Covid Part 4: Economic books will, from now on, have an entire section on the Coronavirus crisis.

That’s insane. We are living in this thing. Right now. The effect this mandatory cancellation of events and closing of schools is having isn’t something we’ve ever seen before. And it’s not just the US : this is a global economic crisis. It’s everywhere. The same thing is happening all over the place. It’s bananas.

Covid Part 3: It’s propelling us forward and holding us back.

Unprecedented is the word I keep hearing, and it’s true. We’re not going to know the impact of all of this until many years later. At this point in our journey, we are still within the 2 weeks of social distancing, not meeting with one another in groups of more than 10.

A local restaurateur that’s a dear friend of ours was forced to shut the doors of his business. He also works with events with his catering business, and all events have been canceled. In a moment, his revenue went to nothing. He was forced to fire several people - faithful, hardworking people - and he didn't want to. He loves his employees. So, he started brainstorming. He found the opportunity in what was originally a tragedy. He asked a few of his employees to begin making 2 meal packs for $60 available for pickup. And $10 of every order would be donated to making meals for people who didn’t have the means to buy them.

Boom. He’s back in business.

Covid Part 1: Not much has changed for us.

I haven’t wanted to share my thoughts because everyone already is. Covid-19 rants are everywhere, and it feels LOUD. But I do have some thoughts, and if I’m honest, I’m sharing them now more for me than for you. I want to remember this weirdo experience, and I want to write out what’s going on in my heart and my head, and I want to do it in real time. So here we are, in the 2nd week of the nationwide quarantine, where we have been encouraged to not gather in groups over 10 people. Most of us aren’t gathering at all. Churches are online, all restaurants have been closed, and I legit had a “family dinner” via zoom with Will’s family, which was so sweet and hilarious and crazy. Honestly, it’s a memory I’m glad we made during this craziness.

If I’m honest, my current situation tells me to not plan anything, because my family is going to keep getting sick and I wont be able to do it anyway. I KNOW that sounds like I’m a grumpy pants complainer, but it’s honestly how I feel after the December and January that we’ve had! BUT. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that if I DON’T plan or try, it’s guaranteed that nothing will happen. So I’m going to keep showing up and trying. I’m going to keep setting goals. And if there is more sickness, I’ll push some of these goals back to March and ask for God to sustain us.

A New Season

12 Years of Nancy Ray Photography

This day never gets old to me. The fresh start, the new year, the clean slate! 2020, being that it’s the mark of not only a new year but a new decade, feels like an entirely new chapter. Of course it feels that way to me especially, because I’ve closed down Nancy Ray Photography and am now looking ahead to my new rhythm and pace of life. I am FULL of expectation.

Many people have been asking, “So what’s next for you?”

Yes, it’s happening again! The Contentment Challenge is happening January - March of 2020, and you are invited to join in!

I heard this phrase that Craig Groeschel coined at the Global Leadership Summit earlier this year, and let me tell you: it has given me all sorts of life since then.

GETMO.

Good Enough To Move On.

I love it so much that we’ve made it a core value of my new business. (New business = podcast and whatever else is to come… more on that soon.)

GOOD ENOUGH TO MOVE ON. It’s freeing.

Listen - we almost didn’t go! Even though they invited us as their #sponsored guest to experience the resort, it stressed me out to have 3 young kids (ages 4, 2, and 11 months) who couldn’t swim. BUT: I AM SO GLAD WE DID! (Thank you Will for talking me in to it!) Here’s my Top 10 Takeaways from our stay at Great Wolf Lodge with 3 little kids.

October is one of my favorite months of the year. Weather begins to actually cool down here in NC, and it’s the beginning of the end : it’s officially the start of Q4, the pumpkins come out, we begin discussing holiday plans, and I don’t know about you - but life starts to get a little nuts, in the best way.

👏🏼🎉 Doors are OPEN for Foundations in Team Building!

I’ve packed my hiring, culture-building, and leadership strategy into an online mentoring program and now? I’m handing it over to you! >> nancyray.com/buildateam 

Spoiler: It’s a level 10 team meeting structure from my favorite business book, Traction!

I’ve put together a free hour long training where I’ll show you How I GREW my BUSINESS and GOT my LIFE BACK by BUILDING A TEAM 🙌🏼

Building and growing a team has been one of the greatest joys of this business over the last 12 years. Truly. I am so grateful I’ve been able to work alongside these ladies, and I’ve learned: the more you train and raise up others to come alongside you, the more you can serve others and enjoy the work you are doing.

I truly believe it’s a win win!

I’ve finished several goals so far (like Read Life Giving Home through August, attend GLS, and make serious progress on a lot of my reading), but it was actually incredibly helpful to sit down and write it all out on August 15th.

Next steps for me: Sit down with my CALENDAR and write them in. Because that’s the secret to actually doing your goals, canigetanamen?

You ready for the BEST EVER Fourth of July Playlist? I got you! I created this a few years back, and every year we put it on repeat and blast it. It’s VERY patriotic. We love our country and I get all emotional listening to it each year, thinking about the sacrifices made to get us where we are today. I hope it makes your 4th even better!

June!!! Summer. Peach stands. Halfway point. Weddings. Anniversary. Pool time. Watermelon. Sprinklers. Thunderstorms. Books. Naps. Podcasting. Running. Working. Resting. Playing.

We’re 6 days in, and I’m already so hot 😂.