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Efe Cierkowski

Efe Cierkowski

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    How to Find a Great Business Idea to Start this Year

    Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” While this verse specifically refers to the work of salvation offered to us through Christ’s sacrifice, we can trust that God is nurturing the work He’s planted in our lives. I helped her hone in on exactly the thing to focus on that consolidated all her strengths, skills and prior experience. And even better - focused on a business that perfectly meshed her and her business partner and husband’s skill sets. They now work beautifully together in tandem, each bringing their strengths to fore in building a powerful brand and business that SERVES their clients and customers well. When I spoke with Scilla, as I call her, she updated me on so many wonderful things that they had been working on and favor that had opened up in her business, including getting featured in a magazine and booking her highest paying client work ever. She ended by saying “all of this is as a result of the work we did, Efe. I am still amazed at how everything is just happening for me and my business right now.

    11 min read
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    6 Ways To Keep Your Love Going Strong Beyond Valentine's Day

    beyond Valentine's Day In light of Valentine's Day yesterday, I want to re-share some marriage advice with you from a Biblical perspective (from a blog post wrote last August). God’s Word is such a treasure trove of guidance for those of us who desire to follow Him. While many of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs may be met in relationship with others, it’s important that your deepest fulfillment comes from God. In the early days of your marriage, this may be difficult because of the adoration you have for them in the “honeymoon phase.” Later in marriage, you may discover the places where you’ve idolized them because you’re able to see the areas where they aren’t fulfilling your wants and needs. My husband has selflessly supported me at every step of the way; I often joke that if I told him I wanted to go to space he’d be fully supportive and ask “how can I help?.” That support has helped me grow into the person I am today, some fourteen years after we married. That is why I included a Marriage module bonus in my coaching curriculum, along with other bonuses like ‘Parent like a Pro’ etc. Because I know that what happens inside your home is so key to your success and fulfillment even outside the home.

    9 min read
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    Should You Start Your Own Business? How to Know If You’re READY for Entrepreneurship

    If your children already require a lot of your time and even extra time dealing with tantrums and other challenging behavior, it is probably wise to tend to these needs before you add anything else to your plate. If you aren’t running your home well, you most likely won’t manage your business well, either. How you do one thing is how you do everything. In one of his parables, Jesus tells a story of three servants who are entrusted with money while their master is away. If you want to know what the next best steps are for you to realize your dream of business ownership this year, book a complimentary "Freedom Activation Call" 📲 with me to learn more about my proven framework and process for launching and running a highly profitable business AS A MOM!​​​​​​​​✨​​​​​​​​ I’m so passionate about helping moms create a profitable business while still prioritizing their HOME and their faith.​​​​​​​​Book your complimentary call 📲 with me to chat about your goals and next steps, and how I can help you achieve them faster - and with EASE.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ I’m committed to helping busy moms like you make their dreams a reality.

    10 min readBusinessLeadersLeadershipArticles
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    Unfulfillment: What Happens When We are NOT Living in Our Purpose

    If you aren’t sure if you were meant to start a business, the following are a few signs that you might be hard-wired for entrepreneurship: You’ve dabbled in an MLM (Mary Kay, Avon anyone??) You’ve considered selling real estate (or have) You hate having a boss You want to be your own boss and set your own hours You’ve had - and constantly have - lots of business ideas You enjoy reading about (and ‘following’) entrepreneurs and their journeys If any of the above are true for you, you my dear are wired for business… and freedom! If you are currently in a job that is leaving you unfulfilled and you want to know what the next best step is to take to realize your dream of business ownership this year, book a 20min "Freedom Activation Call" with me to learn more about my proven framework for planning what your next steps should be. I get questions all the time about how I was able to successfully leave my 6 figure corporate job and launch a brick and mortar as well as an online business… so I have finally put this program together to help you do the same WITHOUT making all the mistakes I made or sacrifice time with your family or your finances.

    8 min read
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    7 Common Time Management Mistakes You May be Making

    Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” This verse reminds us that wise time management is not a worldly business idea, but a suggestion found in Scripture. In addition to my posts on my social media, I often include time management tips in my blog posts because empowering and equipping moms to execute on the necessary actions steps to achieve their goals and purpose is a key component of the work I do. While there are times you may need to override work in favor of much needed rest or play, there are even more times that you may just need to overcome your flesh and its tendencies to be lazy and follow through and do the tasks that you have planned to do, whether or not you feel like it.

    6 min read
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    4 Ways to Have a Great Holiday Season

    While Thanksgiving has many popular traditional dishes, that doesn’t mean your family can’t put their own spin on Thanksgiving traditions. In my home, we always incorporate some Ghanaian food (and sometimes, dessert) into the dishes, jollof rice being my usual go to! At Christmas, many families have turkey, ham, or beef roast. Make sure that you (or your spouse, depending on who typically plans holiday activities; in my home it is me and I love it!!) are planning activities that you yourself(s) really enjoy as well. If mama is not having fun, it’s hard to create a genuinely enjoyable experience for anyone else. It is your family - curate a holiday experience that takes your personal preferences and personalities into account. Keep Celebrations Christ-Centered. Something I started doing last year was read a chapter of the book of Luke the first 24 days of December. Luke has twenty-four (24) chapters so it is perfect for an Advent read! It will now be a new tradition for the whole family, something we do along with opening our advent calendars.

    6 min read
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    The ONE Change I Made in My Routine that Changed EVERYTHING

    I know for me personally, when I start off the day on the wrong foot, I am much more crankier than I ought to be :) Start the Day with God The most meaningful part of my morning routine is the time I spend with God. My routine includes space for me to reflect on what God is showing me during this devotional time as well. Your morning routine may also be a good time for you to express gratitude, journal, or practice any other spiritual, physical and emotional wellness disciplines. Some people like to do devotions while eating breakfast or drinking coffee. Here are other things you might include in your morning routine: Stretch and/or exercise Make a healthy breakfast Drink a glass (or more) of water Watch the sun rise as you sip your coffee or tea in quiet Shower, brush teeth, and tend to other hygiene/make-up needs Complete a breathing exercise Write in your journal Meditate Read from a book Listen to a podcast episode Solve a crossword or Sudoku puzzle Write down thoughts with a “brain dump” Make your bed Tend to indoor plants Listen to music Walk your dog Take any morning medications Obviously you cannot do all of these things.

    6 min read
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    Your Most Important Priority as a Mompreneur – and How to Make Time for it above Everything Else!

    Godly leadership is not just about the leadership you hold in your church and your business, but about how you and your spouse lead your family. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” It’s not just a privilege to teach your child, but a requirement. Things like knowing how to cook, complete household tasks, wash their laundry, budget, drive, and hundreds of other little things they need to mature into capable adults. Yes, they need to go to school to learn about academic topics. By planning my work around these critical connection points, I make my household a priority and ensure that I am modeling how to incorporate our faith into our lives daily. The same goes for your time with your spouse.

    6 min read
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    How to Find the Time to Focus on Getting Things Done When You Have Young Kids at Home!

    Psalm 91:5-7 tells us, “Look carefully then how you talk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” We are called to make the best use of the time they have, even when that time is limited because of certain demands. Giving yourself grace and having realistic expectations when planning out your work avoids the frustration that occurs when you don’t accept your current season’s limitations and plan to bite off more than you can chew. If possible, have your spouse or older children support you by taking care of household tasks and keeping an eye on younger children during this time. Picking a time and sticking to it is important.

    6 min read
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    How Coaching Can Help You Achieve Your Goals AND Enhance the Quality of Your Business & Life

    Christian business coaches can help you identity your God-given purpose and how that applies to your vocation as a believer and an entrepreneur. On the topic of vocation, Thomas Merton once said, “Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. It comes from a voice in here calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.” This quote reminds me of Ephesians 2:10, which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” A Christian business coach can give you the clarity you need to change course in your business. When you’re coached by a fellow mompreneur, she can show empathy for your situations because she’s walked the same road you’re on. Sometimes you just need someone who has lived through it to remind you that you’ll get through these difficulties, too.

    6 min read
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    The Most Important Time Management Principle for Mompreneurs: The ONE Thing You Must Do!

    When you dedicate a block of time to get certain things done, you’ll be able to focus on the task in front of you instead of worrying about the other tasks on your to-do list. Also, scheduling other essential things for your health for example, a quick exercise/stretching first thing in the morning before other things take over is key for your overall well-being and success. If you’re trying to juggle it all, I encourage you to sign up for my FREE 5-day workshop titled “Kingdom Driven Mompreneur: How to be Blessed & Balanced in Business AND at Home.” This workshop will be packed with tips and tools to help you run a profitable business and a happy family – all without having to choose one over the other.

    6 min read
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    Why it is Critical that You Master – and Take Charge of – Your Time as a Mompreneur

    If your business doesn’t align with your personal values, you’ll spend a lot of time working on something contrary to the purpose you were created to fulfill. It’s also important to make sure you’re working on the right things. That makes you seriously consider how you use the time you’re given! I always say the parable of the talents is not just about money. It’s about all resources, including – and perhaps especially- time. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. To help busy mompreneurs, I’ve created a FREE 5-day workshop for Kingdom Driven Mompreneurs titled “Blessed & Balanced: How to be THRIVE in Business AND at Home.” I look forward to sharing information that will help you build a purpose-driven business without sacrificing your family time in the process.

    6 min read
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    How to Grow Your Business Quickly – Without Having to Work ALL the Time!

    "Write the vision; make it plain on tables, so he may run who reads it" - Habakkuk 2:2 Writing it down will be an essential part of communicating your vision with your team as well as people you hire to help you run your business. You cannot build something big or successful without putting in the hard work (or hiring the right people to help). Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This verse reminds us that our work today has eternal consequences. I will be hosting a FREE 5-day workshop titled “Blessed & Balanced: How to THRIVE in Business AND at Home.” This workshop will help you build a purpose-driven, profitable business and a happy family – without having to choose one over the other.

    6 min read
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    Union with Christ: The Foundation of our Faith

    What it Means to be a Disciple of Christ: Union with Christ Today's blog post was inspired by a comment I received from an Instagram follower (if you are not following me on instagram, follow here) who DM'd me that she appreciated my linking Christianity with business; she had never really thought about those two things being connected as she had always compartmentalized her faith away from everything else. Myles Monroe is quoted, saying, “God’s plan was to rule the visible earth from the invisible through His invisible Spirit living within the visible man.” While God does not take on a visible human body today, He lives through the visible lives of those who believe in Him and do His will. 2 Timothy 3: 1- 4 states: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God," Scripture calls us to a counter-cultural way of thinking.

    7 min readFaithChristianityChristiansGod's Plan
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    Lessons & Advice from the Proverbs 31 Woman

    One of the best things about building wealth through business is the ability to rest assured that your family can weather storms (financial or otherwise) ahead. Recently a post was being circulated on social media. It read something along these lines: “Wealth isn’t about having a big house and nice car, but wealth is when you can have your bills on autopay without worrying about when they’ll come out.” I will add to that and say being able to help as many people as you can without worrying you’ll run out! She was not weighed down by the distractions of our world, such as TV, social media, and hectic calendars. Additionally, she had servants who helped her and likely didn’t work late into the night because lamps weren’t effective tools until much after her time.

    6 min read
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    3 Practical Tips for Building a Happy Home

    Below are just a few: Let your kids see you reading your Bible each day Model service by serving in your church on Sunday mornings Show kindness in your words and actions Deal with any sin in your life and model faithfulness Pray for and with your children Be the same person on Monday and Saturday as you were Sunday at church Don’t let unwholesome words come from your mouth. On the flip side, children who grow up in homes with loving parents are more likely to create a loving family themselves. Even though raising your children will take a lot of your time and energy, it’s important to continue to invest in your relationship with your spouse. Even if date nights do not always happen with regularity, it is important to steal away for small moments with your spouse. No matter how busy you are or what demands parenthood and business bring, you need to prioritize time with your spouse.

    5 min read
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    The #1 Reason You Haven’t Achieved Your Dreams Yet (and What To Do About It)

    The Importance of Belief Belief is defined as “an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.” Alternatively, it is defined as “trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.” In the ancient Greek of the New Testament, the word pistis (often translated “faith”) can be understood as one’s vow to a higher relationship built on trust. Which is why I am so passionate about helping rekindle those passions and helping the mompreneurs in my KingdomMBA program rediscover their purpose (along with the strength needed to fulfill it!). We do this prior to even jumping into the Business curriculum because I believe it is so critically important to one’s success and fulfillment. And even while that in particular was not what I ended up doing long-term, it was the necessary stepping stone to get to where I needed to be. I couldn’t do what I do now if I hadn’t run my brick-and-mortar business first. And that’s the beauty of following the call on your life. God will also work it out and have you end up where you need to be.

    8 min read
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    Marriage According to the Gospel - Advice and Lessons from my imperfectly perfect marriage

    There will be times when one of you says or does something that hurts the other person’s feelings. The biblical mandate to forgive does not just apply to our enemies, but also applies to the relationships we share with those in our own home. While many of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs may be met in relationship with others, it’s important that your deepest fulfillment comes from God. In the early days of your marriage, this may be difficult because of the adoration you have for them in the “honeymoon phase.” Later in marriage, you may discover the places where you’ve idolized them because you’re able to see the areas where they aren’t fulfilling your wants and needs. My husband has selflessly supported me at every step of the way; I often joke that if I told him I wanted to go to space he’d be fully supportive and ask “how can I help?.” That support has helped me grow into the person I am today, fourteen years after we married. That is why I included a Marriage module bonus in my KingdomMBA curriculum, along with other bonuses like ‘Parent like a Pro’ etc. Because I know that what happens inside your home is so key to your success and fulfillment even outside the home.

    9 min read
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    The #1 Secret to Cultivating a Happy Home

    In addition, include them in chores; make a chore chart for each kid and place in a visible spot. Some of our friends are surprised to find my kids - as young as seven years old - unloading and loading the dishwasher as part of their chores. And most importantly, as a mompreneur, you free up valuable time that can be used for more important things in your life and business. Do you want to get ahead at home (in addition to your business), but don’t know where to start? It also includes a home binder and resource lists to help you set up the systems you need at home. Basically, I walk you step-by-step through how to practically and holistically establish these systems in your home (in addition to your business) so that you actually get it done quickly in a non-stressful way and so you finally have the business and home you desire!

    7 min read
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    How to Have a Great Summer - Thrive Instead of Just Surviving It

    In our home, we do a Movie Monday where we either go to a movie theatre (we like dine-in ones because they offer an elevated and fun experience) or Fast Food Mondays, Trip Tuesday, Ice Cream Wednesday, Thursday Takeout and Freestyle Friday. For example, you may want your child to complete a chore, read for fifteen minutes, and spend some time outside before they’re able to use technology. Since your children may be watching more TV than usual, take some time to pick out shows that you approve of and are fine with them watching. There are many Kids Bible commentaries available that make this task much easier than it sounds. Other goal ideas are things like learning to ride a bike, taking swim lessons, keeping their room clean, or learning to paint/draw.

    7 min read
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    Your Business is Your Ministry: How God can FREE You and Impact the World through Your Business

    In business and in life. When we fully know, understand and accept our identity in Him and believe what His Word says about us, we’re better able to step into the purpose He created us, especially in our business. When we believe lies about ourselves that we’ve been told by others (or even ourselves), we prevent ourselves from living into God’s will for us. My mission as a Christ-centered and Spirit-led business and life coach is to encourage, educate, and equip moms to do the following: Activate your purpose. I truly believe we are all called to create and birth the dreams in our hearts - because they are placed there for a purpose. But what if we believed in our identity in Christ? What if we chose to have faith instead of fear? What if we took steps toward fulfilling our calling in purpose, trusting that He who gives us the vision will surely give us the provision to see it through? Our business can be a place of growth for us as we draw even closer to God by allowing Him to reign in all areas of our lives.

    6 min readBusiness MinistryArticlesIdentity in God
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    4 Ways You Can Make 2021 Your Best Year Yet

    Over eighty percent of resolutions fail altogether. If you’re like the majority of people, you probably have goals that have eluded you, no matter how many times you’ve resolved to meet them. Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Proverbs 16:3 tells us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.” As you begin to plan for the rest of 2021, create a plan and don’t allow yourself to get distracted. The acronym F.O.C.U.S.

    6 min read
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    Why You Haven’t Accomplished Your Goals in the Past and What to do about it

    You also need to know what your particular limiting beliefs are that are sabotaging you so you can learn how to overcome them, build better beliefs, and move beyond discipline and willpower. The Difference between Goal Setters and Goal Getters The conscious mind is the goal setter and the subconscious mind is the goal getter. A new, better belief may be something like “With the right actions, I can be successful.” A mantra I personally love to remind myself of is ‘I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). With that better belief in your subconscious thought, you’ll be more motivated to work diligently toward your goals. See, your conscious mind may set a goal to write a book, but if there are underlying beliefs telling you things like ‘you aren't smart enough', 'what do you have to say that's worth reading’ or ‘nobody's going to buy the book’ chances are you self-sabotaged and found excuses to not write the book. That’s the sneaky thing about the subconscious mind. We are usually unaware of some of the deeply held beliefs that are holding us back because we have had them for so long and they have become so embedded in us that we don’t realize it. We might think we want to write a book but unless we identify and remove the limiting beliefs running in our subconscious, we will stay stuck and unable to make the progress we seek. And worse, not truly understand why we aren’t making the progress we desire.

    9 min read
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    How To Achieve ANY goal you set

    Then select the one to three goals that you want to focus on for the time period. Do not set yourself up for failure by overestimating what you can realistically achieve in a given time frame. You can also decide to break up larger goals into smaller subsections to tackle. For example, you may really want to start a business that helps provide educational resources for underprivileged children. If you use your ideal end result to reverse engineer the path to reaching that goal, you can create an effective strategy for yourself. A great strategy is to avoid ambiguity and break down each task into the smallest, complete task possible. For example, ‘Write Business Plan’ is too broad. Instead, “Research and decide on business model”, “Research and decide on business planning tool,” “Complete Rough Outline of Business Plan Sections” etc. The conscious mind can only take you so far. Think of it this way: Conscious Mind = Goal SETTER SubConscious Mind = Goal GETTER The subconscious mind is the part of your mind that does the majority of the work in actually achieving your goals. If we apply the Pareto principle (see prior blog posts for definition) this is where we should be focused. Yet it is under-utilized as most people are completely unaware of this. Don’t be like the majority of people and leave it to run on auto-pilot.

    11 min read
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    How to Uncover and Live Your Purpose So You Can Make the Impact You Were Born to Make

    I find that your story - and particularly your past ‘mess’ is usually an instrumental piece of your future ‘message’. Every part of your journey is useful and can be used for good according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Why am I here? Ask yourself why you were born and what you feel strongly about. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has created you and prepared you for what you will do. You have such great potential inside of you. You were born with it. Take time to see the trajectory He has put you on. God’s will for your life may be that thing you’ve been desiring your entire life. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When you delight in Him, God’s will and your purpose will be in alignment and made clear to you.

    9 min read
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Efe Cierkowski