Making the decision to close Elements of Aliel was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Yes, there were the obvious reasons — I loved it. The creativity, the products, everything except for the marketing. There was something about beauty marketing that I just couldn't get behind. The brand itself, however, was my baby. I had created it from nothing, nurtured it, and poured so much of myself into it that it felt wrong to just let it go.
I even told myself for a while that this was a temporary pause instead of a full-scale shutdown.
The hardest part wasn't the decision itself. It was the thought of explaining to other people why I made it.
Their judgment felt louder than God's direction.With the backdrop of COVID's economic impact, I thought it made sense to blame supplier issues, increased costs, or the difficulty of finding help. While true, it wasn't my truth. My truth was that in the quiet of the early morning hours, as I poured my heart out to God asking why I wasn't more successful despite all my hard work, He revealed what I had been suspecting for a while.
Elements of Aliel was a real business. Creative, meaningful, and built by hand. It was a good thing — just not God's thing for this season.
Legacy Consulting Co was the assignment. The vision was always His — and it was given to me, not to the people who didn't understand why I closed the brand.
"This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
For I am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then praise will come to each person from God."
1 Corinthians 4:1–5 NASBHere, Paul is explaining to the Church at Corinth that as a servant of God, he has a responsibility to steward his assignment faithfully. God has entrusted him and the other apostles with a message for the world — and God is the one who will ultimately judge their performance. Paul even acknowledges that his own judgment against himself is not the point. The only opinion that matters is God's.
As entrepreneurs, we often get caught up in the opinions of others. In some cases, feedback and input are helpful and even a necessary part of being a leader. But other times, the input of others can derail us and cause us to stray from our path.
Part of what Paul was trying to convey is this: not only did the assignment come from God, but it was also given to him — not the other people. Therefore, they cannot judge because they were not trusted with the assignment. Paul wasn't being dismissive of the community. He was being clear about jurisdiction.
The same is true for you. Your friends and family were not given the vision for this business. They don't understand how it fits into your life. It may seem odd or unnecessary to them. They can't see what God is calling you to — and that is okay. They don't have to.
As I sat with the decision to close Elements of Aliel, I found the easiest explanation to be "because God said so."
No need for the full backstory. Their judgment was irrelevant.I knew who gave me the assignment, even if I myself didn't fully comprehend where it would lead. As you sit with the vision God has given you, remember this: you are not working for the approval of others. No one has to understand what you are doing but you. The vision is yours, not theirs.
This week, sit with the assignment you have been given and answer these questions. Don't overthink or edit yourself — just write.
"What am I worried people will say?"
"What do I think God would say, if I didn't move forward?"
"Whose opinion has more power over my life?"
Sometimes seeing your thoughts on paper is enough to help you realize how misguided they can be.
Lord, forgive me for the times I have sought the approval of others over Your direction. For the times the fear of judgment has been louder than Your voice. Help me to remember that the assignment You gave me belongs to me — and that You alone are my judge. Give me the courage to move forward without needing everyone to understand. I trust that when the time comes, You will bring to light what has been hidden, and disclose the motives of my heart. Until then, let me be found faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Lord, whose voice am I really listening to?
Sit quietly before you pray. Bring to mind the last time you hesitated on your assignment because of what someone else might think — a family member, a peer, the internet. Hold that moment honestly before God.
Then ask Him to help you hear His voice more clearly than theirs. You don't need perfect words. You just need honesty.
"Lord, I confess that I have given more weight to the opinions of others than to Your direction. Show me where I am performing for an audience instead of serving You. And give me the clarity to know the difference between wise counsel and noise that was never meant to guide me. Amen."
If you need a place to start"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much."
Matthew 25:23
Has the fear of judgment ever kept you from moving forward on your assignment? Drop a comment — and tell me: whose opinion has held the most power over your decisions? Let's talk about it.
With Love,
LaKeisha
P.S. — Wednesday's entry drops mid-week with a business tip on how to find the right accountability partner — because the vision is yours, but the journey doesn't have to be walked alone. Don't miss it.