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J.E. Harrison: [00:00:00] Deidre Cox is a visionary leader and community strategist dedicated to advancing economic mobility and [00:01:00] inclusive growth.
As an executive director of the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation, she empowers underserved communities through workforce development, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. A devoted Mother, Deidre Blings purpose and impact to transform lives and build sustainable communities. And I am super excited to have Miss Deidre Cox with me today on the Elevate Your Life podcast.
Hey, miss Dera,
Deirdra Cox: mighty woman of God. How are you?
J.E. Harrison: I am doing fantastic. How are you doing today?
Deirdra Cox: I'm good girl. I'm trying to get this heat under control. Hello?
J.E. Harrison: I love it. Well, miss Deidre, that that was my introduction of you, and from what I have come to know of you over the last few years that we have become acquainted with one another. But how would you want our listening audience to describe or remember Deidra Cox?
Deirdra Cox: I am in the words of Tasha [00:02:00] Cobbs. I am a gracefully broken of God called and chosen and evolving daily, who has been called and assigned to the marketplace to elevate men and women and young people so that they can truly walk in their purpose and power.
J.E. Harrison: I absolutely love it. And you know from the timeframe that I've gotten the opportunity to meet you and become a more acquainted with you, of course I know you're a beautiful daughter and that's how you and I initially met because we attended the same church and then when the Lord transitioned me to the state of Georgia, I had an opportunity to get to interact with you a lot more.
One of the things that really comes to mind for me, I was participating in Leadership, Gwinnett, I believe was the name of the group, and you came in and did a keynote and one of the things that really stood out to me so much was how you so eloquently intertwined the [00:03:00] lessons and the gems with your faith unapologetically, which is something I don't think you see that often, right?
So talk a little bit about how important your faith is to you and how it has fueled your leadership style and your delivery style.
Deirdra Cox: You know, the, the word says that we overcome by our testimony by the blood of the lamb first and the word of our testimony. So I would be out here inauthentically operating in a gift that God has given me that, that I have no right to take. Credit for on my own. So it's important every step that I've made, every, every success because you know, we know you and I know the word, and every good and perfect gift comes from God.
So my journey has been one where I have taken God's hand. taken mine. He says, when you seek him, you'll find him. But he sought me first. He sought me in the middle of a mess that was about to set me up on fire and then be annihilated. He, he caught me. So I, I cannot be unappreciative and, [00:04:00] and this walk and this journey that I've had. He's shown me, he's so gracious, so he's shown me the times where I didn't even understand that it was his grace, his hand that was guiding me. He's put me in rooms that I felt completely unworthy of being in,
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: sat me at tables that I didn't believe I would ever be sitting at all while I was perpetrating a fraud.
But he put me there. I didn't even realize he put me there. And
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: when I came out of that storm. He revealed who I was and whose I am and my purpose. So I can't play the game. I tried to play the game 'cause I was a
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: 38 years, and being in that space, being one that looks like me, I was one of the only
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: a few at the table.
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: God took me back to my history and said, let me show you who you really are. Let me introduce you, reintroduce you to your bloodline, your daddy. Who was an alcoholic and probably suffered with mental illness. Let me take you back to your mama. Let me show you who your mama was and you felt that you were forsaken and forgotten, but I promised [00:05:00] you I would be a mother to the motherless and a father to the fatherless.
So it was all those experiences and God continuing to redefine me because I had defined myself by my past and he kept giving me victory. He kept putting me in spaces and places where I was like, what? kept showing up and showing out for me. So when I walk into the marketplace, it was just, and, and it hasn't always been this way, but it's been the last five years, God said, you articulate your faith unapologetically and I will continue to open doors for you that no man can close.
So the woman that you see before you now is ever evolving. But right now what I do know is I'm not going back.
J.E. Harrison: I.
Deirdra Cox: seen is when I find people in the marketplace. Like yourself that I can touch and agree with. We sit back and watch signs, wonders, and miracles happen, and my life is far from perfect, far from perfect. But I tell you what, every imperfect thing in my life, when I lay it before him, he puts his anointing on it and turns it into something different and continues to allow me to see. So every day I'm walking with, [00:06:00] with greater vision. So 2020 vision, it's a daily process.
J.E. Harrison: Oof. That's good. Within itself, you, you said so many powerful things and just a couple of the things that stand out to me is about being unapologetic about your faith. And of course in the marketplace, that's not something we typically hear that often. As a matter of fact, it's typically the opposite. You know, we, where we almost have to become silent about our faith, not praying in the workplace, you know, not using scriptures, not doing those types of things.
So for the entrepreneur, for the Christian LED leader that is up against the culture that may not want you to pray or say the name of Jesus, how would you encourage them to be able to be bold about their faith and to even have those relevant? Conversations so that you are not denying, right, because the word of the Lord lets us know.
He says in the scripture, he said, if you're ashamed of me before men, I'll be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. So I [00:07:00] believe as believers, as Christians, it is our responsibility. It is our due diligence to make sure that we bring Christ to the marketplace. So how would you encourage someone that might be struggling with that balance to show up boldly in their faith?
Deirdra Cox: So here's what I've learned. People show up boldly in their faith when they have come to the end of themselves. Whew. Don't get me started 'cause I
J.E. Harrison: Wow.
Deirdra Cox: up in here when you come to the end of yourself because you, you walk into a space and place where you walk in as a human doing you wanna belong.
You wanna belong to the world. But God said you belong to me.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: he gives you a revelation that the earth is his and the fullness thereof and they the dwell there in
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: when you can hold onto that. He will show us. 'cause he's all wisdom. God, the he, he is the word.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: put you in a room where things are happening and all of a sudden he'll reveal to you where he is [00:08:00] in the midst of this worldly situation, that he's still God over the situation.
So when we come to the end of ourselves and the only thing we have is Jesus, and we know that if we don't hold onto him, and if we don't seek him first. Before everything else that this isn't gonna work. So I had to get to the place where everything I had come to the end of myself, my efforts failed. So I wanna say this to anybody out there that feels like they're a failure in business, that feels like they're not seen in the marketplace, that feels as though they're being disrespected in the marketplace. That's supposed to happen. 'cause that's what happened to Jesus. He was not accepted by his own family members.
He was not accepted by the people in his town. So when you feel like you are extraordinary, you are 'cause we're unusual. So that's where I just encourage people to find the faith because that's where you gotta take the inside journey. So, so stop looking outside and begin to look inside and ask God who he's created you to be in these situations.
'cause I had to begin to ask him, what, what's, what's my [00:09:00] assignment?
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: I ask him every day, what do I wear? Dress me, God, I. Address me because you're sending me into the marketplace and you know the color palette that the king that you promised me, you're gonna give me favor with. You know, the color palette that's, that's pleasing to him or her. So you send me, and I need you to go before me. God, I need you to prepare the way. I need you to breathe on every part of me on the inside and breathe on the atmosphere.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: me, I had to come to the end of myself. So coming to the end of yourself, you don't have anything but to go to God. He will fill you up.
'cause it's not something we can contrive. It's not something we can try. We have to be persistent about it and, and seek him and he'll give us the words to speak. 'cause I've been in rooms where people have been unbelievers. They, they've not pronounced the word of God. But I begin to speak 'cause here's what God will do for me too. given me an ear to learn it. Now the tongue of the learn it 'cause he promised to
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: to us. So when I walk in the room, I seek to understand. Before I'm understood. Before I used to walk in the room wanting to be understood because I felt so [00:10:00] insecure in the room. I wanted them to see me. But God said, that's not why I'm sending you in the room. There's somebody in that room drawing. So when we believe and see and perceive that we are the drawers, we're the salt and the light in the room, we show up differently. And it's just, it's that evolution. It's a spiritual evolution. So it's not something that I can say if you do this, this, this, and that, but you gotta enter into his presence. He will then reveal to you what the assignment looks like in the marketplace. And then his word will come forth and it will meet them where they are. I've got folks right now in my life that because I'm unapologetic,
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: I see God doing his thing. I see him, I see them reaching, see them trying to apply the word and I see them watching.
So when you think people are not watching, you don't focus on people watching you, but just know God is getting their attention. 'cause that's why we're here
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: to see him, not us.
J.E. Harrison: No, I love that. And just even with the small details of our day-to-day life, like, Lord, you tell me what to wear. You know, even, even in times, [00:11:00] like I would be like, Lord, is this the path that I need to take, even for the direction of driving to go to certain places? Like, is this the way I need to go or do I need to go another way?
And sometimes I think people are like, oh, you know, that's a little bit too deep. Like God doesn't care about that. No, God actually does. He actually does care. He wants to be involved in even the things that we con consider small, minimal in our life because the small things that can end up giving us favor with the king. Maybe we are wearing the favorite color. Maybe we stopped by and got a cup of coffee from somewhere just because we just thought maybe you needed it. It's the small things that can end up giving you favor.
So even asking God to give you guidance on that can make a world of difference. Now I did wanna ask you this question because I found myself in this position. I do consider myself as one of those individuals that has been very bold about my faith in the workplace in school while I was in college, just throughout my day-to-day life.
[00:12:00] And. I will be very transparent and say that has not always been met favorably. There have been times where I've found myself in situations where I became the target because of how bold I was about my faith. So has there ever been a time where, where you, where you maintaining your integrity and your faith and your values came at a personal or professional cost?
Deirdra Cox: Ma'am, I am in the midst of one of those situations right now.
J.E. Harrison: Wow.
Deirdra Cox: you know, God has allowed me to do some really amazing things, and when I stop and look at it, I'm like, wow, God, you chose me again. He does the choosing.
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: you we're gonna be persecuted.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: Jesus was persecuted. 'cause remember it's not flesh and blood that we were against.
You know this, it's spirits and principalities. 'cause I was reading something the other day that says that what you're going through, maybe it's the calling on your life that's so high, that's why you're going through what you're going through. So. I don't apologize. I'm at a [00:13:00] place now where I don't apologize because I recognize when I'm being persecuted for my faith because I recognize that's what it is.
You gotta recognize too, but that comes with discernment and, and that relationship with God, where when you ask him, God, what's going on right now? But you have to be bold enough to even ask him, God, what's going on right now? We have to be transparent with him about what we're feeling. Jesus wept.
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: when folk were, were after him and, and, and coming for him, but he knew that it was the enemy.
So when you know that, you know, you can pray about it first and God will comfort us. And he says that he's near to the broken hearted. So he's near to me right now 'cause somebody. Use my name and said that there was something that, that we had not done as an organization. And I know full well what the assignment was and I know God fulfilled the assignment.
So I'm standing on God's word. No weapon formed against me will prosper any tongue raised up to con, to, to, to, to that weapon raised up. I'm paraphrasing right now. God will condemn that tongue. So being spiritually mature and emotionally mature [00:14:00] enough to go to him when those things happen, and ask him for revelation and how to handle it.
So he's called me to be. Wise as a serpent, but gentle dove in this situation. 'cause there's something, the, the person that put my name in their mouth, there's something they need from God. And if I respond inappropriately, then God can't do what he's called me to do. He can't do what he's going to do.
J.E. Harrison: Listen, that responding inappropriately part. Okay. So what strategies would you give to, you know, especially like, I think my generation a little younger, especially in work environments, we kind of have this. Flip it attitude when it comes to professionalism and as soon as we're frustrated, as soon as someone is on our nerves, as soon as we've had enough, it's, you know, crash out.
I quit. I don't need this, all of that. So what strategies are you able to implement that helps you overcome those barriers and those areas of frustration when you [00:15:00] know that you have in turn really done nothing wrong? It is just persecution.
Deirdra Cox: So it's having people in my life. Somebody once told me that you've gotta have three kinds of people in your life. Somebody that knows more than you do that can serve as a mentor, or I've been using this term sponsor, which is somebody that will walk in rooms and speak your name and speak your essence before you even show up.
So what I will oftentimes do is go to people who are more emotionally and spiritually mature than I. 'cause you have to vent.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: in a way where you belabor the point, but you've gotta be able to vent. And then after you vent, then asking that person that knows more than you do, can you give me some, some, some positive insight and some constructive insight?
And can we pray together? Because I need you to pray with me and for me, the power of agreement, but then seeking the word. You know, God's created this thing called Google and chat GPT, and I find myself, I find myself often going. So I need some spiritual guidance in this area right now. So what scripture can I go to, to truly minister to me right now?
Because
J.E. Harrison: [00:16:00] Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: some kind, whatever the way it is that I'm feeling. So then I go to the scripture and I meditate. I also have a therapist and I have a coach. So Jesus and therapy are my go to because what I do know God is, and again, it's all about. Being mindful and knowing the assignment. We've gotta know and have that perspective that we're not out here by ourselves, but we are on divine assignment. So I don't wanna mess up what God's given me. I've messed up so many things, so many times, and God's grace has been sufficient. So when he takes me to his word, he gives me perspective. So I can always say that when I sit with him, when I get up, when I ask him the question, after I've asked the question, he gives me what I need. So I just encourage people, if you are a spiritual walker, know you are called and chosen. Tap in. Tap in and ask God about the situation that you're in, and he will reveal the wisdom that you need for the season that you're in.
J.E. Harrison: I love it. That is so powerful because sometimes I do think as believers we. Forget the fact that no, we, we [00:17:00] do, we we have an advocate with the father. We can, we can go to him, we can ask him to give us wisdom and to give us strategy and to put us in the right places, in the right atmosphere, and even for the Lord to help us.
'cause I've learned in these past couple of years, have been. Years of transition for me, literally and figuratively. And so I realized that each place that the Lord took me, it was working something in me and out of me simultaneously. I. Yeah, I wasn't that crazy about it. I was like, Lord, what are you doing?
What's going on? I'm not feeling it right now, but I had to come to that realization to say, okay, God, I'm going to yield to this season and I'm gonna let you work in me and out of me what you need to do. In order to be able to present me at the time and the place and the season, you're ready to present me and I be prepared.
Right? And so it took a lot of maturing to get to that place. It took a lot of tears, it took [00:18:00] a lot of praying. It took a lot of, I. Counsel, you know, so, but I can say that the Lord has been very diligent with me. He's been patient with me. And that's one of the things I've come to realize more in my faith.
Like, no, go to the Lord. He is concerned. Before you call your best friend, before you call mom, before you call dad, go to the Lord. He wants to be that advocate and that mentor and our savior. And we have to allow him to be that.
Deirdra Cox: Because he's a jealous God. Mm-hmm.
J.E. Harrison: He's a jealous God. He is a jealous God, and he will allow the bottom to fall out of your life in order to get your attention.
Deirdra Cox: Woo. Say
J.E. Harrison: He will do it.
Deirdra Cox: time for the people,
J.E. Harrison: will allow the bottom to fall out of your life to get your attention. He will do it.
Deirdra Cox: end of ourselves.
J.E. Harrison: Come on full circle. I love it already.
Deirdra Cox: Ooh, I got goosebumps on
J.E. Harrison: Oh my
Deirdra Cox: real.
J.E. Harrison: goodness. Oh my goodness. [00:19:00] Okay, so Miss Deidre. My next question for you is, how do you lead people of a different faith or no faith backgrounds at all with respect and unity?
Deirdra Cox: So when you're on a, a God mission, right, there's an architectural blueprint. So as God, as God believers, as God walkers, as God's anointed and chosen, he's got, there's a vision for everything. He's given us to do so he will, he will show us, and that's where we've gotta tap in. So I've al, I always ask him when he gives me an assignment, Lord, please send those that you've assigned to this assignment and please provide me with the leadership wisdom I need so that I can see their hearts.
Because what God has called us to, we're leaders. So when we walk into the marketplace as leaders, we have a responsibility to grow leaders. So when God sends me into a scenario, I ask him to show me the heart. Of the people that he's calling me to lead. And there's, there's folks that, that I've, I've been called to [00:20:00] lead in this space and place now in community in the assignments that he gives me as a consultant. And I may not be a permanent fixture within that place because I'm a consultant, right? So I'm, I'm actually a pass through. But God's honey, God's pass through assignment. Mm,
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: it's life altering, so I have to stay on my face. Isha, I have to stay on my face because I don't know what he's doing, but I just know that it's bigger than me, so I've gotta stay tapped in and continue to put those people, their names, their families. I. Altar because now they're in my world and I'm in theirs and God's doing something. So it's not about what I, whether I like them, whether I don't, it's not about that. And I get caught up sometimes 'cause I go, Lord, they on my nerves. he said, and I'm on yours.
I'm sitting
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: nerve. So it's a matter, there's something that I love.
John Maxwell's, level five leadership.
J.E. Harrison: Okay.
Deirdra Cox: So level five leadership is about those five levels of leadership. So level one leadership is where a person [00:21:00] is given an assignment to manage, to supervise, and, you know, and they're caught up in the supervisory role and yay, I got a role. And they're living out their role and not their purpose.
J.E. Harrison: Mm.
Deirdra Cox: out the fact that I get to tell people what to do. That's not what leadership is.
J.E. Harrison: Right.
Deirdra Cox: is where you now you accept the assignment. And you begin to look at the assignment strategically. So you look at what you're responsible for, your key performance indicators, what the outcomes are, what is the assignment call for you to do, what's the assignment call for you to do as far as developing yourself as a leader? So now you're you, you, you can see from a strategic perspective. So now you're not in the weeds. You're kind of atop the trees and you're looking. Level three leadership is where you now begin to connect with the people. So now you reveal your heart. But see, revealing your heart in the marketplace means you got to be emotionally available.
I. Emotionally healthy and spiritually healthy. So now you've full on embrace your assignment and you're embracing the people that are in under your assign, right? [00:22:00] four leadership is where you begin to pour into them and you see their leadership gift. God shows you who they are and who he's called them to be. Then God gives you the nuggets, so then he gives you the seed to plant in that fertile soil all the while you're praying for them. level five leadership is where the folk that you're leading, they have now aspired. They've, they've risen. their level of leadership, they now see themselves as leaders as well.
So now you're not disconnected, but now you all are commiserating, you are collaborating on whatever the goals and, and, and strategies are with the company, and they're rising to new levels of growth within the organization. So leadership is about you growing the people, not about, it's not about us, about us embracing what we've been called to do.
Jesus was a leader. He would, he's our shepherd. So he's always tapping in to, to help us understand where we are as it relates to the assignment. So for me, that's what leadership looks like. Coming in from a place of I'm on assignment, is this person? What have you called them to do as it relates to this assignment collectively?[00:23:00]
And how God would you enc encourage me to encourage them because when somebody gets to level five leadership, they, they become legacy. John Maxwell's a legacy. So they become legacy. So as a legacy, I'm looking amongst me and I'm seeing. I'm reproducing after my own kind, which is really God's own kind. So you need to be producing other leaders so that they can, then God can send them into the marketplace to do the same thing.
J.E. Harrison: That's really good. Those are some really good points. so welcome back to the Elevate Your Life podcast. I am here with my wonderful guest, miss Deidre Cox, a visionary leader and community strategist. Welcome back, miss [00:24:00] Deidre.
Deirdra Cox: Well, thank you. Thank, this has been a a and it's a robust conversation we're having. I'm loving this. Thank you.
J.E. Harrison: Absolutely. Absolutely. So I do wanna pivot a little bit because a lot of our listening audience are either entrepreneurs or people that have a desire to be entrepreneurs, but maybe are kind of finding themselves in that middle space of the safety of a nine to five. Right? But the dilemma of this is what I believe God is calling me to do, but Lord I like.
Knowing what I'm going to get every two weeks. . Give us some. Some tips, some, some resources, some encouragement on how we can take that leap of faith because that's, that's what it is of saying, okay, God, I'm gonna put this down. I'm gonna exchange what I know, what I'm comfortable with, what I've been doing to step into what I believe you're telling me to do.
Right? I may have a little bit of fear, a little bit of doubt, but I'm gonna [00:25:00] trust you. How do you encourage, speak to, and give some resources to those individuals?
Deirdra Cox: So God always says that
J.E. Harrison: I.
Deirdra Cox: to be wise, and I've walked this out, right, so
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: the, the provision is important.
J.E. Harrison: Right.
Deirdra Cox: gives you a vision, so when he gives you a vision, he'll make the provision, but he also says, operate in wisdom.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: always a timeline. So when you have an entrepreneurial vision, what I say to people is, you gotta do this and that, not
J.E. Harrison: Okay. Okay.
Deirdra Cox: And the, and so if entrepreneurship is something that you know, God has called you to, you gotta lay that thing at the altar. You gotta lay the, the name of the business, how to proceed with the business at the altar. Don't give up your day gig. You gotta ask God for the mindset of the this and that.
J.E. Harrison: Okay.
Deirdra Cox: will show you, he will show you how to navigate because at the end of the day, you know you've still gotta be a good steward of whomever's.
Bottom line, you're impacting in the marketplace. So if you are still a [00:26:00] W2, you have an assignment. God says, everything we do, we must do it as unto him. I. while I'm on somebody else's role, their W2, I must do that. Then you've gotta, so it's about scheduling. So scheduling out your time. There's gonna be times when you are truly committed and God's called you to this.
You might not sleep much because when you get home from your nine to five, you are literally growing that business while you're growing the business. If I can implore every listening ear. You cannot do this on your own. As an entrepreneur, it is so important for you to surround yourself with people who have arrived, who've actually sold businesses, sold multiple businesses who have been serial entrepreneurs who failed forward. I. You've got to read, you've gotta create a, a tribe, I call it the orchestra seat section of your life so that you can build the business in order to be sustainable. Building a sustainable business is critical, and I don't know if, if you'll have an opportunity to share this resource, but some of the contract work that I'm able to do with one of my clients, we've tapped into a a, a platform called the [00:27:00] Verizon Small Business Digital Network. That is an online platform. It doesn't have to be that platform, but it can be any platform that you can gain easy access to that is free to you. That will expose you to a community of other burgeoning entrepreneurs so you can learn best business practices. I encourage us as people of color and people of faith. stop building out the vision. God says, without a vision, the people will perish. I see too many entrepreneurs that decided, I'm just, I'm sick of my job. 'cause they, God gave 'em a vision
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: shiny thing and
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: And they threw away the, they threw the baby away with the bath water,
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: this thing with big them vigor and, and vital vitality only to not have all the, the undergirding needed. The knowledge, the resources, the resources, access to capital, who's my client, building out their marketing. There's a whole anatomy of sustainability associated with entrepreneurship. So while you're working your [00:28:00] day gig, keep giving God praise, praise him all through the marketplace while you're in that nine to five, in
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: that that W2, while you are growing your business, but you gotta have a tribe of people around you and build and create measurable benchmarks.
So I really encourage if, if you've got your. You're secretary of State, you've, you've, you've registered your business. Get in an environment where you can grow. A lot of cities have things called small business development centers that they're still here, they're still around, they're a part of the, the Small Business Association. But find those places where you can plug in and commit yourself to professional business development. And if I can say this, it's not just starting the business. When you're starting it, look at the, the succession planning associated with that too. 'cause when you think with the end in mind, with your business, it really affords you the opportunity to grow the business. While, while you're, you're, you're contemplating and why it's in ideation when you leave your business, I mean, not your business, but when you leave your nine to five, that's the god will show you because you're, [00:29:00] you're nine to five. wanna look at that number? What's that number? Your, your gross salary number, your new thing. Your, your new business should be paying you two to three times what you were making in your W2 gig before you leave.
J.E. Harrison: Oh, wow. Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: My, my, my day job at the bank
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: I, I could, God's been gracious and he's been faithful, but had I done what he taught me to do, make sure that income is two to three times what you were making on your day gig, the W2. have gone through some of the challenges. I would've had other challenges, but it would've been different because then I would've been able to build systematically and bring folk in 10 90 nines in.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: me in some areas I would've had vision. 'cause sometimes when you're trying to do, you're the, the chief cook and bottle washer, have peripheral vision.
Right. You're trying to get it all done. So, so that, that's the, the, the suggestion that I would give strategically to build the business before you leave [00:30:00] your nine to five and give God glory for that nine to five because that's how you bankroll your business. That nine to five income, you gotta set up a savings.
You gotta know what it's gonna take for you to bankroll to get from step, step one to two and put that in your budget so that as you're growing your business, you can, you can fund it yourself, because sometimes you have to bootstrap before you go out and ask for capital.
J.E. Harrison: . You gave a lot of relevant information that potential entrepreneurs could tap into. For example, the Verizon small business platform. You actually connected me with them. I think it, we were at a women's symposium or like one of the women's expo in.
Deirdra Cox: because they just had that again, the women's Ultimate.
J.E. Harrison: Yes, you connected me with that and they actually just sent me an email earlier this week that was connecting me with different grant opportunities and things like that, so I can vouch that is a really good platform to connect with other like-minded people that are building businesses and are looking for funding.
And so we'll make [00:31:00] sure that I have that linked in the show notes so that people can get connected to that. And something else that you mentioned, like people really do want to just abort. The nine to five because it's on their nerves. For the new shiny thing, you know, for the life of leisure and that laptop lifestyle that we see on social media so much.
. I mean, so like so many people show us, of course the glitz and the glamor of entrepreneurship, but behind the scenes they're struggling. They're getting, you know, kicked outta their homes, they're losing their vehicles. There are so many different things that. Come with taking this walk. Is it worth it?
Yes, absolutely. It is worth it, but it's going to come with discipline, with challenge, and a good way that you start to establish that discipline is having to maintain your nine to five while using your time wisely. Saving your money, right? Having a plan in place, having that succession plan, you know, tapping into different resources so that you can continue to [00:32:00] scale your business even while you are working a business.
And I think that's the, the aspect of entrepreneurship a lot of people miss and then they get out there and now they're like, uhoh, what did I just do? You know? So now. Right, and then it's like they're grabbing on to any and everything because now they need resources to sustain their day-to-day life. So in all actuality, you're not really focusing on your business right now anyway.
Now you're just focusing on surviving.
Deirdra Cox: Woo. Preach. Say that again. Say that again.
J.E. Harrison: So now, instead of you being able to focus on your business day to day, now you're focusing on surviving because you left. You left that avenue of being able to help bankroll and sustain while you're building your business. So is it fun to do, to stay up late at night and work on your business? No. Is it fun to give up your weekends instead of gonna hang out with your friends or, or [00:33:00] whatever to work, work on your business?
No, but you can't have a microscopic point of view to just look at it right now. You have to look at it long term. So yes, I'm sacrificing time right now. I'm sacrificing convenience right now. Maybe I'm not buying the red bottoms right now, but when I continue to work this and giving it to the Lord and allowing him to give me strategy and to give me favor, and to put me in the right rooms, there will come a time where I will have more leisure.
Right. I will be able to do the things that I wanna do, and also, not that, but to employ other people. That's one of my goals. I wanna employ other people and I wanna employ other people to where they have a quality and substantial salary right where they can live. Comfortably not still struggling. Oh, I work for da, da da da, but I'm still struggling.
No, and I think that's even a testament of our faith of being believers, right? Because heaven is not bankrupt. But at the same time, God is [00:34:00] not just gonna release millions upon millions to people that have not shown themselves to be good stewards.
Deirdra Cox: Yes. Yes, ma'am. Amen. Amen. Because that's then he would be a man that he would lie, and that's not who he is. Period. Period.
J.E. Harrison: So I think we have to be aware of what this journey is gonna cost us, but also realizing that long term it is going to be worth it. You just have to stick out the middle and be uncomfortable for a little bit, and that's okay.
Deirdra Cox: Ooh, those are nuggets. Those are such good nuggets. Be aware of what it's gonna cost. And don't grow weary. Don't grow weary. That's good. That's really good.
J.E. Harrison: Absolutely. So, Ms. Deidre, the next question that I have for you is have you ever had to choose or had a client that had to choose between profit and principle, and how did your faith guide you or guide that client?
Deirdra Cox: So I, I personally, as a, my nonprofit, we had a situation where we, we, we [00:35:00] needed funding and one of those vape pen companies came to me and said, I. We'd love to be a sponsor for your nonprofit community sustainability enterprise. And I said, I'm sorry, who are you again? they, they said, we make the vape pens and we've got lots of corporate social responsibility money. So I said, vape pens, that's unhealthy. I was like, now, you know, these are all the. that that, that are associated. I wanted that $35,000,
J.E. Harrison: Right, right, right.
Deirdra Cox: but I said economic and community development practitioner,
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: be bringing death to my community because I already know vape pens are something that we engage in, so why would I put their lives in jeopardy? I appreciate the opportunity, but I have to say no. And again, it's a God thing. Because at the end of the day, when God gives you an assignment, he will provide.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: provides.
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: God promised me, and I tell you, when I, when I, when I [00:36:00] gave that, I, I released that and said, no, God doubled. doubled the investment. he do
J.E. Harrison: It.
Deirdra Cox: Because I stood on Godly principles
J.E. Harrison: Yeah.
Deirdra Cox: to going for the money. So when, when you, when you sacrifice Godly principles for the money, it's never a good thing,
J.E. Harrison: Mm-hmm.
Deirdra Cox: called and chosen, they don't go together.
J.E. Harrison: They don't. They do not. Wow. Wow. Okay. That was really good. All right, so Ms. Deidre, we're gonna pivot into this segment that I call 60 Seconds to Elevate. Okay? So I'm gonna ask you a series of five rapid fire questions, and you just shoot off the first things that come to your mind. Okay? You
Deirdra Cox: Alright, I'm ready.
J.E. Harrison: All right. First question, what's one habit that has changed your life?
Deirdra Cox: Praying consistently all day
J.E. Harrison: Favorite scripture to stand on when things feel heavy,
Deirdra Cox: trouble will not last always. [00:37:00] And the Lord says that he will fight for me. I'm sorry. Those are two. So he says he will fight for you
J.E. Harrison: most elevated decision you've made in your career.
Deirdra Cox: to become an entrepreneur.
J.E. Harrison: How do you stay spiritually grounded and professionally? Excellent.
Deirdra Cox: Prayer therapy, a coach and walking. So exercise is important.
J.E. Harrison: If you could send a 15 second voice memo to your younger self, what would you say?
Deirdra Cox: You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God knows the plans he has for you. Trust him.
J.E. Harrison: Beautiful. I love it. Well, miss Deidra Cox, thank you so much for being a, a guest on the Elevate Your Life podcast. I am so honored that you took time out of your oh, so busy schedule and all the things that you are doing to come and sit with little old Jamia on the Elevate your life. Podcast. And so listen, I know I have a lot of women and men that have been blessed by [00:38:00] this conversation and may want to reach out to you for further consultation or just see how they can get connected to you.
How can they do that?
Deirdra Cox: They can reach me at deirdra, D-E-I-R-D. Community. C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y-S as in Sam, E as in edward.org. You can follow me on social media. I'm on LinkedIn as Deirdre Cox. I'm also on Facebook as Deirdre Cox and IGD Cox 63.
J.E. Harrison: Awesome. All right. Well that concludes this episode of the Elevate Your Life Podcast. Until the next time, keep elevating. Love y'all. [00:39:00]
