Christian Woman Leadership Podcast with Esther Littlefield & Holly Cain

What exactly is balance, and is it possible for us to achieve as women leaders? How do we practically manage all the roles and responsibilities we carry in our lives? And how can we do so without becoming completely stressed and overwhelmed?

In this episode, Holly and I discuss the issue of balance, and whether it's possible to achieve balance in our lives. We share why we often feel the pressure to have it all together, what balance actually means, and we give our perspectives on whether or not it is possible to live a balanced life.

Reality of Our Lives As Women:

As women leaders, there are a lot of responsibilities we are dealing with. Some of them include:

• Marriage
• Parenting
• Career
• Business
• Friendships
• Church
• Mental and physical health challenges
• Physical fitness and appearance
• Being a good citizen
• Volunteering

We have a lot to manage and juggle. We often feel like we can't stop or slow down, because if we do, we might drop one of the balls we're juggling, and it might be something really important.

It's no wonder many of us feel stressed.

And it's no wonder we are trying to alleviate some of this by seeking the ever elusive "balance" or the idea of "having it all."

All About Balance:

We discuss the dictionary definition of balance as stated below:

Noun: "an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady." // "a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions."

Verb: "keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall." // "offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another."

Holly and I both share what we think of when we hear the the word balance.

Is Balance Possible?

Holly shares her view about balance. She believes it is not possible, and that it is a myth that you can achieve a balanced life.

I share my perspective on balance and how my view has evolved on time. I believe balance is not possible in the sense of having all areas of your life evenly distributed or to give equal time and energy to all of your responsibilities.

What I want to shoot for, whether we call it balance or not, is to be clear on what is most important in my life and in the particular season or moment and to spend my time on those things.

Holly shares that she prefers to use the perspective of priorities rather than balance.

We also discuss a few other ways to look at balance. I share the words harmony and alignment as alternatives to the word balance.

In an orchestra, certain sections play louder or quieter at various times of the concert. This means that one portion takes priority over others at different times, but it produces a beautiful result.

There are seasons of our life where one particular activity takes precedence over others.

We don't have to do everything right now. There might be times when we have to choose certain priorities over others, even when they are all good things and dreams that God has given us.

Listen to the Devoted Dreamers Podcast Episode 106 for more on this idea.

Key Quotes from episode:

"All God wants is a heart surrendered to him moment by moment."

"Having a clear set of priorities helps me make better, more freeing decisions because I'm committed to keeping those things in order."

For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode34.

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

Episode Sponsor: Confident Leader Club

Today's show is brought to you by the Confident Leader Club. If you're a Christian woman leading in ministry or business, and you have a desire for deeper community with other leaders, accountability towards reaching your goals, access to ALL the downloads I've created, monthly bonus content including workshops and trainings on specific topics, and much more, I want to invite you to check it out. Visit confidentleaderclub.com to learn more.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode34.

Goal setting, planning, and creating habits is not just a once a year activity. While we tend to focus on it at the start of a new year, it's important to continue the process throughout the year. In this episode, I'm sharing some practical tools and tips that you can use to get all your dreams, ideas, and plans off the page and into your life, as well as tools to keep up with the habits you are developing.

Remember that these are tools that have worked for me, but what's important is what will work for you. Don't feel like you have to use all the tools I share here. You might decide to do something totally different so this episode may simply be a starting point to help you.

My five favorite goal-setting and planning tools:

1. POWERSHEETS

This is an intentional goal planner which helps you to do a lot of the things we've been talking about on our podcast: reflecting on the past, dreaming about the future, and then creating your goals.

2. TRELLO:

Trello is a free online project management tool, and you can also use it as an app on your phone. There are other similar tools out there, such as Asana and Basecamp. I've tried and used some of these, but Trello has been the one I've fallen in love with.

Get my free Trello Training by clicking here.

3. PEN & PAPER

Okay, this might seem silly, but yes, pen and paper are still one of my favorite tools for goals, planning. I use pen and paper to brain dump, get my ideas out, do some mind mapping, and draw, connect, map out a plan on paper and then translate into Trello.

4. PHYSICAL PLANNERS

In the past, I've used a gorgeous planner from InkWell Press. This year, I'm using the 2019 Essential Daily Planner from Amazon because it has the daily, monthly and weekly views. so that I still have space for what I'm doing each day. Another paper option is bullet journaling. Some people use a basic blank notebook and create their own planners or calendars. This is called bullet journaling, and it can work really well for some people!

5. GOOGLE CALENDAR

When it comes to knowing what appointments I have and how my time is planned for the week, I am a die hard fan of Google Calendar.

My favorite tools for implementing habits:

1. Tending List from PowerSheets
2. Habit Tracker - make your own in bullet journal or use a calendar and simply mark off each day that you do the habit
3. Built-in habit trackers- YouVersion Bible app will help you keep track of when you reach your bible - you can see how many days in a row you've done
4. Fitness apps - many will help you track your exercise
5. Fitbit - lets me know when I've hit my steps, and I can see how many days I've done so
6. Habit Tracker from James Clear - if you buy Atomic Habits, you can get access to a free PDF habit tracker. P.S. He also has a journal for habit tracking!

For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode33.

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

Episode Sponsor: Confident Leader Club

Today's show is brought to you by the Confident Leader Club. If you're a Christian woman leading in ministry or business, and you have a desire for deeper community with other leaders, accountability towards reaching your goals, access to ALL the downloads I've created, monthly bonus content including workshops and trainings on specific topics, and much more, I want to invite you to check it out. Visit confidentleaderclub.com to learn more.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode33.

You're a leader who wants to see people work together toward common goals yet there's something holding you back. That "something" may be fear. Maybe you're afraid you're not qualified to step into your next role. Maybe you're worried there's not enough time to get everything done. Maybe you're overwhelmed by the physical clutter around you. This episode dives into how decluttering can free you from fear.

In this podcast episode, I talk with In-Courage Living Founder Sarah Humes who shares her personal struggles with fear and clutter, and how her faith has shaped her into the woman and leader she is today. We talk through how to declutter and why it's important.

Key Quotes from Episode:

• "I want to see God's best for people and I think that's really the heart of leadership."
• "Sometimes we feel afraid to do something because we don't feel qualified, but really people are happy you're showing up."
• "Leadership is essentially surrender, and that's exciting."
• "I help people declutter and I help people overcome their fears, and I believe the two are intricately connected."

For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode32.

Connect with Sarah:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Sarah Rose Humes

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

Sarah Rose Humes is an optimistic and goal-oriented author, speaker, and professional encourager from rural Pennsylvania. She has overcome anxiety, depression and agoraphobia and now inspires other women to live bravely through her business, called In-Courage Living.

Episode Sponsor: Confident Leader Club

Today's show is brought to you by the Confident Leader Club. If you're a Christian woman leading in ministry or business, and you have a desire for deeper community with other leaders, accountability towards reaching your goals, access to all the downloads I've created, monthly bonus content including workshops and trainings on specific topics, and much more, I want to invite you to check it out. Visit confidentleaderclub.com to learn more.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode32. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.

You've set your goals. You've cast a dream and vision. You even know how your personality impacts the goals you set. But how do you actually go about implementing all you've planned? Oftentimes, we're great at dreaming, but not so great at actually executing what we've set out to do. If you're ready to get to work on your goals, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Holly and I talk about what holds us back from accomplishing our goals, why habits are essential for leaders, and how to create habits. You'll find the one key you need to implement the goals you've set.

To access the complete show notes for this episode, click here.

Why Habits are Essential for Leaders

1. Habits eliminate decisions. As a leader, you make thousands of decisions a day. Putting some tasks on autopilot frees you up to make big-picture decisions.
2. Habits inspire others. People are watching you. They are seeing you showing up day after day, week after week. Having consistent habits and routines as a leader will inspire your team and give them encouragement that they can do the same. o how to set goals for the next 90 days and breaks the year into four 12-week sections.

How Habits are Created

Holly explains how habits are created based on the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg*:

1. Notice your cue. For example, your cue may be that you're bored and tired everyday at 3 p.m.
2. Develop a routine. Your old routine may have been a snack, but your new routine is to get up from your desk and take a walk.
3. Establish a reward. Your new reward is feeling energized after the walk.
4. Believe the new habit will work. Belief is critical and so is having a support system. Have a co-worker encourages you to take that walk each day at 3 p.m.

Strategies to Implement New Habits

I share some keys to implementing habits from two books I read, Atomic Habits* and Better than Before*:

1. Remember that daily habits create your future.
2. One way to change your habit is to change how you view yourself (your identity).
3. Consider WHO you want to be rather than WHAT you want to accomplish.
4. Schedule time in for your habit.
5. Stack your habits by taking one habit you already have and adding another habit to it.
6. Get clear on exactly what habit you are working on and exactly how you are going to implement it. Clarity is essential to creating new habits.

Read my blog post with 5 steps to creating new habits here.

Episode Sponsor: Confident Leader Club Today's show is brought to you by the Confident Leader Club. If you're a Christian woman leading in ministry or business, and you have a desire for deeper community with other leaders, accountability towards reaching your goals, access to ALL the downloads I've created, monthly bonus content including workshops and trainings on specific topics, and much more, I want to invite you to check it out. Visit confidentleaderclub.com to learn more.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 6: The Importance of Leading with Confidence
• Episode 24: What You Should Do Before the New Year Begins
• Episode 26: The Importance of Dreaming and Casting a Vision for the Future
• Episode 28: Three Practical Approaches to Goal Setting
• Episode 30: How Your Personality Impacts How You Set and Accomplish Goals

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

*These links are affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase via one of the links, we will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to support the costs of running the podcast and blog.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode31.

Have you ever wondered why you set goals differently from others around you? Why is it that some leaders naturally set specific and measurable goals while others seem more relaxed and don't set goals at all? How you set goals and how you feel about them is intricately woven into how God wired you.

This episode is all about accepting how you were created so that you can have a year of impact.

For the full shows notes for this episode, go to estherlittlefield.com/episode30

While Jill and I talk specifically through the lens of the Enneagram, there are other personality resources available:

• Meyers-Briggs
• The Four Tendencies

If you'd like more information about the Enneagram, listen to Episode 17 with Beth McCord.

• Type 1 - The Perfectionist or Reformer - loves goal setting and has about 1,000 ideas that are all lofty and large.
• Type 2 - The Helper - is indifferent about goals.
• Type 3 - The Performer or Achiever - both love and hate goals.
• Type 4 - The Individualist - sets goals less as concrete action steps and more as general, romantic notions of how life "should" be.
• Type 5 - The Investigator - has an extremely healthy view of goal-setting because they set clear and measurable goals.
• Type 6 - The Loyalist - needs goals to keep moving forward, but can also overthink them.
• Type 7 - The Enthusiast - are less likely to set goals and more likely to set intentions or a word-of-the-year.
• Type 8 - The Challenger - like goals and focus more on the end-result than the details.
• Type 9 - The Peacemaker - has a very hard time setting their own goals because they are so concerned and involved with helping others meet their goals.

Are you ready to take action? Join me for a free workshop: 3 Strategies to Accomplish Your Goals and Create a Purposeful Year.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 7: Receiving Grace and Speaking Truth with Jill McCormick
• Episode 11: From Dream Career to Purposeful Leadership with Jenni Catron
• Episode 17: How the Enneagram Can Help You Nurture Healthy Relationships with Beth McCord
• Episode 27: Keeping God at the Center of Your Leadership, Life, and Business with SJ Meeson
• Episode 28: Three Practical Approaches to Goal Setting

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode30. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.

Are you ready to take action and implement some of what we've been talking about in our goal setting series?

I know that as a leader, you don't want to just set goals--you want to actually accomplish them. And you want to make an impact, live with intention, and lead effectively.

But your life and schedule is already full, and it can be overwhelming to figure out how to make time for tackling your goals.

I want to offer you a special invitation to my FREE Workshop: 3 Strategies to Accomplish Your Goals and Create a Purposeful Year… without feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or having an overloaded schedule.

To sign up, go to estherlittlefield.com/goals

This will be a live workshop taking place on January 16th at 1pm Eastern time, and I would love for you to join me. I'm going to share with you 3 specific strategies that you can implement that will help you to set the right goals for you and then actually be able to accomplish them.

My hope is that this will help you to have a year of purpose and intention, and that you will be able to lead more effectively as a result.

Don't worry if you can't join live, as I will also be sending a replay to those who can't make it live.

If you are listening after January 16th, feel free to head over to that page as I hope to still have something available there for you, too!

You're ready to start setting goals. But where do you even begin? Perhaps the goal setting approaches you've used in the past haven't worked. Or maybe you're ready to create an action plan you'll actually stick to. If you're ready to set goals for your life and leadership, this is for you.

In this episode, Holly and I build on our goal-setting framework that we've outlined in our Goal Setting Series. We talk about what to do after you've reflected, dreamed, and set a vision. This episode is all about the principles behind setting goals and three approaches that will help this year be a year of impact.

Principles of Goal Setting

1. Know your why. If you don't, it will be easy to throw in the towel when reaching the goal gets hard.
2. Your goals should line up with your reality. Be honest about how much time, energy, and effort you can invest in your goals.
3. Prioritize your goals. To do this, go back to your vision for the year and your values.

Three Practical Approaches to Goal Setting

While there are many ways to set goals, these are three approaches that Holly and I have experience and success with.

1. SMART Goal Approach - This acronym helps you wisely set goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
2. Cut Your Goals in Half Approach - This approach advocated by Jon Acuff in his book Finish is as simple as it sounds. Start with what you'd like to achieve and then cut your goal in half so you build momentum and always feel encouraged.
3. The 12-Week Year Approach - This approach guides you into how to set goals for the next 90 days and breaks the year into four 12-week sections.

Are you ready to take action? Join me for a free workshop:

3 Strategies to Accomplishing Your Goals and Creating a Purposeful Year.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 24: What You Should Do Before the New Year Begins
• Episode 25: How to Grow and Reach Your Goals by Doing Less with Barbara Carneiro
• Episode 26: The Importance of Dreaming and Casting a Vision for the Future

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

Episode Sponsor: Audible

Today's show is brought to you by Audible. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to estherlittlefield.com/audible and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode28. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.

What would it look like to keep God at the center of your leadership, life, and business? How does this practically happen in your real life? Is it even possible with all the daily to-do's, demands, and discipline necessary to run a business, team, organization, and family?

In this episode, I talk with SJ Meeson, owner and founder of The Automation Girl, a business that helps small businesses automate processes, and Christian Woman in Business, a community of women dedicated to aligning their businesses with God.

We talk about how to keep God at the center of your goals, decision-making, and boundaries. Listen closely because SJ dispenses wisdom upon wisdom!

For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode27.

Leaders Are Learners:

SJ's recommended reads:

• The Linear Bible
• Lord Teach Us How To Pray
• The Leadership Challenge

Episode Sponsor: Audible Today's show is brought to you by Audible. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to estherlittlefield.com/audible and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening.

Other Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 6: The Importance of Leading with Confidence
• Episode 10: Finding Your Purpose
• The Purpose Series
• Hear Esther on Episode 94 of Christian Women in Business Podcast

Connect with SJ Meeson:

• The Automation Girl
• Christian Women in Business
• Christian Women in Business App
• Instagram

Founder of Christian Women in Business & The Automation girl – SJ's is on a mission to help women in business understand how faith and business can be connected together. SJ is originally from the UK, has been living in Australia for 10 years and is married with no kids or fur babies, but does have a mountain bike and climbing gear ;-).

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode27. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.

As a leader, you want to move the mission forward and do what God has put on your heart to do. So why is dreaming important and why do you need a vision? What would it look like for you as a leader and person to dream and cast a vision for the future?

In this episode of our Goal Setting series, Holly and I outline the importance of dreaming: why you need to dream and how to dream PLUS we talk about creating a vision for the future: what is a vision, why you need one, and how to cast it.

Why should you dream?

• Dreaming lifts your mind and heart out of the clouds of daily living and pulls you higher into what could be.
• It gives you a freedom to be something else. To be free of the chains of sin that still bind you.

Why do you need a vision?

• Vision brings clarity
• Vision shows people where you are going
• Vision helps you to stay focused on the end result. If you are someone who gets stuck

Key Quotes from episode:

• This is what the gospel is all about, freeing you from the sins that bind you so that you can live out a God-given dream.
• If you are not self-aware, it's going to be really difficult to know whether people are buying in to you or not.
• "People buy into the leader first, then the leader's vision." - John Maxwell
• Creating a vision is important because it brings clarity and shows people where you are going.

For the full show notes and to grab the free download of all the vision casting questions, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode26.

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

Today's show is brought to you by Audible. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to estherlittlefield.com/audible and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening.

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode26. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.

This time of year you hear a lot about goals - how to set them, meet them, and measure them. But what if there were a better way to grow in your leadership and business by doing less, not by adding more and more goals? What would it look like to do remove what's hindering you so you can move the needle in life and work?

In this episode, I talk with Barbara Carneiro about how to set goals from a mindset of doing less not more. Barbara is a wife, mom of three children, and entrepreneur.

How to Grow and Reach Your Goals by Doing Less

Barbara shares that we tend to be very ambitious with our goals. But it be can be very demotivating to set huge goals and fail to meet them.

Two Ways You Can Reach Your Goals

1. Set a goal and then cut it in half. Barbara learned this through reading Jon Acuff's book Finish*. By setting a goal then cutting it in half, you can build momentum and keep pushing.
2. Ask yourself who's keeping you accountable? Spouses don't count. Ask your accountability partner to check in at least once a month.

Create a Manageable Routine and Do Less, Not More

Barbara has chased balance for so long that she's started to resent the word. She realized that live is never going to be balanced, but it can be manageable.

Here are some of Barbara's tips on how to create a manageable routine:

Be present and create a time snowball

If there are areas stressing her out, she corrects that area, which may require sacrifice in another area. She asks herself if she's being present in all areas and where she can "cut the fat." She thinks through what is keeping her busy, but not moving the needle. Barbara also shares the idea of a "time snowball" based on Dave Ramsey's debt snowball.

Find mentors

Barbara recommends finding a mentor - someone who is doing what you want to do, but they are a little further along in the journey.

Get outside help

Barbara loves hosting people and implement ideas on Pinterest. However, she has a difficult time practicing self-care.

As a mom and business owner, she knows that everything must still keep moving, even in stressful and busy times. The first things we put aside are meal prep, sleep, and exercise.

She relies on outside help to remind her that she needs to practice self-care. Barbara shares that she has a nanny and this really helps her to keep her home running.

Be creative

Barbara shares a fun idea about how she managed the time while her husband was away on a missions trip. She let friends and family know that she would love to connect with them over a meal at their homes, and she ended up having a place to go for dinner every night for the rest of her husband's trip.

For the full show notes for this episode, visit estherlittlefield.com/episode25.

Connect with Barbara:

• WordRevolution
• 412 Lab
• Facebook

Barbara is the founder of Word Revolution (a communication and design agency for Christian ministries) and the brain behind 4:12 Lab (a training program for Church Communication). She is Christ follower, forever curious strategist, minimalist designer, storyteller and geek. You will make her happy with a white chocolate mocha.

Episode Sponsor: Audible

Today's show is brought to you by Audible. Audible is offering our listeners a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to estherlittlefield.com/audible and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs – download a title free and start listening.

Connect with Esther and the Christian Woman Leadership Podcast:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook Group
• Facebook Page

This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode25. To join the Purposeful Leadership Facebook Group, go to estherlittlefield.com/group.