Hello. Welcome to another episode of the Christian women in business podcast. I am so excited to have you here today. We completed our thrive reset last week. And it was amazing. Thank you so much to all the amazing members and women. That turned up. Remember members, you can. Grab the replay. Academy.

So if you missed out on that, Go to the academy. All the replays of that, along with the handouts and the calendar, the beautiful yearly calendar that makes made and the yearly review document as well. We did record both the workshop that was all about. I hate HR and people and culture. And also the goal setting workshop as well.

So we rearrange the day a little bit last week, which worked really well, which means we’re able to record. Both sessions and then we did leave the God session on recorded, just so people felt a little bit more relaxed. So members go and check that out. And go and have a replay and watch if you want to.

Today’s podcast is a little bit of a twist. And we’re going to be talking about God business and power lifting, something that I haven’t really spoken much about God and business, obviously heaps about in the podcast. But not so much about sports within that as well. And the reason I wanted to talk about that today is because I completed my first power lifting competition at the beginning of November. And after I did that, I spent a lot of time reflecting. And it’s amazing how much they both correlate with each other.

Like getting ready for a power lifting competition really is relevant to running a business. And the way that we run a business is actually really relevant. To powerlifting and God works in both. And there was some amazing testimonies that came out of the competition as well. God was in it all. And yeah, just have to do some reflecting. I just thinking how much over these almost 10 years next year will be 10 years of running a business, how much I’ve learned in the 10 years of running a business.

And then it’s been nearly 20 years of being in the gym and lifting weights with a large gap. Which I’m going to take you through the story of that, because. I really feel like it’s going to encourage you. And the things that I learnt even just these past three months of how, just how much they’re both really connected. I just hope that encourages you inspires you, maybe not to go and lift weights, but just keeps inspiring you and your business as well. And just the testimonies of how. God shows up in all different aspects of our lives is amazing.

Like I mentioned, I’ll go through the story and then we’ll go through the points. So I started weight lifted when I was about 18 years old. [00:03:00] I originally started spinning spin class and then. Went to the gym downstairs really loved the gym. And really got into weight lifted, just weightlifting as in free weights. Machines. Not powerlifting. So that was about 2009 to 2015. Whereas just really into it, you probably couldn’t tell by the way that my body looked.

I know that everyone’s scared when they think, oh, you start weightlifting and you’re going to suddenly look like a man. That’s really not the case. You have to get super lean, not super lean. You just have to be lean. For muscle to show. And women literally if you want to look like a man, you have to take steroids.

That’s the only way you’re going to get your muscles big enough. Otherwise they do grow. You do get. Muscle definition. But nothing like what people. I think and I can remember, and to a point around 2015 we were moving. From Sydney from now or to Sydney. And I can just remember [00:04:00] feeling so excited about having access to so many more different gyms, because back then, Around narrow.

There was only a couple of gyms, like gyms didn’t populate. Like they have now. And I can just remember being so excited to get to a city and have access to different gyms. And starting to get into like actual weightlift and I’ve done a bit of CrossFit or that kind of stuff. And I was just really excited to get into weight lifted. As in the powerlifting, even more Olympic lifting as well. And I remember again into rebel sports which is a shop in Australia. Cause I’d just love to get a pair of choose to squat with. I can remember praying to God. About the gym and about finding some shoes and all that kind of stuff. So what it’s rebel and I found the shoes and they were amazing.

I love them. The color was good, which always is a bonus. And I just remember thinking, okay, God, like these are the shoes. And I started saving for them. And then sometime after that, I went into rebel to buy the [00:05:00] shoes. And there was only one pair left. They were in my size and they were on sale.

So I just felt so blessed. But I could get these shoes. God had saved me the size and they were like three quarters of a price, less of what they should be. So just quote of the price in the sale house. Yes. And that also happened to me with the shoes that I’m wearing now, which had just my everyday training shoes, not much or squat shoes. God blessed us.

Blessed me multiple times with gear. Let me tell you. And then I actually only managed to wear them once. And I started getting trouble with my SSI joint and my hip. I don’t know if much about hips and yes, I joined, but basically my cap dislodging, which then would press on the Sr nerve.

So sciatic nerve. And the nerve pain was just, it goes through your whole body. It’s excruciating pain. And so it kept getting dislodged and it just, it kept happening and it kept getting worse. To the point where I had to give up lifting, because [00:06:00] basically I couldn’t take the weight. Sorry, I couldn’t take a dumbbell off the rack.

Like it was that. Intense. So that happened. And I can just remember feeling so sad that I just got these new shoes. I was so excited about being in Sydney. Even to the point. When I went for my job interview, when I worked for Anglicare, when we moved up to Sydney my boss asked me what were the goals I had outside of work.

And I was like, I can’t wait to join. Like a power lifting gym and actually get onto the bar. He was like, oh, that’s so excited. I’m into CrossFit, blah, blah, blah. So it was. Really excited. And then yeah, the hip thing happened. So I kept the shoes. And hope that one day, like I would be able to wear them.

And one of my friend’s grandma, she used to sew and she gifted me this bag, this really. Gorgeous simple, cute bag. And I put them in there, put them in my wardrobe and carried them. All different places, movie. And I was like, one day, one day we will heavy [00:07:00] shoes. And just out of pure curiosity when we’d settled.

So we pass our phages and Sydney, which meant we moved around and then eventually we were settled in a place called Narellan. And so I took upon myself to do some research. This was in 2020 to find a powerlifting gym that was close and there was one which was fantastic. And so I booked into go and see the coach, Laura, who is actually my coach now. So much about my goals, but I was still at the point where my hip was just unbearable still.

I was like what these goals, but I really feel like I need to go and heal first. Before, I can. I’m in too much pain to be able to lift at the bar and we kept in contact and try and every now and then. And that same year. Accidentally. I don’t know how it was. It was a God move.

I stumbled across a guy in Ireland. All the places I was in Australia at this time. Found them in Ireland. And he did online sessions and he was a specialist about and covered how to realign the body. So I had to do all these movements [00:08:00] and canalize my body. He was like, basically your rib cage is out of line.

Because you only use it in one side of your body. So it was any use in the right side of my body and my left side. It wasn’t being used to breeze. And all the other things you do walking, you still use it, but all you wait is basically on one side of your body. And so what we did is we spent. Probably took me about two years. Learn how to breeze with both lungs again, which. Is weird. Concept, but once we got the lungs balanced, it actually helped the flow of everything else. My hips realigned and the pain went like my joint was able to just be in place.

And. Like it was healed. And that low. When. I know a lot of people listening to this podcast have probably been through. Like really bad pain. That it feels like it’s never going to go away. It feels it’s taking forever. It stops you from doing so [00:09:00] many things that you love, especially when you’re really active person, which I personally am very active. Love hiking, love cycling. You know the way it’s love all that stuff. So I just thought I’d never get back there again. And, with a couple of years of solid, consistent rehab work. Work in my lungs and then working in on just basic strengthening and getting my left-hand side of my body to turn on. Until. We were able to yeah. He got bought healing through that guy.

For me, it was amazing. And so after that I think it was around. 2022, because we had like coven and stuff. I remember by I’m a home gym. That’s when I purchased. An Olympic bar bench and some play. So I could. Start. Like basically I’d re habilitated through Coburn with my hip. And then just as things were starting to lift, I bought a gym at home. So [00:10:00] I could start building my strength up. At home again. I spent a year just doing the basic foundational stuff, nothing super heavy, but just getting back to the movements.

And then I eventually got back in touch with Laura. So this was about 2023. I’ve been trying to work out the timelines of everything. Yeah. So I got back in touch with Laura, told her everything that happened, what was wrong with my body, what we found. What we need to do to keep everything in line making sure we’re switching on both sides of the body. And to remain pain-free. So we made a plan.

We went for it. And basically she told me to stop being silly about these squat and shoes and to get him back out because they’re going to get a lot of use. So I was super excited. I remember messaging my friend going, I’m finally getting the shoes back out and they’re going to be used. And it was just, yeah, it was such an exciting moment.

I don’t know if you feel like in business you’d been putting something off or. [00:11:00] God’s giving you an idea and it’s just been put it just feels like you’re never going to get there. It’s never going to happen. And then certainly it does. And it’s just Oh, my gosh. Like the journey to get here has been epic. And now we’re finally here. And we get to move forward with whatever it is.

That thing might be. That was that moment. And then life. It got crazy like between like literally just everyday life event. So I ended up in 2023 having two different operations. And two different opposite times of the year. I had two major renovations to do because tenants are trashed to different properties. At opposite ends of the year as well. One was after the operation.

And one was just before the next operation. Which was massive. I then join training, had another hip injury where I tore the cartilage in my hip joint. One and a half centimeters. So basically like almost inside the [00:12:00] groin, it was doing such a basic movement. And that actually. With Laura set myself to do a test day so we could see like what my wrong one rep, max, where, and then two weeks before that I did the hip entry, I was like, oh my gosh.

Anyway. So I ended up doing the test though in a lot of pain. And then five weeks went by and I was still in excruciating pain and Laura was like, I think you need to go see. So I’d see a physio. And yeah. He was like 99%. Sure. You’ve torn the cartilage and you hit join. I’m like great. Let’s do this. So that was a six months recovery just after In the midst of the freshness of that I run conference.

So I was lifting things up and on my feet. For two days solid with a massive tear in my hip joints. Trying to run a conference in pain. Which was interesting as well. In between that trying to finish steady off. I had some study in that I was doing. That I really [00:13:00] wanted to try and get finished last year. We run a retreat as well. And then unfortunately joined my first renovation last year, my stepdad, who more or less brought me up. He passed away just as I’d reach Queensland to do the first renovation. So I found hard retreat operation renovation finished.

The rhino had four days in Sydney, got on a plane, went to the UK. To yeah. Put my stepdad to rest. And then came back from that. Had the lead up to conference. Hurt myself. Did the test though. Did conference studied. I had another renovation to do from another property being trashed by tenants. Then I had another operation which led us to Christmas. So in between that, I was still trying, I was still trying in the first six months. And then had the injury and then again, it was rehab. So away from the heavyweights and rehabbed, all that. Which the physio [00:14:00] told me, cause it’s college, it’s going to be like a good six months before we can start lifting heavy again.

So that took me to February. And then in January I actually was helping someone else with renovating their house to get it ready for sale. Which is crazy. And then go ahead and fly to a leader summit. In the us. And then it was then a year from my step-dad passing and we decided that it was a good time to go and do his ashes. So we did that and then unfortunately, After that I separated from my husband. So there’s been a lot. There’s been a lot over these past few years and.

It’s taught me a lot. And it’s taught me a lot about business. It’s taught me a lot about myself and it’s taught me a lot about accomplishing things that aren’t necessarily business as well. Yeah. Holy moly. There’s a lot going on in there. But I stayed consistent with the rehab. I stayed consistent with my [00:15:00] training when I was in the us. When I was doing the renovation. When I was in the UK. After the separation. I’ve kept consistent and a large part of doing the exercise itself. I did it for. Obviously, cause it’s been a dream to do that for a long time. But also I knew I needed to put myself back together. After some not very nice things happening where it pulled myself esteem down so much that I knew I needed to get back on. The bandwagon. Not like these things that have been going on in the background have not been okay.

His self esteem has been. And pulled beneath you. To a lot of years, without you realizing it’s time to start putting yourself back together. And strength training was a big deal of that working with God was one. And then I always feel like when you’ve got a strong body, you’ve got a strong mind.

So I knew I needed to get my body [00:16:00] strong, to get my mind strong, to be able to make some really tough decisions that. Over these past three years, I knew were going to come to fruition that I needed to do. I don’t know. We’ve been covering a lot about separation and divorce and previous podcasts.

And then, yeah, this is a little bit about my story and I don’t know if you’re going through. A similar thing with where you’re at as well. I just want to encourage you to know that you’re not the only one. That’s going through this journey. You’re not the only one that’s been through this journey. And you’re not the only ones that are going through the journey and it’s. I want to be really respectful for how I say this, because I don’t want to promote. Divorce is a good thing in a biblical sense, but also. Sometimes it’s needed. And sometimes life takes us through things where. Love isn’t shown in a marriage. And by putting [00:17:00] ourselves back together. Be it through our business. It’s through sport powerlifting, whatever it is to get ourselves to a point where we’re strong enough. Independent enough with God’s help.

Of course. To mine and make these big decisions. You doing the right thing. It’s what I want to say to you and don’t be put off and don’t feel that guilt don’t feel that shame. This is your journey. And then in the points that I’m about to make, we’re going to talk about unique journeys and everyone’s on their unique journey. And sometimes it takes us. To places where we weren’t expecting. And that. It feels completely out of our comfort zone and. It’s not how we imagined in the beginning. And that’s okay. And it’s okay to take that time out for yourself now. To work on yourself, not to be vain. Just to get your self-confidence back to be able to step into a season of making good, healthy food decisions that are [00:18:00] prey for mindful. Everything for. That is right for you, your safety, your mental health safety as well. Emotional safety, but it’s okay. To be at the point to be making those decisions. So I just want to leave that a bit there. In the midst of separation, I felt it was time to come back to the UK and to be with my mum, spend time.

My mom I’d spent 16 years in the UK. It’s a long time to be away from loved ones. And your, the people you grew up with in your culture. And I didn’t realize how much I’d changed cultures until I came back to my culture. And then I. Experienced reverse culture and that’s a whole different podcast in itself.

Let me tell you. But Once I was going to go and do a powerlifting competition in Australia in September. But when everything happened with the separation side, I was like, probably not the best time. So once I got to the UK, I was like, okay. I want to find one in the UK. [00:19:00] It’s a goal to work towards.

It’s not business related. It’s getting my body moving and it’s keeping me strong, all the good things. I found them and I found a novice comp. And so not only did God. Provide lifting shoes. At the right time, even though it was the wrong time, which then became the right time. He’s put people and resources around me just as, at the right time, just as I needed it. And he’s done that in business. And he’s done that in other areas of my life.

And this is just a testimony for that. And so I want to encourage you to think about when we’re in that space of. Making big decisions, but the business. Relationship, whatever it is, reminding ourselves of how God’s pulls through. For us. In our real desperate, deep, dark times of need with resources. People community. And just acknowledge that and remind yourself of that because it’s [00:20:00] so important. So I, obviously my coach being back in Australia, she would normally be like, your coach is normally your handler on the day. I have a power lifting competition. And I had picked a friend. To help me. But I also had a lady who contacted me. I put a post out on a Facebook group and she was saying to me on the day, I never respond to anyone in that group, but just felt like I needed. To contact you at light and to reply.

And we’ve been messaging on and off. For months talking about powerlifting, she’d answer my questions, et cetera, et cetera. And she’s actually a ref and she needed to come and pick some of the ref stuff up in the lights to take for a competition that she was running this past weekend, actually. She was like, it’d be great to meet you.

I’ll come and pick up the lights, catch up with my friends and then, had back. And she was like, do you have a handler? I was like, I do, but can I keep you as a pump B just in case. She said, of course. And then [00:21:00] unfortunately My original handler didn’t mind it worked out, but. Didn’t and she could see those kind of a gap.

The, and so she just jumped in. She was amazing. She jumped in, she took control. She helped me warm up. She was like right when we get out there and she gave me all the steps when we wait, and this is what I want you to do. You’re not to look at the screens. Keeping your bubble, blah, blah, blah.

And we’re going to be talking a little bit about that too. When I get to the points and that competition. Wouldn’t have been. As such as a success. For me is what it was. If I didn’t have her, like just the way she was able to prep, she knew what was coming up. She knew what weight to put next. It just was amazing. So there’s like your pre prep. Have you train in you getting strong, which I’m really grateful for my coach, Laura, like we’ve been through so much. And then there’s the day and the person who helps you take you through that day. Is. Just as important as well, because it is quite daunting. [00:22:00]

I’ve spoken in stages. Like I’ve spoke, done public speaking. I know what it’s like to get in front of a crowd, but. Doing it when you’re lifting really heavy weight. It’s something different. So just to have that support, there was an absolute godsend. An absolutely amazing. So again, I want to think. You to think of a time. When. God’s pull through for you and put someone in your place just as you needed it. Unexpectedly. Without, even without praying, I didn’t. Pray.

I was worried. God knew I was worrying about it. And he’d already lined something up and. Even though in the retrospect of life, it’s not a big deal. It’s still a big deal. When does that happen for you? And when has God pour through for you? Like that. Remind yourself. It’s so important. That we remind ourself about that. In every aspect in our lives. Because sometimes our mindset can prevent us from seeing these miracles, these collective [00:23:00] miracles. So our life. And it’s literally the small miracles each day, each week, even though that feels like a big one.

For me, it’s all personal perspective. Sometimes we can be so drowning and all these big things and bigger life events that have been happening in. That we forget. He’s there. And he is the rock. Here’s the provider. He is our husband at the end of the day. He is. Yeah, he’s the rock. And he shows up every day. We’ve just got to. Take out, looking at the whole elephant of our troubles and that present moment. And just focus on the small steps that we take each day and God showing up each day for those little momentum. Accomplishments that we make

And I also want to encourage you that Sue out that training and throughout. The 20 years, the past five years, the 10 years of business, nothing. Has ever been [00:24:00] linear. Nothing’s been in a straight line. Nothing has gone smoothly. And it’s.

It’s good to know that.

You’re on your unique journey of that. No one. Has experienced your life like you have, and that’s so unique. And power the thin. Business. Whatever it is that we’re doing. The journey is complex and it’s unique to us. I know for me when I’m training like one week and it depends on cycles, tiredness, so many things, but. One week, you can feel like he can lift up. A hundred kilos and it feels like 50 and you’re on fire and everything’s going right.

Everything’s smooth. And then the week after. Can feel like a hundred kilos is turned into 200 kilos and you just not with it and you’re pulling your weight, but down just for that week, just to give your body time to [00:25:00] recover and rest. So everything in life is a fluctuation and understanding when to rest understanding when to push. It’s just as important with sport and powerlifting as it is in business and all the different aspects in our lives that result in how we go that week in our businesses as well. It’s all completely relevant. But it’s about showing up for yourself, showing up for your dreams each week, each day, each month through the hard, through the good. Through the smooth through the bumpy.

So I’ve put together. I points that I want to share with you today. After giving you some background story of where all these points are coming from. And collate and the lessons together now there’s way more than eight. There’s way more than I bought. I’m just put them into what eight. Or just relevant for now. That I hope will encourage you, that I [00:26:00] hope that you can apply to your business, to your journey, to your life, whatever it is. You go about. Yeah, every day.

And as we approach the end of the year as well, So number one is it takes time. And. Everyone. It’s journey is unique. Like I was saying before.