I am Me.

I am me.
I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a cousin, a friend.
I am me.
I am an innocent little girl, a curious teenager, a responsible adult.
I am me.
I am a Christian woman, a lover of people and a respecter of life.
I am me.
I am a student of the world, learning and growing each day from all I engage with…people and things.
I am me.
I am a sinner, seeking forgiveness and the grace to become a better person.
I am me.
I am a product of my past and my present…always moving forward to the me I will become. I cannot be less than “the me” I am. When society asks me to extract the Christian me and leave that at the door of the workplace, leave it off of Social Media, keep it out of any social engagement, they are asking me to not be “whole”. When my friends say do not mix religion with business, are they fearful of authenticity? Do they want a “masked me” to report to work, to post in various SM platforms, to go to cocktail parties? I cannot be less than who I am as I would then not be true to myself. I am a Christian… a lover of God…a believer. For years I have struggled with the split of spirituality and the secular world. With enormous effort, I have worked to interweave the threads of my life as a striving businessperson, a loving mother, a devoted daughter, a faith-sharing catechist, a fun-loving friend to all come together creating a beautiful tapestry of the true me. It is not easy. There are many hurdles and most come from people you love and care about who do not want you to always be you.
I love the car business! The car business has not and still does not enjoy a label as one of the most integrity supported industries. Perhaps this is because the purchasing methods associated with car buying, using negotiation to attain the “best deal” has left the consumer always uncertain and guessing…”Did they indeed get the “best deal”? The skill of negotiation is an art form which really is performed with a lot of little lies being told by both parties… Okay, I said it! However, the majority of car dealers today are caring and compassionate people whose true mission is to serve their clients, providing them with products and service which satisfy their needs and requirements.
I recently created the Facebook group called, Christianity and the Car Business. Some of my “car guy” friends were not supportive of this. I am now involved with a Christian-based Automotive conference, “How to Run Your Dealership by THE BOOK , (meaning the bible). Some fear this. The fact is… everything you need to know to live your life…to become your true self, is found in the bible. The bible will teach you, will guide you, and remain relevant to you even in these days when technology seems to drive our every being. I believe in this conference. As I said before, I cannot allow others to ask me to be less than I am.
I am a sinner who remains hopeful because I know our God is a forgiving God.
I am a doubter who remains faithful because I know our God is a merciful God.
I am a hater at times, who strives to love everyone because I know our God is a loving God.
I am angry, sad, anxious and scared…but I keep on smiling because I know our God is a compassionate God.
I am me. I am a work in process, daily enriched by God’s grace and just aspiring to be “the me” God intended me to be.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joelle Felice Paige on April 11, 2014 at 3:55pm

I am a little late, about a year and change, but I have to tell you how much this post has blessed me today....boy did I need to read this today! GOD BLESS YOU for sharing this with me - I say me because I know it was God who led me to this site, this group, this post today...a year and change later. He is so amazing, sometimes I forget just HOW amazing He is...until He reminds me with words of love and encouragement like these, from a stranger. Blessings!

Permalink Reply by NANCY SIMMONS on June 3, 2014 at 9:40pm

I have not been on this site since about the time I wrote this Joelle! I came to it today and saw your message! Our God is a wondrous God for sure!!! I am glad your enjoyed my words...they just flowed out of my fingertips one day after I had been criticized for being a Christian and being in the car business.

Permalink Reply by Matt Page on April 14, 2014 at 3:59pm

This is exactly why we are struggling as an industry!

The five main reasons are:

Have heart! We are not a commodity, but people who build relationships. (Not workers off an assembly line.)

It's not possible to separate ourselves from God. (Even if we were burned to ashes.)

We are going through the motions in this industry with traditional thinking. (But support traditional values.)

We criticize mistakes instead of appreciating what they do for us. (Say I appreciate your effort, but do this instead is far more effective than criticism.)

There is no quick fix that will work. (Salespeople are here to make sure they considered everything in their research that is relevant.)

I am a member of this Facebook group as well.

Permalink Reply by NANCY SIMMONS on June 3, 2014 at 9:41pm

Hi Matt... The group on Facebook was started by me... This one has a different creator...both are much needed!

Permalink Reply by Joe Papa on January 2, 2015 at 8:44am

Thank you Nancy. This is the first time I've been on this sight in over a year and this was the first post I've read. I learned a lot about myself reading your words....Gives me a lot to think about.

Permalink Reply by Virgil Stanphill on April 10, 2015 at 12:59pm

As you said, there is nothing to fear about being a Christian while you're at work. If it's genuine it will help your work, not hurt it.

I think our Christian witness in business is only possible when we live by Godly principles. When we do this people will take note because they will know someone took a genuine interest in them and didn't just see them as another step in meeting their sales goals. You don't even have to verbalize it - it comes through. When we view others merely as stepping stones to get what we want that comes through too.

God knows we need sales. If we'll "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" the sales will come. Zig Ziglar was an excellent example of that.