So. Sherrika taught for 52 minutes tonight… with her mic off. 😅 And since nobody joined, there was no one there to say, “Sherrika, you’re on mute!” 😂 If you can read lips, the replay is all yours. If not, we’ve got you. Here’s what you missed. 1. Validation strengthens what you decided. It doesn’t change it. You can hear from God and still ask questions. Scripture tells us to count the cost and seek wise counsel. That’s not doubt. That’s wisdom. 2. If reaching out makes your stomach drop, read this twice. - You’re not selling. You’re asking for her story. - Your first five don’t have to be strangers. Start with people who already trust you. - Let your wiring choose the method. Not a talker? An email, a voice note, or a poll works. - A no, or no reply, isn’t rejection. It’s signal too. 3. Copy, paste, send: “Hi [Name]! I’m working on something to help [who you serve] with [the problem], and you came to mind. Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call this week? I’m not selling anything. I’d just love to hear about your experience. Totally okay if not!” 🎙️ Phone calls not your thing? Sherrika’s go-to is a voice note. Send a quick one in your own voice, and ask her to reply with one when she has a minute. No scheduling, no pressure, and you still get to hear her tone and her exact words. Try: “Hey [Name]! I’m working on something to help [who you serve] with [the problem], and I’d love your take. When you get a minute, could you send me a quick voice note back answering this: What feels hardest about [problem] for you right now?” 4. Ask, then get quiet. - What feels hardest about [problem] right now? - What have you already tried? - What has been frustrating? - What do you wish someone would simplify? - If this were solved, what would feel different? Don’t correct, teach, or defend your idea. Just listen, and write down her exact words. 5. Protect your capacity. When you hear “Could you also add…?” your answer is “That may be phase two.” Validation sharpens. It doesn’t multiply. And 5 to 10 good conversations is usually enough to see the pattern, but any amount that you get is better than nothing.

Happy Birthday to the heart behind the vision, Sherrika! @Sherrika Newsome Today, we’re celebrating you and the care and intentionality you bring to The Proverbs Collective. Thank you for creating a space where we can feel supported, grow in clarity, and take meaningful steps toward what God has called us to build. We pray this new year brings you joy, peace, renewed strength, and beautiful moments to enjoy all that you’re pouring into others. Proverbs Collective family, join us in wishing Sherrika a happy birthday in the comments! 🎉 We'd love for you to share how Sherrika's teaching, encouragement, or something she’s shared has made a difference in your life. You can also leave her a word of prayer, encouragement, or a favorite memory would be lovely, too. You’re also welcome to create your own standalone post to celebrate her.💃 A quick reminder: we won’t be meeting today. Our next live is tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, at 9 p.m. ET. We have a lot to talk about! The Week 4 checkpoint is pinned at the top of the community. Feel free to explore it before we meet. More details coming soon!

Hey y’all! 💛 Thank you for all the birthday love. I took last week to rest, celebrate, and reflect, and I’m so glad to be back with you. First, let me say this: you all are a gift to me. Getting to help you take what God has given you and build it into a real business is a gift. Thank you for showing up and saying yes to this. I’m looking forward to walking through your journey with you. Last week, a friend suggested using my birthday, not New Year’s, as the marker for my next year. So when my husband asked me how I want to show up this next year, my answer came quickly. I want to be bold. I want to be courageous with what God has given me and a good steward over all of it: my time, my finances, my resources, my family, and my relationships. And being a good steward of my time started with being honest that this season looks different from any before it. We’re making a sacrifice to homeschool my daughter in the mornings before she heads to her half-day program this school year. I’m also building new structure and systems in my business and launching new things, including my course and new ways to serve my clients. With everything else I’m carrying, my mornings started feeling anxiety-inducing. So I asked myself one question: What does this season require of me? And I rebuilt my schedule around the answer. My mornings are for my daughter, time with the Lord, exercise, and something that feeds me. My client calls don’t start until 3pm. Those boundaries aren’t about doing less. They’re what let me show up fully for what God has given me, and that includes you. So let me ask you the same thing. What does your season require of you? We’re in Week 5, our Decision Week. After this, we start getting into the real work, and I don’t want anyone feeling so far behind that the next part feels impossible. That doesn’t mean binge-watching four weeks of lessons. It means one bold, faithful step this week. Maybe that’s: - Booking a call with me - Showing up Wednesday at 9PM ET for guided help - Setting aside one time block for your next lesson

This week we talked about how God designed each of us uniquely. Our spiritual gifts. Our personalities. Even our Enneagram. (Stay tuned for a separate post on that one.) All of it works together to shape not just who we are but how we build, what we build, and how we show up for ourselves and the people we are called to serve. I want to show you something personal first. I have been sharing my office journey with you all, and there have been a few updates since the last time you saw it. My new desk finally arrived. Now the office is not finished yet. See, the perfectionist in me already wants to rewrap the bookshelves to match the desk 🫣, but what I really want to show you is what this space has become for me right now. In the same room, I now have a corner where I spend time with the Lord on the floor. A little gym setup with dumbbells, a yoga mat, and yoga blocks tucked away in the closet. And my workspace. One space. Multiple ways of showing up for myself. That is my craftsmanship gift in action. I do not just build businesses. I build environments. Spaces that reflect intention, order, and purpose. That is how God wired me. And once I understood that, it changed how I approach everything, including how I take care of myself. Now I want to see how God wired you. Here is your weekend challenge: Pick one thing you learned about yourself this week. Your spiritual gifts. Your DISC results. Something that resonated. And then show me through a photo how you are going to set yourself up to show up for yourself in this next season. Here are a few examples to get you thinking. If your gift is administration, maybe it looks like a planner laid out, a color-coded schedule, or a workspace that is finally organized the way your brain needs it to be. If your gift is teaching, maybe it looks like a reading nook, a stack of books you are working through, or a quiet space where you prepare and study. If your gift is help or service, maybe it looks like a meal prepped for the week so you can show up for others without running on empty first.

We’re officially back, and it feels so good to reconnect with you! As we step into this new quarter, I want to remind you that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin again. Whether you spent the break resting, reflecting, rebuilding, or simply managing all that life placed in front of you, you are welcome here exactly as you are. We have some meaningful things lined up to help you reconnect with your vision, gain clarity, and continue building what God has entrusted to you, one intentional step at a time. Sherrika is genuinely invested in seeing each of you grow and succeed, and we are here to listen, encourage you, and support you along the way. You do not have to build alone. To help us reconnect, share one thing in the comments: What would you most like support with in this new quarter? Welcome back, ladies. We’re excited about what lies ahead! 🎉