#17 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Ashley Spurgeon's Leap of Faith & Journey to purpose-Part 2

Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a job that doesn't fulfill you, but you're too scared to take the leap of faith towards your dream? Our guest, Ashley Spurgeon, a former teacher turned successful entrepreneur, did exactly that. She took a leap of faith and transitioned from a secure teaching job to launching her successful retail shop, Uptown Merch. Ashley's journey wasn't easy, but with creativity and resourcefulness, she managed to turn used items from closing stores and yard sales into treasures for her shop. And beyond just the business aspect, Ashley found a way to offer meaningful connections to her customers, shaping her store into a hub of support and prayer for those who were struggling.

Ashley's faith played a monumental role in her entrepreneurial journey. She shares, in humbling detail, how she believes God guided her steps, from leading her to the store to helping her realize her purpose. Aligning your purpose and profit with divine guidance can open doors to unexpected opportunities, Ashley assures. Inspired by the verse Jeremiah 29:11, Ashley emphasizes the importance of trusting that there are plans to prosper you and give you hope and a future. If you're feeling stuck or if your heart is being shifted by the Lord towards a new direction, Ashley's story is a testament that you should take the next step and never give up.

You can connect with Ashley on www.uptownmerch.com and Facebook-Uptown Merch or email her at shopuptownmerch@gmail.com and Instagram @Shop_Uptown_Merch

Join the newly added No More Running Facebook group. 

Would you like to do some one-one Coaching with Crystal? You can go to www.crystalloyd.com and click on coaching and connect with her on No More Running Facebook and Instagram @crystalloyd2

Music By:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/the-closer-we-feel
License code: ERKJ2V7UTGMGILAY

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:07

Have you ever found yourself running? Running mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially and even running physically from things in this life. This is no More Running. The podcast for women.

Speaker 2: 0:20

Hello, I'm your host, crystal Lloyd, and I've been known to run and still find myself running from the things in this life. Running from God, His calling, his purpose for my life. Running from change that's within my control, that needs to be made, or any type of change. Running from hard or even good or even just simple little things in this life. And God said to me Crystal, if you will stop running and surrender, there are things that we can accomplish together. Maybe you find yourself running as I have. I want you to know that you're not alone. Let's go from running to no more running together.

Speaker 2: 1:00

Let's get started with prayer, holy Spirit, we invite you to be a part of the podcast, the lessons, the life coaching and the sharing of our stories. Let it be known today that you are God. God, help us to go from running in this life, from whatever it may be that we're running from, from running to no more running. In Jesus' name. On today's episode, we share part two of Ashley Spurgeon's story from teacher of nine years to entrepreneur a retail shop uptown merch. Now is part two, friends.

Speaker 1: 1:52

If you saw where we came from and what we had and the shape the building was in and literally my whole store, I don't couldn't tell you there's probably only one or two new like fixtures in the whole store. Because of how things worked out and I was able to find things of storage closing, I literally got things for free because stores were closing and other things were moving in and it was on Facebook marketplace fixtures with slot walls, things like that for free.

Speaker 2: 2:22

That's awesome. I mean, that's how God works. He's like okay, you're going to open a store and I and I won't give it to you for free. That's how God. I love it, Don't you? I just love God. I love how he works and his timing and I love it.

Speaker 1: 2:39

I love that actually, and it's one of those things where you're how am I going to do this, how am I going to do this, how am I going to do this? I got you know, I've got to get this, I got it. And when you're opening a store or anything, but I had, you know, a variety of stores, so I need a lot of different stuff, not just a focus on one thing, and so that took a lot of work, that took, you know, obviously, a lot of money to just get the products in the store. So how is it that you can, you know, save the money? Because you know we didn't have a ton of money set aside to open a store.

Speaker 2: 3:12

But and what I understand is I mean, you didn't get any grants for opening this, and what we've talked about is you've got, you got this and you paid for it, and then you got this and paid for it, and then you got this and paid for it. It was just a little at a time. I'm just building on what you need and then, of course, you know, god just throws in some free stuff for you, you know.

Speaker 1: 3:34

So it was. I have, yeah, things in my store that were free People gave me. We found on Facebook Marketplace. We find a lot of stuff either on Facebook Marketplace or auctions from. We recently got some new fixtures but they're still from an auction from the vol shop in Knoxville. They, I think they I think they just got a bigger one, like did a whole big one, so they sold a bunch of fixtures from the old one. So I have all kinds. I'm talking brand new in the box, never opened.

Speaker 2: 4:08

Wow, that's awesome.

Speaker 1: 4:09

And I've got several for what you would pay probably for one. Those kinds of things. You just you just have to dig and find it. And so when people find out like I have those woods fools, that you put the wire on or whatever that came from an electrical shop and that we cut them in half to make a table and put a tablecloth over it, they're like that's what that is. I'm like yeah, it was free, so it was a tablecloth.

Speaker 2: 4:33

I love it. I love it. Yeah, and I think we get in our head of we have to have all this perfect new, brand new things and, if you can, and now you go for it, but also know that when people come in my store they care.

Speaker 1: 4:49

I think more about for one how they feel.

Speaker 2: 4:51

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:52

And then more of, do I have what they're looking for?

Speaker 2: 4:55

Right.

Speaker 1: 4:57

Because nobody's looked at me and said, hey, was this spinning rack that you have? Did you get this off Facebook market? Right, I mean, you know what I mean.

Speaker 2: 5:05

They don't even know, they don't care.

Speaker 1: 5:07

Yeah, and well, we did have to buy a few things. Obviously it just how it works out, but sometimes you have to do the groundwork.

Speaker 2: 5:15

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 5:16

But that's another thing. My husband loves auctions and he loves finding things like that, so that was very helpful. But even now I'll look just for certain stuff. If I need something, I go see if somebody else has it. Right, if it's a good condition and a whole lot cheaper, why not? Right? Yes, yard sale, yeah. But there's a lot of things you can refurbish, you can redo, and I mean that's a whole business in itself.

Speaker 2: 5:42

Oh, yes, it is.

Speaker 1: 5:43

And I'm not the refurbished.

Speaker 2: 5:45

Hey, but there's somebody out there that would do that grade and even resell it, like buy it at a yard sale, refurbish it, you know, and then sell it again. And yeah, I'm not that kind of a crafty kind of person. But there is somebody out there maybe a woman out there that's listening and thinking, oh, I've been thinking about doing this and I'm so good at yard sales, I love yard sales and I love getting things and redoing them and then selling them. I'm like, hey, go for it, girl.

Speaker 1: 6:13

I see stuff and I'm like, how did you do that? I know I don't need something. If it's white and I need a black, that's it. I do Cover it with a devil glider or something, but that's about it. But even my floors which I think Josh laughs and he says I think they used every tub of glue they could find in East Tennessee for the floors that we had, but it was old carpet and that was hard to get up. I'm no lies. We rented two different machines, all kinds of stuff, just trying to get the carpet up. And so by that point I'm like I'm paying the concrete. Forget it, I'm paying the concrete Like it was done. I don't want you to think about it. And so you can go around things for a time. You know well, I don't know if I'll ever get lambing at floors or something.

Speaker 2: 7:01

I don't you know what. Like you said, nobody comes in there and like, looks at your floor, like why ain't you got hardwood floor or something on this? You know, no, I don't even look at your floor, I just like, oh, this, oh, like this, I want this we can get so stuck.

Speaker 1: 7:19

Yes On the little things that in the end of the day don't matter.

Speaker 2: 7:24

Yep.

Speaker 1: 7:24

Now, obviously some things might be a big thing for you, that's a little thing for me because we're on different paths or we have for stores, and that's fine. But you also stay stuck. We stay stuck because we're worried about all these little things.

Speaker 2: 7:38

Oh, we want everything a little perfect, perfect, perfect, you know. And then that does you know just well, we are delaying things, you know, and it doesn't have to be that way, so it doesn't have to be that hard.

Speaker 1: 7:50

So, ok, I love that, ashley, and which I think we talked before, because you'd asked me about the grants and stuff and I said I don't, I don't recommend this for anybody, but we put some of our product some places will let you do like 30 day credit so you get the product, so you can sell it and then pay for it.

Speaker 2: 8:10

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:11

And then. So you just have to ask about that on a lot of places. And then we did use a credit card and get some stuff, but now, a year and a half later, nothing is paid for with a credit card.

Speaker 2: 8:24

I mean, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1: 8:26

And that's a good thing.

Speaker 2: 8:28

Wow.

Speaker 1: 8:28

Especially in, I feel like this economy that we're in that we can pay off the credit card and work on just reestablishing the store and getting new stuff from the profits that you make.

Speaker 2: 8:41

Yeah, and paying yourself as well. I mean that's awesome, yes.

Speaker 1: 8:46

And so we've came a long way from that. But all those little things could I could have let them stand in my way, Not being able to open, not having the newest of new fixtures or not having everything perfect. I knew that this was what I needed to do that people, a lot of people, they don't care about that. They don't care if it's got a tablecloth over it.

Speaker 2: 9:11

Right.

Speaker 1: 9:12

But they need I feel like in small business it's the interactions.

Speaker 2: 9:17

Yeah, it's a personal yeah. Yeah. I mean, if I come into a business and somebody, like the cash register or even the owner, is just sitting behind the desk or whatever and don't even look up to me, they're on their phone and I'm like, but I love it, I love that they come in and you're like, hey, and you know and you conversate and you know, yeah, and can I help you find something? You know Exactly.

Speaker 1: 9:47

And sometimes people just come in. They need to talk.

Speaker 2: 9:51

Yes, yes, like you know, and I'll say this you know I was taking therapy for my leg because I had a knot in my leg and so therapy days I would.

Speaker 2: 10:04

I was excited about therapy days because then I would, I would come in the store and it was therapy.

Speaker 2: 10:10

It was on Thursday and I was like it's therapy Thursday and I, you know, I got my leg worked on, or legs, both of them, and the knots and but then I also got my therapy in, you know, with my friendship with you and our conversation and just, you know, just the wisdom and the knowledge that you passed on, and then just just being friends, just, you know, hanging out, and I felt like that when I got hurt in the ministry I felt like I'd left all my friends and or, you know, because I had stayed hurt and just kind of stayed hidden and and stayed in that hurt for a while.

Speaker 2: 10:44

So it was so good to just like be hanging out with friends again, even if it was just a short window there that I came in. But I started to look forward to therapy Thursdays, you know, because, not because the therapy on my legs was really hard, but just the interaction with you actually, and then just you know our conversations and our friendship and you know all that. So I think you know sometimes people just need to come in and just you know, have that yeah.

Speaker 1: 11:16

And they do and and I, I sometimes need that. Yeah, sometimes I need other people's stories, just like they need my stories. Yes, and I do feel like sometimes there's that fine line of I don't want to try to want up that person. You know we, sometimes people feel like they have to one up you. Well, you went through that, but I went through this and I went you know, and sometimes it's just other. People need to know they're not alone.

Speaker 2: 11:41

Yes, so whatever it is.

Speaker 1: 11:43

Yeah, it's not real. Shop shopping with my therapy, I'm not gonna lie, I was bad. I like to shop. So I just have a store. Now I get to shop professionally, and then I don't have to take it all home. And you can have other people shop too, like me, you know but People are like that and and I feel like when people are down or Even discouraged, they just just window shopping or whatever. But having somebody that can just smile at them tell them to have a good day, you know it doesn't even have to be about the Dollar transactions.

Speaker 1: 12:18

It's those other things, and sometimes when people are even.

Speaker 1: 12:22

You know, we've talked about God leading me to a store and I'm like I don't know I feel like God could have probably used me in school with a bunch of kids, but the amount of Friendships and connections and things that I've made and people that I may have only seen once, but I Remember to pray for them because of the struggle they were going through, that one day. Yes, and and I think that's the important part because when people come across your mind, obviously I think there's a reason. Or when you see this.

Speaker 1: 12:53

But that's the important part, because there's. There's people that are coming to my mind in In the last year and a half, because that's all I've been in business this year and a half open in November of 2021. Finally, there's people that, even if I can't remember their name right now, I can see their face right.

Speaker 1: 13:11

That their struggle, that they just needed to share with me that day. But I don't know where they're at, I don't know if they're, what they're doing, I just can pray for them, but sometimes that's all it is. Is that connection in that, that prayer that he's used me for and, like I said, whether it's, you know, another year and a half or 20 years? Right, yeah, the, the dollar transactions are good, but I think he had me here for more of a purpose in that thing.

Speaker 2: 13:40

So too, actually, and I think you know your ministry and Teaching. You were there for a reason and for a purpose and God used you and grew you in that. But then also he says it's time to move in To something different. I need to be using you, I need to use you over here, actually, and so I think that's that's it. You explain that that you know your ministry was teaching. Now your ministry is, you know, maybe just helping the people that come in your store to put a smile on their face, even to pray with them and to to make connections.

Speaker 2: 14:15

And I love that. I love that. I love how God I mean he, he uses us in so many different ways, and then even like for a woman, and that's as we close, and I know we could talk forever. I mean like forever, never, because we're both just talkers, you know, and but.

Speaker 2: 14:32

But I do think that you know if there are women out there listening and that maybe they're, you know, crying every day and as they're going into work or or on their lunch break, or you know they're like Lord, is this all you have for me? The Lord has shifted your heart, and and just pray that. You know, lord, okay, I know my heart shifted, I know I'm ready to go, but I won't. I won't, I don't want to run from this, but I want to run towards what you would have for me now and so, but, as we close, what advice would you give to other women that are struggling in their position? Maybe they're a teacher, maybe they're you know, they're a grief, I don't know a banker, maybe they're In accounting or whatever it may be, but they're, they're just not happy and they, they know that their heart shifted and you know, what would you give them? What would you say to these women that are thinking and praying and maybe she feels like God is leading her to start her own business?

Speaker 1: 15:47

So one thing I had to. I remember I thought walking one day, and it was that whole Before I wasn't teaching anymore, but the store wasn't open. It was in that transition of we're working on the store and everything not everything was going around, but this was delayed or that was delayed. You know the things, and I remember thinking, well, maybe this wasn't it, maybe you know, going back and forth and it was like no, I know this was what I was supposed to do and I just had that. I don't know, maybe I've heard it in the past and it came back up, or just my own thoughts, I don't know. I don't want to take the credit from someone, or bad.

Speaker 2: 16:19

The Lord plain to that you've had, maybe had heard it, but the Lord's reminding you of it.

Speaker 1: 16:23

Yes, I don't have to say like something and act like it's mine, because I don't really remember right, but it was that whole the failure. Is you not doing it?

Speaker 2: 16:33

right not stepping out. Yes.

Speaker 1: 16:35

If you stay where you're at, then you're going to fail, but the failure isn't stepping out and opening your business, and it only lasting for two years, because there's something else.

Speaker 2: 16:47

For a year or a few months or whatever.

Speaker 1: 16:50

Yeah, all your. Is you staying stuck?

Speaker 2: 16:52

not trying.

Speaker 1: 16:53

Yes, yeah, that's the failure because if I have to go in this week and close my doors, while it might not have been what I saw, I Did it. I did it. Yes that's not the failure, you know, and we all have to go through things and sometimes people have to go get a second or third job. That's not the failure. He's still there and his timing is not our timing. Fortunately, because if I would have had my store ten years ago, it probably would have been a failure.

Speaker 1: 17:24

Yeah, I mean, yes, I said I grew up a lot in that time but the failure is staying stuck. And so many times people look at successes, whether it's money or cars or houses or whatever, or how long you've been in business or that you know. Maybe you weren't a stay-at-home mom Well, she's successful because she works outside the home. Or maybe because you are a stay-at-home mom, well, she's successful because they can afford for her to say, how me, there's all these things that people have in their head as success. That is not success, and the same with failure. Your failure and your success is different for you than it is somebody else. But if you're gonna stay stuck, then you're gonna fail, right? Yes, you're failing yourself of giving yourself that chance of stepping out and saying, hey, let's try.

Speaker 1: 18:11

Yeah, a thousand things could go wrong, but a thousand things could go right to you know, especially when you have that peace from God and I think sometimes God's quiet because he lets you decide.

Speaker 2: 18:23

Oh, love that, ashley. I love that. I mean, sometimes there's a clear and no, yes, right, exactly yes. Sometimes it's like God's like I'm happy if you want to be in teaching and God is like I'm happy if you want to start, because I love you and I Do want you to have joy in your work, I do want you to succeed over here, if that's what where your heart is. Oh, I love that. I love that.

Speaker 1: 18:52

I think, when you realize that staying stuck is your failure and and that every season is different. Every season changes. We have to go through the dead of winter, which is gross, oh yeah, everybody doesn't like it, and it's dark and cold right to get to the beauty of spring. But then you also have to go through the heat of summer to get to the pretty of fall.

Speaker 1: 19:13

Oh yeah, you have to go through those seasons and everybody's season is different and every season is different, so some things are only for a season. Oh, some things that you do are only for a season, some people you made are only for a season, but the thing is, is that season was needed for you to go on to the next one?

Speaker 2: 19:30

right and but you know what, just you saying that we also, and like you said, and staying stuck, it's like you cannot hold on to one season and move to the next season, that you have to let go of that season and and then reach for another season. And that may look like Stepping out in faith and saying okay, yeah, and making plans because I love that you, you know, you didn't just quit your job that day, just, yeah, quit your drink. Yeah, I know, right, but you made plans and and you made it happen. And and you hear a lot of people and go, just, you know, go, go and just quit your job. You know I just quit my job because that's what the Lord wanted me to do.

Speaker 2: 20:18

But you know, I mean, you still have bills to pay and the Lord expects you to pay your bills, so not everybody can just go, and I love that, I love that. But then there's a point or you've made your plans, you've, you've prepared. It's time you have to let go of that current season that you're in and move into the new life seasons. You know, just like new life in spring is new life and and you have to, okay, god, and you have to take that step of faith and be like I'm doing this.

Speaker 1: 20:57

I don't know how this is gonna look, lord, I don't know how it's gonna go, but I do that you know, and you have to remember it's the same with God, because a lot of people don't there's actually, I think, a speaker, motivational speaker that did but a lot of people don't get engaged and married on the same day, right, yes, yes, you don't Find the house, you won't put an offer and get it that day. Yeah, just like you said, there was a plan. There was a couple times in that last year, even though I knew I was not coming back, and there was some things that happened that even Josh was like I don't care if you go back tomorrow. But I mean, you know, there was just things and I'm like, nope, that's not the plan.

Speaker 2: 21:36

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:37

God has a plan and sometimes even then, those days of you're like I don't care if I go back tomorrow either, but there's a plan, god has that plan and he has to work it out Because it doesn't happen. They don't always hope. It happened overnight, I'm sure there's some success stories out there up, but you, you don't have that a b movement. Right then, it is a plan and God has that plan, and sometimes that plan is longer than we Want, and sometimes he's like letting you take take charge of that plan.

Speaker 1: 22:04

But you have to remember that God might have you in this position right now, because next season is going to be your winning season, but you got to get through this one.

Speaker 2: 22:12

Yeah, just getting through this one. Yes, you know that's the hard, you know part, and it's like don't give up on this season, just quiet. But then because you, you can literally see the next season and you're like I want that now, now, and so that that's hard, but then when you get to that season, even letting go of the current season as well. So I love that, actually, I love that. I love that and I see, just, you know big things in your future. I see that you can coach women in business.

Speaker 2: 22:45

Oh, yes, actually, don't shake your head, though, I see it, because I mean I feel like you you've been coaching me and I just, I see it, I feel like you can do this is just the store, uptown Merchant, merch, uptown merch Merchant. See you, it's hard to say, you know, for us older women, uptown merch and is it's just the beginning. I think the Lord can just take this to even new levels and new heights and to help women, young and old, and Even for me I mean my 40s now and I think I don't know that I can do this Podcasting and this life coaching, and you know all of this and I'm too old, you know. But hey, and with God, all things are possible, and there's a verse that I want to read, and if you want to share any verses, please do so, but they're gonna get my about, thank you.

Speaker 1: 23:47

As far as me being able to reach people, but you are giving People like me the opportunity to reach people, so don't count yourself out on that.

Speaker 2: 23:57

Well, yeah, I thank you, and thank you so much. It's hard to say, you know, it's hard to be on the receiving of those. You know Things and cuz I'm like I don't know what I'm doing. Yeah, that's right. I mean, we just one step at a time? Right, we'll figure it out as as we go. And I just feel like, even Like you, you had said teaching and nine years and you've grown, and even like the first podcast was gathered around the table with the spiritual purpose was just a stepping stone. You know, and and what you're in now. It may just be a stepping stone if you're like, oh, I'm over this, I'm ready to go, I'm done with this. You know it's just, it's a stepping stone to what the Lord has planned and and you know what and the. And the good thing is you think it's just by surprise, but the Lord knew, you know, when you were born, even before you were born, that all of this was going to be in your life. So, yeah, but the.

Speaker 2: 24:56

The verse that I want to share is Ephesians 3 20, and I know, you know this verse. It's a now to him who is able, now to him who is able to do a Measurably more than all we ask or imagine. According to his power, him, he is being Jesus, being God that is at work within us, and so I just love that. I love that now to him who is able. You know, we can't do anything, really, honestly, on our own. It is God and through his power and through the Holy Spirit that we can do what we can do, like start a new business, starting a new podcast or a podcast or, you know, do some live coaching and and hopefully, as you know, our businesses grow. I just have to figure out how I'll take this podcast in this live coaching and make some money and be able to.

Speaker 1: 26:01

And all good.

Speaker 2: 26:01

God's time right, exactly, yes, patience, patience.

Speaker 1: 26:05

You're gonna be able to see the the fruits of it through people. I hope so that when that that money comes, it's not even, you're not even gonna care.

Speaker 2: 26:17

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:17

I really, I really believe that you're gonna be able to to inspire and help so many people Through their pop, your podcast, but also just help so many people tell their own story. Yes they don't have, you know, an outlet, that then, when the money comes, it's gonna be like oh, that's just a bonus, because yeah this is, this is the thing that I do and I love, and it will come and I will season it.

Speaker 2: 26:41

Well, and I guess hope and there's, I'm sure, other women out there that thinks like this too is like they want their purpose and their and the profit to align. You know, because we've got a purpose. And then you know, and I believe it can, I really believe that it can align with God, and with God all things are possible, so I believe it. So is there a verse that you or anything else that you want to share before we go?

Speaker 1: 27:09

Well, I'll share my verse. Okay, this is a verse that, after my miscarriage is, I got tired of being mad at God. Again. He kept. I felt like he kept throwing at me finally, and I was falling, like I know this sounds crazy, but you know how you have those verses. And again I was a more immature, you know, at the time of that you're just like that's kind of like the cliche verse, that's the verse everybody goes to. That's kind of how I felt about this one. And then it became my verse and I'm like, oh sorry, yeah, but during this process too of being stuck and knowing that I'm supposed to do something else, it kept coming back to me and of course, it's Jeremiah 29-11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. And so I just think about the fact that whatever he does isn't to harm us. Yes, even though it might feel like it at the time and even though sometimes it is physically harmful.

Speaker 2: 28:11

Yes, things you go through, yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:12

He, you know he, his whole purpose is not to harm us and it is for our future. And so just to know that we have a future and that God has that hope and future for us and then we can have that hope and future.

Speaker 2: 28:29

That's, that's just that is actually one of my favorite verses. I love it so much and it does give me hope for the future and it also reminds me of that. He is not to harm me because of you know, just even like the childhood that I went through and the things that I went through in the church hurt and all that that. You know people may mean to hurt you, but God that is not his plan, that is not his purpose is not to harm you, and I love that reminder of like you know, because we sometimes think God is just like everybody else. But God is reminding us in this verse no, I'm not, I am not to harm you. I have plans for you, a good plans and a good future, and so I love that. I shall love Jeremiah 2911. Yes, so we just encourage you, both of us together. And I think you know Ashley don't know it yet, but she's a life coach as well and we just encourage you.

Speaker 2: 29:33

If you're out there and you feel stuck in your job and the Lord shifted your heart, you know, start praying about it and say, okay, god, I know that my heart shifted, I know that you have something different or something in store. You know for my future. What do I do about it? What's my next step, lord? What is my next step? And you know something that I say to God all the time it's like God, don't give up on me, don't give up on me.

Speaker 2: 29:59

I don't know what I'm doing with this podcast. I don't know what I'm doing, you know. And and I'm like, don't give up on me, lord, help me, help me, help me to help others. And that's my whole, sole purpose in the podcast, in the life coaching, is because I want to help others, I want to help other women, and that's why I wanted to have you on, ashley is because you, you know you've been through this and through your story, you can help another woman and to let other women know they are not alone in their struggles. You know, maybe you feel like, you know you're crying every day at work or it like on your lunch break and you're a miserable at your job and you feel like you're all alone. But you're not.

Speaker 1: 30:44

You're not, and so it can happen for you, and I also want to remind people that you still have to do the work though, yes, I love that you know you. I heard a friend of mine say pray like it relies on God, but work like it relies on you yes and I agree with that. Yes, I don't. I totally do, because I think we get stuck in the will will. God said this is for me, so he's just gonna make it all happen and we're waiting on.

Speaker 2: 31:10

God, yes, right, exactly. We're waiting on God and God's like what's what you doing? Get up out of the bed and do your part as well, I mean yeah even though that is your end goal, you still have to do the work right.

Speaker 1: 31:25

You might want to stand at the top of Everest. You still have to climb the, you know you got to climb it, you have to do the work, and so I think that's important to remember too, because I feel like sometimes we get stuck in that oh well, god's got it. Oh yeah, oh God's got this.

Speaker 2: 31:40

Yeah, oh, I do too actually totally.

Speaker 1: 31:44

Sometimes he's telling you to just move your feet.

Speaker 2: 31:46

Yes, yeah, but you've got to get off the couch right, yes, and I have said you know, and sometimes you know God has says, well, I've told you the plan. It's like you won't take that leap of faith, you won't go, you won't take that next step, and maybe the next step is just start with prayer, or the next step is you start that business, like you file for your business license, or your next step is start looking for a place to rent or you know whatever it may be, and so, and then it may be like, like me, I'm like, well, I don't know what my next step is, lord, so I need you to just show it to me and then, when you do show it, help me to be obedient in that, god, because sometimes I will be like, and God will clearly tell me and say, okay, this is your next step. Now I'm like, I don't know about that, god, I don't know if I like that step. Can we go do this?

Speaker 2: 32:51

Yeah, so, but thank you so much for being a guest on no more running podcast and I appreciate all your advice and I know that this is going to help other women and young girls that are gonna listen to this and that, if you think I want to, I want to have my own business someday. It can totally happen. We believe you know. Yeah, so thank you so much for being a guest. Would you lead us out in prayer?

Speaker 1: 33:18

just a short prayer okay, thank you for letting us be here today, and I just hope that these words helped and encouraged someone. That's why we're here. We're not here for your praise, but just to encourage someone and let them know they're not alone, but also let them know that you are in control and you've got this. So, yes, we honor you and we praise you. Love you, lord, amen amen, amen, all righty.

Speaker 2: 33:46

That's awesome, ashley and friends, until next time, hey don't forget. You can sign up for the no more running email list at info at crystalloycom and make sure to like, share and follow. We would love for you to leave a review for the podcast. This helps us reach even more women who might find themselves running as well. Gotta run.