Purpose. In business, it’s the word that separates the innovators from the imitators. It’s what differentiates between top-performing businesses and average-producing businesses. (Bonus tip: Couple being purpose-driven with integrity over a decade in the same space, and you’ll outdo 90% of the competition in your market.) So, in a world that seems to emphasize profitability and popularity, how do we ensure purpose stays the focus for our lives? Here are my top 3 tips: Pray. “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). Attempting to walk in purpose without consulting our Purpose-Giver is about as irresponsible as it gets. God gave us our purpose, so we must continually be growing in our personal relationship with Him to continue to grow in purpose. One of the most important things I stress with the women I mentor is how prayer is a productive use of our time. Don’t make it an afterthought, but a daily non-negotiable. Even if you’re just getting started in business or ministry, little is much in the hands of God. Prayer is our regular exercise [...]

As a entrepreneur in the creative space and as an author, plagiarism is something I deal with on a daily basis. Yes, even though 98% of what I put out there would have to be stolen by another person who claims Christ, it’s still an issue. Now, I refuse to live my life in a way that seeks to chase down every person who steals my ideas, words or creative work, so this is my heartfelt attempt to speak out against plagiarism as a whole from a Biblical perspective. But first, what exactly is plagiarism? Well, it used to be simply a copyright violation. Before the Internet, Pinterest and social media, it was much more difficult to plagiarize because before you could publish something, there were copyright filters to ensure plagiarism didn’t happen. But you don’t have to have a publisher to mass produce your thoughts anymore. All you need are a few social media accounts and fancy apps on your phone to steal someone else’s work and in the minds of most, be “undetected.” And most don’t even think it’s wrong. Almost daily on my clothing line’s social media page, someone will tag their friend in one of [...]