Less Followers, More Friends! How to Finally Find Your Creative Tribe with Addie Ott, Author

SPEAKER_02 0:00

What if chasing followers is the very thing keeping you from the joy, purpose, and creative friendships that you've been praying for? You could have the perfect Instagram feed, a growing YouTube audience, and still feel completely alone. In today's conversation, I'm talking with Christian podcaster and author Addie Ott on why chasing followers will never satisfy your creative soul, and how she found joy, purpose, and even business growth by putting fellowship first. If you've been wrestling with comparison, wondering how to balance ambition with humility, or just longing for creative friendships, this episode might be the lifeline that you've been praying for. This is the Guiding Gig Show where we help you to become the creator that you were created to be. And I'm your host, Alan C. Paul, a musician, author, and coach to Faith Focused Creators. And today, you're going to learn why building fellowship instead of chasing followers can transform your creative life from the inside out. Addie Ott, welcome to the God and Gig Show. How are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

I'm doing really well. But first, Alan, thank you for that warm introduction. And I just echo it right back. I'm so glad God connected us.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

It really is one of those things that, like, you're saying, why didn't you show? Why didn't I know about you beforehand? Why didn't we meet all the people that share our values? Share our, but you know what? Everything happens in God's own time. I'm glad God helped us make this connection, but we're here about you, my friends. So I always try to start these interviews with something that's not so obvious. And everyone's read your bio by now. If they wouldn't have clicked on it, they didn't get interested, right? So the thing I want you to ask or answer is when people do meet you for the first time, you know you get that 30-second elevator pitch, right? Whether you're a professional or a church or whatever. But if they don't get a chance to read the bio, what are those two or three things you do want them to remember about you, even if they don't get the entire professional, you know, spiel about who you who you serve, all your books and things like that?

SPEAKER_00 2:05

I think that's a really great question. And, you know, the our our bios, we tweak them to present the best versions of ourselves and to hopefully build a bridge for people to find us. And so I'm really glad for our friends who are here. Um, but honestly, if you met me like in person, I might be at a coffee shop, honestly. Iced coffee is my favorite, or at Chick-fil-A, like getting some Chick-fil-A breakfast or dinner anytime, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Okay, we're gonna meet each other there. There we're already on the same page. I mean, that's minis, those minis are addictive. I'm sorry. I know we're not supposed to be addicted to things.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

They totally are. So I hope and pray that if I was out and about, like those are the people where if I have a conversation and you just say, hey, like I hope that there's a connection that you would remember really warm hospitality that leads you and points you back to Jesus, honestly. Um, but honestly, if we break it down, Alan, like I hope people leave for a conversation feeling refreshed and that they made a trusted new friend. I really want people, I believe it, if we just meet for the first time, like, hey, you're gonna come to Indiana, come stay at my house, or let's go get Chick-fil-A. Like, if there is something we have in common and that you need a place to land and a place that is there where there is hope, like, can I just tell you about this name, this man named Jesus who changed my life? Um, and I really hope that they feel that hospitality that um is just from Jesus and that they have a friend they can call anytime, anywhere.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Wow. Okay. Now, once again, you've proven why this is the kind of person, the kind of community you want to be a part of, the kind of people that you want to meet, right? So because you said that, clearly this connects with both what we do as our profession, right? But also our identity, who we are. And so I've already just in doing the little quick stalking of your platform, of your stuff, of your socials and things like that, there is an overwhelming sense that you want people to identify first with the who they are versus the what they do. And you are clearly a gifted graphic designer, but I want to ask you, what were those first things? I guess whether you were a child, whether it was at the beginning of your journey and as an artist, what were those first few things that helped you kind of figure out your identity? Was it in art? Was it in something else? Was it in obviously your faith? What were those first few things that helped you kind of figure out, hey, this is who Addy is?

SPEAKER_00 4:33

Hmm, this is such a fun question. I always feel like this is like the origin story or the hero. You know, I love Donald Miller. And it's like, where are you going? And we're hopefully going to be a guide to get you to this place. Um, I just, I just love story. You know, we are creative people, and so story is a big part of it. And when we like reframe the our our lives and the story that God is writing, like our friends can do this too. So even though I'm talking about my life, like think about your life um and see where God's hand was and just wrestle with this question. But for me, Alan, my upbringing was a small Christian home, um, you know, Christian school, private Christian school too. And so our identities kind of got locked in really early at a young age, honestly. I went there K through 12, 13 years all the way through high school, graduated with a high school class of 32, 35, so small. So, like that kind of tells you a little bit of the background and where I was. Um, and so you kind of can not, you know, sometimes it's it's hard to change. You know, you get locked into always being the quiet girl or more reserved. We're like, wait a minute, all my friends are telling me I I'm creative, but I didn't believe them. Like, I was like, that can't just be it, that I'm creative. Like, no way. There has to be something more or quote unquote bigger than that. Like, I honestly, if I'm being honest, I wrapped up a lot of my identity at an early age in schoolwork, in my grades, getting really good grades. Um, I just was wrecked if I like didn't get an A or if I got a B plus, but I'm like, Lord, he has helped me so much, just kind of see that my identity is not worth in the things that I can do or the ways I can perform or even the things I can create. It's all this overflow that I've been continuously leaning into, Alan, if I'm being honest. And so you think about those things, we all kind of wrestle with this comparison trap and even just this perfectionism as just a person. We want to do our very best. Um, but we can get stuck in some of these soundtracks if we're not too careful, you know, and that they can be the thing that defines our identity. And so by the grace of God, I remember literally earlier than this, but literally eighth grade Bible class, my Bible teacher and all my friends are like, Addie, yeah, you're creative. And I'm like, well, what does that really mean? And I look at my life and I was like selling, like, you know, the bottle caps and like kluts, like those like art kits. Like I was selling those. Yeah. Like at school or thinking about like I had a like a secret club in my uh neighborhood and using like publisher tools, making business cards. Like we had this whole thing. I was doing branding before I didn't even know what it was. And so when I look at the things and some of the just the avenues I was kind of running in, I was like, oh yeah, I actually am creative and I know that this gift is from God. I had a relationship with Jesus, and I knew I just wanted to find out the thing that he put in me to serve and give it back to him. And so once I kind of accepted that, oh, it is creativity and it's not like this grand revelation, the sky or something. It's it's just this is the tools he's given me. Um, and I was a good student. Like it's nothing wrong with that. But how can I flip it where I've everything that I'm doing, it's flowing from the identity of him and who he's called me to be. Cause he's the one who put that creativity in me. So when I strive to, you know, think of really creative things or the next best idea in my own strength, I'll just tell you, Alan, I will always fail. I can pinpoint moments back in college where I was overwhelmed or exhausted. And God's like, hey, come back to me. You know, he's always so kind to let us do that. Um, and so just that reminder is that, you know, staying close to the garden and walking with Jesus is something to say. It's another thing to do. And we continuously have to stay close to him. Um, and so when we post something online or we show up here, um, it's okay if, you know, God it can do whatever he wants to do with it. We're not the ones to, you know, try to make it, you know, perform all the really you know, really, really well. Um, we just want to give the offering, you know, back to him. And so that's a longer answer, but that's kind of kind of unwinding everything, kind of peeling about the curtain. And I just want to encourage our friends, like think about the things that people say, wow, you you're really passionate about this or you're really good at this. Maybe there's something like back to your childhood that you're like, oh, of course I was still lemonade. Like, I love doing that. And like, and just embracing the title of being an entrepreneur and owning it. Like, be like, yeah, I create solutions and I want to help people do that and bring hope in those solutions.

SPEAKER_02 9:24

Okay. Once again, I have to make sure this doesn't feel like you're just like pouring into me and nobody else cares. I don't care about anybody else listening right now. Here's the two things I love that you just kind of shared. Again, I love the fact that you opened up and just kind of let that flow. There's no one size fits all solutions and one size fits all like journey in terms of your creator lifestyle, right? One of the things that I immediately heard that I said, oh, thank God she was willing to share that part, which was your kind of entrepreneurial bent, the selling thigs, the hey, you didn't even see that as being part of like, oh, I'm a creative and you expected it to be bigger. But so many of us struggle as artists, once we accept that, right? As creators, of saying the entrepreneurial selling part is actually just part of the job. It's part of the identity, it's part of sharing what you do. And not, I guess I'm calling I'm turning around to a question. Was there was that a struggle for you to look at the business part? I guess I don't know when that actually happened. Was it in college that you're like, oh, I got to make a living doing this? It's my it's my heart, it's what God put in me. But now there's this other side, which is serving through selling or serving through creating a business. So when did that enter? And was there any conflict or tension in those two things?

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Yeah, this is such a great topic. Probably we can have another whole long podcast just about selling and how it is a service to people. If we have a solution to a problem or we're going to improve their life in a way, it's not a it's not a disservice to sell it to them. If anything, it is a disservice to go the other way and say, hey, I created this thing I'm really passionate about that and helped my life. And I hope, you know, pray it's gonna help theirs. So that's something that I'm even continuing to unravel, which is so exciting just to see um how we can continuously be learning and growing as entrepreneurs and creatives. Honestly, you know, so kind of going back, you know, you kind of mentioned about okay, you know, being an artist, oh, I gotta make money, that starving artist thing. And I'm like, let's reframe this mindset actually. So you kind of have to go back a little bit before we get to college. Um, but I went to Savannah College of Art and Design, which is known as SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. Absolutely loved it. But before I knew about SCAD, I honestly, Alan, didn't even know art school was even a thing, and that they're actually professional creatives. They are creative careers, not just the starving artist mindset. And so, praise the Lord for Lydia Trailer, my art teacher in freshman year of high school, took a photography class and I thought I was gonna be really terrible at it, of I guess not terrible at it, but I just knew uh drawing was not my strong suit. So I was like, let's do a camera. I think I can use this. I think this will be fun. My friends are here. And to my surprise, I fell in love with it so much, took photo too. I loved shooting manual and just kind of learning and honestly capturing God's creation and putting it back to him of like, this is where my eyes are going, and I get to see and just grow my relationship with God in this way, which is really cool and really unique for me personally, and just open up that door of art and creativity. And then my teacher, Lydia, she was like, Addie, like you have a creative eye. And for someone to say that to you at a young age, we have no idea how impactful that is and what that really means for us. And so she was the one who really encouraged me to look into like going to college seriously for art, not just going to college and getting kind of like a minor in art, um, an actual major. And so she was like, Addie, I think you could actually do this for a living. I said, That's a thing? I didn't even know. So I was really excited. And then I felt like God kind of like narrowed in my vision almost like a horse with blinders on in a good way where I'm not distracted by anything else. I did an internship kind of the next year, my junior year of high school, really serious about photography and looking at schools like in Indiana and kind of surrounding the Midwest that said they had photography, but they weren't as serious as I wanted to be if I'm gonna make this an actual career. And so I continued to connect with people and one of my friends, uh Kathy Hoskins, her son had gone to SCAD and she's like, I think Addie could go here. And I didn't know how competitive it was, Alan. I'm just a small town, Indiana, you know, girl. And I went there and literally it knocked my socks off. I was like, you know, freshman, um, you know, kind of version of me. I was like, this is amazing. I can't believe this. They have a whole building dedicated for photography, dark room, everything and more you could ever wish. Like it is like, you know, throwing back to Toys R Us or like Best Buy of just photography, if you think that. Um, and so it was a lot of fun. But the scary thing for me, Alan, is that I couldn't really quite afford SCAD. I mean, it was like the most expensive school. I was terrified to tell my parents. And honestly, I just prayed though. I was like, Lord, I don't know where this is gonna come from. And there was scholarship after scholarship after scholarship is the furthest school away. And God just provided and like opened that door wide open. So we can't disregard like those stories and the things that he's done that I look back and like that faith just continues to spur myself. And I pray that young people will spur them on to step into the doors that God's inviting them into. And so, this mindset of selling, though, I I love school. I I really love school. I loved it so much in high school, like learning, you know, that kind of teacher's pet, if you will. Um, and so I loved college, I loved learning and doing a bunch of projects, especially creative ones. You're like, whoa, this is so much more fun than a test. Um, because you get to do stuff is awesome. But the selling part can be a challenge when I would shoot weddings and starting out with photography, shooting weddings. It's like, how do you value yourself? And it might be out of someone's budget, but it's not out of mine based on the expertise and the years, you know, that you put into your work and your craft and your uh kind of even your style, all of these things. Um, and so I think over the years, I've gotten, you know, a little wiser, you know, with years of age and experience and seeing service and selling truly as a gift, where if I get to be a part of someone's day or even like this podcast or being a part of a conversation, we are already friends. Like I don't take that lightly. And so you just think about okay, I want to see selling and serving people as opportunities for connection and honestly for gospel center conversations to happen. And with my business, gentle and lowly co, um, that is just kind of an overflow. It's on the side that I do in my full-time uh, you know, outside of my full-time job. And I wanted to do something with these creative tools that I felt like God put in my hands for a reason. And I was like, why do I like to write? Why do I like photography, videos, podcasting? Like I picked up all these things and it's not by accident. And so it has been, you know, I think it can be, you can say, oh, it's been a challenge, you know, if you're more introverted like me, but at the same time, I love meeting new people. And so I think God can also like make you into an extrovert in the best way because the place communites us, you know.

SPEAKER_02 16:59

Yeah, he pours in just what you need. He gives you grace for the extroversion, extroversion that you need just to put yourself out there, right? And then you're of course you're recharged in your prayer time and you get to be more alone with him and then alone with yourself and things like that. But I love the fact that you shared your journey through the college, your journey to seeing that this was available for you. And again, like I feel like the reason why I'm I'm so entranced with the idea of you stepping into this both the business and the service and the ministry, right? All in one, is because even in terms of your company you just mentioned, um, gentle and lowly, it does require you to kind of put yourself out there. But at the same time, what you're telling people is this is a way to be humble. This is a way to be outside of in the world, but not of the world. And there's this dichotomy that I'm always attracted to when we have to show up as our authentic selves, but we have to come almost invite people into this world. We have to invite them into the creative world, we have to invite them to the entrepreneur world. And so, like I said, there's always this balancing act that we do. And so I kind of want to get into that with you because we discussed before we got on this particular call this idea of godly ambition.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:18

And it struck like, whoa, okay, we're gonna go deep in this conversation because for someone like you who clearly values the fellowship, values the deeper things that come with time, with staying connected with God, staying connected with his word, staying connected with what really feeds that creative side of you. And yet, you have to build, right? Even as you mentioned it, build a company, gentle and lowly. I have these gifts. I like to do these things, but now I'm in this social media world where everything has to have a logo and a label and it has to be promoted a hundred times on social media and so on. So I would love for you to talk a little bit about the heart behind gentle and lowly, but also that godly ambition. Like you want this to be in front of people. God gave it for a reason, a dream. And getting it out there sometimes can feel like, like you said, almost counter to the very thing that he's called you to in terms of your personality.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

Yeah. Oh man, this is such a great question. And of course, I'm really passionate about this as well. But uh, godly ambition is something that I think we'll just continue to unpack, you know, as we continue to be entrepreneurs and also just followers of Jesus. Um, but first, if people aren't familiar with Gento and Lollico, uh it is a curated Christian clothing brand with joyful accessories to help you carry the gentle love of Jesus wherever you go. And so even on my podcast, we kind of break down how are we actually following Jesus? Those are the deeper like coffee conversations that I'd have with a friend over at Main Street, like our coffee shop. And we're just doing it on a podcast. And so my heart with gentle and lowlico. Um, I was in a season where I was able to have a really flexible work schedule. And I said yes a lot to different mission trips in that year. I think I would on like three different ones. Some were state, you know, just domestic, and then one was uh Honduras. And I was in Kentucky uh doing kind of uh recovery uh work from Dawson Springs, the really bad tornadoes down there kind of several years ago now. And I was just upstairs in the church and I was like, I think, like I had been thinking about this a lot, and I was like, I know how to design, I know to take photos, I know how to do video, I know how to do podcasting, like all these things, check, check, check. And I also love like my work that I do and like get to serve and you know, show up in the world in a space that needs hope too. But I also feel like I could do this thing and I could do it really well. And so it's like, why not? I I think I would be filled with a lot of regret if I'm being honest, if I didn't try.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:59

You know, I think sometimes it's hard just to get started and we, you know, dig ourselves into a whole. Well, I gotta do this, gotta do this, this, this. And I'm like, yeah, I started and it was messy. It totally was, but I started and I had people who said, Oh, this makes so much sense for you to do, which was so encouraging. Um, even just bouncing name ideas off of people and like, oh, does this make sense? And just personally, like I love sweatshirts. Like it's always, you know, kind of we have a long winter in Indiana, but wherever you are, you always need a good sweatshirt. Um, and I think the coolest thing, Alan, is if I didn't step out of my comfort zone and say yes to showing up online and showing up in markets, like I think I know I would miss so many gospel centered conversations and the opportunity not just to know other believers, but to genuinely connect with them. Like my friend Natalie, she was a customer, and now we are like such great friends. And like she's a dear sister in Christ. I can say that, of course, if I just meet you, but we're actually. Walking through life together, and I didn't even know she was in my town. Like that is the coolest thing where from my neighbors in Michigan or Ohio or Tennessee or Kentucky or Illinois, like there are people all over and we're just walking past each other. And so my heart is that gentle and Lily Co can be a resource for believers to equip people to follow Jesus and fall in love with him. But also if you're new, just come pull up a chair. There's room for you. And the reality is that the love of Jesus is gentle. It's also truthful. And so we can have a conversation of the gentle love of Jesus, but also let's look to scripture and look at the truth where uh, you know, Jesus just says this is actually what's required of us to walk in him. Um, and so just kind of tying it back into the godly ambition. Like you think about, okay, a doctor needs to know all these things, like to, you know, do a surgery well. Well, I know all these things, how to build a brand, how to, you know, do creative things. Um, and it's like, I'm seeing other people do it and I actually have a lot of training. And so why would I put that to waste? And so put it back to scripture. You know, I've been really meditating on the parable of the talents. Like, I don't want to just bury it and it gets it's like spoiled in a way. And so it's like, oh, let's actually bring it to him and you know, humbly bring it to him. And it's a lot of work, it's not without work, it's a lot of sacrifice. Um, but also like I want to build something that lasts that's not just pointing back to me, it's pointing back to Jesus. Like, this is a personal call, I feel like is a way that I can help people, you know, just see Jesus and be a part of the great commission with the things that make total sense to me. And so just continue to think about that conversation, you know, that question for our friends listening of like, what is that for you? Um, what are you really passionate about?

SPEAKER_02 23:53

This is so beautiful. And I love that you related to the talents because we always get on the the one guy that buried it, right? We always go back to him as like how he was cast out and things, but it really was, it's almost weird to say, but it was an understandable fear. Um I fail, right? So I don't want to take the chance on failing. And so many of us creators can deal with this, right? We understand, like just you just said, like, well, let me just stay in one lane. You have so many gifts, you're like 90% of us multi-hyphenate. You do this, you do this, you do this, and you're like, well, which one do I pick? Well, let me just take the safe bet of the thing that will take care of the bills, because if I do this other thing, you know, I could follow my face. The God, did you really call me to do this? And he gives you like a yellow light instead of a green light, and is like, hey, if you want, you know, as your faith, you know, so as you speak as to your faith, according to your faith. And so it's according to, hey, if you want it, you can have it. If you don't, then you go without it. So I can understand almost the one talent guy, but then you look at the other two. And I love the way you put it, is that, you know, the fact that those two gave what they had, doubled it, and the master said, Well done. You're actually not necessarily just blessing me. You've blessed yourself. Like you're gonna get a return on your work that was very, very selfish in a sense. They got way more than they put out from the master. So God's like, I'm okay with you building something amazing that you're gonna get a lot of because other people obviously are blessed, and God is blessed. But I think sometimes we even take that humble thing a little too far and we we forget, like, no, it's okay to have that ambition, but again, a godly kind of source of I want to do the most that I can for God. And this takes us to, I love to talk about this because I did not know about this. You kind of were a little bit too humble here when our first talks about your book, because I did not realize you had a book which basically spells out my credo. I have been talking for years about the fact that I don't build audiences, I build communities. That has been my personal like stand and die on this hill. That no longer will I be going after audiences. I want to build communities, and everything I want to build is about relationships. Well, then you wrote a book called Fellowship Over Followers, and I could not have said it better. That is what I've been trying to say. So please talk about the idea behind the book, why you want to share it, and what how does it relate to the message that you were just sharing about being so important to have these conversations?

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Mm-hmm. Oh, you're too kind, Alan. And but I will accept the compliment. You're very kind and to give me an opportunity to talk about the book. Um, I am really passionate about writing, but probably it's just it's a new area for me to step into. So we can just kind of maybe get in again in our minds. Um, and so just showing up and I want to serve well. And so, of course, I created this resource um as, you know, for for young Christians or young believers or young people like me, um, you know, you you can be over 30 and still read it. I think there's a lot of good things I think anyone in their age or season can get out of it. Um, but Alan, when I look at my life, and you know, I I loved high school, I really enjoyed it, but I was friends with everyone, if I'm being honest. And I think everyone would agree. It's small, small school, you know, everyone. That's that's good, that's okay. Um, but I craved just that friendship and like the deep, deep part of like fellowship. I didn't really know at the time that's what the words were, you know, be in high school. But that is what I was craving, you know, another uh friend, you know, another Christian uh kind of sister in Christ who could go really deep with me. We could actually talk about the real things in our lives. Um, and God provided, you know, one or two friends in that time, which was so amazing and a huge answer to their prayer. But then in college, like, you know, you go away 13 hours away from home, I know no one. Like, I was like, what is this? Um, but I was really intentional to find a church and get plugged into community. And so I saw like God show up again and again and again throughout my four years at SCAD. And he brought friends who are not just friends, they are lifelong friends. I mean, a couple of weeks ago, I celebrated uh two a kind of dual baby shower for two college friends. Like, we're gonna be friends for 10 years this year. And like, what a gift it is to say that. And so the stories and like I I feel like okay, they are stories to me now because they're in the past, but the experiences I had in college, like God just showed me what biblical fellowship looked like rather than just going to church, you know, kind of checking it off, of course. You know, we can kind of get into that rhythm sometimes. Um, but it was actually to be a part of a body of believers and to look across the room and be like, oh, I know that person. Like, oh yeah, there's Taylor, like, oh, and her boyfriend William at the time, and now they're married. Like you just know everyone and they know when you're not there and they know what's going on in your life. And so I realized I had all these stories where I was like, wow, this is not by accident. And I always felt called to community, kind of like, you know, in high school and things, but I just was friends with everyone. And so I wanted to bring some hope for people where you might think community or true fellowship, biblical fellowship is not for you. You might be an introvert like me. You're like, oh, I don't want anyone to, you know, know anything or just kind of keep to yourself. But there is such a gift in vulnerability, in being uh together with people. And so fellowship over followers, really break it down. Um, it is just the belief that we do not need more followers of people. Like, we do not. We need actual fellowship. Like you need like five people who are really close to you. Just start with three. Um, but there is this lie, you know, just comparison that will just go on in our minds. And I know how hard it is, you know, showing up online. We all wrestle with it. Um, but especially as a creative, you are constantly like just in your creative career and process, you're like, oh, wait, that's not good. This is good. Or, oh, I'm not that good. There's always gonna be someone better than you. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try. And so we can always wrestle with comparison, whatever your story is, especially online today. Um, but I think we got to get back to the basics of just looking to Jesus, looking at his life, how he modeled it, and he modeled intimacy with the father first and then relational intimacy with people around one another, you know, his apostles, his inner circle. And so I took kind of a blend of biblical stories and truths, kind of paired also with my life, how I saw those played out and like, you know, really lived out. Um, and he just put them into a book and said, Hey, I think this can offer people some hope where, you know, relationships and friendships don't end. They actually are healed through forgiveness and reconciliation isn't always a part of everyone's story, but you know, forgiveness is a part of our walk as believers. And, you know, how do we do this? How do we just make friends as an adult and not get so caught up in our statuses or our titles, you know, all those things. And so, you know, comparison, you know, is a thief of joy. And we got to look to Jesus first for our true, true identity, and then we can serve one another in the beautiful gift of fellowship. And you just think about Galatians, you know, you know, bearing the burdens of one another. Um, and that really is just kind of what we explore. And I get really authentic and real in that book, and also really break down scripture and remind us of the gospel. Um, because we all need a reminder and a refresher of what literally changed our lives.

SPEAKER_02 31:50

Okay, this again is literally just all the things that I love about this type of discussion and community between creators. Because before, when you were talking about gentle and lowly and building those times and places where the the clothing and the the entrepreneurship ended up in gospel center conversations, right? And now your book is basically once again about starting these conversations that create these relationships that last for years and years and generations, and where you have these shared experiences. So that's where I always love to see this through line that God put in you clearly that is about relationships and conversations versus just the gift of creation. And because we're talking to creators, this is my perfect, like you just set it up perfectly for me. How important is it that creators stay in community? Because you just said it, it wasn't just going to church that gave you that kind of community. Um, and I'm as I say this, I have to be honest. I'm literally thinking of one of my dearest friends who has been talking about this about you're doing all the things, you're serving, you're creator. Like we're literally talking to our people, right? So you may have been in that place where the rhythm of life was just do the things, be a good Christian, show up in church, make stuff, and yet you still feel this disconnection either from people or from your purpose. So, can you help someone who is struggling with either one of those? Either they can't find the people that made them feel authentic, or they feel disconnected from their purpose because they're in the routine.

SPEAKER_00 33:26

Yeah. Oh man, this is wow, God's just like setting up all of our questions and answers perfectly because literally I can bring back to memory. I worked um in church ministry for one year. It was only a year, but I loved it so much. It was a job out of college, and I was, you know, assistant director of communications, you know, doing all the communications. So photo, video, like just everything. You know, you wear that hat and you do it all. And again, I loved it so much, learned a ton, learned how to podcast there. So I can't discount, you know, all the things I picked up. But I was running rampant. And anyone in ministry, I think, can kind of relate to that. Um, or even if you are just the super volunteer, you know, we wear it with a badge of honor. I'm there every Sunday or there every Tuesday, there every night of the week. And that is great if your season is sustainable in that. But in all honesty, I found without any kind of margin that's not sustainable. Um, and so I'm like, I have been there and I've definitely been there before. And so when I was in that uh role and position and just kind of part of that body of believers, like I looked at like what I was building and I loved serving our church and our community so much. But I looked at my life, and not that I wasn't in relationship with believers and with people, but I realized who am I telling the gospel to? Like, of course, I'm sharing it and like reminding us about it internally and stuff with our church, but I am not having gospel-centered conversations, which is literally the thing we are equipped to do in Matthew. Like, we are equipped to share the gospel. And I just felt so convicted in a good way of like, wait a minute, I can do these things and I'm not doing anything about it. And I have a great story about like the gospel, like the gospel is the greatest story ever told. Like he literally um, you know, has done so much in my life. Why would I not talk about it? And so I was like, okay, I'm gonna start a podcast. That was my first thing to do in everything. And so that might be your first step. Um, but you do have to remember, you know, you can kind of be burning the midnight oil if you say, you know, staying up late and working at your job or really serving really well. Um, but if you don't have anyone pouring into you or you are losing connection to your why, like it you're just you're gonna not gonna fail, but you're just not gonna show up or you're not gonna show up authentically. And showing up authentically is something that's very valuable to me. And also like you just think about friendship and community. Like you want to, you know, sit across a friend, you know, when you get together for dinner or, you know, coffee of like, oh wait, no, I actually left more refreshed and like they were being genuine with me, you know, like we're not putting something on this persona. Like, of course, I love creating things, but it's all back to my personal story and personal beliefs of Jesus. And so, you know, we can kind of, I don't know, tie ourselves up and, you know, different things of, oh, I'm just too busy. I can't say no. This is a good thing. Um, but I would really ask you to like look at your calendar. I love Google Calendar so much. And sometimes we can, you know, look at and look at our meetings and like allow that to determine our value and our worth when maybe God's telling you to step into something else, um, and maybe to just kind of be a friend to someone else. And so the last thing though, you know, you did ask Alan, like, how can people like, you know, make friends even like how do if they feel all alone? Like, how can we even do that? Right. And so I totally get it. I walk into church by myself, you know, and I'm like, okay, where are the other people like me? You know, where's the young people? Um, but even anyone, like anyone is there and around you. And so, you know, it takes being bold, takes being brave, but honestly, you know, turn into the people like that greeting time. Don't just go through the motions, actually like ask people their names, you know, say it first, hey, I'm Addy, like what's your name? And even if you think, oh, you know, our my church doesn't do that, or that's too much for me. Um your church staff is there and you can also email them and meet with them and just say, Hey, where can I get connected? Where can I get plugged in? Um, but it does take going first, and it is always hard, it's awkward, I'm super awkward at times, but God is so much bigger than that, and he can build anything, you know, beautiful friendship. Literally, like one of my friends of a friend said, Hey Addy, can these people stay at your house? And I said, Sure, like, sure, like I'm home, I'm available. And like, I was like, Where have they been? This family is the best. And so, like, you have no idea. I'm living proof of like walking into like new friendships every single day. And I didn't think that that would be possible, you know, the younger version of me where I would just like to read, you know, during like our time at school and stuff, which is fine. Um, but it's just kind of flexing those muscles and looking for where the Holy Spirit is tapping you and saying, oh, wait a minute, that person's like me. Like there has to be something in common. And even if we're not best friends, like at least there's a connection and maybe there's an opportunity that you know you can connect or collaborate or something and just seeing, especially other creatives, not as competition, but collaboration, because we're all building for the same thing. We're building for the kingdom of God. And so it might take yourself, putting yourself out there because you're like, hey, I'm new in class, but like, okay, I'm gonna try. And if not, you might get a no, or you might get a yes, or maybe a maybe, and you never know what God can do. But we have to be bold and brave enough to just first ask and like knock on those doors.

SPEAKER_02 39:13

Gosh, I love that. There you go with a knock, right? Ask and it shall be given, knock and the door shall be open. God is so good because He provides all these things that we need, even when we don't know we need them. And so a lot of times I feel creators, we feel we need, as you said, more followers, we need more money, we need more of these other things, you know, all the things that we worry about, like Matthew says. Um, all the things we worry about when seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness includes the people of the kingdom. Yeah. Like you're helping me work this out, even. Yeah, like the kingdom has subjects. And so if we're seeking the kingdom, we should be seeking kingdom people, not just the stuff and all the things that creators and entrepreneurs that we worry about. Because all of my all literally the emails I was so excited about that I just received, all of them came from new relationships. The time that I was willing to be the new guy in the room that nobody knew, um, to be the person that felt a little awkward, you know, saying, like, okay, I don't know if I belong here, but the the flyer said 6 p.m. So I'm showing up at 6 p.m. even though nobody's here yet. Like those those moments are like where God sees that seed and He He always brings those seeds to harvest. But I love the fact that we're focusing so much less on the creator, you know, things and and sales and marketing, even though that's important. It comes back to are you building relationships and having conversations about the things that you're value? I think C.S. Lewis said uh friendship must be about something, right? So, like it's not just, oh, like Facebook, I'm your friend. It's like, no, there's actually something we need to share, and sharing involves our goodness.

SPEAKER_00 40:57

Yeah, that's so good, Alan. Oh man, I just love it so much. I think it's it's so unique. I think we talked about this before, but like just this story that God is writing within both of our lives and even our friends who are listening, like, and people always said this, and like, I don't know if I believe them, where people say, Oh, I this has turned out better than I ever expected, or I didn't think I'd be doing this. And honestly, like, I can actually say, no, I didn't think I'd be doing this. I thought I was just gonna be, honestly, I thought I was gonna be like a national geographic photographer, you know, like doing something that like Patagonia, REI. That was my plan. Um, and it's just so cool, you know, to see like, okay, these seeds of like where God was, you know, breathing life into you and your ministry and saying, okay, hey, like go and be there at this meeting. And you never know the doors that he can open. Um, but I think it is just continuing to stay close to Jesus and like just asking him, who have you actually created me to be? Because he already knows who he wants you to become. And so if there's any encouragement, I hope there's been a lot of encouragement, but like your story is not over. It might be a hard season, it might be a great season, whatever it is. Like God's with you right in the middle of it, and he wants to take you further and further than you can ever think of. And even just like podcasting like this, I love things like this, uh, just because you get to talk about so much hope. And I never thought this would be a part of like my work. So you never know what God can do.

SPEAKER_02 42:29

Oh gosh, I love this. I didn't grow up saying, hey, I'd like to be a podcaster and uh, you know, multi-hyphenate uh curator of creative communities like that. Nobody puts that on their what you want to be when you grow up.

SPEAKER_00 42:44

It's like, wait a minute, not just uh firefighter or exactly astronaut, doctor, lawyer.

SPEAKER_02 42:50

Exactly. So this has been too good. So I have to close off with this because I especially want to hear your answer to this because I I I love how everything that you said has been in the context of real life. It's not again these five steps to you know how God can answer all your prayers or all these other things that are so anti-faith, anti-true walking with God and going through the highs and the lows. So, my question to you is this if you could talk to the Addy back before that teacher, that wonderful teacher told you, hey, you know, you should really do this. This is actually a profession. You're good at this. What would you tell yourself? Because someone else is in that same situation. And they may not be in school, they may be older, right? But they're still questioning their own creative life and whether or not this is even a thing. What would you tell yourself now that you know what you know now?

SPEAKER_00 43:42

Oh man, this is such a good question. My imagination goes so many different ways, which is really fun. Um, also daunting on the spot. But like when I think about it, like I think just because I was a quieter kid, but like once you get to know me or like with my really good friend. They'd be like, we cannot get Addie to stop talking. Like, who is this person? You know? And so I think like it just would be so fun just to sit with her and just see, like, and hear like what are her passions. Like, I really loved sports like football and basketball and soccer. Um, and just like encouraging myself to like lean into those passions and to not be afraid of it. Like we can sometimes feel so self-conscious because our art is a reflection of us. And it just goes back to having a secure identity. You know, sometimes, you know, in the art world, especially creative careers, we want the big title, the director of or VP of, or I'm an art director, or, you know, all these things. And I think I've really been able to be at peace with having so many different titles after graduation and trying to find the right place. And it's like actually, like, I'm just made in his image. Like, and I get to reflect him. And so, like, I would just love to see, you know, and like hear just like those passions and things of um really anyone who's a new friend too. But like I could just imagine, you know, the things I was talking about if you really got me excited about something. Um, and I think that is definitely a theme in my life when I look at my testimony of just chasing God with a passion that he's given me. And it's passion for God, but it's also a passion for creating and worshiping him through that. And so thinking about, you know, for our friends, like what are those passions again, those threads? And like it is so daunting. I will tell you, and I understand to take that first step. So daunting to press publish on a podcast or a YouTube video or a real anything like that. Um but I am just like, man, I'm just so grateful of the testimonies of testimonies of, oh yeah, like I met that friend online. Like, what day and age? This is so cool. And so you have no idea, literally no idea what God can do. And I didn't think that that was possible. And so like taking that first step, sharing your work, sharing your thoughts, um, and just sharing just what God has done. And you'll be surprised, but also you'll be refreshed to be like, wait, there's people like me who who get this, this thing, who have this heart of like, I have to do something, I have to create, right? Like I can't just, I don't know, I can't go be a farmer. I probably could be a good farmer, but like not really that well. I can drive a tractor, but um, it just makes sense, you know, and people just get it. And so that community of people, you know, you're already here, you're already in the community of creatives and things. I listen to a lot of podcasts and all the things. And so just continuously be learning, take that first step. You know, I love Think Media and Sean Cannell, and you just kind of press record. Like it's just, it's so true. And you look at the things, you're like, man, that wasn't that good. But there is so much grace for that because God is just like, hey, you're trying, and I will just help you get better. And it's not to be, you know, a perfectionist, you know, it is just to make sure we're serving people well and coming authentically in a place of just excellent service and hospitality that just points back to scripture and back to the gospel. So just think about those passions. And honestly, if you take a first step, you can just like let us know wherever this is posted. We're in the comments or email, you can email me at hello at gentlemolly.co, email Alan, and um, we'll be rooting you on and praying for you and your entrepreneurial journey and own that title as a creative too.

SPEAKER_02 47:45

Amen. I could not say this any better. Addie, thank you so much for putting your heart into this, into your books, into your podcast, into your art, because we feel it. There's just an understanding that the Holy Spirit is working in you and through you. And just by this, you know, I would just say, hey, I'll just send this to like five more people, right? And create the community that way. Say, hey, I heard this episode with this amazing person. You gotta listen to this. Let's listen to it together. Listen, go for coffee, exactly. So that's how this community continues to grow. So, Addy, God bless you. Thank you so much for being a part of the God and gig show.

SPEAKER_00 48:19

And I pray this is not Oh, yes, not the last time at all. And you're gonna be a guest of my podcast. So very, very soon. Our friends can come and join us for another combo so soon. But thank you, Alan. It's been just not a pleasure, like Chick-fil-A, just honestly a gift so much. I just love Chick-fil-A.

SPEAKER_02 48:36

I've never been compared. I just is almost as good as Chick-fil-A. I would say almost as good. Not as good, almost as good.

SPEAKER_00 48:42

But truly, truly a gift. Um, but yes, I love it so much. And next time I'm in Florida, we can get together with your family and go Chick-fil-A.

SPEAKER_02 48:50

Yep, it's a date. It's a date. Absolutely. Thank you so much for being forward. Thanks, Charlie. My friend, I know you were blessed by that episode with Addy. She is just a joy and a light, and she is so genuine about her faith. These are the kind of people that we love to stay connected with in our community for that very reason, because she exudes the fellowship that we share with other faith-focused creators. So make sure you follow her podcast where I'm proud to say I was able to share as well. Maybe by the time you're listening to this, you can also hear us continue this conversation on her podcast, the Gentle and Lowly Podcast. You can also follow her with the links in the show notes and make sure you stay connected with our community so that you're never isolated and alone. That includes our app, God and Gigs360 Creator Community, which you can join by going to godandgigs.com/slash app. Well, my friends, I know this has blessed you. So until next time, continue to become the creator that you were created to be. God bless, and we'll see you next episode.