Hello #JustWrite!! If I can be transparent for a moment, this past month was a whirlwind of emotions and changes. On September 19, 2016, after careful consideration and a month and a few weeks at my new job, I decided to resign for my health and sanity's sake. Yes, I left a salary and health benefits behind. Although nice to have, those two things are not worth the daily, mental and physical exhaustion I was putting myself through. But guess what I do have? My passion and excitement for writing again and a desire to venture into new territory. What's that new territory you ask? Well, the very same week I resigned, I shared with my former coworker about my writing and how I wanted to be more focused and she connected me to a young lady at the same job who is launching her very first online magazine. Her name is Erica Relaford and her magazine is called,
Thank God for Just Write because after I shared the information within the Facebook group, interest in the magazine began to buzz which led to our first official meeting with Erica which included myself, Kim, Ursula, and Tanya. From the moment we conversed about Erica's vision for the magazine ("Our goal is to win souls that have fallen away from Christ, inform individuals who have never heard of the Gospel and just as the Lord declared in Jeremiah 31:25, "refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." "We seek to empower people with words of wisdom and enlighten those who are unaware of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Bible, testimonials and entertainment"), I knew that I was exactly where God wanted me to be, in a position to help this young lady to do what God has called her to do. Prior to the meeting, it was interesting that as we introduced ourselves, we started to connect the dots, as Kim would say about how we all met each other and what we could do to further assist Erica. It's amazing to be a part of a group where others truly and genuinely want to help. With that being said, I've noticed that this month's focus has been on relationships throughout social media and daily experiences, whether it was personal (new friendships), professional (beginning and ending a work relationship), and spiritual (deepening relationship with God). I remember around this time last year, I had just finished reading Kim's book about seasonal relationships (review is posted here) so it is very interesting and befitting to discuss relationships for this month's blog. One of the subjects that I touched on previously is the importance of community (check out The Write Community blog). As a group, we cannot stress enough the importance and value of community. That community comes in the form of building and maintaining fruitful relationships. As Kingdom-minded literary agents, it is very important to build genuine relationships with other like-minded individuals who will add value to your business/vision and vice versa. If you need help, don't be ashamed to reach out and express it. You may never know who you can bless with your gifts and the same goes for the other person. Always remember, quality is better than quantity. That statement applies to business and personal relationships. The greatest thing you can have for business are referrals. When you are referred, it speaks volumes about your brand and services which builds more relationships.
As I stated last month, don't be hesitant in sharing your businesses on social media. If you are not experienced in that area, form a partnership and hire someone to do that service for you. Proverbs 4:7 states,
The best thing about business and relationships is that both parties are always growing and learning from each other. Your "network is your net worth" is not just another cliche quote, it is the truth.
As I close, if you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering as a contributing writer or editor for Refresh magazine and welcome the opportunity to be a voice for young adults, please connect with Erica via social media and email:
Facebook: Erica Relaford
Twitter: @NetWithErica
LinkedIn: Erica Relaford
Blog: www.christiansincollegeblog.wordpress.com
Email: info@refreshthemagazine.com
In His service,
~Lequvia Ousley~
