We recently connected with Sandie Eggers and have shared our conversation below.

Sandie, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The story I’m about to tell you is still unfolding. But I’m convinced that this risk is well-worth it, helping me to better align with my values and to better fulfill my purpose.

That risk? To live less by my understanding and more by faith. You may ask “What do you mean, specifically?” Well, that means to let go of a “sure thing” like seeking contract work and to embrace the greater uncertainty of freelance work in the faith-based market.

Truth is, for the last two years, that “sure thing” has been more like a closed door. And during that same time, my passion, helping people better navigate their life storms through the power of gratitude, has not yielded any clients.

Therefore, I’ve been praying for and thinking about a new path. This is not the first time I’ve been at such a crossroads, however. About 30 years ago, I was assured I would soon snag a well-paying job, after finally achieving my university degree. But I faced closed doors here, too. Curiously, the door that did open was freelance work in the greater market. When I finally embraced it. I was much happier and more fulfilled. (Interestingly, the story of this journey became an article in a denominational women’s magazine, a freelance opportunity.)

Those freelance doors opened, I believe, because God opened them. I just had to step beyond my comfort zone and walk by faith. Walking by faith is a tenet of my Christian faith, one of my core values. This “walking” is not a blind amble; rather, it’s a deliberate act of trust in God, a God who is, by his very nature, trustworthy. By not trusting in him, I’m calling God a liar and taking his name in vain.

This is the risk I’m now facing. I just need to take that step in faith. Stay tuned.

Sandie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

“Do nothing and be dead in a few days” were the words we heard from my husband’s surgeon, words that began our greatest season of challenge to date. For more than two years, Steve battled cancer, He lost his battle on December 2, 2005, when he went to be with Jesus. And after more than 27 years of marriage, I became a widow.

Throughout this cancer journey and its transformational aftermath, I personally experienced God’s grace and love, I’m passionate about sharing what I knows with others, helping them apply God’s timeless truths to their everyday lives. I do this in three different ways:

Instructor
In addition to teaching women’s groups and her own online courses, I’ve has also taught through Lorman Education, an organization that provides business courses for entrepreneurs.

Professional speaker
As a professional public speaker, I’ve shared my experience with a wide range of audiences including: Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Michigan Chapter; Community Evangelical Church, the Society of Marketing Professionals; Eastern Michigan University, the Association of Lutheran Development Executives and many churches.

(To learn more about what I do, please go here: https://www.yourlifeabundant.com)

Author
I’ve written the Kindle book Live Boldly and Embrace Joy: A True Love Story of Laughing, Loving and Living Through Terminal Cancer. (You can find my book here: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Each-Day-Joy-Laughing-ebook/dp/B00LK9WKVC ) And I’ve several more ideas to turn into books in the near future.

On a Personal Note
I live in the Lowcountry. By God’s grace and blessing, I’ve achieved one of her personal goals: living in a place where the only “white stuff” I see is beach sand.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

My, there are so many! Here are some of them:

Books
The Bible
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
Lean Start Up by Eric Ries

Video
Call of the Entrepreneur (Produced by the Acton Institute and can be found on YouTube)

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There have been many times I’ve had to pivot in business, in life. I talked about a few of them in the section on risk. But the biggest pivot, I think, that I’ve had to make is when I lost my high school sweetheart and husband of more than 27 years to cancer.

When Steve died, i felt lost, hollow, and dazed. Everything I had known for more than 27 years (we dated for 5 before getting married), suddenly disappeared. So quickly, so radically did my life change at that moment. My identity instantly changed, my day-to-day routine disrupted, my future uncertain. On a human level, I was anchorless, rudderless, and sail-less. But on a spiritual level I was grounded. Through the fog of uncertainty, I could see a light. And as primarily a positive person, I began to see the good that was coming from this situation. I’m not one to stay stuck in grief; I love life. And I bounded into life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yourlifeabundant.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraeggers