Homemaker CEOGrowing Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally

I Want to Love You Better, ___________________________________!

How can I love you better?

With my words:

With my actions:

 With my attitudes:

 With my time:

With my money:

 How have I hurt you with my words, actions, attitudes, use of time, or use of money? [I need to ask your forgiveness and pray I’ll change.]

 Our  Prayers are Powerful! 

 James 5:16 – “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

 Colossians 4:12b – “He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

How can I wrestle in prayer for you more specifically?

What are your struggles?

What are your desires and dreams?

This survey was produced by speaker, Julie Earl, with Julie Earl Ministries. You may contact her at Julie_Earl@att.net. You may print it for your use.

Your business card is a mini representation of you and your business.  Consider the following tips to make a great impression with your potential clients and to reinforce your brand.

 Include pertinent info

1. 1. Your name
   2. Phone number
   3. E-mail address: This should match your website, for example: holly@dallasrealestatestaging.com Use your name with your email address because you want people to remember it and don’t use your account at Verizon or Gmail because it isn’t professional (of course this is acceptable until you create your website).
   4.  Title (owner, director, professional, etc.)  Your clients want to know who they are working with.
   5. Website:  If you don’t have a website you need to get one.  You should at least have one page with your contact information so that your potential clients can find you.
   6. Fax number
   7. Address: your home, store front or PO Box (this is a great option) Make it easy for your potential clients to contact you by providing a variety of communication methods.

 Color

1. 1. Do a little research on color theory and the feelings that different colors evoke.  Then choose the color for your logo and text. What do you want your clients to “feel” about your business?  Choosing the right colors will emphasize your brand.  Keep in mind that light colors such as yellow and orange do not show up well and are difficult to read when used for text.
   2. Font
      1. If the font size is too small, your clients will not be able to read it and therefore won’t be able to contact you.  If the font is script or fancy it may also be difficult to read.  Choose a font represents your company and is easy to read.

 Photo

1. 1. Include a photo of yourself, a good photo, because you are selling yourself!
   2. When you are networking, it is much easier for people to remember you if they can see your picture.
   3. You can add a photo to the back of your card.  A black and white photo is acceptable and is cheaper to print that full color.

 Type of paper

1. 1. The type of paper you use says a lot about you.  Are you cheap (thin paper) or generous (thick paper)?  Glossy paper is great for colorful graphics

 Logo

1. 1. Branding-your logo should represent your business and reflect your brand:
   2. Should be easily reproducible
   3. Sets you apart from your competitors

 Vertical Vs. Horizontal

1. 1. Choose your style, but horizontal cards are easier to read when placed in business card sheets and rolodexes (yes, some people still use these!).

 Tag line/motto

1. 1. If your business name doesn’t say what your service or product is, consider adding a tag line.

 Back side of card

1. 1. Here is some additional space to list your services, more info, your client’s next appointment, a photo, or a call to action.

 This information is provided by Holly Bellomy, owner of Dallas Real Estate Staging

www.DallasRealEstateStaging.com                  cell: 214-532-9677

Kindness Builds Loyalty

2 Chronicles 10:2, 3 and 4-7

Jeroboam’s story is told in 1 Kings 11:26 – 14:20

 Notes:

• Rehoboam was King Solomon’s son
• King Solomon was one of the kings of Israel, also King David’s son
• Jeroboam was told by the Prophet Abijah per God’s instructions that he would rule ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. This upset King Solomon who tried to kill Jeroboam so he fled until King Solomon died and his son Rehoboam was to take the throne.

  ^1(A)Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

  ³So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ⁴“Your father made our ^(C)yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

 ⁵He said to them, “Return to me again in three days.” So the people departed.

 ⁶Then King Rehoboam ^(D)consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”

 ⁷They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and ^(E)speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

1. Regardless of whom we are dealing with whether clients or followers, friends etc we must be kind to earn their loyalty.
2. Though we may be the ones in the loyal position (owners of the business), we are to be kind instead of expecting our clients or employees to be kind to us. This means that if we have conflict with a customer, employee, or other, we should be encouraged to diffuse anger, offer them something that would be pleasing to them and removed the determination in your heart to be right.
3. Who or what situations have you found yourself in lately that you could have given them the loyal treatment with kindness and speaking good toward them? What can you do from this point on to remember that being the leader, king, or queen of your position, you are still required by God’s standards to be king, find ways to please others, and be encouraging by your words?

Mission: To encourage and mentor homemakers and CEOs to discover and develop their God-given, untapped abilities, skills, and self-esteem according to God’s revealed purpose for their lives spiritually, personally, and professionally. www.homemakerceo.com and www.teresalusk.com.

Copyright © 2010 Teresa G. Lusk

A Sinking Ship without Love and Respect

 “He does not make me feel loved,” and, “She is disrespectful and a nag,” are common complaints I hear often. Interestingly, these two things all spouses desire from each other, love and respect, are the exact two commands given to us in God’s Word. A man is to love his wife and a woman is to respect her husband (Ephesians 5:25 ). With these key components missing, there’s no need to ask why marriages are falling apart. We should ask why we can not overcome the repetitive failure in delivering to one another.

The answer is two-fold; our hearts get hardened (Mark 10:15) followed by lack of knowledge to what each of those commands mean. We believe we understand what love and respect are but many marriages do not recognize that they fail at giving love and respect in their day-to-day doings and communication. This leads to a sinking ship.

No ship is beyond rescuing, however, because if the Lord offers grace to us, we can offer it to our spouses. You and I are told to forgive as we are forgiven (Luke 6:37). Without compromise and giving from both sides we can not expect change and restoration. If only one spouse is willing to break the cycle of miscommunication and ugliness, then it is a good place to start.

From personal experience, I testify that there have been times when I have been less than kind in my response to my husband because of my annoyance at him. Yet, when his response to my attitude was a loving one, I softened my own heart then became humble and regretful instantly. Proverbs 15:1 states that a kind word turns away wrath but a grievous word stirs up anger.

 Let’s begin working. What does the love a wife needs look like? Love is expressed differently including verbally acknowledging that the wife is pretty, desirable, and smart. The more a woman is cared for, the more she will give back because she feels good about herself.

Helping around the home is always a sign that the man cares. Some couples have assigned responsibilities and the man may say, “She stays at home; I work outside of the home, she needs to take care of this.” This may be true, but love can be expressed by the sacrifice that the husband offers unconditionally. At times both spouses work and his willingness to split the house work speaks volume.

Very importantly, find out what makes her feel special. Not all people have the same love language as Gary Chapman states in the Five Love Languages. Some women feel more loved receiving gifts, or, when the husband shares public display of affection, or when he compliments her in public. However, a husband should not assume what makes her feel loved because most of us will express our love to one another how we would like to receive it, not how the spouse needs to receive it.

A woman needs more than a wink to become available to her husband for intimacy. Loving a wife is expressed in the way her husband considers how she is wired. This means preparing her for intimacy does not begin the day the man anticipates oneness. Wives do not like feeling used and unloved by the lack of attention she gets before love-making. For best results, ask her how, when, where, and how long.

A childhood friend of mine mentioned, “My husband helps around the house with chores I don’t need help with. I could use help outside mowing the lawn and killing ant piles.” She should have used her words to communicate that, also; it would have been more affective if he asked what she needed from him. In summary, asking what the spouse really needs could solve many problems. If every time you want to communicate, things get heated, invite an objective mediator who understands God’s Word regarding love and respect, and doesn’t not favor one or another.

As for the famous “nagging” charge against wives, meaning, when she repeats herself, she does not feel heard. Eye contact followed by words of acknowledgement cause her to feel understood and reassured that the husband cares about her concerns and feelings. More times than not, the issue at hand will be put to rest.

I asked a couple before they divorced two years ago what they fought about. I expected to hear it was addictions, even adultery. Sadly, it was an accumulation of anger and frustration over communications between the two, but they made him feel less than the leader of the home.

Often, she directed him to get breakfast for the kids, proceeded to tell him what to feed them, including the types of foods, drinks, and well ladies, you know where I am going. Men feel respected when we ask if they can handle something for us, rather than instruct him. “Honey would you pick up some milk on the way home?” works much better than, “I need you to pick up milk after work.” Yes, they do mean the same thing, but to a man, it means two different things. One is a request, the other a command. Wives with strong leadership abilities express these tendencies more but like a counselor once said, “God gave you a leadership ability to use outside of the home and needs to be turned down when dealing with your husband.” 

Another husband would often remind his wife that she made more money than him and he seemed to resent her. Most of us would probably think he needed to overcome that insecurity but it was deeper. He interpreted this message by her prior comments on being able to do well enough alone. He didn’t feel valued, respected, or needed.

Men are emotional beings too and need to know they are valued but in different areas than women. They are wired to desire hard work and be proud of their accomplishments. Remind them what a great job they do at providing. If both spouses work you can still remind him of his great efforts such as his handiness around the home, caring for the lawn, they way he loves on his children, and his attention in satisfying you.

Sex is emotional for men, not just physical. They express themselves physically and they desire to connect with their wives. It is healthy for wives to understand the needs of their husbands as a God-given desire and not just some random act to pass time with. Couples should honor one another with their bodies.

Now that each spouse has been given a glimpse of love and respect, why not start fresh making it your resolution to shape your marriage up and avoid the sinking ship?

Teresa G. Lusk is the author of Good Enough to be a Homemaker and CEO, a Motivational Speaker, and has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Religion, and Christian Counseling. www.teresalusk.com

COUNT IT ALL JOY!

 James begins his book of the Bible by telling us to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials”.  The reason, he continues, is b/c of the result of our trials being the strengthening of our faith. 

I used to view this concept with a bit of disdain, I must admit.  I was raised Catholic which shaped my thinking along the lines of martyrdom, i.e. the more you suffer, the holier you are.  I felt like God’s little victim, powerless to change the path of suffering He had ordained for the “perfecting of my faith”.  Recently I had a revelation that totally blew this mindset out of the water when it comes to suffering. 

 It all started when I expressed my disappointment regarding family vacations.  Being a single mom, when it comes to vacations, we don’t have them. Period.  I always dream of taking my kids to Sea World, or the beach, or even a weekend getaway, but it never happens.  As I voiced this disappointment to a group of brothers and sisters in the Lord, 2 things happened.  First, one of the group encouraged me that God was testing and trying my faith.  This wasn’t very encouraging.  I responded that I was tired of hoping things would change.

The second thing that I noticed was how I was feeling sorry for myself.  Red flag!  As I drove home that night, I had to repent.  I have it so much better off than most of the world just b/c I live in the U.S.  Granted we have our own set of trials here, but compared to the world, we are rich! 

So I began to explore, with the help of the Helper, the source of this self-pity, which never comes from God.  Self-pity is evidence of a victim mentality.  Remember, God’s little victim?

 As I looked back over my life and I began to realize that I really was more joyful during the times of tribulation.  Those were the times I felt the closest to God, I sought Him and focused on Him more fully, and my faith was activated.  During trying times, we sometimes have no choice but to trust God.  When things get beyond our control and comfort, we more easily trust God and therefore, more readily see His hand in our lives b/c of our increased faith and focus on Him.

James said it this way:  “count it all joy”  He didn’t say that joy was a possibility, he says we can COUNT on it! That means it’s definite.  I thought about Jesus and His ability to look at the cross and “count it all joy”.  Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the JOY set before Him, endured the cross”.  Jesus knew something we would do well to learn.  Put simply, I see it as this:  in the midst of suffering, there is joy.  He knew there was resurrection on the other side of the cross.  He knew, He would reap a pure and spotless Bride due to His sacrifice on the cross.  We, too, can be assured that if we die with Christ through our suffering, we will rise with Him!  It is a definite proposition. 

I love to think about how God is sovereign even over Satan.  Satan really has no authority or power over the life of a child of God.  Everything he does, fulfills God’s plan for us.  I love to think about that.  He truly is powerless over us.  It makes me realize how victorious I am in Christ.  Satan is under my feet!

When Satan nailed Jesus to that cross, he didn’t have a clue that he was playing right into God’s plan.  When Satan attacks you, it’s the same.  Remember this, God uses ALL things FOR OUR GOOD!  There is joy in that realization.  I belong to God, and He belongs to me.  Satan – can’t touch this!

I used to view suffering as poor, poor, pitiful me, but now I realize what an honor it is to be in the hands of God; to be counted worthy to suffer for His name.  Acts 5:41 says the apostles REJOICED that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name. There is beauty in suffering with joy and with God.  Anyone can live a cushy life, but those that suffer b/c of the joy on the other side, are precious to God!  And this is the joy: a faith that is more sure of the goodness of God and a renewed dependancy on the One Who loves us too much to leave us as we are!

One thing I am assured of is that when we suffer, God is up to something.  He does not allow us to suffer needlessly.  There is purpose in it.  We are not God’s little victims.  When we willingly submit to the Potter’s hand in our lives, we will reap the benefit.  It’s a given!

 Submitted by

Amy Hayes, Founder/Director

The Parent Coach

myparentteach.com

214-385-0898

Amy, a mother of 8 children, has a vision to change the world by affecting the lives of our children through parent mentoring & training.  For more information, visit her website:  www.myparentteach.com

 Weeds in your Heart

 Early this morning before the rain started I went outside and began to dig out the weeds from part of my front yard. Our home was second from worst on this block and it would only be a matter of time before we got a nasty letter from Sergeant Homeowners Association.

 The amount of weeds was outstanding so I raked them off the lawn to see the descent grass that was under all that mess. When I was done, it looked much better. The lawn, however, will never be perfect unless the Master Gardner treats the weeds thoroughly.

 As I was gardening something came to mind. Over the weekend, I asked one very dear to me why he wasn’t “sold” to Jesus or this Christianity thing. He told me he had never really had an experience with the Lord. He believes in Him, that He is real but His motivation to read the Word as a daily part of life or even live out his faith passionately is not apparent in his daily life.

 I followed his comment by, “have you ever prayed for something and got an answer?” “Yeah, sometimes, but I have never heard Him speak”, he said. It broke my heart to think that he has believed Christians literally hear His voice, as he continued to share. The truth is most of us could say that the Lord speaks to us in our heart and spirit. We get a knowing that is just there. The latter may be true for others, however.

 But what could possibly hinder us from hearing the Lord in our spirit, ears, or through His Word? What about that nagging feeling that we are not close to Him, therefore, He does not love us?

 Sometimes it’s the sin in our life, at others it’s the noise we won’t shut off, but for many it’s the unbelief which is also sin. YUP! Many of us don’t make an effort to believe in God and His Son. Why? Because He has not shown Himself to be real to me me, you may say?

 If you look back to the stories of the Bible there were many miraculous things occurring right in front of the people and yet they did not believe. The sea parted, the blind saw, the deaf heard, the possessed were freed from demons. People literally got to see Jesus face to face and perform miracles at the same time and it was still not good enough to believe in Him.

 I don’t think it was the miracles they didn’t believe in, I think it was all the things in their heart that I represent as weeds today. Desire to keep walking in their ways, anger they were not willing to give up, hate they harbored, selfishness, unnecessary businesses, rebellion, stealing, greed, and more.

 Sometimes, it feels like too much effort to pull the weeds by the root so we choose to let them reside right where they as it’s easier than to have to believe or change.

 For those of us who are ready to make that change and/or believe but feel hopeless, don’t. As I told my dear one, “When you are ready, all you have to do is ask”. There is story in the Bible where a man had unbelief and he prayed for the ability to belief (Mark 9:24).

 If it’s a certain sin, then repent from it. Repent, meaning ask for forgiveness and choose to stop participating in that which hinders you. Repenting means you will turn away from the behavior for good with His power, not ours. We can’t do it alone.

 We all have a thorn in our flesh which means no matter how much we love the Lord we will struggle with wanting to stop doing something that hurts us yet it seems hard to overcome. Paul struggled with this (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). But the Lord gives us grace to overcome the guilt, shame, and the thorn allows us to keep coming back at His feet. If the Lord was disgusted with our weakness, He would not have told Paul that His grace is sufficient for Paul to overcome his thorn in the flesh. How interesting that he even calls it a “thorn”.

 To clean the weeds out of your garden, ask the Master Gardner, Jesus, for the help to believe, ask for freedom from your sins, and if you have not asked Jesus into your life and heart, ask Him to by simply saying…

 Lord, come into my heart, cleanse me from my sins, be my Lord and Savior. I believe you were born of a virgin; you died on the cross for my sins, were buried and rose again on the third day to be seated at the right hand of the Father.

If you do this today, let someone know so that you may be kept in prayer.

God Bless,

Teresa G. Lusk

A  special thank you to Serenity Space Designs, Traci Olivares for donating last month’s give-a-way. It was a carefully packaged post it note collection with a ribbon and silve heart wrapped around it. Thank Traci!

You can learn more about Traci’s organizing business by visitingwww.serenityspacedesigns.com.

Thank you for the women of Homemaker CEO for thier financial support as well. We are moving forward because of their giving. Thanks

Most people you meet are potential clients. Many of them, I am sure, are
women just like you and me. As women and mothers we understand the balanceit takes to run a home, a business, friendships, marriage, etc. Because ofthat, I understand how easy it is to get comfortable with other women we
meet and want to do the mommy and business thing all at the same time.

This works for most while we are at home. We may be able to have a
business related phone call while our kids are at home if it is quiet,
send emails, schedule, appointments, etc. However, there are particular
times when business should be represented as such and we should strive to
represent ourselves as professionally as possible.

Yes, the rest of the world should know we are mom’s first and proud of it!
Yet, specifically when meeting with someone to talk business transactions
or introduce them to your products, and services, consider hiring a sitter
for that meeting/appointment time.

Whether your children are well behaved, or will sit quietly and read a
book as I have heard some say, it may still be unprofessional to the
person you are serving.

Our businesses exist because we are serving others, not ourselves. That
means, serve them in a way that you would want to be served. If you went
to purchase a service or product outside of your home, you too would like
a peaceful shopping/pampering experience.

Childcare is a high cost to run our business, however, that is not our
client’s issue to deal with, it is ours, and if you and I plan accordingly
and take those cots into consideration, we should be able to operate just
fine.

I hope this challenges you to take the next step and commit to represent
your business with absolute professionalism.

 Upping Your Professionalism Week 2

 Last week I challenged you to “Up Your Professionalism” by not taking your kids to meetings and work appointments. This week, I would like to challenge you with a bit more. If you take these steps and apply them, there is no reason why your business should not be affected in a positive way and see great results.  

The business presence you put out will determine if individuals will contact you for business transactions. I, as many others will not do business with someone who does not have a website. Cruel, I know. But, that is where our time and culture is now, and it is up to us to “up our professionalism” if we want our business to succeed.

 Along with the website it is important to have an email address with your domain name. For instance, I used homemakerceo.tlusk@sbcglobal.net for a long time. The proper thing to have done would have been to use speaking@homemakerceo.com or teresalusk@homemakerceo.com. Now I have speaking@teresalusk.com for my speaking business. You can get this done as soon as you get your website.

 For the March month workshop Holly Bellomy will teach on creating professional business cards. This is the third and most important thing. Many of us pick crazy, cool font that only we can read. We are not trying to impress ourselves, we actually want people to be able to read our business card, visit our website, and then take action in doing business with us. You can not represent a business without the three of these things and expect the public to take your business seriously.

 What are the three steps you will take for Upping Your Professionalism Week 2?

• Get a website
• Get an email address with your domain name
• Get a business card

Copyright © 2010 Teresa G. Lusk

Most of us are familiar with the name Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. This inspirational woman had wisdom in many areas of life including business and family.

 As I read her book recently titled, Mary Kay: Mary Kay: You Can Have It All: Lifetime Wisdom from America’s Foremost Woman Entrepreneur, a motivational read, I became familiar with life principles she ran her business by. Mary Kay mentioned that at her company, they made it a point to praise women so much that they would eventually believer in themselves and would become successful. Now I am sure that Mary Kay applied this to her family life as well.

 Through this book I was challenged to become more aware of the praises that I am or am not giving my children. We all want our kids to be successful, and I am hardly talking about financially as the rest of the world defines success, but personally, spiritually, and emotionally.                 

Not only can we praise our children to success but also our husbands who are sent out into the world day by day to deal with rejection, competition, and disappointment and are expected to deal with it unemotionally, unlike women. What about the women who are taking on several roles in one day as mothers, wives, friends and employees or business owners? They need praises too! 

What if as a family we made it a point to speak one or more uplifting comments to each family member per day? If each person said one nice thing daily, we would have a collection of encouragement to live by in our day to day life,  therefore, driving us to the likeliness of success.

When we hear from others that we are doing great at work, school, or home, we become encouraged to do a better job or to keep up the good work we are already doing but didn’t recognize. For some, just realizing and acknowledging that we are good enough in what we were called to do brings a sigh of relief and allows us to accept ourselves for who we are. 

One great principle that can lay the foundation for giving this praise is to apply the Golden Rule as Mary Kay mentions throughout her book. This is the driving force of that company. If we treated our kids and spouses like we would want to be treated, literally, we would praise them day and night. 

The challenge for today and the coming days is? Praise your family more than you criticize or correct and see what walls of self-conceived limitations will break apart in their lives and yours. Success can look that good! 

Teresa G. Lusk, is the author of Good Enough to be a Homemaker and CEO, a motivational speaker, and founder of the non-profit organization, Homemaker CEO. Teresa has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Religion, and Christian Counseling. www.teresalusk.com or www.homemakerceo.com.

Resources:

Mary Kay Ash: You Can Have It All. New York: Harper Collins, 1994.