Networking the Biblical Way …”Mention Me”

Does networking make you feel “icky”? Especially if you are a ministry or christian entrepreneur? Me too. I get it. As a Board Certified Life Coach and Speaker, meeting prospective clients and event planners is important to grow my business. It helps that I am “I” on DISC, a 3 on Enneagram and “WOO” on Gallup Strengths which means I love meeting new people. Even still, I don’t love “selling” myself.

This is when I go back and remind myself of the calling God has given me to empower and equip women to prepare them for their calling and infuse them with godly confidence. I passionately believe in the impact that Christian coaching and the messages I speak have on women being able to confidently move forward to pursue their dreams.

As I was processing this with God one morning through my normal “read through the Bible” plan, I came across this verse: Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh…… Genesis 40:14. Joseph had been wrongly imprisoned and encountered the Cupbearer and Baker to Pharaoh while there. God allowed Joseph to interpret a troubling dream they had, for which they appreciated Joseph’s interpretation. In return, he asked them to remember and mention him to Pharaoh when they were released from prison.

In that moment, I turned this verse into a networking prayer. I told God I would faithfully cultivate relationships that grew me as a professional and my calling to coach and speak. However, I prayed that HE would lay my name on other’s hearts that knew me, had been coached by me or had experienced a conference where I spoke and asked God to lay on hearts to mention me to another. This totally changed the way I viewed God’s activity in my calling. I have seen this play out over and over as others have advocated for me in my absence. It has really strengthened my faith to watch God go behind the scenes on my behalf.

I still go to my networking group once a week as I am actively planting seeds for future growth. However, I also am at peace knowing that God will rise on my behalf and mention me to others.

This networking concept was also a valuable reminder for me to advocate for others in my life … the intern who needs a reference; the friend who needs an introduction; the teammate who needs a promotion. Who can you advocate for this week? A coworker on your team? A new volunteer in your church? Perhaps God is asking you to mention them to another in the week ahead as an answer to their prayer. There is a popular meme going around social media that says “Surround yourself with women who would mention your name in a room full of opportunities.” Let’s be women who mention one another!