Transcript

0:01
What's up, faithful agents?
0:02
Welcome back to another episode of the Faithful Agent Podcast.
0:06
I'm so glad you've joined me once again.
0:08
This week, we've got an incredible topic with Ashley Willis.
0:12
We're going to be talking about when do we go for it when the Lord has placed a dream on our hearts?
0:17
And man, that's a spicy topic.
0:19
So excited to dive into that with Ashley.
0:22
A quick couple of housekeeping things.
0:24
Once again, if you're not part of a Faithful Agent local group, Go to faithfulagent.com, click on local groups.
0:31
gather together once a month all around the country just to encourage and be in relationship with one another.
0:35
I hope that you will do that.
0:37
As always, this podcast is totally free to you, but with the caveat, I hope that you will share this with a friend to encourage them, especially with the topic that we're going to talk about today.
0:46
And before I introduce Ashley officially to you, let me give you a bad joke.
0:50
Now, the truth is I was telling Ashley beforehand, I found a joke about Goliath.
0:55
But then I couldn't find it again and I didn't want to waste Ashley's time sitting here trying to find it.
0:59
So instead I found a joke.
1:00
Forgive me.
1:00
It's not a Christian joke, but I think it's funny.
1:04
So let's see Ashley.
1:05
I don't know.
1:05
Maybe it'll be funny.
1:07
I woke up last night to find the ghost of Gloria Gaynor standing at the foot of my bed.
1:13
At first I was afraid.
1:15
Then I was petrified.
1:16
That's funny.
1:17
Right.
1:18
I didn't know Gloria Gaynor was but the but the song like that makes sense.
1:22
I like that.
1:23
That's that's pretty funny.
1:24
now, right?
1:25
Because of the song.
1:26
Yeah.
1:26
right exactly the ghost exists but that's funny anyways it's not good theology but it's good humor so we're gonna we're gonna stick with that one actually i love it Ashley Willis is the creator of Welcome Home Press.
1:40
We're gonna talk about that today.
1:41
You are gonna love what she's doing there.
1:43
She sent me a packet of what she's doing and it's awesome.
1:47
She's a mom and a wife.
1:49
She's a St.
1:49
Louis native, now a Texan, and she's been a licensed real estate agent for 17 years.
1:55
Ashley, thanks so much for joining us.
1:57
I am so excited that you're here today.
1:59
Thank you, Garrett, for having me.
2:01
I'm so excited to talk to you today.
2:02
Yeah, for sure.
2:03
So let's dive right into the topic.
2:06
When Ashley and I were talking pre-show and I said, Hey, is there a specific topic you want to dive into?
2:10
And she literally said, when the Lord places dreams on our hearts, how do we know when to go forward?
2:15
Which is just such a great, that, that alone is an interesting topic that I want to dive into.
2:21
And you obviously have a story of that, Ashley.
2:23
So tell us the story of welcome home press, and then we'll start to unpack a little bit about how you ended up there and how you knew it was time to go for it.
2:30
So tell us that story.
2:32
Yeah, okay, so this is something I love to talk to people about just because it, you know, so I, ever since I was a child, I had this dream of writing a children's book.
2:44
And it's funny how things like come up in different parts of our life where we're just like, yeah, I still really wanna do that.
2:51
Like it came up, you know, when I was a young adult, you know, and then as a parent and it's just like, you know, you're reading these books and you're like, I still really wanna do this.
3:01
But you know, there's just that time where it's like, it's just not right.
3:06
Like, what am I supposed to write about?
3:08
Like, nothing was clear.
3:09
And you know, there were, you know, just, there's so many things going in our lives, like all the time that just are constantly bombarding us.
3:19
And it's like...
3:21
we don't get really the chance to really sit down and go, okay, like, what is it that I really want to do?
3:28
Like, it's like you're pondering like life, what am I supposed to do here?
3:32
What, what gifts has the Lord gave me that I, that I'm supposed to share with the world?
3:38
And so, you know, it's funny, it was during COVID when we all started to slow down and it, you know, it just, kept coming back to me and it's like, okay, you know, I do think this is something that, you know, has been placed on my heart for a reason.
3:58
And, you know, then it's the question of, well, what am I supposed to write about?
4:05
Because children's books can be written about anything.
4:08
And so honestly, I just was sitting, I was sitting at my dining room table all by myself and I was like, where do people get good ideas?
4:17
I always go back to, Elf on the Shelf.
4:20
Like what a brilliant idea.
4:23
Where does that idea come from?
4:25
And I was like, and now the person's probably a billionaire.
4:30
But you know, it's just that question of like, where do good ideas come from?
4:35
And I was like, well, they're a gift from God.
4:38
Like everything good is a gift from God.
4:42
And so I was like, you know what?
4:44
I gotta pray about this.
4:46
So I sat there and I prayed and I'm like, God, I know that you're gonna give me the best idea, like what I'm supposed to write about.
4:54
And it may be tomorrow or it may be 10 years from now, but I will know when I get that idea that, you know, that that's what I'm supposed to do.
5:06
And I, you know, not to go into this.
5:10
know, backstory a whole lot, but my husband and I were struggling with secondary infertility at the time.
5:19
And so there were a lot of things that, you know, I was asking the Lord for help and guidance and how to get through hard times, because it's really been the only time in my life where it's like, I can't control this, you know, and just leaning into the Lord.
5:37
so...
5:39
Going through that process, you know, has made me lean into the Lord even more of just like, you're gonna give me the idea.
5:50
You're gonna give me the timing.
5:51
I'm gonna know when it's right.
5:53
And you just have to like, just trust that feeling that he gives you.
5:59
And so, it's so surreal, like even when I tell anyone the story, but so a year after I had prayed, you know, it's like I kind of just was like, okay, like going about life, you know, just like all the other things.
6:13
And I was sitting at my dining room table, the exact same spot that I had prayed.
6:18
It was a year later.
6:19
I was not thinking about the book at all.
6:22
And it was just like this idea just was like dropped into my head.
6:27
And it was you're supposed to write a children's book about a family that's moving, that's buying a new house.
6:34
And Garrett, I feel so bad because I started laughing out loud and like once again, all sitting all by myself.
6:43
No one's around and I started laughing and I, you know, I've asked the Lord for forgiveness because he gave me exactly what I wanted.
6:52
But I'm I was just like, my gosh, like one.
6:56
I've been in real estate for 16 years.
6:58
Of course, this is what I'm supposed to write about.
7:00
It's what I know.
7:01
It's a passion of mine.
7:02
It's.
7:04
you know, something that's so dear to me.
7:06
But then it was also like, well, there's got to be like thousands of other books that are about the same topic.
7:15
And so I pull over my computer and I'm getting on Amazon and I'm ordering all these books, just anything that was a children's book about moving.
7:24
And I got them in, you know, a few days later.
7:27
It's not like Prime Now where it's a week later.
7:31
At that time we were getting our things on time.
7:35
And I'm just flipping through like all these books and I'm just like, you know, these are all great stories, but it's not the story like that I would tell.
7:42
And so then that is when this whole journey started.
7:45
And, you know, it's just funny looking at it now of, you know, now it's been published, you know, it's It's like, you know, all these different parts of writing, of my illustrator, you know, finishing her work and then now seeing it all completed.
8:02
It's just such an amazing testament of God's faithfulness.
8:09
Hmm.
8:09
And I think there's a lot of things that we can say that about in our lives.
8:15
And so that's just something that I really love talking to people about because I know there's a lot of us who want that instant gratification.
8:23
I want to be able to do this now.
8:25
I want to do this tomorrow.
8:29
Or I want this immediately.
8:31
And it's just not the way it works.
8:34
Hmm.
8:36
So, you know, the past few years have really been just an incredible testament of his faithfulness and perfect timing.
8:45
And, you know, it really goes with anything.
8:47
I love to tell people, it's just like, it's amazing that it's something that's been on my heart for so long.
8:52
Because I know there's so many people out there who have, you know, whether it's writing a book or learning how to play the piano or, you know, whatever it may be.
9:05
You know, God places those things in our heart for a reason.
9:08
And if it keeps coming up and like, revealing itself to you, like that is a sign that God's telling you to do it.
9:19
And so I love sharing that.
9:21
No, no, I agree.
9:22
I mean, I love the idea like my wife and I recently to have been talking about of, you know, we've got not really extra time, right?
9:30
Cause we have four little kids, but we've got a little bit of extra space and time in our lives.
9:34
And interestingly that you're talking about, I just finished the first draft of my business book and, we want to write kids books, not about moving, but more like entrepreneurial or maybe just stories.
9:44
Right.
9:44
I tell Mike, I tell my kids stories every night and There's like characters that they really enjoy.
9:49
so, okay, maybe we'll write a book.
9:51
Well, my wife and I have been going through the conversation and this is timely for me of, well, and it doesn't matter if it's writing a book, right?
9:58
Whatever they're listening, whoever's listening, whatever they're feeling, like you said, but it's, well, the book seems like maybe something the Lord wants us to do.
10:06
But in my business brain, I'm like, yeah, but I don't know if it's going to work.
10:09
I don't know if it's going to be profitable.
10:10
Like, I don't know how to do that.
10:12
We could also do, and we've...
10:13
You know, I'll actually been looking at, there's this vending machine business we could do.
10:17
If we got free time, that for sure will create cashflow.
10:20
And, know, my business brain is like, well, that's a sure thing.
10:22
We should go do that.
10:24
And we've been wrestling back and forth.
10:26
And it would love your opinion.
10:27
Actually, we've been wrestling back and forth of, this is something like the idea of writing a kid's book gets me excited.
10:34
I feel like it's something that, you know, the way that I tell stories, maybe specifically something the Lord has gifted me in.
10:40
And so therefore I should use it.
10:41
I mean, I'm not.
10:42
vending machines is not a gifting that I have.
10:44
don't know that people have a vending machine gift, right?
10:46
Maybe they do.
10:48
but it's, it's something that the Lord has placed in our hearts and we push it off a little bit, I think, because again, the business brain kicks in and I, know, it doesn't mean that's right or wrong.
10:59
Scripture is not, doesn't say like, this is when you have a business brain and this is when you shouldn't and this week, just go for it, whatever.
11:05
But how do we distinguish those things where it's like, You know, if my family wasn't taken care of financially, I shouldn't just go for something that I don't know if it's gonna work, right?
11:15
I should try to financially provide for them.
11:17
That's my responsibility.
11:18
But because we're okay, is it that moment where it's like, hey, the Lord has placed this on your heart.
11:23
You should just go for it, right?
11:24
Like speak to that.
11:26
The person that's kind of in that space of like, yeah, but I don't know if that's a good idea or if it's gonna work.
11:31
You know, how would you handle it?
11:33
Cause obviously you didn't know it was gonna work either.
11:35
So how do you handle that?
11:36
How do you react to something like that?
11:38
Or what would you tell my wife and I even?
11:40
Yeah, you know, that is such a tough thing to wrestle around because, thankfully, I'm in the financial part, thank God I'm in...
11:50
I'm in a great place to where I could fund this myself.
11:53
I know a lot of authors who have to do crowdfunding, Kickstarter type things to raise the capital to do these sorts of projects.
12:03
And that is something, it's the financial, it's the time, if it's taking away time from your family, there's a lot of things there.
12:12
And so I completely understand that.
12:14
there was...
12:18
there was a time where it's like, well, do I start doing this while my, cause my son is eight years old and it's like, do I start when he's earlier?
12:25
Well, it's like, if I would have started when he was earlier, I wouldn't have had the same idea.
12:28
I probably would have been writing about something completely different, you know?
12:32
And so that kind of goes into it as well.
12:35
Cause it's like, and it's so hard to say that like before you're getting started, because when you're at the...
12:42
at the end, which, you I'm not at the end of this project, but you know, it's like when you've seen it come through, you're like, my gosh, the timing worked out so perfectly.
12:51
I couldn't have planned this better myself, you know, because you think about, I kind of wish I would have done this earlier because we were in a much better housing market than we are now.
13:02
I probably would have sold a lot more books, but I wouldn't have had, you know, the same idea.
13:09
I probably wouldn't have had the same know, illustrator and the team that I had, like it's just amazing like just how it all comes together.
13:17
But what I will say is this wasn't something that was just like, I want to do this.
13:23
I'm going to just go for it.
13:25
You know, it's been years, you know, of just...
13:31
dreaming of it, wishing of it, praying about it.
13:34
And from when God gave me this idea to where we are now, I mean, it's three and a half years later.
13:41
So, it takes time.
13:44
It takes time.
13:45
And anything good is not supposed to be rushed.
13:50
But what I will say is, sometimes, in this dream of mine, it wasn't truly all financial.
14:00
It was more of like, this is a dream that I've had.
14:06
But then it went into like when I was researching more about it, it's like, well, can I make this a profitable business?
14:15
And then it kind of turned into, yeah, it can be a profitable business if I do it a certain way and figure out who I'm selling to, how to reach them, which with it being real estate agents, that was just really easy.
14:29
for me just because I know real estate agents and what they like and what they do and all those things.
14:37
But it's amazing how this dream has now transformed into a mission of getting kids involved in the real estate transaction and helping agents facilitate that with their parents.
14:51
Because I think a lot of times kids are kind of pushed aside.
14:56
Whereas this can be traumatic for kids.
14:58
Moving can be very scary.
15:00
And I think it's a great opportunity for kids to learn about the importance of home ownership and what it takes.
15:07
And mom and dad working really hard to provide a dream for their family.
15:12
And so that it's kind of become more of like a mission for me than just, I want to sell books and have, you know, an additional stream of income.
15:22
It's also become a way for me to help teach my son, Ethan, who's eight, about running a small business.
15:31
He's been in this with me.
15:33
He's helped me with the advertising.
15:34
He helps me, you know, when I have a vendor booth, he helps me ship the books.
15:40
It's funny sometimes because he'll come home from school and he's like, mom, how many books did we sell today?
15:46
And then his next question is, well, how much do I make?
15:49
Nice.
15:51
Attaboy.
15:51
That's a smart kid right there.
15:53
yeah.
15:54
And so, you know, even though like I had this dream of just writing a book, now it's turned into something that is so different than what I had originally planned for it.
16:04
And so like your book, you know, it's funny just like how you start as something, but then it can turn into something so much more meaningful.
16:18
know, and it can be anything, you know, like I always use the example of wanting just to learn how to play the piano or learning something new, how to play a certain pickleball, anything.
16:33
Learning something that's been placed on your heart can then be used for the good of others.
16:40
And it also just, I've had so many people tell me they're just like, it's amazing that you went for it.
16:49
When we get older, we just kind of get set in our ways.
16:51
it's like, they're like, we're just proud of you for going for it.
16:55
That's really brave.
16:57
you know, so now it has been kind of also another mission just to be like, go for it.
17:01
Like, you have these dreams for a reason.
17:04
Life is so short.
17:06
We are here for such a short time and we live these crazy, fast paced lives.
17:13
And what do we want to show our children?
17:16
that we just did the grind and go home and just completely zonk out, you know, after the day's over.
17:24
We want to show them that these dreams are for a reason and purpose and even just enjoyment, you know, having something that is a creative outlet that you love, that brings you joy, you know, that's, the Lord wants us to be joyful and for sure.
17:46
so there's so many parts to that question.
17:49
I hope that answered that good.
17:52
no, I love the, I love the thought process there, right?
17:54
Because I think it is easy for us to, it's common for us to say, it's a great idea and good for you to go for it.
18:03
And it's, well, you could too, you know, why, why don't you, I had a buddy, I had a buddy of mine recently who's in a W two job and we were talking about business ownership and encouraged him like, bro, you could do this.
18:13
And he's like, man, I wish I could do what you do.
18:16
And I'm like, But you can, I don't understand.
18:18
You can, it's just a choice.
18:19
just go, you just go for it.
18:21
And the reality is I think in his mind, just like in my mind, in most of our minds, when we can't see the end game, it makes it hard for us to go for anything.
18:31
And the reality is right when I think about, okay, if we want to write kid books too, we just happen to be, you know, thinking the same way that you're actually did it.
18:39
And we're, talking through it is.
18:41
The reality is when I say, I don't know what the end game is, but I do think the Lord maybe gave me this idea and this thought.
18:46
And if I put it out, like, you know, I think that the fascinating thing for me is, as I work through it myself is number one, the reason I wouldn't do it, right?
18:54
Why wouldn't I do it is the question I asked myself.
18:57
The first one is I'm afraid of rejection.
18:59
What if I do it and nobody likes it?
19:01
Right?
19:01
Well, number one, who cares?
19:03
No one would even know that I had done it.
19:05
And where's my identity found?
19:06
It's found in the Lord.
19:07
It's found in Christ.
19:08
has nothing to do with whether I write a successful book, right?
19:11
Number two, why wouldn't I do it?
19:13
It's because I don't know what the outcome's going to be.
19:15
Well, if we thought that way and were like, I can't do anything unless I know the outcome, we would literally do nothing.
19:22
You know, it's that there are things in our lives, to your point, Ashley, earlier, there are things in our lives that we think we have control on and there are things in our lives that we realize we don't.
19:32
When we realize we don't we get scared and like I don't have control over this like yeah, that's your entire life What do you mean that you don't have control over anything anyways, and yet you do it right regardless?
19:43
And so I think that for us It's that recognition of if I can't see the endgame Then I'm not gonna do it right and instead of to your point of saying now three and a half years, right?
19:56
Excuse me, I think it's okay for us to say, Lord, please just grant me a consistent, just consistently remind me or tell me or show me, hey, this is what I want you to do, right?
20:06
This is to help people.
20:08
And then just do it, just go for it, just do something, right?
20:11
Again, if it's not, like I think we gotta weed through, Tyler always used to give this great example and I give him too much credit, because he hasn't been on the show in forever.
20:19
He was the co-host and co-founder, it's like, bro, where you been?
20:21
But I love him anyways, and he makes good points, so.
20:24
But he always would give this example, actually, of when we look at our lives, right, the Lord has certainly granted or has sovereignty over everything that goes on and every piece that goes on.
20:34
But the way he was describing it is if you look at your life and the decisions you can make, if you go, it's like you have this beautiful backyard that's got a fence around it.
20:43
Right.
20:43
The fence is God's word and the things that he specifically said.
20:46
You can't go do those things.
20:47
Right.
20:48
You can't whatever commit adultery.
20:50
You can't lie.
20:50
You can't steal.
20:51
You can't do all this stuff.
20:52
But anything else inside that beautiful green grass, just go do it.
20:56
You have freedom.
20:57
You have joy.
20:57
There's there's stuff that you can run and play.
20:59
And I think in our context, like you're talking about, Ashley, it's if the Lord has granted you this dream that you have on your heart scriptures, you're not going to be reading scripture one day and you're going to read like Ashley, write the book.
21:12
Like, wait a minute.
21:13
Where did that come from?
21:14
That'd be amazing because I would make it so much easier.
21:16
Right.
21:17
Right.
21:17
absolutely.
21:18
That'd be incredible.
21:20
But you can read and say, there's nothing that prohibits me from doing this.
21:24
It is not sinful or ungodly for me to do X, Y, and Z.
21:28
Therefore, just do it.
21:29
If it's on your heart, just go do it.
21:32
And that uniqueness that we have, it's like, you know, for whoever's listening, whatever might be on your heart, if it doesn't, if you don't dishonor God by taking that action, then just take that action.
21:44
And like Ashley said, Who knows what it's going to turn into?
21:48
It's okay if nobody ends up caring, right?
21:51
It's also okay if it ends up being something totally different because the Lord's sovereign over all of those pieces.
21:57
So again, I love that it's turned into something so much greater for you than just writing a book to help kids move, right?
22:04
Which is what you thought it was.
22:06
And the Lord had a greater purpose for you in that.
22:09
So, three and a half years, right?
22:11
This is going through your head.
22:12
You're processing through what should I do?
22:13
Then what should I write about when you get the idea of, yeah, let's go forward.
22:17
Now that you're on the other side of it, right?
22:20
The book is out.
22:20
You're doing these things.
22:22
When you look back and if you were talking to Ashley at two years in, instead of waiting another year and a half, right?
22:30
What would you say to Ashley at two years in to just give her what you think would be the proper mindset around what she's been thinking about?
22:37
What would you tell her?
22:39
Gosh, that just gave me chills thinking about that.
22:43
You know, because it really has been the biggest blessing and it is, all I would say is trust in God, trust Him.
23:00
Even when, like you said, you have those doubts, those worries, is this gonna work?
23:08
Am I gonna make the money back that we put into it?
23:11
You know, are people gonna like it if, you know, they're in, it's, you have these doubts and I would just tell her to trust in God, trust in God.
23:24
Every time you doubt, trust in God.
23:26
There is not room to be doubtful and hopeful at the same time.
23:33
And you have to pick one.
23:37
and I'm gonna pick hopeful every time.
23:41
And so, yeah, that's what I would say because there were times where it was tough, but it has been such a blessing.
23:53
now, you know, just, now it's just my mission of like, thank you, Lord, thank you for this gift.
24:00
You have blessed us, you've blessed my family.
24:04
Now it's just to share.
24:06
share his faithfulness with everyone.
24:10
Now it's getting to share his promises and glorify him.
24:18
Every time I sell a book, I glorify him.
24:22
So it's really been an incredible journey and gosh, it's been, I've learned so much the past few years.
24:33
Not even just about publishing.
24:34
It's more about God's love.
24:37
It has been shown more to me than I could ever ever imagined.
24:42
And I love that thought of maybe the Lord's places on your heart because he has something to show you.
24:48
Right.
24:49
It's not even, I mean, I think that we, I know I do this.
24:53
often will judge the success of what we do based on the way, the same way the world would judge success.
24:59
Right.
24:59
Did you sell a lot of books?
25:01
Did you make a lot of money?
25:02
Did it, did it impact a ton of people?
25:04
X, Y, and Z.
25:05
And that's not a bad measurement, right?
25:08
That's a measurement we can use too, as believers, but As believers, we also have this other measurement, right?
25:14
What did the Lord show you?
25:15
How did he sanctify you in that process?
25:19
Where did he, we've got clients right now who are buying a new home and selling their home.
25:24
Well, they bought this house, their sale is taking way longer than we anticipated, right?
25:29
All of us.
25:30
And he's a bright, who hasn't had that experience?
25:33
And he's a brother in Christ.
25:35
goes to church with me and in a similar way, I think, and I certainly won't say his name, but In a similar way, he's like, man, he's being super honest with me.
25:42
He's like, Karen, I'm just wrestling with, is God good?
25:46
And I know that he is, but because it's not going the way I want, I keep wrestling.
25:51
Is the Lord good?
25:52
And I have to remind myself that yes, he is, even if I don't feel like it.
25:57
And I know that he's teaching me something, right?
26:00
And I'm proud of him for the way he's wrestling through this struggle, right?
26:05
Like you said, I love that you said you can't have doubt and hope at the same time.
26:09
But he's wrestling through that.
26:11
so does the world, would the world tell him it's successful if he ends up having to rent it, right?
26:17
Or if he doesn't sell it for what he wanted?
26:19
No, the world would say, that's too bad, man.
26:21
Try again later.
26:23
But would a believer who could look, and not that we really can, but like a believer who could look and see the sanctifying work that the Lord has done, would we look and say, bro, that was a great thing for you.
26:35
You look more like Christ on the other side of quote-unquote failure than you do if you had had success.
26:43
What a good, kind father that we have.
26:46
My own children, I wouldn't let them succeed just over and over and over to get big heads and egos and think everything's perfect.
26:53
Yeah, I want them to win, but more than anything, I want them to look more like Christ.
26:58
And so, however that needs to happen, right?
27:02
And the Lord in His kindness is the same way to us.
27:05
And so, Anyway, it's just what you're talking about sharing that is what we think we're walking into when the Lord places on our hearts.
27:13
You said this dream that the Lord has placed on our hearts.
27:16
When do we go for it?
27:18
Well, I think the first piece is prayer, discernment, asking the people around us, right?
27:23
That's your example.
27:24
The second piece is, Hey, but don't forget that when you go for it, whatever the success that the world thinks is there, what we have promised is not worldly success.
27:35
We have promised that he will use all things to make us look more like him.
27:39
Is that not good to go take that action?
27:42
Right?
27:43
I'm speaking to myself like, dude, I'm going to hang this up.
27:46
We're not on a call.
27:47
I'm going to end this, Ashley, and I'm going to go write that book because I'm convicting myself, which is what always happens on the show.
27:55
again, I think that's so cool.
27:56
Like you wrote a book, but guess what the Lord is actually doing?
28:00
He's using it to show other people.
28:02
what he's calling them to as well so praise God for that so actually tell us what it actually is and then tell our audience where they can go get it how they can connect with you walk us through that So this is the house hunt.
28:15
So this is our storybook.
28:17
It's a hardcover with a dust jacket.
28:19
It's beautifully, beautifully designed.
28:21
And it is about a family who's looking to buy a home.
28:27
And so it's like almost like an episode of House Hunters for Kids.
28:31
And so I created this to be an incredible gift for agents to give their clients with.
28:38
for agents to give their clients with kids.
28:40
What's really cool is we also do custom labels.
28:43
I've got garrets here.
28:44
These go inside the book.
28:49
so it's really a win-win-win because it becomes a tax write-off for agents.
28:55
And then it's a memorable gift for them to give their clients.
28:59
We created this to be a keepsake for families to keep.
29:05
And then...
29:06
We also do have our activity book.
29:08
This is 60 pages of just coloring pages, activities, things that are really interactive for the kids during the house hunt.
29:17
And so...
29:18
really good side note inside there, right?
29:20
If I remember, cause my kids have done it.
29:22
They love the book.
29:23
We've gone through it, right?
29:24
Like I can attest agents.
29:26
Yeah, we really liked it.
29:27
My kids re we're not moving and they kept thinking we were moving.
29:30
I'm like, no daddy's just showing you this, right?
29:32
Cause I'm going to talk to Ms.
29:33
Ashley.
29:34
right, right.
29:35
Exactly.
29:36
But, but in the activity book, right?
29:38
I, if I remember there's things like, what does a home inspector do?
29:41
What does a real estate, like it's just cool that it's not only is it just something to keep them occupied.
29:46
Yeah.
29:47
helping them understand the process of what is going on, right?
29:51
And so, and I know there's one more piece I want you to tell them, but I'll say this to our agents, is it was a meaningful thing for me to receive and we're not even moving, right?
30:02
Because it is, like who's the forgotten people talk all the time, hey, get their dog a gift because they love their dog, which that's fine, that's cool, but guess what?
30:10
What about the kids who are going through this process too?
30:13
And what about them?
30:14
And I think, You know, for us for 2025 as we head in, and this will be part of it, but for 2025, as my team heads into and we think about it, our thought process, our focus this year is, is genuineness, right?
30:27
Like that's our word being genuine with our people.
30:31
How do we do that?
30:32
It's not just like randomly texting them.
30:34
It's, Hey, you're, you have kids.
30:36
get it.
30:37
I know what it's like to move with kids.
30:38
I know that they're asking all these questions.
30:40
Hey, have this, I want them to be engaged in it too.
30:43
I want this to be a blessing to them also.
30:46
There's nothing else like it, agents.
30:48
And so just the thoughtfulness of that to show up and say, it's not just about you.
30:52
Hey, I care about all of you guys.
30:54
And here's one thing that I wanna offer to you.
30:56
Anyways, I just think it's so cool.
30:58
It's such a sweet gift.
30:59
So anyways, I know there's one more piece.
31:00
So share the last piece, Ashley.
31:02
So the last one is our, have a memory match game and it's just like your classic memory game where you flip the, you know, little pieces over, but it's all illustrations from the book.
31:13
And it's just a really sweet little gift that you can add on to the two books.
31:19
A lot of agents have actually been putting this in their open houses and having it at the kitchen table.
31:24
So if they've got kids that come into the open house, they can sit there and play it, read the book.
31:31
So it's just a fun little addition as a gift.
31:35
Yeah.
31:36
Where we've got to as agents in the post-NAR world and all the things, you've got to stand out, right?
31:42
You've got to separate yourself from every other agent that exists out there, especially if you're open house or you're cold calling, you're doing those things where they don't know you anyways.
31:51
How do they get to know you?
31:52
They see the genuine, authentic person, right?
31:56
And the person who goes beyond to say, hey, I know your kids are here.
32:00
you know, let them color on this activity book or like you said, use this memory match gate, whatever it is, it's going out of your way to be thoughtful about all the pieces.
32:08
That's what matters, right?
32:10
So agents, definitely got to check this out.
32:11
Ashley, where do they go if they want to learn more about it?
32:14
Yeah, so and I wanna add really quick because what I get a lot about this is, this is such a great closing gift.
32:21
Do not give this to your clients at closing.
32:24
Don't do it.
32:26
This is meant to be given at the listing appointment, at the buyer appointment, because if they're interviewing another agent behind you, can guarantee you they're probably not giving their kids a gift.
32:38
So this is just to help you stand out.
32:41
you know, absolutely make a difference for these kids and be thoughtful and genuine.
32:48
But really, nail that presentation, seal the deal.
32:53
I mean, that's, yes, yes.
32:56
But yes, so you can go to my website.
32:59
It's www.welcomehomepress.com.
33:04
Awesome.
33:05
You can buy all of them there.
33:07
Orders over $50 do get free shipping.
33:10
We have the options of the custom labels that really just really makes it stand apart.
33:19
But you can also find us on Instagram at Welcome Home Press.
33:22
Nice, awesome.
33:23
So I'll put both of those in the show notes agents.
33:26
Go check it out.
33:27
Again, I think that the...
33:29
What I hope you take away agents, of course, I want you to check that out.
33:32
What I also hope that you take away is by you pursuing the dreams that the Lord has placed on your heart.
33:38
You will inspire the dreams that the Lord has placed on others too.
33:42
That's how a community should operate.
33:45
Right.
33:45
And so let's go support Ashley's dream and then let's go for it ourselves.
33:49
That's my hope as we leave this episode, as we come through this and listen to it we think about it, maybe we talk to other people about it, local leaders have your Have your local group listen to this you guys can watch it on youtube if you want to see what she showed There at the end, but here's the point you're more than just a real estate agent, right?
34:08
First of all, you're a follower of christ, but because you're a follower of christ He's given you skills and heart and passion That's more than just selling homes that we should be excellent at selling homes Of course we should but if the lord is calling you also to something else Don't ignore that just because it doesn't make business sense, right pursue discernment in it and then be willing to go for it that I think is the message that Ashley is trying to get across that I need to hear too, right?
34:33
So be on the lookout for my kids book.
34:34
It's coming out next week.
34:35
No, it's not.
34:37
But I think that's the heart behind it is pursue what the Lord has called you to pursue.
34:41
That's what obedience looks like.
34:43
So Ashley Willis, I am so grateful that you joined us today.
34:46
Everybody go check out welcome home press dot com.
34:48
Follow her on Instagram and we'll look forward to seeing you next week.
34:52
Thank you, Garrett.