Episode 181: Business + Life Advice from My 87 Year Old Papa

Sometimes the best business advice comes from someone who has simply lived a lot of life.

In this very special episode, I’m sitting down with my 87-year-old Papa to talk about business, relationships, money, mistakes, faith, and what really matters in the long run. He spent decades building and running a business, and I wanted to give you a chance to hear some of the wisdom he’s picked up along the way. But honestly, some of the most meaningful lessons had nothing to do with business at all.

We talk about why relationships matter in business, the importance of knowing your numbers and valuing what you bring to the table, how to handle mistakes with honesty, and why there really are no “bad days”—just days that are better than others.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why treating people with kindness and making them feel seen can become one of your greatest strengths in business
• Why you need to know your numbers and value your work without taking advantage of people
• How to handle mistakes with humility, honesty, and integrity
• Why relationships and genuine connection can matter more than simply making a sale
• What decades of life and business experience taught my Papa about trusting God
• Why the legacy you leave behind is about so much more than business success

This conversation reminded me that building a successful business is important, but building a meaningful life is even more important. If you’re looking for Business Christian Self Help that goes beyond strategy and gets to the heart of how we lead, work, and live, I think you’re going to love this one.

And make sure you stay until the end—Papa has a few fun facts and stories you’re not going to want to miss!

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone you love and let me know which piece of Papa’s wisdom stood out to you most.

Want more free resources to help you grow your business and overcome what’s holding you back? Grab my free guides for getting booked on stage, my Social Media Workbook, and understanding what’s driving your imposter syndrome here: 🎁 https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

From Story to Strategy to Execution, get a FREE Brand Clarity Call by filling out this form: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

Episode 180: Become the Story You Believe

Have you ever noticed how the story you tell yourself quietly shapes the way you show up?

In this episode, I'm inviting you to take an honest look at the narratives you've been believing about yourself, your business, and your calling. Because the truth is, the stories we repeat become the beliefs we live from—and those beliefs determine the actions we take.

Whether you've been feeling behind, discouraged, or questioning if you're really qualified, I want to encourage you to let God become the Author of your story instead of fear, comparison, or past disappointment. Together, we'll also explore why storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to build a brand that creates connection, trust, and lasting impact.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How the stories you tell yourself shape your identity and influence your decisions
• Why replacing false narratives with God's truth changes how you lead and show up
• The connection between faith, mindset, and building a Business Christian Self Help brand
• How God uses hidden seasons to produce lasting fruit instead of quick success
• Why storytelling is one of the most effective ways to build trust and grow your influence
• A simple challenge to help you rewrite your story from God's perspective this week

If you've been carrying a narrative that no longer aligns with who God says you are, I hope this episode gives you the courage to exchange fear for truth. Your circumstances may not change overnight, but your perspective can—and that has the power to change everything.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. And if you're looking for practical resources to help you grow your business with confidence, grab my free guides—including the Social Media Content System, How to Get Booked on Stage, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome—here:

🎁 https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

From Story to Strategy to Execution, get a FREE Brand Clarity Call by filling out this form: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

• Why your greatest business battle may actually be a limiting belief.
• What David and Goliath teaches us about trusting God's unique strategy.
• How comparison can keep you from walking in your God-given calling.
• Why your natural gifts may be the very tools God wants to use.
• Practical encouragement to seek God's direction instead of copying everyone else.

What do you do when fear is loud, your responsibilities feel heavy, and you’re trying to show up for your family, your business, and the calling God has placed on your life?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Jacobs for a real conversation about trusting God in the tension. We talk about what it looks like to pursue purpose without losing yourself, how to recognize when busyness is becoming burnout, and why boundaries are not selfish—they’re necessary.

If you’re a Christian woman in business who feels pulled in a million directions, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to do everything, save everyone, or prove your worth through exhaustion. God can lead you in the right season, provide what you need, and help you build a life that has room for both your calling and your people.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to discern whether God is calling you to rest, release, or step out
• Why burnout is not the price you have to pay for purpose
• A practical boundary that can help you stop saying yes too quickly
• How receiving help can be an act of humility and faith
• Ways to empower your kids, team, and community without carrying everything alone

Dr. Emily Jacobs - Author, TEDx Global Speaker, Founder of Empowered Moms - where ambitious women remember who they are…. through coaching, workshops, speaking, events, and mentorship.

Jump in our monthly zoom connection calls and free Empowered Moms Community - open to all here!!

https://empoweredmoms.co

And Join our 4th Empowered Moms Live Event Friday October 16th in Michigan.

Come say Hi on IG here @dremilyjacobs

https://www.instagram.com/dremilyjacobs/

Watch the TEDX talk here

https://youtu.be/hQhkdW8Q5tQ?si=p8-i38ypROvi469

Connect with Emily Jacobs

https://www.instagram.com/dremilyjacobs/ https://empoweredmoms.co

Looking for support in your business? Fill out this form to get a free brand clarity call with our team at Rise Brand & Growth: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

This conversation is for the woman who wants to live with faith, lead with peace, and build a business that supports the life God has called her to—not one that drains it.

What do you do when you're believing God for a breakthrough, but all you can see are obstacles?

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most personal lessons God has taught me about faith. Whether you're navigating uncertainty in your business, waiting on an answered prayer, or wrestling with fear about what's ahead, I want to encourage you to stop looking at your circumstances through the world's perspective and start asking a different question: "God, what do You say?" Because breakthrough doesn't begin when your circumstances change—it begins when your faith has something to stand on.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to find a foundation for your faith when life feels uncertain
• Why hearing God's perspective matters more than listening to everyone else's opinions
• What it looks like to partner with God instead of letting fear lead your decisions
• How to keep believing for your business breakthrough even when you don't see immediate results
• Why God often develops your faith before He delivers the promise
• Practical encouragement for Christian women navigating business, family, and seasons of waiting

If you've been feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, I hope this episode reminds you that God is faithful. He isn't asking you to have all the answers—He's inviting you to trust Him one step at a time and believe that He's working even when you can't yet see it.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. And if you're looking for practical resources to help you grow your business with confidence, grab my free guides—including the Social Media Content System, How to Get Booked on Stage, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome—here:

🎁 https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

From Story to Strategy to Execution, get a FREE Brand Clarity Call by filling out this form: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

What if the breakthrough you've been praying for isn't about working harder—but about partnering with God differently?

In this episode, I'm continuing my story and sharing what happened after God opened the first door. From a viral TikTok video to landing my very first client, building a team, and eventually growing a multiple six-figure business, I'm taking you behind the scenes of the lessons I learned along the way. If you've ever struggled with imposter syndrome, wondered if you have what it takes, or felt overwhelmed trying to build your business on your own, I hope this conversation encourages you to keep taking the next faithful step.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why God often starts with a small opportunity before opening bigger doors
• What it means to "work the miracle" instead of waiting for perfect circumstances
• How sharing what you already know can become the foundation of your business
• Why building a successful Christian business requires both faith and faithful action
• The mindset shift that helped me move past imposter syndrome and embrace my calling
• How getting the right support and building a team helped me grow beyond six figures

If you're building a business with God at the center and wondering what your next step should be, I hope my story reminds you that your faithfulness today is preparing you for what He's building tomorrow.

From Story to Strategy to Execution, get a FREE Brand Clarity Call by filling out this form: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with another Christian entrepreneur, leave a review, or follow the podcast so you don't miss what's next. And if you're looking for practical resources to help you grow your brand and business, grab one of my free guides here: https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides.

Have you ever looked at someone's success and wondered, "But how did they actually get here?"

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own story—the parts that most people never see. Before the business, the team, and the multiple six-figure agency, there were years of disappointment, unanswered prayers, hidden seasons, and wondering if I'd somehow missed God's plan for my life. If you've ever felt like your dreams have fallen apart or that you've wasted years waiting for something to happen, I hope this conversation reminds you that God is never wasting your story.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why seasons of disappointment often become the foundation for your greatest purpose
• How God uses hidden seasons to shape your identity before expanding your influence
• What to do when life doesn't unfold the way you thought it would
• Why being honest with God about your dreams can open the door to new direction
• How God can accelerate what feels like lost time in ways you never imagined
• Encouragement for anyone walking through a wilderness season and wondering what's next

If you're in a season where you feel overlooked, discouraged, or like your story has taken an unexpected turn, I want you to know this: God hasn't forgotten you. Sometimes the most significant chapters are being written in the places that feel the most hidden.

This is just Part 1 of my journey. Next week, I'll share how God took those hidden years and used them to build a business, a team, and a life that I never could have imagined.

From Story to Strategy to Execution, get a FREE Brand Clarity Call by filling out this form: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. And if you're walking through your own season of waiting, I'm believing God will use this conversation to remind you that your story isn't over yet.

What do you do when life takes a turn you never saw coming?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Emma Bryant, a pastor, leader, and cancer survivor, to talk about what it looks like to build faith when fear feels louder than everything else. Emma shares her powerful story of receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis while she and her husband were building their church—and how she learned to fight the battle in her mind, guard her atmosphere, and keep showing up in faith one day at a time.

This conversation is for the woman walking through grief, disappointment, uncertainty, or a hard season in her business, family, health, or calling. You’ll be reminded that faith is not pretending things are easy—it’s choosing what you will believe, speak, and focus on in the middle of the fight.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to create a personal “battle plan” when fear is loud
• Why discipline can help your feelings catch up
• How to guard your heart, conversations, and environment
• What it means to stay rooted when your promised land feels like a famine
• Encouragement for Christian women navigating business, purpose, and hard seasons

If you’re looking for Business Christian Self Help that meets you in the real stuff of life, this episode will strengthen your faith and remind you to hold on to hope.

Connect with Emma Bryant on Instagram: @braveheartconference

Explore more resources: Braveheart Conference | Liverpool One Church

Looking for support in your business? Fill out this form to get a free brand clarity call with our team at Rise Brand & Growth: Book your free Brand Clarity Call

Connect with Me:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaleahughes

Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaleahughes/

Rise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risesocialmediaagency/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.harrington.758

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissaleahughes