Hey beloved!
Welcome back to this week’s 🌿 Rooted & Rising! This newsletter is for creatives and founders who want to build something meaningful without drowning in everyone else’s “proven strategies.” (If you’ve ever downloaded 37 tools because your favorite founder swears by them, only to realize you only actually needed 3 of them, this one’s for you).
Each week, I’ll share real-time insights from my own journey as a content creator and founder, filtered through the lens of someone who thinks the Bible has the best business strategy. The goal is to give you practical takeaways you can use immediately and remind you that we’re growing together!
If you’re open to Biblical insights, honest reflections, and practical tools to take or leave as you please, then you’re in the right place!
This week’s themes:
Pruning for growth: Cutting off what’s dead to make room for what’s alive
Holy Spirit first, Google second: Building your strategy from the Source
Creating the space you wish existed: From consumer to curator of community
But first…
🥭 A Spiritual Snack🥭
“Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Painting the Picture 🖌️
This week I learned one of the most humbling lessons from Herbert. (The money tree that sits on my window ledge and is the longest plant I’ve ever kept alive- going on 5+ years).
I went to PlantCon running on three hours of sleep because my friend, Soumya, from Costa Farms hooked me up with a free ticket. My new plants have been looking crispy (to put it nicely) and I figured maybe I could become a “plant girlie” if I just learned what I was doing wrong.
Here’s what Costa Farms’ plant expert told me that almost made me do a lap around the venue: “You can’t have healthy plants if they’re still attached to dead things.”
Those brown, ashy leaves? They had to GO. No matter how much I watered, fertilized, or gentle-parented my plants, they couldn’t thrive while connected to what was already dead.
And then it hit me like a spiritual two-by-four: How many dead things am I still attached to in my business? Tools & subscriptions I’m holding on to out of hopes for a brand deal someday, but that I haven’t properly used? Systems that worked at my corporate job that I believe will work for Little Dove (even though they haven’t in the past 6 months of business).
This week was all about getting my whole life together. Cleaning, organizing, and asking the hard question: What needs to be cut off so something healthy can actually grow?
Here’s what I’m learning about pruning, divine strategy, and creating instead of just consuming…
Let’s Break It Down: Practical Strategies 🤏🏾
1. Pruning for Growth: You Can’t Thrive While Attached to Dead Things
The plant experts were speaking DIRECTLY into my business, not just my crispy dracaena. Between that and finally asking for help with my own operations, I realized I had tools I wasn’t using, systems that weren’t working, and strategies I’d adopted because someone I admired swore by them. Not because they actually served my vision or worked for me.
Key takeaway: Excellence isn’t about having the most tools or the most complex systems. It’s about having the RIGHT systems for YOU. And that takes stillness and being unafraid to be candid about the things that are simply not for you. Those leaves weren’t just taking up space - they were literally draining the energy from parts of the plant that could actually grow.
Same thing with business. That project management tool you downloaded but never set up? Dead leaf. That course you bought six months ago but haven’t touched? Dead leaf. That strategy that worked for someone else but feels forced for you? Dead.👏🏾 Leaf.👏🏾
The shift: Start subtracting before you add. What tools, habits, or commitments are draining your energy without adding value? Cut them off. Don’t get precious about it.
Try this: Do a “dead leaf audit” this week. List everything in your business (and if you’re feeling spicy - in your life) that you’re maintaining but not actually using or benefiting from. Pick THREE things to eliminate completely. Watch how much mental space and energy you get back!
2. Holy Spirit First, Google & Chat Second: Building Your Strat from the Source
Here’s my biggest regret from this entrepreneurial journey so far: taking in ALL the information before presenting everything to Holy Spirit first.
I was out here downloading tools because people I trust were using them (or partnering with them). Following frameworks because they worked for successful founders. Consuming advice like it was my job. And in a way, when you’re in the beginning stages, it is. But what I wish I remembered sooner was that when you’re God’s kid, you’re not building alone. You have access to divine strategy that’s specifically designed for YOUR calling, YOUR personality, YOUR season and YOUR story.
The shift: I’m learning that wisdom isn’t about knowing every business strategy - it’s about knowing which strategy God wants ME to use and executing it. There’s a difference between being informed and being overwhelmed by information.
Try this: Before you consume your next piece of business advice, podcast, or “how-to” content, ask Holy Spirit: “What do You want me to focus on right now?” Let Him filter what you take in. You’ll be amazed how much clearer your next steps become when you start with divine direction instead of human comparison.
3. Creating the Space You Wish Existed: From Consumer to Creator
I realized something wild this week: I go to all these networking events and feel lowkey parched for other believers to talk about Jesus with. Although- don’t get it twisted - I love meeting people regardless of their faith. But my favorite conversations are about God and His Word, because He’s my homie fr, and I find those are the conversations that leave me feeling most refreshed.
So instead of complaining about what doesn’t exist, I’m creating it.
I’m going planning an event for Christian creators and founders in NYC for the end of October because I want to create the space I wish existed. A place where we can talk about building businesses AND building our relationship with God. Where we can be each other’s hype people in prayer and in-person.
The shift: Sometimes you have to stop being a consumer of community and become the curator of it. Stop waiting for someone else to create what you need and start creating it yourself.
Try this: Identify one thing you wish existed in your industry or community. Instead of waiting for someone else to create it, take one small step toward making it happen yourself. Maybe it’s a monthly meetup, a group chat, a collaborative project - whatever it is, start small but start SOMETHING.
Your Monday Move: 🤸🏾♀️
This week, we’re practicing “divine pruning over endless adding.” Instead of consuming more tools, strategies, and advice, we’re cutting off whats dead and creating space for what God wants to grow.
This week’s challenge:
Prune: Identify and eliminate 3 “dead leaves” in your business (and again, if you’re feeling spicy- in life).
Pray & meditate on His Word: Before consuming any business advice (even this newsletter and my tips), ask Holy Spirit what He wants you to focus on.
Create: Take one step toward creating something you wish existed instead of just consuming what’s already out there.
Bonus reflection: Ask yourself: “What would my business and life look like if I built based on Holy Spirit’s strategy instead of everyone else’s advice?” Then take one action this week that aligns with that vision.
For me, that looks like blocking even more time to spend in God’s face. That was a huge motivator for me starting my business in the first place. I never want to get to the place where God’s fulfilled promises replace His spot at the head of my life.
Reminder: You don’t need every tool, strategy, or framework that works for other people. You need the ones God wants YOU to use. Trust His pruning process.
On Rotation 💃🏾
These are the songs that kept me grounded while cutting off dead things and cleaning the house:
Ready to stop collecting strategies like Infinity Stones and start creating with divine direction?
If this resonated and you’re tired of drowning in everyone else’s “proven systems," here’s how we can go deeper:
Reply to this email - I read every response and often these conversations become the next week’s newsletter! Your breakthrough might be someone else’s answer.
Forward this to someone who needs permission to prune their business and create from Holy Spirit’s direction ✨
Want to work directly with me? I help overwhelmed creators and founders move from going around in plancrastination circles to having sturdy building blocks that scale. If you’re ready to stop collecting tools and start showing up for yourself, book time here and let’s talk!
Stay rooted in God’s love for you. Keep rising in your calling!
Here for the journey with you ✨,
