Dorcas Cheng-Tozun is an award-winning writer and the author of Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World. She is a columnist for Inc.com and a regular contributor to Christianity Today. Her work has also appeared in dozens of publications in the U.S., U.K., and Asia. Previously, Dorcas worked as a nonprofit and social enterprise professional for a decade. A Silicon Valley native, Dorcas has also lived in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Kenya. She and her entrepreneur husband have two adorable hapa boys.
IF YOU HAVE EVER DOUBTED YOURSELF OR YOUR DREAM, THIS WAS THE EPISODE FOR YOU.
In this interview, Dorcas reminds us a that just because the path is difficult, or we cannot see the fruit of our work, or that we feel stuck and alone in this moment, that doesn’t mean God’s not with us or we’re not following the right dream.
Dorcas also shares about the value of knowing yourself and learning to accept and embrace who God made you. She reminds us about keeping the Sabbath and that no matter your calling, you need breaks from work, technology, and the day-to-day demands. And finally, she suggests that if you’re feeling stuck it might just be God inviting you into deeper communion with Him.
All this and more including how to stay married to (and in love with) your entrepreneur spouse and their family’s rules about date nights, cell phone breaks and family time make this a don’t-miss episode of the podcast!
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MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
John Gottman’s research on marital stability
The Enneagram – Dorcas is a 4
Startup Survival Guide event at The Founders Space
Feb 1, 2018 from 2:00-5:00pm in San Francisco
Dorcas on CAPC’s Persuasion Podcast with Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson
CONNECT WITH DORCAS:
Website || Twitter || Facebook || LinkedIn
BOOKS:
The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr & Andreas Ebert
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The Cure: What if God Isn't Who You Think He Is and Neither Are You? by John Lynch, Bruce McNichol and Bill Thrall
Start, Love, Repeat: How to Stay in Love with Your Entrepreneur in a Crazy Start-up World by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun
SCRIPTURE:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
~ Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
MAIN TAKEAWAYS:
How our lives are not just about one calling or dream [5:20]
Her father’s death gave her a deeper sense of compassion [6:23]
Marrying an entrepreneur and the sacrifices that come with that [7:40]
How she pulled out of a season of burnout [8:23]
What's missing from the story we hear about entrepreneurs [9:20]
Why she wrote her book Start, Love, Repeat [10:45]
Why work-life balance is so difficult for all of us these days [12:23]
The importance and need to rest our brains to do our work [13:27]
Why date nights make a difference [14:05]
Plan time with your spouse, even if you must put it on the calendar [15:50]
Ground rules for smartphones [16:50]
The self-doubt that comes with being a writer [18:30]
The journey toward your calling isn’t promised to be easy [19:55]
Our challenges force us to seek God [21:05]
Moving to Kenya for her entrepreneur husband’s work [24:00]
God’s provision when she least expected it [25:30]
God knows us deeply, intimately and we can have confidence in that [27:35]
Freedom from fear through knowing herself in Him [28:58]
Know who you are, what you love, what you hate, and learn to accept it all [32:05]
You’re not really stuck. God’s just calling you into greater intimacy with Him [32:55]
Dorcas and the Enneagram (on being a 4) [37:40]
God is faithful even when I’m fearful [43:54]
Watch what He’s doing; it might surprise you [45:00]
Meaningful work/service/social change comes in many forms [45:37]
Use your gifts faithfully, no matter what [46:00]
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