work like Joanna Gaines. I did it. And so, but you enjoy the process. Yeah. And I think even on a bigger level of some of these things, you've like dreamt or stepped into, like we enjoyed the process. Yeah.

I don't regret ever saying, you know what? Yeah, we shouldn't have done that. No. No. We wouldn't have known. And we did it. And like, look at what guy did beyond that. We didn't even know what he would do. Yep. I'm pretty sure Lionel Richie So this on American Idol. It's where I heard it. I'm sure he didn't come out with this But he said when you win you win when you lose you learn and I was like that is so good And that's so true when you win you win when you lose you learn So there's really no fail. There's really no failure in that, you know

And yes, if you look at it technically, okay, I failed whatever, but I learned and I grew and I learned a lot. And together as a team, we learned a lot through that process. And so I love that. And then even just that willingness and that spirit to always try to problem solve, I think it's just such a great, um, characteristic to have and an employee and a person and a friend. Just to encourage those who are listening. That's how one other story about just a team moment where one of our team members and she showed Dada until the story but it's just funny. It was that conference. And at conference the first year we had promised everyone that we were going to have Ben Yez. The Ben Yez. The Ben Yez. Ben Yez from Louisiana for everyone at conference, which was kind of a big thing to offer. But we had said it. I said it from stage.

I said, and in the morning, everybody get here early because we'll have been Yez. So I get off stage, backstage talking everybody about how awesome tonight was. And one of our teammates comes up to me and she says, yeah, by the way, we're not gonna have been Yees. That didn't work out. And like, sorry, you just said that for a month stage because we're not gonna have it. And I was like, oh no, we're gonna have been Yees. Like, I was like, not even phase like why?

I don't even know why we're not gonna have it, but we're gonna have it. Find a way. I literally call my grandma. I'm like, to my wife, do you know how my been Yees? Like, but we're gonna have it. Find a way. I literally call my grandma. I'm like, to my wife, do you know how my binyes? Like, can we make binyes for people tomorrow? She's like, say, it's 11 o'clock tonight. We can't make binyes, my, we gotta make,

I gotta learn how my binyes. I'm like about to like start making binyes. I'm like, we're going to Walmart, you know? Cause we said we're gonna have this, all this stuff. And so we all talk about it and we're like, hey, what can we offer realistically? And it ended up being like, we ended up having donuts for everybody. And that's fine. It was great. But I think that that's a good note to say, like, if plan A doesn't work out, there always needs to be a plan B, you know, to follow it up with. And if it's not going to be

binyes, that's fine. But at least let's provide donuts because we want to keep integrity for what we that we're going to offer something. And I feel like for you, one thing that you've done really well, you've always been going to come up with plan B. And I feel like through this, like, through all the things that we've done and you're willing this in your faith, we've been able to create things that I never thought was even possible for us to create. Like I said at the beginning of this, I never knew we were going to have a conference. I never knew it would have a podcast and I never knew the books would come that came. I never knew any of that, but I'm so thankful that through all the seasons that God put us

together to do it together because I could not have done what we've been able to do without you and without our other teammates. But I'm just so thankful for you and your faith to say yes, six years ago, and your faith to continue to say yes through all the seasons. Like I said, we've gotten married since then. A lot of life. Girls, we both have our May baby girls. As a requirement for team Aloe, you had to have a girl in May.

And she's been fun core. It's been a heck of a time and I'm just really thankful for you. Oh, well right back out you saved. And truly for those who might not get to work with their best friends just link arms with your friends go create go do things and just find friends who are just ready to like say yes to the big things. It's good it's the best people to be around well y'all I know you learned so much from core as I continue to every time I get to talk to core and I just hope that this was like as as much spiritual as it is practical for you guys as you step into the work world As you step into the creativity and the passions and the dreams and the gifts that God's put on your life and just know that no matter where you are

You can do what your purpose to do so whether you have the job title that does that for you Or you're just strutting well what God put inside of you. You can do it right where you're at So we love you guys. We're for y'all and we're cheering you on like a sister and a friend. you