Do you have an opinion about Valentine’s Day? {My husband thinks it always falls on a Tuesday and this year, he was right!}
I know there are some who dread it, some who adore it, and some who just say “meh.” I totally understand all of those reactions, but I’ve got to tell you that it’s an incredibly special day for my family.
My husband Phil and I were married right around Valentine’s Day {February 18, to be exact}, so this holiday will forever be surrounded by sweet memories for me {and maybe a few thoughts of the crazy last-minute wedding prep, too!}.
This past week we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary, and I’m so excited and honored to share with you a few of the leadership qualities that make my man so inspiring.
When I think about the leadership traits I admire most in my husband, there are two things that come to mind almost immediately {Honesty time: I’ve been sitting here trying to do this blog post justice, and I know my words won’t be enough, so I hope you can hear my heart in these}.
First, my husband is a true prayer warrior. Not many people know this about Phil, but he often wakes up in the early hours of the morning {think 4 a.m.} to spend time earnestly interceding for those in need. He praises God, he prays for our family, he spends intentional time in prayer for his staff, and he places the needs of the people he pastors carefully before the Father. Phil is so humble, he’d never share this about himself. But it’s a part of his character that makes me fall more and more in love with him every passing year. The thing about Phil is, he knows who he is and whose he is, and he consistently points others toward the One who can help more than he ever could.
Phil cares deeply about people. He prays hard, and he prays often. Because of this, I know that when Phil comes to me with something on his heart about our life, our family, or my business, it’s not just part of his own agenda. Any significant request he makes of me or our family has been taken before the Lord in prayer. So when Phil leads, I know I’m following not just him, but the Lord.
My husband is intentional in building his relationships. He doesn’t expect them to flourish without effort. Phil pours his time and energy into nurturing his friendships and his family. And he’s rewarded for that.
You would not believe the number of phone calls that Phil gets from people seeking advice, asking for help with their problems, or who just need a listening ear {he’s a pastor, after all!}. I’m amazed at how he’s able to give each of the individuals who reach out to him his full attention, and point them toward Biblical wisdom. And Phil doesn’t just promise to pray for them – he stops what he’s doing and drops to his knees to pray immediately with them about whatever concern is weighing them down.
I’ve been thinking lately about how I can be a better leader in my own business this year {with a team of fourteen and growing, there’s new challenges and exciting opportunities to step up daily}, and I’m taking some lessons from my husband.
I’m committed to praying daily for my business. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” My constant prayer is that I would be in His will, walking in His purpose. The Lord has placed a deep desire in my heart to be a help to thousands of women who are making their way in the sometimes-confusing, always-exciting world of online business. I’m trusting that God will grant this desire – in fact I’m watching Him grant it in ways that are truly and abundantly beyond what I could ever have asked or imagined.
I’m committed to being intentional in serving my clients. I’m committed to offering my clients everything that they need to build their own successful businesses. This is the heart around our design & ads agency, and why I’ve built out multiple self-study courses, in addition to offering done-for-you services and surrounding myself with the best team! I know I’m here to serve, and I don’t take this responsibility lightly.
If I can be the type of leader in my business that Phil is for our family, I’ll be doing amazingly well… I’m so grateful that I have such a wonderful example of leadership to follow!
