#182: The Power of Working by Grace instead of Grind

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz.

Welcome to Author Audience, where I'm on a mission to help you reach more people with your message. It's time to let your light shine. Today I'm rolling out the red carpet and inviting you to join me for this expert interview with Shay Vines. Hey, Shay.

Hello. How are you?

Great. Shay is one of my favorite people, so I'm so excited to have her.

I'm happy to be here. This is time number two, so I'm excited. Yes.

Right. We talked about some of your book launches and things the last time, and you have a new book out, which I'm excited to talk about a little bit later too. But just for those of you who may not know who Shay is, I just want to share a little bit about her. She's a passionate storyteller, engaging teacher, and a mentor on a mission to help people experience God's best in their business and family lives. She's the founder and chief fire igniter. I love that. Of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, an organization that inspires, teaches, and mentors Christian entrepreneurs to be led by God in their business and have a greater kingdom impact in the marketplace. She's the author of ten books. Double digits now. Yes, Double digits, including the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Doing Business God's Way, and her latest release, which I have right here. Yay. Grace over grind. How grace will take your business for grinding camp. And she, along with her husband and three daughters, live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So, so excited to have you. Titled this the Power of Working by grace instead of grind. And it's such a great. Such a great title. Like, I love this so much. Like, just as we're starting out, like, how did you just even get the inspiration for that? Grace over grind? Where did that come from?

Well, it's funny because, you know, being an entrepreneur, we hear these words all the time, like, hustle. Like, I hustle hard. You know, I'm on team no sleep and, you know. Right. Hashtag team no sleep and rise and grind, everybody, and all of these things. And honestly, I mean, that was a part of my life. I mean, prior to doing Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, which, by the way, like, God taught me, like, on the job, training, going through Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur. Right?

Yeah.

But, you know, prior to that, I mean, that was the life that I was in. It was just kind of. I mean, that was just. That was the language. That was the culture of entrepreneurship. You know, and it really took having just encounters with God to get an understanding of what his best is, you know, and so the idea of grace over grind is just the thing that he put on my heart. I mean, he told me one day, he said, you know, there's too many Christian entrepreneurs who exalt hard work over the presence of God in business. I mean, I was just minding my own business. I was hanging out with my family. And he drops that one on me. Right? Wow.

Ouch. Yes.

They exalt hard work. They idolize hard work and exalt hard work over the presence of God in business. That is exactly what he told me. And I was just out at the park with my kids, you know, well.

You'Re probably stepping on some toes right now. But that's good.

It's what he said. Go to God. He said it. It wasn't even me.

I know, I know.

It's good, you know, and so that was just confirmation on top of what he'd already been showing me and walking me through just in my own how I operate. Right. With Kingdom driven entrepreneur and other things that I do, even parenting, everything, and how to just flow with him and how to operate in his grace and not get caught up in the anxiety and the supposed glamour of the grind and the hustle, you know? So that's where it came from. Yeah.

Because it can be glamorized.

Yes, it's very much glamorized.

And I actually have part of my story in the book Grace Over Grind. And I say redeemed workaholic, because I am a redeemed workaholic. And I was one of those people that probably idolized hard work over the presence of God in my business. And God is changing my heart in that. But for those of, you know, those that are listening, like, how are there some signs or things that they'll know that they're working by God's grace versus grind. What would be some signs that were primarily grinding in our business?

So there's so many of them. I'll give you a few.

Yeah.

Okay. So there's.

And you talk about them in this book, right?

Yes, I do. Right in the. Right. In the first chapter. Like, I just. I just go right on it. Yes, right. Right in your face. You know, some of them are things like financial anxiety. So, for example, if you are constantly concerned with how much you are making or how much you're not making or how I'm going to make more or whatever, if that's a point of anxiety for you, because it's something you constantly think about, that's a problem. Right. If you're in a position where, I mean, sometimes people are like, oh, but work doesn't. It doesn't feel like work, you know, so I'm not really grinding because it doesn't feel like work. But you're still idolizing hard work over the grace of God. So a lot of times when you're just constantly going and your mindset is, gosh, I really wish I had more time to do this. And even you might even think your family is in the way of your ability to do more of what God's called you to do, Right. When you're just not satisfied with how much time you have to spend. Right. Or you're just overworking, saying that it doesn't feel like work, you're still overworking.

Right.

So those are prominent. Some interesting mindsets that people don't normally think of when it comes to grinding is people who. They're motivated by proving their haters wrong. You know, like there might have been someone in their life where it's just like, you know, I'm going to show them, and their mindset is, I'm going to show them, and so they're going to see that I'm going to be a success. A lot of people who have that mindset and haven't gone through the emotional healing required to not care about that stuff, they end up in just this whole thing about grinding because I'm motivated by proving somebody wrong. Right. So that's a very common mindset. So it's like, I mean, there's a first three that come to my mind, but there's so many of them. If you don't have peace, you don't have joy. You're constantly feeling just this anxiety and stress as you're working. I mean, there's so many signs that you're just not working in his rest, which is a gift that he gives us.

It is a gift. Now, what would you say, like, you know, it would look like then for an entrepreneur who is working out of God's grace.

Yes. Yes. So just like a lack of joy and peace is what happens when you're grinding. You have joy and peace when you're operating in his grace, Right. When you're able to just say, when you can just put your plans at the feet of Jesus and you can seek him first. If you're thinking about Matthew 6:33, Seek first the kingdom of God and all things will be added unto you. If your heart is to seek first, the kingdom of God in your business, in your day, just in things in general, in your life, you'll find that as you just flow with him, that you're not stressed out about things as much. Right. If something comes up that's a point of stress, you're able to say, I'm going to give this to you. I'm going to exchange the stress that I'm feeling for your piece. Help me to walk through this, right? As opposed to feeling like we have to harbor everything on our own. Every business challenge, every personal challenge, everything that, you know, a lot of times we're doing something and a curveball is thrown our way and it throws us off our game. You know, those types of things happen all the time. Right. Or you're expecting these clients to come in and then they cancel or they don't have the money or, you know, whatever. There's all kinds of things that you just don't anticipate. But when you can put those things at the feet of Jesus and, and even just surrender your day and your plans to him, when it feels like flow, that means it is flow, right?

Yeah. Yeah. And that's, you know, it's so good because there's been so many times I've just felt that pressure, you know, as an entrepreneur, like, it's up to me. And it's like I have something on my mirror that says, it's not up to me. I just need to ask Papa, because I call God papa. And it's like, you know, just from that constant reminder, like, it's not all up to me, but as an entrepreneur running a business, sometimes you have that pressure and you feel.

Yes.

Do you have, like a practical, like, story of how you've experienced this in your own business?

Yeah, I mean, I have many of them.

I know, right?

Yeah.

I'll give you. I'll give you an example. So I had a retreat, was our first kingdom driven entrepreneur retreat that we were going to be doing. It was in Phoenix, Arizona. This was January 2014. And, you know, and for me, a meticulous planner, I want to have all the details right. I got to market this event. You know, you want people to come, so you got to tell them what they're going to expect and all of these things. And when, you know, in praying about what is this thing about, you know, what's your heart for the people who are coming? What's the plan? I got nothing, you know, and I'm trying to operate in his grace here. I'm trying. And he's Giving me nothing. And so I'm starting to feel like, oh, gosh, I've got to come up with this agenda. I've got to come up with this, you know, And I'm starting to feel like, angst about it because I've got to put this thing in front of people, get signups and all of these things. And guys, just, like, every time I go to him, he just say, put the schedule together. All right, Lord, I'll put the schedule together. Nope. Like, I didn't even know what to put in the schedule. I just put times and, like, session A, session B, session C, here's a break, session D. Right. And I mean, that event was actually promoted with those words. Like, we didn't know. And you know that almost 40 people signed up from all over the nation and came to Arizona. And even in the months prior to, the couple of weeks prior to, it's like, lord, what's on your heart? What are we doing? Every time I went, he'd give me an instruction, like, buy journals. You know, all of these things that had nothing to do with what I wanted to have, which was the very exact things that. Are we supposed to say what we're supposed to do, you know, when we get there?

Yeah.

And what's crazy is that in this, what happened at the event, even up to the day, he just gave me, like, these little glimpses of things that were going to happen, but still not telling us what to say and what to do. And by the time it got to the point where it was time for the event, God gave me one story to tell. That's it, Shelly. Here's one story. All. We have three days together. Here's one story that I want you to tell. Can you imagine? Like, I was a software engineer, you know, and a project manager in my corporate days. Like, I'm a meticulous planner. Organizer. Logic, if then statements. You know what I mean?

And so, yeah, this is totally opposite.

This is totally. Just not in my, like, you know, in my grid, you know.

Right.

So we go there, I tell that story. And you know what, Shelly? It was crazy because God did so much just emotional healing with everyone that was there. I never would have even anticipated what he was going to do. Like, I never could have known what he was going to do. And what's really crazy, my favorite part of the time together was that we just flowed with him throughout the entire agenda. And every time a session would be over, like, you know, they're kind of be like, okay, this is done. I think it's time to transition. I go to my phone, I look at my phone, and it was within minutes of our schedule. Like it would be on time or a couple minutes before or a couple minutes after. And that happened all weekend. Wow. And God told me at the end, see, I can operate on your schedule, but with my agenda. And that taught me so much. This was in the early days of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneurs. When I say, I mean, I got on the job training, like I literally, literally on the job training of what it's like to just trust, surrender, and flow with him. And I don't say that I always try to preface this because sometimes people get you wrong. I'm not saying if you have an event, therefore don't make any plans. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that if you seek him first about it, you don't have to feel like I have to make stuff up or I have to force it. If his heart is for him to flow, then let him do that. Right. If it's that for you to have a very detailed agenda, have your very detailed agenda, but the idea is just to flow with him. And so because I had. Even though that was uncomfortable for me, I had peace throughout the entire time, but it was highly, highly uncomfortable because it went outside of how I normally operate.

Yeah. It's like what God keeps saying to me is be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Yes. Yes. That is the story of our lives. Right. Just, that's where the magic happens. That's where the greatest things happen, is when we're outside of what's comfortable for us.

And I can just see, like, some authors and some writers being like, like planning a book launch or planning this or planning that. And it's like the surrender, but also like knowing that you're hearing God's voice, knowing that you're able to hear his voice accurately. And so for those that sometimes have trouble like really sensing or, you know, sensing God's voice or hearing from God, do you have any thoughts for them?

Yeah, sure. I always say there's always fruit in the movement. Right. A lot of people, they'll spend so much time questioning whether they've heard right or not that they've never actually taken a step to say. Instead of just assuming that you're hearing wrong, how about assuming that you're hearing right and take a step. Right. And just see if the confirmation happens. You don't have to jump off a cliff with it. Right.

You know, metaphorically. But you. But take steps forward and what you'll find is as you move, that God confirms things. Right. But if you're a parked car, it's like, how are you going to know the fruit's going to come in your movement? You know? And so one of the things I always say to folks that I mentor is just like, take. Take the step. A lot of times people are nervous because they think it has to be a huge step. I always say if the decision is major. Like, for example, if you're an entrepreneur and you're about to make a decision to purchase this large building for this extraordinary amount of money, and you're really nervous about it, and you're thinking like God said, you're feeling like you've got to go ahead like this God move, but you're, like, really nervous about it. Really what I would do in those big cases where there's really not small steps that you can take because you're at that point of decision, is to ask God for confirmation. Ask him to confirm that and to give you peace. And then I say, just at that point, you can follow the piece. And a lot of times he'll provide confirmation for you. So I'm always. But most of the time, people are tripping about small decisions, Shelly. It's not the big decision about the big contractor about to sign, and, you know, that you're going to be on the hook for millions of dollars. That's not usually the stuff that people are tripping out over. They're tripping out over really small things about, did I hear God right about this? Did I hear God right about that?

Just move. Yeah. And like, I love how you said a parked car, you know, you can't go anywhere with a parked car.

So, you know, guide you if you're parked.

Yeah. And so it's like, you know, really asking God, you know, to overcome that doubt. Just, you know, and even take an authority, command the doubt to leave in Jesus name.

Yes.

Really, just ask God to help you flow in that faith. And sometimes it does take a step of faith. Even when you're writing your book, I tell this to authors. Like, sometimes you just have to take that step of faith. Faith of taking a movement just sitting down. Say, I'm gonna write for five minutes. Sit down. And then you might be there for two hours.

Yes, yes, yes, exactly right.

So many times we just, like you said, we get stuck. And then just taking those small steps and really just asking God for that confirmation is great.

Yes, yes. I mean, our risk as authors is really low if you think about it. I mean, what we don't have to have. We Sometimes we make. You know, I'm forgetting this is Author Audience Academy. So everyone here is like an author and aspiring author when you really think about it. These risks are not that great in the grand scheme of things. The risks you have to take as a writer are not huge risks. Just write. Just write. And it's time to promote. I know it's scary, you know, but take the step. Take the step.

Yeah. And, you know, it's so powerful when you do have so many things that I could share about that. But, you know, really just want people to hear from you and from your voice and what a kind of feedback are you getting about the book. Grace over grind.

So far, I am loving the feedback coming in from the book. It's been so fun, you know, a mix of people who are just like, wow, you totally just dismantled my whole way of how I do business, you know, from those types of emails to some really interesting things where God will speak. Because all throughout the book I'm like, I have these exercises, these like prompts that say, ask Holy Spirit this. Right? Because the idea is that he's going to reveal things. He's going to come right where you are and reveal to you what you need to know in this, wherever you're at. Right. So sometimes people will send me emails with, this is what God spoke to me about through your book. Right. And it's made a difference. I had, I have some people who said, I put into action what you talked about, like right away. And I saw increase in business or I was concerned about this decision. But look what God did. And I got, I went forth with this idea. I've got people signed up already. I've been wondering about this. I've been trying to do it this way, but I just said, let me rest in God and hear what he has to say about it. And I found success. So it's been just a mix of testimonials from mindset shifts to heart revelation to actual fruit, you know, increase financially. And so what they're doing in business, just across the board.

That's awesome. And I love how, like, it includes a bonus journal. Do all versions have that?

Well, obviously the paperback has the bonus journal and there's also a hardcover journal. So if someone wants the audiobook or something like that, you know, they could also get the. The journal separately as well.

Okay. So the paperback has the journal with it. And I really love that because it is, it's very specific. And you can go through this and just you and God. And that's what it's meant to be. And you talk about having a business meeting with God. You know, I love that. That's so great. And you also have. I went through your Grace Over Grind devotional plan. Tell us a little bit about that too.

Yeah. So just I guess about three weeks ago released a five day devotional on the youe Version Bible app. So if have that. I know it's a pretty popular Bible app. I've been using it for years and it's called Grace Over Grind. So it just takes you. It's basically some of the concepts from the book. And I take you through five days and some prompts as well in that to ask Holy Spirit this. And that's the feedback from the YouVersion Bible app's been just fantastic as well. And it's also introduced a lot of people to the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur community and it's introduced people to the grace of a grind book. You know, the. The full book as well. So it's been really good.

Yeah. So tell people where they can find the book. And then you also have a podcast, Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur and like where they can connect with you, all of those great things.

Sure, absolutely. So the Grace Over Grind book, you can find that@graceovergrind.com and so you'll see a link to every version. There's several versions. Any way you want the book, it's available to you.

Awesome.

So that's@graceovergrind.com and then if you like podcasts, we have a great podcast as well, which is all about helping you to partner with our awesome and limitless guide in business. And so that's called the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Podcast. So you can get it on itunes or your favorite podcast app, Stitcher, whatever, Google Play, so you can get connected to that as well. And then our website in general is kingdomdrivenentrepreneur.com.

Yeah. And she has a great community on Facebook too. A Facebook group and some free trainings and all sorts of things at the website. So definitely take advantage of what Shea has to offer. She's the real deal. She's, you know, just living out loud.

But, you know, you've been doing this for a while now.

Yeah, we're year six now.

Yeah, I thought I saw a post about that on Facebook, you know, talking about your journey and where God's taken you and you had a partner and then you didn't. And all of these changes and we all go through them.

That's right.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Well, do you have any Closing thoughts or maybe even just like a little take action tip for anyone that's listening based upon what we've talked about today.

Yeah, I think a take action tip for today would be to simply ask God, in what areas of my life or in my business am I currently grinding? Like, ask him to point that out because I'm telling you, Holy Spirit will absolutely come right where you are and point out the areas that you are grinding. And you might be surprised at what's revealed to you because once you have that, then you could say, okay, I want to give this to you guys. How do I operate differently? Right. But at least take the action step of asking where is it that I'm grinding? Because that's your starting point.

That's great. And even, you know, maybe consider like journaling it out and writing it out as you're doing that. And yeah, I mean, it is amazing. Like when I do that and I'm journaling as I, you know, the two way journaling and I'm asking God and here, you know, sensing from him, it's like amazing what, what can come out and you're just like, that's right.

A lot of times what I do is I ask if I have questions, I write the question down and then I write what I'm sensing, you know, underneath that. And that's kind of how I journal. And sometimes that's how I process through questions that I have that I'm fully expecting answers on.

Yes. Yes. It's so good. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for being here today and for sharing and I definitely recommend everyone go get the book Grace Over Christ. You're not gonna regret it. Like, it's just something that every entrepreneur. You may not even consider yourself an entrepreneur as an author, but you are.

And so all of us, I think, can have more freedom, have more peace, more joy as we're marketing. You know, a lot of authors really don't like marketing, but what if we, we thought of it differently? What if we thought about it as an adventure with our papa, God? With God and, and asking him for the ideas and he's really good at marketing. He is.

I have a podcast on that. But I mean, just last, was it last week or the week before? I had, you know, just a session where, a prayer session where I was just praying and God just gave me like the okay, marketing plan, like, this is what you're going to do in the next few weeks. And I'm like, okay, like I'm right in the middle of it right now. But you know, it's just, it's so good. So I really encourage you to get connected with Shay. Check out her podcast, her book, her website, all that stuff. And thank you again, Shea, for being here.

Thanks for having me, Shelly. It's been fun.

All right, so thank you for joining us in this episode and I'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Author Audience. I would like to invite you to attend one of my free trainings on three proven book writing formulas. Every nonfiction author needs to know. This is a fun and fast way to write a nonfiction book, but also a book that you're proud of. Plus, I will give you two free gifts just for attending. No credit card required. First, you'll get my 10 nonfiction book title templates and you'll also get my ebook titled Brilliant brainstorming. It's a 28 page ebook and both of these bonuses are yours at no charge. Just for joining us for the training, you can sign up for my free training by going to shellyhits.com formulas. That's ShellyHits S-H E L L E Y H I-T Z.com formulas. This training and the two bonuses are free and I would love to help you write your next nonfiction book.

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