134 | Lessons from a Top Leader: Steps to finding Peace in the Pivot with Whitney Ray
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[00:00:00] Hey friends, welcome back to the called to lead podcast. So I'm excited to dive into a series that I'm calling peace in the pivot by introducing you to someone who has an incredible story within her over a decade of being in the business of network marketing. So But for those of you like me who might have just had devastating news of the company that you've been a part of changing the structure of business model.
Well, Whitney Ray has been through that recently and she's going to be sharing her story, her journey in faith and in business with us today. And so I know it's going to be such a blessing to anybody that's listening, but especially to those of you who might be navigating those difficult decisions and want some steps and ways to make sure that your plans align with the Lord's plans.
So. Let's get into it.
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Whitney, thank you so much for being here today. Oh, thanks for having me. Well, I'm so excited because I met you through a mutual friend and leader with Seint colleen Matthews. And she shared a little bit of your story [00:02:00] and journey with me. And I was like, okay, I got to meet her first of all, because you sound amazing.
So we became insta friends, but, ~um,~ I don't know much about your background. I can tell you're a believer. I can tell you are bold and sharing your faith throughout your business journey. But for those who maybe like me don't know you very well, let's, let's kind of start at the beginning. Tell us where, who you are, where you're from.
Give us the backstory. Awesome. Yeah, I am Whitney Ray and I've lived in Houston the past 18 years, but the last year we have moved to a small town in between Houston and Austin. So me and my family, we've got three boys aged 15, 13, and 10 and my college sweetheart, we just celebrated our 19th anniversary.
We are out here learning what it's like to be in a small town and, ~um, ~really, really enjoying it, but kind of have had a pivot in our whole life with that move. I began working in What I would call direct sales in 2011, I had a six week old, my second baby was six weeks old and I had a little two year old and I found noonday [00:03:00] collection.
And it was a company that was all about,~ um,~ empowering artisans around the world to get their goods out to the world. And I did not think I was a salesperson at all. I just loved fashion. I really loved, ~um,~ missions. Our family was very focused on that. ~Um, ~and we found ourselves living in Houston. My husband working as an engineer, we thought we would be living around the world, ~um,~ being on mission for the Lord.
And he had called us to be on a mission in Houston. And so I was kind of balancing what that looked like. And then when, ~um,~ noonday came along, I thought this is a cool way for me to marry. This artistic designing, ~um,~ beauty side of me with helping others. And so I partnered with them for a little over five years, had a wonderful time.
And along that way, I realized that sales was simply enthusiasm and telling other people about what I loved and why they were going to love it too. And,~ um, ~just enjoyed that process. So, so much. And then a door opened up with beauty counter for me to partner with them in 2016. ~Um, ~I began to partner with beauty counter and.
~Um, ~was able to quickly succeed there and ended [00:04:00] up being one of the top 10 earners at beauty counter and absolutely loved it wholehearted. I was all in, ~um,~ my whole heart behind it was if I could do it, someone else could do it too. If I started as a mom of little toddlers who wasn't good on social media, I mean, the first Facebook video I did, my hand was shaking.
I, I just, you know, all my friends were stay at home moms, like, I did not have this vast network or even what I thought was a great skill set, but I just decided to learn every step of the way because it was meaningful to me. And I thought I had a meaningful mission and a purpose to share with other people.
And so it was great. I loved it. And then in April of this year, we got word that Greg Renfrew who had founded beauty counter, With buying back the company and we were so excited about it. They were going to take a 10 day pause and that 10 day pause has now extended into hopefully a relaunch of the company in a brand new form in 2025.
We're still waiting on those details, but I went from leading a huge team and [00:05:00] being so happy and excited to be there to having no way to place orders within 24 hours. And,~ um, ~so at that point I had to make some shifts and some pivots and that's where you find me today. My gosh. Wow. I mean, we were sharing about this before we hit record and I don't think I had realized how drastic or dramatic that situation for beauty counter reps was, and that at least was Seint and I believe in, in R and F, we at least Have the option of continuing with that, that,~ uh, ~affiliate side.
But I mean, I honestly, I cannot imagine that being taken from you. And I know right now you're sitting for those watching on YouTube, you're sitting in this beautiful studio that you invested in for your beauty counter business. And. Now, of course, you're, you're pivoting into that and we can talk about that in a minute, but I want to share a really funny fact that I don't think I've ever shared on this podcast.
And Colleen's going to kill me for sharing this, but I actually signed up as a noonday consultant back in the day, believe it or not for a hot minute. [00:06:00] So I also had a heart for missions and was fundraising to go on my, my, ~uh,~ first mission trip.~ Uh, ~that's another story for another day, but,~ um,~ I joined noon day with the idea of making that little bit of extra money to put back towards,~ um, that~ mission.
And so I've always been a big fan and we don't necessarily have to talk about that, that transition, but I love that connection of getting into this business, you know, for heart, for, like you said, sharing what you loved, whether that's story or clothes or beauty or skincare. When you love something and you're passionate about it.
Like we were chatting before we hit record, it's just about sharing your enthusiasm and adopting simple systems and, you know, making it, like you said, so that everyday person can, can do it too. So I love hearing your journey and over a decade, like 13 years in the business to have it culminate in like, a crazy way in April.
Walk us through what that looked like and felt like. I mean, it had to have been horrible, but you know, were you fearful? Like what, what kind of emotions and what did, what did that look like in terms [00:07:00] of even you next? Yeah, well, it happened on a Monday, ~um, ~when we got the final news that, you know, I got in the news that it was closed for 10 days and then it was pushed out.
We were going to have another call and it needed to happen a few days later. So. So Monday is when the call happened. And my husband was in Canada for work. And that's an important piece because I went through the next couple of days, just me and the kids. And I ended up by the end of the week, I lost seven pounds.
And, ~um,~ that has never happened before, unless I've been like severely ill. And really what it was was I would say that's an indicator of where I was at. I just kind of went into survival mode. I was, you know, Just so focused on my clients, every person on my team, what was I going to do next? The grief, like how could this happen to me?
There's these thoughts that go through our mind. And I had to do a lot of, ~um,~ work and healing to get through them. And you're getting put in a very like fearful place immediately when you think something's going to be there. And then all of a sudden it's gone.~ Um, ~and that's never a great place to be.
And I knew [00:08:00] I didn't want to stay there. So it was a lot of like fighting to say, don't live in fear. God loves you. Like he is with you. He was for you. But sometimes in those moments, especially those first hours or first days, my husband being in Canada, and it's just like me, me and my thoughts. ~Um, ~there was a lot of work that had to be done in those, those times.
And,~ um, ~But there were moments where I could see God showing up in like really radical ways. And I held on to that. And so I think sometimes if you've ever been in a really hard situation, whether it's your job gets taken away suddenly, or there's a car accident or a sudden diagnosis, I've been in places like that before, too.
And that was good for me to go back and remember and be thankful. Okay, God, I've walked with you long enough now that I When I was sitting in that hospital with my son and that happened, I knew you were with me and you're going to be with me now, even though my emotions and my feelings are telling me, you know, it's all ending.
It's never going to be good again. I know that's not true. I know you're there. And so there were just these tiny little moments that he showed up.~ Um, ~when, when Greg made the [00:09:00] announcement that they were going to have to pause. And at that point, the news was that it was going to reopen in the fall. She said, I want there to be a soft landing for you.
And we're doing a call with Arbonne. And I will tell you, I had never been to their website. The only memory I had of the company was my mom in college. When I was in college, she had these orange bottles in the bathroom for a brief period of time. I knew nothing about it. And I was like, our bond. And I was like, I don't even know.
So I got on the website that night because I couldn't sleep. I knew the call was the next day and I, I opened it up and I was like, ah, I don't even I mean, literally that was my attitude because my, I loved beauty counter. I loved everything about it. I wasn't looking for another company. ~Um, ~and I, I audibly almost heard it was in my head, but I almost heard this like audible voice that said, Whitney, this is what I want you to do.
And there's been very few times I have felt that in the past, and there's been a few times he said it and I've ignored it. And then like, Oh, that's just this fear I have, and it has not gone well for me. And so just knowing God, when I've heard you say these kind [00:10:00] of whispers before, maybe this isn't forever for me.
Maybe you are saying yes to this for the next week. Maybe it's the next month. I don't have to believe this is the next eight years of my life, but I believe. That you want me to look at this and I have the slightest bit of openness to you. I'll take one more step. And I think that was how I got through those first couple of days and weeks.
Honestly, maybe first month is I never, I didn't have an assurance that this was the best thing ever for me, or that this was going to, you know, I didn't have even half the answers I have today, but I just believed I was going to take one more step forward. I knew he had said, You know, he wanted me to look at this and he would tell me whether this was for me or not, if I kept having an openness to him.
And that has been the story over and over that whole month, that next month of my openness and getting on calls or meeting with people.~ Um, ~I even interviewed up lines, which, you know, okay. I've been a leader. So of course we're going to interview our uplines because I am set. Here's my pridefulness when I'm looking back now, I'm such a great leader.
I've done this for so long, so I need to make sure they're [00:11:00] good enough for me. I mean, this is, I was, I've been really revealed a lot of pride. So I got on these calls. First call was awesome. Loved her. Second call wasn't for me. There was a third person I was supposed to get on the phone with, but I was like, I'm so tired.
I don't even want to get on another call. ~Um, ~and I get a text from a dear friend of mine in beauty counter. And she's like, Hey, I've joined our bond. I've in it. She had joined underneath this, this third person I was supposed to call. I was like, Oh gosh, I haven't even called her. ~Um, ~hop on the call for maybe five seconds.
didn't interview her at all, just said, I was like, God wants me to join with this friend. I need to just stick with her. I trust my friend deeply. I'm just going to join. I knew nothing about, you know, besides a slight little call that I had, you know, so here I am interviewing thinking I'm so prideful. Well, I turns out I end up on this team that is.
Beyond anything I could have asked her imagined beyond anything I could have interviewed my, that mentor, that person that I didn't even bother to like spend more than five minutes on the phone with is deeply connected with every [00:12:00] person at Arbonne has deeply poured into me as a better leader than I could ever ask myself.
Like when I think I thought I was a good leader, she's blowing it out of the water. And then her mentor is the number one earner at Arbonne and is one of the most faith filled mission minded Incredible business women and has been on calls multiple times with me. I didn't even know to ask for that when I'm quote interviewing people.
Cause I, you know, know all the things God just gave it to me. And so it was those like things along the way where God was just like, I'm putting you here. I'm putting you here. You don't even know what to ask for. I have a plan. Oh, my goodness. Wow. What a story of the way he works when we just let him right?
Yes, we get out of the way and we let our flesh or like even like you said, being tired or feel fearful. It's like those are the things that I know the enemy can use to prevent us from. Something that's literally right there in front of you. But what's super cool is you still were able to be with your friend, like his timing of it all worked out.
Like that is, [00:13:00] that is just so cool. And the other thing that reminded me, ~um, ~some of my friends, we were talking about Lauren Daigle and how special her music has been in the season. It's so funny how music can, can be such a healing thing, but there's a song in particular called, I remember. Yeah. That you may or may not know, but I'll link it.
Anybody who's listening, you should go listen. You might cry, but it reminds me so much of your story. And that, that heart, I honestly, I cannot imagine. I mean, I know because I went through something similar, but different, but I cannot imagine how you felt like physically in that moment, but I love that.
The thing that kind of held, like made you hold on to knowing that there could be something better, even if you couldn't see what it was, was remembering how faithful he's been to you in the past and through your journey in this business and in life. And just like holding onto that and then just taking, like you said, one step forward and trusting that by you doing that, I mean, it wasn't like you just sat back and waited, but it's also not like you just jumped, right?
Like you didn't go for the [00:14:00] right thing. So did you ever feel tempted to do that or were there other people that were like making quick decisions or, you know, entire teams that were moving things like that? Like what,~ um,~ what did that look like in those, in that crazy week? I cannot even imagine. Yeah. Well, that first, you know, when Greg announced y'all should look at our bond, I did join that evening.
~Um, ~and I had quite a few people join with me and I was so excited about that. ~Um, ~the call the next day was okay. Everyone was in a really difficult place. I don't know if the tone was exactly right. The call we did with our bond and beauty counter, just everyone was in a crisis place. ~Um,~ and Arbonne made a twist to, they've always made a twist to not offer bonuses or bridge payments,~ um, ~and other companies were.
And so as the news kind of got out about beauty counter, some other people, you know, began to partner with other things. And. You know, it was really difficult. ~Um, ~and it was hard for me to maybe second guess that voice. I heard where he said, this is for you when another company saying, Hey, I'm going to give you, if you come over here and [00:15:00] everybody I know is going over there now.
~Um, ~I was like, that path would be easy and this bonus would be huge. ~And, um,~ there's things I couldn't like about this company and the people that have made those choices are in a really, I don't question the choice that they've made either, because it was a voice I heard that God said, this is for you, Whitney Ray.
It didn't mean it was for every other person that I've ever talked to or led or mentored. ~Um, ~and I had to come to grips with that and say, this is a calling I have. Are you going to follow what I've told you to do, even if no one goes with you? Cause Hey, that first 12 hours was pretty easy when everyone said they were going to do it and now they're making different choices for reasons that can be really beneficial for them or whatever might be the state that they're in right now.
Are you okay with that? Are you going to still follow me? ~Um, ~are you going to do what I asked you to do, even. If it's not easy. And I think that's been the path I've been on because not everyone I've worked with in beauty counter came over with me to our bond. And I had to really come to grips with like, why did I choose it?
And maybe we can even go through some of [00:16:00] that. Like what I, yes, I heard God's voice, but then I had to walk through some key things that made me know. Could I offer this to someone else? Because I knew the only reason I had built a big business at beauty counter was not because I was hugely influential.
It wasn't because I had a huge Instagram following. It was because I really saw myself take simple steps and other people could replicate it because of core things about the business. And if I didn't have that at a new place, I couldn't authentically tell someone else. You can come over here and be successful too and coach them because that wouldn't be true.
And so I had to say, okay, you are open because God told you to, you've now checked off all your boxes of why this could be great for every person you talk to now, if you really believe that. You have no entitlement. Like, don't believe that you are expected to have success immediately, go walk it out. Like if anyone can be successful here, then you better go start showing other people that, that they can be successful too.
And so just starting from ground [00:17:00] zero and putting what I say into practice, and it's been hard. On some days and then really good on others where I'm like, gosh, it actually is really good to be new and fresh at something. It's really good to be in the learner phase. It's really good to be in the rebuilding phase.
And I get to maybe be really honest with myself where I've coasted a little bit in the past and Hey, it's time to, you know, really figure out what 2024 world and your community and people need and go out there and deliver it and do a great job at it. Oh my gosh, that's good. So there's so many things I want to talk about, but I love hearing the grace in your heart for others who made other decisions, because I know that that in particular, I think has been one of the hardest aspects of navigating this changes, even from the founder to other leaders who are making different decisions, or even other leaders making decisions that You know, you're like, no, but that's probably not the best place or whatever, whatever that looks like, you know, that like you embody that grace that the Lord, first of all, has to know that, like you said, when [00:18:00] you make your own mistakes, like you have, and you've gone out of alignment with what he has told you to do.
He still brings you back like actually Colleen was talking about. I think I mentioned this actually on the last episode, but she was saying that, you know, it's like a path that she's on. And like, when she wanders off the path, it's like the Lord, you know, guides are back on the path. And so, you know, who's to say that that mistake isn't Or, or that it is a mistake for them.
First of all, like you said, it could absolutely be the thing that's meant for them. And we need to have as many believers and as many strong leaders in every one of these companies. And any of them can be successful if, if they do that. So I just, first of all, I love your, your heart for grace in that. But also the sort of network marketing coach wants to know what these, uh, or I'm not really a coach, but you know, anyway, I love to talk about systems and things.
So what were the steps that you, that you were specifically looking for, the ones that had been successful for you to become a top seller in beauty counter, [00:19:00] but then you were looking for them here. So what I would definitely love to talk, give us all the steps. Okay, well, and maybe we'll start the very first one because I've heard this a lot from people who are now who I've worked beside who are now choosing not to do anything or maybe just sell share links here and there.
There's a fear watching all the companies going straight affiliate all the disruption happening. Is this even a viable? Business. Yeah. I mean, and I, I know you've been talking about it on your podcast, like, is this even a viable business? And I think, was it Kristin boss who shared maybe a couple of weeks ago where she's like, yes, it is.
And that almost every, well, every single business is going to have challenges. There's going to be change and it's how do you navigate those and find the good. So when it came down to it, I really see such good things in this type of business. Of space and the reason I think things are not always working out.
It could be debt that's happening. It could be, you know, financial choices. It could be bringing in, you know, investment companies where maybe it should have been founder led, right? Like those are not in [00:20:00] my control. ~Um, ~but I can look for that, but I also wanted to find a company that was very field led. So back in my time with, ~um, ~noon day, it was so exciting.
We, I, when I first joined, I was the ninth ambassador. It was us. Figuring it out together of what would work and building any sort of system that we had beauty counter. I got in, maybe it was a four years in, so it had already been built, but they didn't have a training. They didn't have anyone who led the HQ training team.
There wasn't anything official. And I saw the power of people out on the ground meeting face to face. They knew what was working and what wasn't working faster than maybe a big. You know, system would and so I wanted to find a company for me. Number one was one that was really connected with the field and valued the field and had a lot of input from the field.
~Um, ~and so that creates a pretty short list of companies that are out there. ~Um, ~and so that really helps that I would say that was step one is one that would do that. The next one is I really was looking at the business [00:21:00] structure. So we kind of, you know, kind of said that. ~Um, ~Who owns them? Where's the financing coming from?
~Um,~ or if they're publicly traded company or they have stock, they should have audited financials available if they're publicly traded. If not, ~um, ~you know, you can look into financial statements and you can look and see, like, where are they? Are they financially healthy? That is not something I personally am good at looking at.
So I brought in experts. ~Um, I~ brought in my husband and I brought in a friend who works in the financial sector and I asked them to look at it for me and then to describe it to me in words. I could fully understand because that wasn't my strong suit, but I knew that was important. The next thing I really wanted to look at is the compensation plan.
I think this one's really big. ~Um,~ compensation plans can change all the time. So has this company changed their compensation plan a lot in the past? Is it so new that they probably will change it soon? Like If it's so new, then maybe they could change it quickly. If it's been around for a long time, what kind of track record do they have there?
And then can I understand it? Is it clear? Like, can I, or almost anyone else will look at it and figure out how to get paid because the more clear it [00:22:00] is, the more replicatable and transparent it is. Looking at their income disclosure statements if they have it. That's really good. One thing that maybe you don't even think about is some people just say, Is it possible for me to make a lot at this company?
But I'd say look at what your goal income is and how many people at the company are at that level. I think that's a really important thing to look at. And if it's a really small number, you're going to want to figure out why is it so small? ~Um, ~or is it a really big number? Okay, great. There's a lot of potential there.
~Um,~ then it starts to get in. I would say then the next big picture one is support and tech. You know, if you sometimes I think people find themselves in these companies because a friend invited them in. It looked really fun. Maybe they just thought it would be a great thing. But when you're actually saying I'm going to partner with this company, I know a lot of times you can burn out because you don't feel like you have the support you need or you don't have the tools to make it simple and easy.
And then after that, it really gets into personality for me, fair trade, ~um, ~background with beauty counter or with Arbonne and then beauty counter being a B corporation. That was a [00:23:00] really big thing for me is, is everything transparent through the whole process? If they're using vanilla, is it a fair trade vanilla or was, you know, slave labor involved in that and things like that.
Those are personal things that are meaningful to me, but to someone else, it may not be as important and that's totally okay too. ~Um, ~but that was an important piece for me. And then the company mission, what is the company? Do they have a mission? This is a really important one to ask. Do they have a mission that is integral to who they are?
And if it is, are you on board with it? Do they have things that they support here and there on the side? And it should, you know, it's just a small thing. That's one thing. But is there a core mission? What is it? And are you excited about being a part of it? You can love a product. All day long. But if there's a core mission that doesn't feel a sense of alignment, it's not going to be something I think that can be there for the long time.
~Um, ~but those were all the many steps that I went through and I, it really helped me feel good as I, I knew I wanted to ask those questions. I knew I wanted to dig in. And as I got each one answered in an alignment for me, my [00:24:00] excitement grew, my enthusiasm grew, and then all of a sudden it didn't matter.
Did every person I know join with me? No. Like, gosh, look at how this is so aligned in a thing that I think will last for a very long time and could benefit people in all different kinds of ways and that they can do good, you know, while, while helping their own goals be reached, like, okay, great. So no brainer I'm in, I'm excited.
Wow. I love those steps. So did you have, you had those steps in place before you even went down the path with Arbonne ~or like, like, ~or did it, was that the kind of steps that just kind of came to be? Maybe tell us more about that. I think those are steps that live in the back of my mind all the time. And I took time to actually verbalize them, if that makes sense.
So I thought about it before I joined with beauty counter. Those were the same things I walked through before I joined with beauty counter. ~Um, ~I went back and had, I would tell this story when I was back in beauty counter, a friend of mine had shared products with me and I went back for 18 [00:25:00] months. Like it was, It was because I was at noonday and I had another journey that I was on, but 18 months I was watching and asking questions about the compensation plan, questions about the mission, questions about the business structure.
Those are things that I think are just kind of inherent in me. But then when I really thought I was like, No, these are the things I'm kind of checking off the list. And so when I went through the Arbonne things I did have a list like on an actual piece of paper that I was asking. That's awesome. Well, I definitely, I mean, I took notes.
So hopefully you guys are taking notes to listening because if you're still exploring companies and still kind of trying to figure out what's next, I mean, those are, it's so wise because it can be like really easy. And I've seen this on both sides. It can be really easy to be influenced either by a, someone else who's really excited about their path,~ um,~ whether that's been chosen for them by the Lord or kind of by their, by their own fleshly desires, whether that's money or.
You know, something else, or I see it a lot of times, like people, for example, in Seint, we did not have a lot of support [00:26:00] from the HQ side. And so the minute they even get like an inkling of what that looks like, they're like, yes. And take me and it's like, okay, wait, that's just a facet of it. Okay. Like there's a whole of other, other things you kind of need to look into to make sure that it's the right, the right fit.
And not that once again, the Lord cannot work all things together, regardless of what companies someone chooses. ~Um, ~and also, you know, there are a lot of companies Arbonne being one of them that, that check these boxes. And, you know, so the cool thing is, and I'm sure some people are like, Oh, I need to look at Arbonne again.
And like another one, I'll just say is like Melaleuca, like these are companies that have navigated the shakeout. They, you know, they, they have got like the kind of kinks worked out, if you will. And they're quietly doing this in a way that is, it's working, it's working for, for the real everyday people.
And so you just kind of have to do, do your due diligence because I also know of a slew of other ones that are kind of on their way up that are like, I'll just list some of them, like green compass, for example, is one [00:27:00] that I have some dear friends that have absolutely been led, you know, in their faith journey to that company.
And I know the founder is a believer. ~Um, ~another one is the faster way I'm supposed to be doing the dang workouts, not as an affiliate or anything like that, but just doing them. But that founder,~ um, ~Amanda, I think is her name, dying to get her on this podcast because her story is so, so powerful. So you know, the cool part is, is whether it's Arbonne or any companies I may or may not have even heard of, especially the ones that have been around for decades.
Explore these and look for where the Lord like speaks to you, whether that's audibly or just like in those little details or he starts to put the little pieces together. Right? So, ~um, ~you know, I know you shared a lot of it. I know we could, we could talk for like days about this, but is there any other advice or a piece of a story or anything that you want to share Whitney, ~um, ~just for those that have been, that are listening that you think they might need to hear.
You know, I heard it this morning. I was listening to this awesome call. ~Um, ~I, another thing I didn't know I needed from the [00:28:00] Arbonne community is this group. I'm a part of, they do a call every the first Monday of every month talking about their faith journey and what God has been doing. And it doesn't have anything to do with Arbonne.
It just is that the group and this woman was sharing this story and she referenced that song, that praise and worship song that even when we don't see it, he's working. ~Um, ~and it, I have not stopped thinking about it since she said that. And she gave some examples of some work that they're doing with Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic and how they, ~um, ~so many of them are crying out, where's my next meal going to come from?
And she's like, they don't even know that on the other side of the water here are, here we are this small little group of people. We're raising money to send 11 million meals, you know, over to them. ~Um,~ and she's like, so. That, that thought that whatever it is that you're needing, that you feel like you need so, so much that even if you don't see it, he's working.
And if anyone could listen to this, it wouldn't be, Oh, join Arbonne or, or join this company or join that. It would be that you I'm sure have a faith and you're wanting God to show you your next step that [00:29:00] even when you don't see it, he's working to, you know, really open yourself up to say, if you tell me to do something, even if it seems strange, you know, will you take those steps and then support it?
Like I did. I mean, I'm a. A thoughtful, detailed person. I didn't follow it up with business thoughts in mind. ~Um, ~and then I will just say to, you know, the replication that I felt like was possible. Those are the strong business things that makes me feel like the business will be there. That makes me feel like it's there.
But it also had a few products that I felt like were fun and easy and help people feel alive. The, the core thing I'm feeling right now is something I heard from Brendan Bruchard. ~Um, ~so if you've done any growth day stuff, I'm just love him so much. And he's like the core thing that every human wants after food and, you know, housing is taken care of is to feel alive.
And so when we're thinking about our next things that we want to do, we want to feel alive in the work that we do.~ Um,~ we want the recognition, we want success, you know, maybe those are things I thought of because gosh, I had those things in beauty counter and I I had the income and I had the success. But if I get that by [00:30:00] going through a side door or a back door or something that doesn't align with who I really am, I will not feel alive.
~Um, ~I can have all of those things and skip out on the aliveness. But if I lean in to who God wants me to be and doing the things that he wants me to do, I I will feel alive and the success and all that will just be icing on the cake. So if you've been in a place where you, if anyone here is listening, has been in a place where you've had the success, you've had the recognition, don't miss out that the aliveness you feel when those things come in is really when it's in alignment with who God has you to be and where he wants you to be.
Oh man, that's such good advice. And I want to watch my favorite movie. Now the greatest showman. Yes. My kids are going to watch. Cause I'm like picturing come alive as you say it. I love that. Maybe. Oh. And if you haven't seen the behind the scenes, when they sing that song, have you seen that on YouTube? I don't think so.
It's going to change your life. They shared it at a beauty counter conference and I have not stopped. It's what I pull out when I need to. It's the first time they kind of did it in a [00:31:00] soundstage and it is one of the most moving. Songs, how she goes from kind of timid and then she gets up from behind and just start singing with her whole heart.
So definitely worth a watch. Oh, my goodness. Well, and it's wild, too, because our church talking about Waymaker, that song that even when you don't see it, he's working, ~um, ~the first time I saw that movie was actually at our church. We do call it a series called at the movies and they broke it down and kind of the biblical principles.
And so seeing it through that lens, even though it's obviously a secular, secular movie, it's just, it's there if you, if you look for it. And, ~um, ~I think that's one of the reasons why it's my favorite movie, but we just wrapped up the series of, ~um, ~at the movies this summer and we. Had it 75 baptisms just yesterday morning alone, and they played that song that the, even when you don't can't see it, he's working.
And I was just like, oh, my gosh, like, none of us, my husband and I were like, how is it that people are just they're coming to the movies at church and then they're giving their life to Christ after watching a movie. What is [00:32:00] happening? Like, how is the Lord using, using all of this? And so he uses all kinds of ways to do his work.
Well, one more thing I want to ask you, because it's kind of tying it full circle is you're in this gorgeous space. That was the first thing I noticed when you hopped on. And I know that that had to be one of the most heartbreaking and hard things. That you, ~um, ~you know, that you went through is you signed this lease on this beautiful space with this vision to build your beauty counter business.
Tell us now, cause you shared a little bit with me. What's next for you and this, this beautiful location that you can see if you're watching on YouTube. Oh, thank you. Yes. I just decided this last week what I would do. So, I mean, the news. I had done a grand opening and had my beauty counter products here thinking I could place orders when they came back and that that didn't pan out.
And so, honestly, the space was just in the background. My husband and kids built me these beautiful walls and I'm in the downtown square at my. ~Um, ~in my small town, and I just kept thinking I need to know what to do with this space. And he kept telling me to wait. And I was like, how can [00:33:00] you tell me to wait?
I just saw the money going out the door every month as I paid the rent. ~Um, ~and while I felt an immediate take a next step with Arbonne, I wasn't quite ready yet to think what could this space be? ~Um, ~because it was so different. ~Um, ~and I just felt like I got,~ um, ~a really clear vision in the last few weeks.
And so I have purchased some fair trade robes and eye masks and, And different kind of beauty products to go alongside Arbonne. So I'll have Arbonne set up, ~um, ~in part of it, but I'm also going to bring in some other things I'm going to sell retail and kind of call it my healthy living club. And I was really excited because even just talking to you, just re remembering my story and how my first steps were moving forward with Noonday and my passion for.
Fair trade and helping others. And now it's moving forward beyond beauty and into how can we have inner wellness and, ~um, ~really looking out for all parts of our body. And now I get to do it all together in one space. So I'll be opening up in just the next few weeks and have my space reopened in its new imagined way.
Oh my gosh, I wish I lived closer. [00:34:00] We're like several states apart, Texas and Georgia. But oh man, I'm so excited for you, Whitney. And I know that just hearing whether they're listening or seeing you live, like hearing the joy and the peace in your voice and just in your countenance after I know three months ago, you probably never.
Thought you could feel that way again. So just let that be bomb to your soul. If you're still struggling with whatever you might be going through, like you said, it might not this cool thing about a podcast. ~Um, ~I remember when I interviewed Bob Heilig, he told me this, ~um,~ for the first time he was like, podcasts live on.
He's like, this thing will have legs. And so, you know, somebody could be listening to this years down the road. And still be just as inspired by your story, Whitney, because it's, we are not promised as believers that things will be easy in this life. In fact, we were promising that they will be hard, but we are also promised that he will be with us in the hard, especially if we just look for him.
And the fact that like, he's already in just a few short months after I know what had to be one of the most devastating, probably the most [00:35:00] devastating business thing that's happened. He has got you in a place of joy and peace. And I know that above all, that's what people are looking for. So thank you so much for sharing your story and your brilliant wisdom.
So go back and listen and take notes if you weren't. Thank you again, Whitney. Thanks so much. Oh, you know what? I have an idea. ~Um,~ so I just started, this is like a, ~um, ~I guess when all the saint stuff happened, I started praying at the end and this is an epiphany. I didn't ask you this, but what, could I have you say a prayer over the listeners as we close up?
I would love to. God, thank you so much for every person who's listening right now. Lord, I pray that wherever they are in life, whether they're in a place where their business is on pause or there's an unknown, or whether there's an unknown in their life or relationship or something very, very meaningful to them, Lord, I pray that they would know that even if they can't see And that they would stop and look in your word that they would spend time in quiet with you and maybe they'll hear a voice audibly.
Maybe a [00:36:00] verse will step out from scripture or maybe a text will come through from a friend that gives them just exactly the right next step. And that you would guide each and every person who's listening into their next step. Maybe it's just for the next script. Five minutes or the next day that you would just be with them, that they would know that you were with them and that they would believe and trust that you have nothing but success for them.
You promise that you will work all things together for our good. And so I know that every person who just relies on you will see you come through in beautiful and creative and probably completely unknown and surprising ways, and we just love you and trust you and thank you. It's in your name. We pray.
Amen. Amen. Oh, man. That was good. Whitney. Thank you guys for listening. And I hope you all have a beautiful week. Bye. [00:37:00]
