Web and Graphics Designer
Branding and Marketing Expert
Top Leader, Sales Trainer, Coach, Consultant
Motivational Speaker, Best-Selling Author
CopsWives, Wonderful Widowed Women
Co-Founder Gratitude Girls
Corporate Professional Sales Trainer

Laurie Delk - author, speaker, coach, trainer

Laurie's life journey is a testament to unwavering faith, entrepreneurial spirit, and the transformative power of resilience. Rooted in a lifelong foundation of Christian values, instilled from her upbringing and a pivotal move from Texas to Middle Tennessee in 1986, Laurie embarked on a path marked by both professional achievement and personal devotion.

In 1993, driven by a profound desire to nurture her growing family, Laurie made a courageous decision to transition from a decade-long, successful career as an accountant at a Fortune 500 company. This pivotal moment, coinciding with her husband's aspiration to pursue his calling in law enforcement, became a catalyst for a life dedicated to purpose and service. Through prayerful consideration, they embraced both paths, demonstrating a commitment to faith-led action.

God has uniquely privileged Laurie to serve Him in numerous capacities over the past few decades. Her entrepreneurial journey began with the inception of her web & graphics, branding, marketing, and design company. Recognizing her talents as gifts to be shared, she pledged to utilize her skills for divine purpose. This commitment manifested in the creation of over a thousand websites, marketing materials, training platforms, and courses for pastors, churches, evangelists, missionaries, colleges, and a diverse range of business clients. Her expertise extended to comprehensive rebranding initiatives, empowering organizations to articulate their vision with clarity and impact.

Beyond her business acumen, Laurie is a prolific author, having penned the best-selling books "Keep Those Clients" and "We All Have Choices," and co-founded the transformative "Gratitude Girls - 100 Day Gratitude Journal Challenge." She has also contributed her insights to three additional publications. As a sought-after motivational speaker and corporate sales trainer, Laurie inspires audiences with her authentic voice and empowering message, often called upon for special speaking engagements around the world. Her dedication to education is further evidenced by her five years of teaching at her children's Christian school and her subsequent decision to homeschool them, allowing her to balance her growing speaking career with her commitment to family.

Her mission to empower women to embrace their God-given potential has taken her across the globe, where she shares her wisdom and encouragement with diverse audiences. Laurie's life, however, has not been without profound challenges. In 2013, she experienced the devastating loss of her children's father in a tragic accident, navigating the complexities of grief while raising her four children, then aged 25, 18, 16, and 12.

Believing in God's guidance for her life, Laurie remarried in April 2020 to Kevin Radecki, following their meeting in December 2019. Laurie prayed for exactly what she wanted in a husband and God showed Himself strong in giving her more than she asked in a God-fearing and God-loving husband.

Laurie's unique experiences over the past few decades provide special insight and encouragement for those who take her courses. Her story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the transformative power of faith, and the profound impact of living a life dedicated to purpose and service. Her journey inspires others to embrace their own unique paths, to overcome adversity with grace, and to live with unwavering gratitude and purpose.

Do you treat your business, as a business or as a hobby?

This came up again recently in talking w a few people….so I thought I would *talk* about it here –

When I hear people say ‘treat it as a business not a hobby, if you treated it as a business you’d find time’

(granted I agree, to a point) — for me, I was not treating my business as a hobby, I have always treated my *business as a business*, I am very professional, honest, ethical, etc in my business….. and have always worked it consistently for almost 25 years being self employed (25 web & graphic design, branding & marketing, 15 years speaking, coaching and training, 15 years in my Networking Luncheons business, 15 years in my greeting cards and gifting business, etc), BUT I have had a job at times as well, also own a few non-profits, had a husband for a long time and homeschooled my kids, and I was not going to neglect my family *in order to build a business*…..I designed and started my businesses to ENHANCE my family.

Others have said even build it so you can spend more time w your family later, which makes sense “to a point” ….but also I’ve seen many “lose” their marriage and/or kids during that process (and I did make that mistake some when I was younger, and sometimes still do, I have always been a *work-a-holic* but I also absolutely LOVE what I do, so it is not like work), and as I have experienced a few years ago, what if your spouse or child is not *here* one day? so….. then what was it worth????? Make SURE you don’t *neglect* them to build now totally, and plan for later, cuz you might not have a later with them….

My number one focus is FAMILY
but still being consistent in business at the same time…..

You have to learn to schedule…..too much of anything, good or bad, can become a bad thing….so you need to schedule your job, your spiritual time, your personal time, your business time, your spouse time, your kids time, etc, if it is not scheduled, you probably won’t make time for it, and you must be flexible of course as well – and to a point you can work your business around your personal life too….

CONSISTENCY is the KEY, a little bit or a lot a bit, every day, every week, every year, with out giving up…..remember your WHY you started it in the first place, WHY you are doing it and what you want out of it or from it……that is one of the things that has helped me

KISS = 95% word of mouth referral?

By this we mean “keep it so simple”
What if you could get repeat business from customers 2, 3, 4, or even 8 years later?
Today’s show features Allen Throndson, of Lighthouse Enterprises out of Heber, UT. Allen has specialized in remodeling kitchens and bathrooms since 2006.

Basically 90 to 95 percent of Allen’s business is referral business, and It’s really not uncommon for him to get a call from somebody that he’s done a job for up to eight years later.
Allen says…”Showing gratitude toward your customers, and taking care of your customers, are the keys to growing your business.”
Find out how a “Keep it stupid simple” relationship strategy, and being a member of a professional networking group, has earned Allen a 95% word of mouth referral based business.
https://www.appreciationpal.com/relationship-marketing-weekly-kitchen-bathroom-remodeling/#!195
#business #remodeling #wordofmouth

Relax more, worry less and live and enjoy the moment.

Relax more, worry less, and live and enjoy the moment.

I am learning to do this more and more all the time.

It is important to HUSTLE and make a difference in the world, do better for yourself and your family.

But it is ALSO just as important, if not more important, to spend TIME (=LOVE) with those you love and build those RELATIONSHIPS, because one day, money or not, those are what you will have.

Build relationships, keep that your focus, friends and family and clients and customers – when that is your focus, the business and the money will just happen……

Those *not there* don’t get it, those that FINALLY gave in, and tried it, and stuck with it – see those blessings.

Learn from those who have done it before you – listen to the wise, don’t listen to those that are not where you want to be – emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, etc. Follow and listen to the ones that ARE where you want to be, and do what they tell you and what you see them do.

Do you respond to people that contact you in business?

BUSINESS TIP:
RESPOND to people that contact you! (this can apply to any type business)
 
The last two weeks, I contacted 5 different guys that were recommended to me for our AC unit…..
— 3 did NOT even respond!!!!
— 1 responded but said he was too busy
— 1 responded, apologized for not being able to come that day, but told me he could come the next, had me fixed super short time and coming back to finish today.
 
TIPS
— You want to be in business and stay in business, at least respond and reply to people trying to give you business. Most will understand if you are busy, that is a good thing right? But at least respond and be respectful.
— When you do respond, if you are busy, let them know when you could come, possibly, and if you can’t, maybe even offer to refer them to someone else in your network you trust….I have lots of people in my business that do what i do, if I cannot do a website, a graphic, speak at an event due to a conflict, etc — I offer a recommendation to someone in my network that does the same, to help them for someone I trust, and be a referral source for my people. (not just leave them hanging) But people in your industry are not competition, they can be great referral sources – use each other and share business w those you know, like and trust. There is abundance in the world, treat it that way, and it comes back to you 🙂
— Provide excellent service. When this guy came, he told me it would take a bit to be able to cool and fix, but gave me ideas that were free and easy to do, and a fast fix, and then he’d be back the next day to finish what he needed to do.

Are you thankful, for everything?

Laurie Delk
Laurie Delk

This morning, the church message was about being thankful…..and considering I co-founded our non-profit Gratitude Girls, I of all people better be thankful and grateful right? 🙂 And I am…..

But, he did say one thing, I have struggled with (we can be open, raw, and honest, right? I am a real human) The Bible says in every thing, give thanks.

I believe the bible, I know the bible is true, and I DO *try* to give thanks in *every thing*….

Although sometimes when it is worded in a certain way, it is *hard*….example *write down everything that has happened to you, good or bad or indifferent* and say “God thank you for that”…..

Now granted, I DO believe that everything God *allows* into your life, you have a #choice if you #choose to use it for God or not.

Example, I do not think I could or will *ever* be *able* to say
“God, thank you for taking Bryan Delk to Heaven”.
I just can’t do it.

Now…..
I have learned to be thankful for the 2 years God allowed me to have him in my life, rather than be bitter at the next 20 that I don’t.
I have learned to be thankful for that happening and me being able to have the faith to move forward and speak to so many widows events, and God bring so many widows into my life and others introduce me to so many that I am able to help #WalkInTheirShoes and get closer to God, and be thankful in the process.
I have learned to be thankful that because of that, I was able to write my 2nd book #WeAllHaveChoices and became a #bestseller the day it was launched, and I am able to help and reach so many other women (and men) with that and bring them closer to the Lord.
I have learned to be thankful that through so many steps and changes the last almost 6 years, my life has changed so drastically, but for the good in so many ways, that I have felt that loving *protection* and *security* of my Heavenly Father saying to me “I am taking care of you in this area” — and that helps so many times, when I am praying in other areas I have not seen the answer yet….

So with that…..in case anyone has heard that message before, or struggled(s) in that same area as me…..Learn to be thankful and grateful in the areas that you *can* be thankful and grateful in, don’t beat yourself up in the areas that you are *not there yet* (frankly, I don’t know that I will ever be able to say that about my husband in that way – “I am thankful that he passed” — and who knows, maybe there is another way to word it…..BUT I CAN say – I am thankful, that *through* that situation, I HAVE had SO many #BLESSINGS in my life – that I am thankful and grateful for that have come to me.

How do you feel when you are constantly being sold to?

We all know it’s super annoying!

Mary Kay beauty consultant Kristen Culver feels the same way. She implemented Relationship Marketing in her skin care business seven years ago. Now when she reaches out to her customers to make an order, they aren’t feeling like they are getting sold to.

Kristen says, “I specifically reach out to my customers 3-4 times a year, and it’s not to sell to them” she also says, “If you take care of your customers and appreciate them, then your business will take care of you.”

This week’s feature article, Kristen will explain how she takes time to reach out in kindness to build personal relationship’s with her team & customers. By doing this, her clients and team members don’t feel like just another number in the system.

Her inspiring story of appreciation will prompt you to become more thoughtful in your daily communications in your business and personal relationships.

Watch it here