#ELBookClub April 2021 pick
If you’ve been here a minute, you’ve heard me talk about Emily Ley, her company Simplified, and her books. I’ve done reviews on her previous books Grace Not Perfection and When Less Becomes More as well. SO when I had the opportunity to be on the launch team for Growing Boldly I was thrilled. I read this book at the end of 2020, after having just started my own business, and man was it such a wonderfully affirming read. Here are a few of my favorite takeaways.
Emily sets the foundation of the book around the acronym BUILD, shown below, and uniquely summarizes the “point” behind growing your business, your life, and your legacy.
She repeatedly states, you’re not the sum of your doubts. You’re not too deep in the hole. You’re not your childhood. You’re not that mistake you made. You’re not that thing that happened to you. Sure, you may have struggles, you may have hit setbacks, your family may not be how you envisioned it, but struggle is where we were made strong. As scripture teaches us, our sufferings shape us, molding us more into the image of Christ, if we allow Him to work in and through us during such times. Failure isn’t final. Failure I imply a stepping stone, a challenge we encounter on our way to an end goal. Beauty is often born out of brokenness.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
Mostly, Emily pens encouragement stating the following with such heart felt gusto one might think she was sitting across the table sipping coffee like an old friend – “YOU are spirited, strong, and bold. You’re growing of every minute of every day. Why not grow boldly?”
One thing that often is the most difficult for me – perhaps the perfectionist inside that never quite thinks I’ve done enough – that I struggle to hold light to, is to embrace and declare my strengths. The talents that the Lord has so graciously bestowed upon me that have lead me to this very moment. Emily encourages us to get comfortable with confidence – humbly embracing our imperfections, intentionally working to refine our character and boldly designing our daily lives to reflect the sure and solid goodness of Christ.
He loves us for our imperfections and because of our imperfections and it’s through him that we have true opportunities to grow.
Emily so perfectly nails the truth – that to be effortlessly you, is to refuse to boast, and also to refuse to shrink. I think this is something that us women especially find so darn difficult. We’ve been told our whole lives “not to be too bossy”, and “not to discredit our strengths” all int he same breath – to be submissive, and to reach our potential. Finding the balance of being proud of who the Lord created to us be, the gifts he has given us, and the opportunities in front if us, and our worth in what we can bring to the table, while remaining humble, respectful, and generous. And man do I agree – go be effortlessly you. The world needs YOU.
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
Jim Rohr
This doesn’t mean that you need only spend your days surrounded by the most powerful individuals in your particular field. I firmly believe this more hold true to the people in your inner circle. The people who live and walk in faith, following the words of Christ. The people who will share your legacy and inspire your attitude and demeanor in the mundane day to day activities. Surround yourself with those kinds of people. BE that kind of person. If you’re unsure of your next step, proceed in love. Kindness counts. Be a woman of your word. Serve with kindness – be a servant human. Do kingdom work. Legacy is created by consistently choosing to uplift, to inspire, to give, and to serve.
Emily talks of growing deep not wide – growing more intensely connected to what we’re about rather than less connected by major growth. You can build a business, and a life that is not an international success, but that makes a true impact for the Kingdom, and thus the world. Be scrappy and full of integrity: Work is love made visible. Work to live not live to work. Challenge yourself to love better and to serve the way Jesus did – without fanfare, without exception, with open arms.
To do something extraordinary mean’s you have to break out of the ordinary.
Kobe Bryant
The simplest ways to care for your soul involve getting back to basics, stripping away the excess and honoring the beauty found in order, simplicity, and focus. Howard Thurman once said don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Today, go, and be bold.
Get your copy on Amazon today.
