Have you ever made an investment in a course or coach hoping it would be the thing that finally helped you grow your business, only to walk away feeling more confused, discouraged, or misaligned than before?

Mama, I’ve been there. Over the past six years, I’ve spent over $30,000 on coaching, and while some of it was transformational, a lot of it left me chasing the wrong things. At times, I was following strategies that looked “successful” but weren’t actually aligned with what God was asking me to do.

This episode is a deeply personal look at how I’ve learned to evaluate coaching through a different lens, one that prioritizes spiritual alignment over fast success. And how you can begin discerning what kind of support will truly grow you, not just your business.

The Big Idea:

Not every good strategy is GOD’s strategy for your life and business.

And if we want to build a business that honors God, we have to stop looking for shortcuts and start surrendering to His pace.

A Verse to Anchor Us

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
— Isaiah 55:8–9

Let that sink in: His ways are higher. His timing is better. And His plan is always more fulfilling—even if it doesn’t look like what the world calls success.

What $30K in Coaching Taught Me

When I first transitioned from photography to coaching, I thought the next step was to hire business experts who could fast-track my results. And while some coaches did help me grow, most of them focused heavily on STRATEGY and barely on SOUL.

Here’s what I discovered along the way:

• The right coach doesn’t just grow your business. They grow YOU.
  One of the best coaches I worked with didn’t give me a blueprint. Instead, she helped me trust myself and lean into my values. But even then, our spiritual beliefs didn’t align, which created a subtle but powerful disconnection.
• Misaligned investments leave you feeling off.
  I hired coaches who promised results but didn’t share my values. The advice sounded good, but it didn’t sit right in my spirit. Over time, I started realizing I was compromising my beliefs in the name of “progress.”
• Personal growth is foundational.
  One of my most transformational investments wasn’t business-related at all, it was in a macro coaching program that helped me take care of my health. That single investment helped me unlock the next level of leadership and confidence God was calling me into.

Why Strategy-Only Coaching Falls Short

I’ve learned that chasing strategies alone often leads to:

• Dependency on formulas instead of dependence on God.
• Bypassing character development that God wants to do in you.
• Pride-driven decisions, seeking quick wins instead of lasting impact.
• Spiritual misalignment, when the advice contradicts your values.
• Disappointment, when strategies don’t work for your unique journey.

It’s not that strategy is bad, but when it’s not rooted in prayer and biblical wisdom, it can easily steer you off course.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Coach

If you’re in a season of seeking support, here are some questions to ask:

• Will this coach help me grow as a leader or just my bottom line?
• Are they aligned with my values and God’s Word?
• Am I seeking them out to make money faster, or to become the woman God has called me to be?

Friend, if your primary motivation is to scale quickly, I lovingly challenge you to pause and pray. God doesn’t want you to grow at the world’s pace. He wants you to walk in step with Him.

When I Finally Chose Alignment

The most expensive investment I ever made was a $15,000 mastermind. And yes, I joined hoping it would help me grow my income, but what I got was far deeper. For the first time, I worked with a coach who prioritized expanding me as a leader over chasing numbers.

It changed everything. And it confirmed what God had been whispering all along:

“You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

Want to Walk This Out Together?

If you’re tired of chasing the next strategy, and you’re craving growth that’s sustainable and Spirit-led, let’s talk.

I’m offering free 20-minute Clarity Calls this June and July to help you uncover which of the 5 foundational habits might be holding you back. We’ll pray, reflect, and clarify your next right step together.

Grab your spot at thepurposegathering.com/clarity

Or, if you’re ready to go deeper, I’d love for you to check out the Faith Fueled Mompreneur Collective, a 4-month mastermind where we do business God’s way, at His pace. No pressure, just peace.

Details at thepurposegathering.com/tpgcollective

Mama, you’re not behind. You’re just being refined.

Take a deep breath. Keep growing. Keep trusting. And remember: You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

I’m always here rooting for you.

With love and faith,

Complimentary Episodes:

1. Ep 209. Foundational Habits to Becoming a Faith-Fueled Mompreneur 
2. Ep 208. How to Tune Into God’s Voice in a Noisy World
3. Ep 200. Fighting the Real Enemy of Your Business Growth
4. Ep 199. Breaking Up with Hustle Culture
5. Ep 197. Building a Business Beyond Yourself with Tamra Andress
6. Browse All Mindset Related Episodes

Resources:

1. Book a Free Clarity Call – This call will help you breakthrough one area in your life in which you’re feeling stuck. You don’t have to do this alone!! (Available only in June and July 2025) 
2. Join the Free Purpose Gathering Community – A welcoming space for Christian mompreneurs to connect, grow, and be encouraged in both life and business.
3. Learn more about the Collective Mastermind – A Christ-centered space for ambitious mompreneurs seeking support, clarity, strategy, and strong Kingdom sisterhood. Use code 1000OFF for $1000 off as a founding member (Expires June 30th.) 
4. Local to Gilbert/Mesa Arizona (For Mom Business Owners) Join our in person membership community
5. Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here
6. Please connect with me on Instagram @thepurposegathering
7. Message me on Voxer (My username is afreehan)