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Check out these inspiring & motivating articles for the working woman. We discuss searching for work, struggling at your job, changing careers, work-life balance & more. #gritandgracelife

Now Is Not the Time to Quit Your Daydream

Now Is Not the Time to Quit Your Daydream

The man in blue caught my eye: a friendly cop plastered on a billboard, encouraging would-be policemen to train and apply for the sheriff’s office. “Perfect!” I thought, planning to tell my sister Kara. Kara had always dreamed of becoming a woman in an investigative unit. She had her heart set on the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), but surely local police was a great way to start. And then I remembered—Kara passed away in a drowning accident just a month before. She was 33 years old. There is a plethora of awful things surrounding Kara’s death, including her darling 3-year-old who won’t get to have her mom in her life. But what hit me that day was the travesty of lost […]

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To My Teacher Wife, They Should See Everything You Do

To My Teacher Wife, They Should See Everything You Do

In light of all that our teachers are doing right now, we felt they should be honored in a special way during teacher appreciation week (and beyond). To do that well, we asked someone who knows more about this career than most people to give us some insight… To My Teacher Wife, Teachers have the ability to leave a lasting impression on people, but nothing compares to the experience of being married to one.  What I have come to learn in our marriage is that teaching is so much more than a profession. It is a calling. I have never met someone more selfless, compassionate, encouraging, determined, or invested in what they do. The first time I heard you refer to your

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

How to Find Your Purpose When Plans Fall Apart With JJ Heller – 129

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More Women love to plan. Some of us had our whole lives planned out as little girls, writing our stories down with brightly colored pens in flowery little journals. Our guest, singer/songwriter JJ Heller, understands this well and took it to heart. In light of our new reality due to COVID-19, she wrote a song reflecting on all the plans that have come undone. Traveling and trips canceled, Easter celebrations changed, and so many plans for the best summer ever—poured down the drain…vacations, parties, and simple joys like swimming in the local pools. Right? But in this grit and grace life, things are always subject to change.

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

Keeping Your Faith Under Pressure With Skillet’s Jen Ledger – 127

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More We’re looking to each other a lot these days, for hope, encouragement, and even advice, and we’re all experiencing life with some level of anxiety and mounting pressure. These days can challenge our faith or strengthen it, often a bit of both. Looking for inspiration, Darlene and Julie interview Jen Ledger, solo artist and drummer with the multi-platinum, world-touring rock band, Skillet. Jen shares honestly about how bouts of panic and anxiety almost kept her from pursuing her dreams and how she found the strength, grit, and grace to endure these setbacks and still accomplish her dreams. She even talks about how she has used that

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10 Ways to Stay Focused When You Work From Home

10 Ways to Stay Focused When You Work From Home

You wake up, take an overindulgent stretch, rub the sleepy from your eyes, wiggle your toes. Flip on the coffee and take a luxurious look around. It’s time for work! When you work from home, there is a lengthy list of wonderful attributes and it can be equally challenging not to fall into the slump of crinkled sweatpants, unwashed hair, and endless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Working from home can be an empowering and more flexible situation that increases your creativity and lessens your stress, but how can you balance the productivity of a successful mission filled day with the call of the midday nap? 1. Set a schedule that works for you. This is one of the most wonderful perks

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How I Made Beauty From Ashes and Burnt Toast

How I Made Beauty From Ashes and Burnt Toast

I have been many things in my 40 years. I’ve tried on many different hats. I have been a fashion-forward retail worker in New York City and an avid runner who defined herself by her race times and lap splits. I have been a stay at home mom, priding myself on my perfect children, successful husband, and well-crafted athleisure attire. I was a homemaker, a make-it-from scratch smug cook who relished in making my own baby food and feeding my family straight from the farmers market. And this was long before being “organic” was a thing. I was constantly searching for something, an identity, my sense of self. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a function of low self-esteem.

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

Why Strong Women Can (and Should) Rebuild Their Lives with Molly Stillman – 125

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More Women are so resilient. Even when we face challenges that could potentially take us out entirely, as is the case of our guest Molly Stillman, we tap into our deepest grit. With countless roles and seasons, we are continually reinventing and re-shifting. We give ourselves and others the necessary grace needed to gain strength and wisdom on the other side. Molly faced the death of her mother as a teen, found herself drowning in debilitating debt post-college, was a comedienne, weathered a toxic dating relationship, and then after marrying the true love of her life (and having two healthy kids) experienced the heartbreak of back-to-back pregnancy

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Ask Dr. Zoe – How Do I Keep a Relationship Platonic?

‘Desiring Friendship and Ministry Partnership’ Asked: I’m in my mid-60s and have been widowed for five years. I recently met a single Christian man who is a difference-maker. I have a deep respect for him, and admire his humility and work ethic. I’m not attracted to him but I’d love to partner with him in his humanitarian work in Uganda. What are the wisest ways to develop a friendship and ministry relationship with someone of the opposite sex without appearing as if I’m pursuing him as a potential date or husband? Dr. Zoe Answered: Making platonic friends after widowhood is not any different than before marriage. I have to admit that I wonder if it’s really your heart’s desire for this relationship

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

Answering the Question “Who Am I?” With Meaghan Dawson – 116

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More A question we continuously ask in various ways is, “Who am I?”  We have women constantly wondering if they are doing what they are meant to be doing and if what they’re doing right now even matters. And most of all, they’re wondering how to find their self worth (if they aren’t already trying to find it through the titles they hold, the roles they play, and things they do). While it’s impossible for anyone to answer these questions for you, we know this episode of This Grit and Grace Life will provide you with the guidance you need.    Hosts Darlene and Julie are joined

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Ask Dr. Zoe – I Love Being a Working Mom, But I Need More Balance!

‘Balancing Busy Mama’ Asked: I’m a single mom who works nearly full-time. I love my son, and I love my work, but sometimes it feels impossible to do it all. I find it hard to admit this to friends who don’t work because they often want to answer it by saying I should stop working. Well, that’s not an option, and honestly, I wouldn’t want to (say I were to remarry one day). What are some real ways to balance it and succeed in both career and motherhood? Dr. Zoe Answered: Balancing Busy Mama, Guess what? You’re right! It is impossible to do it all perfectly and beautifully—so let’s just get that out in the open right now! Sometimes it will be

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Ask Dr. Zoe – How to Find a Career You’re Passionate About

‘Carol’ Asked: I burned out and am changing careers mid-life. How can I assess my personality and joys to find a fulfilling new path? Dr. Zoe Answered: Carol, Good for you! You are doing what so many women dream of and regret not doing when they are older. It’s great that you are looking for a new path. There are tons of personality and vocation profiling tests and they can certainly be useful, but you have lived half a life. A personality test will give you some general answers about your talents, but it is not fully specific to you. What it won’t tell you is what your passions are. And it’s time to seek your passion, not what may be a

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10 Ways to Make Memories With Your Kids When You Work Full-Time

How to Make Memories With Your Kids When You Work Full-Time

What do you remember about your childhood? I don’t cherish the toys I was given or the lavish gifts. I remember and hold on to the late nights when my mom would still be awake when I got home from a date and wanted to hear all about it. I remember looking over and seeing my dad walk up to an afternoon tennis match after he worked all day. When trying to create special moments with your fast-growing children, especially while trying to juggle work, don’t worry about the things you can replace with money. Worry about the things money can’t buy. 10 practical ways to make memories with your kids when you work full-time: 1. Read to your kids each night.

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Can I Have Both Motherhood and a Career?

‘Alissa’ Asked: After 5 years of staying home with my babies (now 5 and 2), I find myself constantly struggling between continuing to stay home and going back to work. I feel selfish that I miss my career so much but I am so afraid I won’t be able to give 100% to both. How do you work, manage a home, make sure your kids know they’re cared for, keep up with housework, etc. It seems like so much! Am I selfish for wanting a career, the family…aka it all?! Dr. Zoe Answered: Thank you for asking the question of the century! Desiring a career does not make you a selfish person! I’m not yelling at you, but I want you to

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Grit and Grace for the Working Woman

Grit and Grace for the Working Woman

Can women be moms, wives, sisters, friends, and successful business people? Can we seemingly do it all? Whether you work from home, are growing a side biz, or commute to work in the corporate world every day, our resounding answer is Y-E-S. Will it take balance? Well, of course. But that doesn’t mean you can’t chase your dreams or provide for your family. Find encouragement for the journey in these articles written for working women, by working women. The 6 Qualities That Make a Female Leader Strong To the Mom Who Feels Guilty for Loving Her Work 5 Steps When You Want to Turn Your Hobby Into a Business 4 Tips for Working in a Man’s World Do I Have to Act

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast

Victorious Women of Grit and Grace With Skillet’s Korey Cooper – 098

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More  Think you have nothing in common with the guitar slaying, multi-platinum, international touring artist Korey Cooper from the band Skillet? She joins Darlene and Julie for a candid conversation where you may be surprised that in reality, you do! She’s wife to band’s front-man John, a mother to two teenagers, and working in a man’s world as a performer, songwriter, and producer. The women discuss subjects we all deal with—insecurity, parenting, faith, relationships, and respect between genders. Ultimately Korey is right there with the rest of us, finding the grit and grace to be exactly who she’s meant to be. This conversation is an honest chat

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5-Steps-to-Turn-Your-Hobby-Into-a-Business Christy Wright

5 Steps to Turn Your Hobby Into a Business

One thing I love about the culture we live in is that it’s never been easier to make extra money on the side, or work from home entirely! Over the past decade I’ve coached thousands of women who run their own successful businesses, and as a result, they don’t have to sacrifice their dreams and passions to make money for their families. We live in a side-gig economy where over thirty million Americans are working as freelancers or contract workers. In the last decade alone, women-owned businesses have grown more than 60%—and that number is growing fast. With the growing popularity of websites like Etsy and Pinterest, women are turning their passions into profits now more than ever before. Maybe you’ve been enduring

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How to Make Your Coworkers Like You in 60 Seconds

How to Make Your Coworkers Like You in 60 Seconds

Most of us work outside the home and interact with our co-workers often times more than with our own family members. Whether it’s people we supervise, those who supervise us, lateral colleagues, or those on a lower pay scale, it’s important to have a cordial, if not friendly, relationship with them. Enjoying your co-workers adds to your overall satisfaction at work, which helps you to be more productive, creates stronger teamwork, and reduces stress. Perhaps you’re an extrovert and have no difficulty making friends or at least being friendly with your colleagues. Maybe, like me, you’re more introverted and cautious in approaching people and perhaps even shy about befriending others. Regardless of which personality type you are, you may find yourself in

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