Tue, 11 Jun 2024 03:53:59 -0700WeeblyThu, 08 Mar 2018 09:26:23 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/episode-204-teja-veal​I just love Téja.  It’s one thing to see someone on stage rocking in their element, but it’s another thing to see them after the lights are off, their instruments are put away and they walk off the stage.  What remains is the true essence of them and the essence of Téja shines through in our conversation.    What a joy this conversation was.  I probably sounded a little giddy.  One reason is because I admire that she is shining bright in a field that is not full of women.  To see people living their dreams and walking in faith is my happy place.  So it was a joyous time to chat with her.
 
I hope you listen to this episode and glean some great nuggets from it.  As I edited it, certain things stood out to me and I just want to share.  If you have not listened yet, you should stop now, listen and come back…or you can just keep reading :0)
 
Shine where you are…
One thing I found awesome was that whether Téja’s gig had her performing before 5 or 50,000, she gave it the same level of respect.  She counted it as an honor and a privilege to play and gave it her all every time she hit the stage.  God honored that faithfulness by giving her tremendous opportunities that came as a result of being faithful over the few, the small and the ignored.  You never know who is watching, so always give it your all.  This applies to us all.  Whether you are on a stage, in a cubicle, serving the homeless, writing a script – whatever you do, do it with your all. 
 
Another thing I gleaned from Téja is her confidence in the fact that God gave her the gifts.  Not confidence in the gifts or herself – but the very fact that God gave them.  There is a poise and sureness that comes when you know the gifts you are excelling in are from God.  That He gave them, He maintains them and sustains them and entrusts them to you to be used for His glory.  You can hear throughout the conversation that this knowledge graces her, carries her and allows her to humbly shine in these gifts from God.
 
We also talked about what success looks like.  You’ll hear me often ask this question of guests.  Success means different things to different people, but the answers, as varied as I get, all make sense to me.  You have to establish what it means personally to you.  That way you can know what it is, how to attain it, how to know when you’ve achieved it and how not to be swayed by what it means to the world.  I loved her answer – “completing what God has given you to do.” Indeed!
 
This truth always blesses me and it came out through our conversation. Our job is obedience, the results belongs to God.  What a peace I get from that. I hope it resonates with you as well.  Just do what you’re led or called to do…the results are not on you…but the obedience is.
 
I know Téja’s journey is not an easy one, but it is a purposed one.  I find it so beautiful that she lives a life with a gift submitted to God that takes her to the nations…wow.
 
Faith is a walk.  This is the last nugget for this episode.  It’s simple, but read it again.  Faith is a walk.  Not a sprint, a jog, nor a seat.  But a walk.  A constant movement.  Action.  We don’t always know where it leads us, but faith says keep going.  Faith is a walk and I pray we all get up everyday and keep walking out this beautiful life journey in faith.]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 02:28:27 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/epiosde-203-a-conversation-on-the-law-of-business-with-nicole-p-theodore-esqHere on CWA this season I still want to introduce you to folks with amazing stories and walking in their life's calling.  But I also want to help you as you write your own fantastic stories and live out your own destiny.  

This week was so informative and educational for me.  As an entrepreneur myself it was enlightening and eye-opening just hearing about all of the facets of law related to this business world.  I love the fact that I know Nicole personally and I watched her become a lawyer, practice law and now branch out into her own practice.  To have this conversation with her was simply awesome.  What I love is that she has a heart and desire to help folks like you and me who are braving this big world of entrepreneurship.  She's a bright light and I am so proud to see her shining bright.  ]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 01:58:40 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/episode-202blindersBlinders was personal.  I've been there where this glittering world that social media paints can leave you feeling some kind of way.  But I know what happens when you make a deliberate decision to tune out the noise of the world so you can hear the voice of your destiny.  

May I be transparent with you for a second?  When I do solo podcasts, they don't quite get the downloads that I have with guests.  It bothered me at first, but then I settled in my mind that I believe each month there is a personal message from me to the listening audience and I wanted to be true to that portion of the assignment.  This is a new season, season 2 and I thought I may change that - but that's not where I was led.  I still have a message and I am determined to share it.  How apropos for the first one of this season to be on blinders.  I had to put on blinders to the downloads and just do what I believe God placed on my heart to do.  I'll be honest. I didn't even look at the downloads for this last week.  It doesn't matter.  What mattered was obedience.  It took blinders to be obedient and I'm so glad I put them on to do the work assigned to my hands.

Blinders started with me before I even shared it with you all.  It works.  It focuses you and it can help you get about your life's work.  It's ok to stop, scroll and cheer for those in this journey with you, but don't get distracted or delayed.  Put your blinders on and keep going my friend...keep going!
]]>Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:20:44 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/episode-201-a-conversation-on-activation-with-melissa-d-whiteWARNING: READ ONLY AFTER LISTENING…
 
Did you not just get activated?  I enjoyed this episode.  Not just because it was the first episode of my new season, but because I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. 
 
Now because I said I was going to be real and honest…I have to work on “wow” and “that’s good”.  I heard it…alot.  I got it.  It was good :0)  But I’ll work on that. 
 
Now on to the important stuff – Episode 201…
 
Melissa said some things that made me internally say ouch.  A good ouch, but a necessary ouch.  Let me share a few of my favorite takeaways from our conversation.
 
“My accountability to God supersedes my fear.”
That one got me.  If you should ever find yourself face to face with fear, I pray that you hear these words.  I hope the fear in not doing what God said is greater than the fear of doing it. 
 
“Surrender is a muscle.  You exercise it through obedience and feed it through faith.” Wow.  That spoke to me.  Makes me realize I have not been working on that muscle enough.  I could literally see her words in a tangible picture of muscle and it challenged me to workout my surrender muscles.  I hope it did the same for you.
 
She talked about provision for the vision coming in different formats.  I think we all automatically think of the funding for the vision as the main thing.  But she blessed me in this portion of the conversation to take it further.  Provision comes in the form of people too.  The people assigned to help you carry the vision and then the folks who the vision is for.  Just think about that for a minute.  Let’s say God told you to start a homeless shelter.  Of course you are looking at the funding for it, but what about the people who believe in the vision and will come along side you and help you birth it.  But even moreso, think about the folks who are waiting to move in, for a second chance at life…the very folks the vision is for.  I don’t know about you, but that thing blessed me.  Challenged me to trust others for help with the vision and remember why I’m doing it and who I’m doing it for – that’s rich!
 
“Something different in the air you breathe when you get up and walk in your purpose.” Shouldn’t that be the goal of us all?  I’m a visual learner and I literally could see inhaling an air like no other. An obedient air, a life-giving air, a wealthy air, a lovely air, air created just for you when you decide to step out of the boat and do the thing you’re called to do – oh what an air!
 
This is my final thing, and one that rang so true for me.  “Do the one thing.” You know.  I know.  That one thing God has told us to do.  The thing that scares us and invigorates us at the same time.  The thing that is hard but purposed.  The thing that stays on your mind.  The thing that quite literally could change your life if and when you decide to do it.  I pray we recognize that one thing and get about the business of doing it.
 
These are just a few gems I pulled out of our conversation that blessed me and I pray they do the same for you. It really amazes me that a conversation could change your life…if you let it.  I hope you let it...I really do!
 
 
 
]]>Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:57:18 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/time-for-season-2021518Can I be honest with you?  I’m super excited about Season 2 of Conversations With Alexis, but not all the work that comes with it. I’ve held off on the release date for a minute just so I could get all of the behind the scenes lined up – but also because once you say GO – it’s on.  There is no stopping, no slowing down, no wait a minute…it’s just full speed ahead.  Every week a new, edited, ready to go conversation and all that comes along with it.
 
I LOVE having the conversations.  That is my most favorite part.  After  inviting and scheduling and planning you get to sit across from this stranger and ask them any and everything.  I LOVE IT!  I believe I can have a conversation with anybody (as long as I have a yes from God) and once I have that, it fascinates me to sit across from someone and ask about their journey and share that with others.  It inspires me and I pray it inspires you!
 
What you don’t see is the prayer asking God, who should be on? When will the invited guests start responding?  Lord help me ask the right questions that will bring out what you want shared? Let me send the invite. Let me get the booking.  Let me confirm the interview.  Let me remember how to record via face time and insert in garage band and edit.  Let me figure out why my mic is low but the guests are loud and clear.  Let me get the bio and headshot.  Let me update the website and edit the conversation.  Let me create the cover art.  Let me get all of the info. uploaded, edited, sent to google, apple and soundcloud all before 6am on Thursday morning.  Now let me start all over again in addition to living my life, doing other things and carrying out other visions.
 
I know it sounds like a lot and it is.  But it’s what I believe is my assignment right now.  That’s why I used the word LET.  I believe it’s an honor and a privilege for God to let me do any of this.  God show me how, escort me through it, hold my hand and give me wisdom.  God give me the umph to go on when it’s just you and me in the midnight hour getting it done.
 
Why did I tell you all of this?  So you would be encouraged.  Your dream may not be easy, but you are graced to do it and get through.  To not only survive but thrive and shine.  I believe in you and I know we got this and God has us.  Welcome to Season 2.]]>Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:45:11 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/cwa-website​Lord have mercy – this website upkeep/revamp is no joke.  I see one thing in my mind but putting all of the pieces together is something else.  It shall be done.  Praise God it is done.  After I stopped fighting the process and leaned in, I learned although it was work, it was a learning endeavor -and one that made me grow.  As I flip from page to page I’m proud of the work.  It’s simple, but informative and neat and I hope folks can get to podcasts easily and learn more about us.  A lot of times you may have to do all of your own pieces initially.  It may seem hard, but anything is possible for those who believe.  I believe God gave me this vision and I know He is the provision for it.  In the midnight hour when I have questions, I just ask and He shows up every time.  Sometimes it’s a simple click, sometimes He illuminates the answer to my question and then other times, he sends a 12 year old on YouTube who walks me through step by step ;0)  It’s a most marvelous journey and I wouldn’t change a thing!
]]>Thu, 01 Feb 2018 08:46:00 GMThttp://www.conversationswithalexis.com/blog/whySo why does a Podcast have a Blog?  I’m glad you asked.  Because it wants one :0)  No just kidding.  In Season 1 of Conversations With Alexis, there were parts of each conversation and the journey to that conversation that resonated with me.  Key things that I just believed were worth repeating. Experiences that I know are worth sharing.  After every interview I left excited and more humbled with this new assignment God had given me.  So this season I was led to add the element of the blog. I want to share some behind the scenes moments with you all.  Some will be about the guests, more will be about the experience and the journey.  I hope you enjoy!  I hope you get that this journey is not an easy one but it is a purposed one.  I’m going to try to share with you the highs and the lows and I hope it encourages you to pursue without fail what God is calling you to do. ]]>