Just One Simple Thing

Hosted by Christa Hutchins

Business Entrepreneurship Religion Spirituality Christianity Education

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147

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May 2025

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About the show

Do you have big God-dreams but are worn out from doing all the things? Are you so overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list that you end up doing nothing? Would it help to have just one simple thing to focus on at a time?Combining her expertise in project management with her love for the creative's heart, host Christa Hutchins equips busy Christian women who have big ideas with strategy and structure so they can do what God has called them to do.Covering topics such as time management, productivity, planning, strategy, organization, and decision-making, Christa starts in God's Word and digs into her toolbox to offer solutions for the big problems keeping you stuck. You'll leave with a just one simple thing to help you bring clarity to the chaotic swirl of ideas.

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May 6, 2025Episode 1408 min

Episode 140: Your Audience is Your Book-Writing Superpower

Send us Fan MailDid you know that as a writer who is building an audience, you have a secret superpower? It’s one that not every writer unlocks, but has the power to enhance your writing journey AND create a built-in group of people invested in your success. Want to know what it is? Listen in on Episode 140 of Just One Simple Thing and find out!Many of you listening have a book to write. The book of your heart. The book of God’s calling. As you write, you are also building an audience ... a community of people who believe in your message. And believe in you. You may think of your book as your own project...something you have to do alone. But what’s the point in building a community if you can’t take them along with you on your greatest journey? And when people feel like a valued part of something, they are invested in making it successful.Pick some ways from this list to involve your audience in your book project.Test out your content. Sharing some of the concepts and content of your book idea is a great way to see what is really resonating with your audience.Ask for examples. New concepts are easier to understand when there are concrete examples to go along with them.Get opinions on components of the book. Let your audience help you choose the title, subtitle, and cover art.Share parts of the journey. What did you learn about yourself or about God as you went through the process? Sharing these things makes your writer life more relatable, even to people who are not writers.Try a focus group. Get a few people together to read a chapter and discuss it with you.These are just a few ways that you can include your audience in your book project. And when it’s time to launch that book, you’ll have a whole group of people who are personally invested in you and the success of your book. Doesn’t that sound a lot better than doing it all alone? ONE SIMPLE ACTION STEPPick one or two of these ideas and make a plan for including your audience. You don’t have to do them all...a little can go a long way. And be sure to let me know how it works out for you! Thanks for hanging out with me here today. I hope these ideas are helpful to you. If you want some more encouragement on your writing journey, pick up a copy of my book, Moving Forward: Inspiration for the Go Getter Jesus Girl. You can find it on Amazon, and I’ll put the link in the show notes.RESOURCES:Moving Forward: Inspirations for the Go Getter Jesus Girl - Whether you need to Dream A Dream, Make A Plan, Find Your People, or just Do The Thing, these practical insights from God’s Word will inspire you to take the next step forward.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

March 24, 2025Episode 13911 min

Ep 139: Where I've Been... And Where I Am Going

Send us Fan MailIt’s been a while since I’ve met you here on the podcast. A lot longer than I expected. Maybe 2025 hasn’t gone like you expected, either. If you’d like to know where I’ve been, where I’m going, and how I sorted it all out, listen in to Episode 139 of Just One Simple Thing. It just might help you figure out your next steps as well.This episode doesn’t really lend itself to consolidated show notes as I take you through the reasoning that defines a new stage in my business.If you are at a similar crossroads and need some help figuring it out, I highly recommend business coach Sarah Jacobson. You can find her on social media at Sarah Jacobson and at her website SarahAJacobson.com.ACTION STEP I know this episode is a lot of info about what was going on with me, but I hope that as you listened, you saw a little bit of yourself in my story. If things are feeling a little off for you in your ministry or business...if you feel things shifting and changing around you...go back to your roots and remember what God called you to do, who He called you to serve, and how He wired you for impact. Write those three things down and see if you’ve gotten too far away from them. Thanks for going on this journey with me it. It's most definitely not the end, but just another bend in the road.Join our community in the free Facebook Group Plan & Play with Do A New Thing for support, encouragement, and follow up on your action steps.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

December 2, 2024Episode 1385 min

Episode 138: Planning to Make Your Plan

Send us Fan MailHave you started thinking about your year-end planning? Don’t make the mistake of jumping into planning and goal-setting before you have prepared to plan. In Episode 138 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn four things you should do before you start your annual planning.It’s the time of year where we start planning for next year. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to reflect on the past year and to set goals for next year, but before you get started, there are some things you can do to prepare and make the process a lot easier for you.So let’s create your planning plan!First, start off in prayer. We know this, right? But as you enter this season, it’s so vital that you do it along with God.Pray that God will show you the truth.Pray that God will show you what is important.Pray that God sparks a blazing passion for your message and a deep desire to serve your audience.Second, gather up your stats. This info will tell you where your efforts are paying off and where they aren’t.Third, start making a list of investments you want to make in your ministry or business. Once you start planning, you’ll be able to tell which ones will most likely support your goals.Lastly, get some feedback from your audience. You can do this with a survey, or simple polls in your Instagram Stories, or just ask some questions in your Facebook group or email newsletter.Action Step Set aside a specific time to do your year-end planning and goal setting. Some people like to do it during the quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s. Others prefer to wait until everyone is back in the swing of things in January. Whichever works for you, mark it on your calendar.If you are listening to this in real time in early December, check the show notes for a link to the Looking Back to Move Forward Challenge. It’s a FREE five-day challenge that will help you close the door on 2024, leave behind what you no longer need, and start framing up 2025. I hope you’ll join us!RESOURCESHow to Create a Reader Survey including a free download of sample questions.Looking Back to Move Forward ChallengeBe sure to subscribe to the NewLetter to receive free resources and podcast updates in your email every Monday. Sign up here.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

October 21, 2024Episode 1377 min

Episode 137: Preparation is Part of the Plan

Send us Fan MailIf you feel like you are in a season of waiting, maybe it is really a season of preparation. And that preparation is part of God’s plan. Listen in to Episode 137 of Just One Simple Thing to learn how to navigate the preparation so you can get to the other side.We have the most amazing group of ladies who join us monthly for our Saturday morning Plan & Pray sessions. One of our most faithful members is a mom of 12 kids (yes, 12!!) who, with her husband, is building a ministry to support families with Bible study and parenting resources. In one of our sessions several months ago, Emmie said she hadn’t done much in the past month to actively build their ministry, but she had spent a lot of time decluttering their home. They thought maybe God was calling them to go on the road in some way to serve people where they are. They were waiting on direction from the Lord, but in the meantime, were preparing for what may come. As I’ve watched this unfold over the weeks since then, a couple of things have struck me about our conversation that day.First, a season of waiting becomes productive when you see it as season of preparation.Sometimes, we view a season of waiting as just sitting on our hands and doing nothing. But I think most times, the season of waiting includes some type of preparation, and it may not make any sense.Second, preparation makes God's preposterous plans possible. A family with 12 kids loading up in an RV to do ministry on the road sounds crazy!But God knows exactly how it can be done, and only a season of preparation could make it possible. That’s not something you can just wake up one morning and do. It takes months of planning and preparing.Maybe God has given you a huge dream... one you can’t even picture. It’s big and it’s overwhelming and you don’t know how you’ll ever get there. I promise you that if God has given you that dream, he is also going to prepare you for it. You may not even realize that the hardships you are enduring and the pain you are processing are part of the preparation for His preposterous plan for you.ACTION STEP Look at the unexpected things happening in your life right now... especially the ones that may feel like distractions and interruptions that may be putting you in a season of waiting. How could God be using those to prepare you for what’s next?Emmie’s family is getting a little closer each day to heading off in that RV. I’m excited to see what God does with all of the preparation they’ve been through. If you’d like to follow along on their journey, connect with them at their website.And if you’d like to be part of our monthly Plan & Pray sessions, join my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing. That’s where you’ll find all the info and the zoom link the last Saturday of each month.RESOURCESPlan & Pray Facebook GroupJim & Emmie Manor WebsiteBe sure to subscribe to the NewLetter to receive free resources and podcast updates in your email every Monday. Sign up here. ++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

October 7, 2024Episode 1368 min

Episode 136: Keep Your Dream Moving When You’re on the Move

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to another episode of Just One Simple Thing! I’m so excited to spend this time with you, especially if you’re listening from the road, a hotel room, or maybe even an airport terminal—because today, we’re diving into a topic that’s close to my heart: how to balance your dream work while traveling for your full-time job.As I prepare this episode, I’m sitting in a hotel room on a Saturday more than 2000 miles from home in between two legs of a business trip. I don’t know about you, but travel can easily disrupt my routines.But—just because you're traveling doesn't mean you have to lose momentum.The first thing to do is recognize the season you're in. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." When you’re on the road for work, it may be a season to be realistic and adjust how much time you can dedicate to your ministry, and that’s okay. Even in busy seasons, we can take small but powerful steps toward our dreams.1. Plan Ahead to Work EfficientlyBefore heading out on your trip, think about the type of work that is easiest to do in settings you’ll be in.Pro Tip: Download necessary files or apps beforehand so you can work offline if you need to, then sync up when you are back online.2. Maximize Your DowntimeUse these times to catch up on tasks that don’t require a full setup—listen to podcasts related to your business, sketch out ideas, or even pray and seek God’s guidance for your next steps. Turning downtime into productive time can keep you moving forward without feeling overwhelmed.3. Leverage TechnologyTechnology is a lifesaver when you’re on the move. The key is to simplify your tasks and make them as mobile as you are.4. Prioritize Rest and ReflectionTraveling can be draining, and it’s easy to burn out if you’re constantly pushing yourself to be productive. Be intentional about setting aside downtime.Don’t feel guilty about unplugging for a bit. Rest is a form of worship, and it’s in those quiet moments that God can recharge your spirit.Action StepLook at your upcoming travels and identify what tasks can be done on the go, and what needs to be done ahead. Set yourself up for success on your next trip! Thanks for joining me today. Let’s be praying for each other as we pursue our calling while honoring all the work God has given us to do.Resources-The Move Forward Scripture Writing Journal is an easy way to stay in God’s Word when you have a busy schedule. -Or try the Prayer Journal version to see how God is working throughout the year.-Join our community in the free Facebook Group Plan & Play with Do A New Thing for support, encouragement, and follow up on your action steps.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

September 2, 2024Episode 1359 min

Episode 135: Reach Your Goals With A Focused Sprint

Send us Fan MailCould you meet your goals this fall by doing something called a "focused sprint"? It sounds intense, but don't worry — it’s really quite fun and fulfilling! In Episode 135 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn when and how to use this strategy in your ministry or business. So grab your favorite pumpkin spice pick-me-up and let’s get started.As I’m recording this episode, it is Labor Day weekend …. the unofficial that all things Fall have started. Fall gives us a window to reassess and realign with our purpose. It’s the perfect opportunity to shake off any discouragement and lean into the rest of the year with intentionality and purpose.A focused sprint is about dedicating a specific period — like several weeks — to give your all to one or two important goals.But first, let’s agree on what a sprint is NOT.A sprint is not about running yourself ragged or pushing beyond what’s healthy.Proverbs 16:3 encourages us with these words: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." Practical tips to help you make the most of your Fall sprint:1.Set Clear, God-Centered Goals2. Break It Down into Bite-Sized Pieces3.Create a Focused, Time-Bound Plan4.Find a Rhythm That Works for You5.Create Results-Focused Accountability6.Say "No" to Distractions7.Celebrate Each Small Win8.Rest, Recharge, and ReflectA focused sprint works because it taps into that powerful ability God has given us to concentrate our energy and passion on a specific purpose. ACTION STEPI’ve created a Sprint Planner just for you. Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing to download your free copy. And if you are listening in real time the first week of September, my membership group The Honor Circle will be working through our sprint plans during this fall session, and it’s not too late to joinThanks so much for listening today. If this episode was helpful to you, share it with a friend who might want to sprint with you. RESOURCES:The Honor Circle membership group++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

August 19, 2024Episode 1349 min

Episode 134: How to Create a Decision-Making Framework

Send us Fan MailMaking decisions that stick can often be difficult for creatives and other communicators. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with ALL the things that we do nothing. A Decision-Making Framework can be the difference between nothing and the one thing God has called you to do. Tune in to Episode 134 of Just One Simple Thing to learn how to create your own custom framework.Welcome back, friends! I hope by now, you’ve gotten a chance to listen to Episode 133, where I share the three reasons why you need a decision-making framework.1. It helps you make decisions at all.2. To make better decisions.3. To stop second guessing.That adds up to your framework acting like a filter.You set up a way to evaluate tasks and ideas according to what matters to you. And then only the things that fit and are valuable will make it through your filter. So how do you create a framework?Start by identifying the criteria you want to judge your ideas and tasks by.Choose four or five things that you value, or that support your goals.Next, list the ideas or tasks you have in front of you.Rate each one by how well it meets each of the criteria.Add up the scores and see where they land! You might be surprised which ones have the highest totals and which are near the bottom of the pack.When you get to the end of your framework, you need to pray over the results. Always leave room for the Holy Spirit to direct and guide.ACTION STEPIf you need to see an example, I’d love for you to join me at the Now, Next, Not Yet workshop. I’ll also show you what to do with all those ideas after you have ranked them...what’s for now, what’s next, and what’s not yet. It’s a free workshop that I’m hosting live on Aug. 22, 2024, or if you are listening after that, you can get the free recording. Just go to doanewthing.com/priority for all the details. And I promise, this is completely free with no sales pitch at the end. Thanks for joining me today. I hope I see you at the workshop, and that you’ll bring a friend!RESOURCESNow, Next, Not Yet workshop - Sign up here!++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

August 5, 2024Episode 1337 min

Episode 133: Why You Need a Decision-Making Framework

Send us Fan MailThe number one issue I hear from writers and other Christian communicators is they have too many ideas and never know for sure if they are working on the right things. If that sounds like you, listen in to Episode 133 of Just One Simple Thing as you’ll learn how a decision-making framework can help.Hello, friends! If you are listening in real time in late summer, 2024, you might know that I have been on my regular summer break. I’m glad to be back. I didn’t do anything super exciting over the summer … busy at my full-time job and hanging out with my family and friends. Many of you went to one of the amazing writers' conferences that happen over months when school is out. Whether it was your first time, or you are a conference veteran, the days and weeks afterwards can be hard. You are pumped up and excited about all the possibilities. But you are also overwhelmed by…. all the possibilities. Even if you didn’t go to a conference, I bet you still have a tornado of ideas swirling around in your head.Over the years, I’ve developed some strategies to sort through all the ideas and decide what is for now, what is next, and what is not yet.It all starts with a decision-making framework. What is a decision-making framework? It’s a set of criteria and a systematic way of evaluating options, filtering the million ideas floating around in your head. Let’s look at some of reasons why you need a framework.To make decisions at all. A decision-making framework can overcome that overwhelm … it helps you step back and gives you a basis for making sound plans. To make better decisions. When we are making decisions from a place of overwhelm and stress, we usually make bad decisions. The framework takes away some of that bias and emotion because it is an objective evaluation based on specific criteria.To stop second guessing. When you’ve made an objective decision or prioritized your ideas based on a repeatable framework, you’ll be able to move forward with confidence, and close the door on that second guessing.You invested a lot to go to that conference, and you don’t want that investment to go to waste. In his second epistle, John gives us a warning: “Be careful that you don’t destroy what we’ve worked for, but that you receive your full reward.” Don’t let decision paralysis destroy all of the great ideas the Lord has given you.Action StepGather up some ideas that you have been considering - maybe it is a long list of things you learned at a conference, or that never-ending stream of brilliant ideas that overwhelm you. Then join me back here for the next episode when I’ll teach you how to create your own decision-making framework. If you went to a conference, be sure to send this episode to the friends you made there. If you are overwhelmed, I bet they are too. RESOURCESNow, Next, Not Yet: A Framework for Setting Priorities that Stick – Join me for this free workshop where I’ll share my own framework and how I use it. Join our community in the free Facebook Group Plan & Play with Do A New Thing for support, encouragement, and follow up on your action steps.++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

May 26, 2024Episode 13224 min

Episode 132: What to Put In Your Email Newsletter to Nurture Your Audience with Ruthie Gray

Send us Fan MailI say all the time that my favorite thing to do in my weekly tasks is writing my email newsletter. There’s just something special about connecting directly with the Do ANew Thing Community. My friend Ruthie Gray agrees with me. She and I sat down recently and talked about ways you can nurture your audience through your email newsletter. Listen in to this fun conversation.Hello, friends, and welcome to Episode 132 of Just One Simple Thing! If you are a frequent listener, you know that I almost never have interviews on the podcast. I just don’t have the bandwidth forthe extra work that comes with having a guest. BUT every once in a while, a fun opportunity comes along that I can’t pass up. Ruthie Gray and I recorded a two-part conversation .... Half is on her podcast, Authentic Online Marketing, and half is here. You can listen to them in either order, but this half has some specific ideas for what to put in your email newsletter. So listen in and then be sure to go listen to the other half of our conversation on Ruthie’s podcast.Ideas For Your Newsletter:Personal reflectionsSpecific tips or tasks to help people take actionWays to engage with your communityCommunity member spotlightRecommended resourcesBook focus -suggested reading for your nicheFlash BackHot TopicsWhat I Learned This WeekA Word about Quantity:People are busy and won’t read everything, even from their favorite sourcesMake sure it is sustainableOffer an opt-out during special promotionsRe-send with cautionA Word about UnsubscribesDon’t take it personally ... if they unsubscribe, they aren’t your peopleNatural pruning of your listBless and release!ACTION STEPConnect with Ruthie on her website, podcast, and Instagram. Wasn’t that fun? Thanks for hanging out with me and Ruthie today. Be sure to head over to Ruthie’s podcast, Authentic Online Marketing, to catch Part 1 of this conversation in Episode 109.RESOURCESAuthentic Online Marketing Podcast Episode 109 –Email Ideas (That Work) For Nurturing Your Audience++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 

May 13, 2024Episode 1319 min

Episode 131: All Marketing Boils Down to This

Send us Fan MailAre you frustrated by all the complicated marketing jargon and overwhelmed by sales pages, value propositions, and check-out carts? Well, I have good news for you! All marketing can be boiled down to just one simple thing. Want to know what it is? Dive in to Episode 131.Recently, I was working with a new client on articulating her brand.She’s in a completely different field than me or the people I normallyserve ... not a writer, speaker, podcaster. A totally different field.I realized that her clients feel the same way as my clients. And what she offers her clients is the same thing I offer mine.The content and the methods are completely different, but the basic motivations are the same. In a world overrun with complicated strategies and tactics, we’ve made marketing way too hard. The truth is, at its core, all marketing boils down to one simple thing –connecting your audience's deep-felt need with your ability to help solve their problem.When you can keep that simple truth in mind, you’ll attract the people who need what you offer, even if you don’t have the snappiest conversion copy or slickest checkout cart.Let’s talk about some practical ways you can do that.1. The first point is to keep your marketing relatable to your market.2. Another important aspect of effective marketing is using your audience's own words to describe their problems and emotions.3. If the key to good marketing is to understand your clients’ need and how you can meet it, keep this attitude throughout the entire sales funnel.ACTION STEPHead over to my free Facebook group, Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing, and grab your Business Thesaurus worksheet. Keep those words in front of you to reference often. Let's remember that marketing doesn't have to be scary or complicated. By connecting with your audience's deep-felt needs and showing how your offer can meet those needs, you can build connections and drive results. Thanks for tuning in today. I hope you meet me back here next time, and bring a friend.RESOURCESPlan & Pray with Do A New Thing –Facebook group where you can find the Business Thesaurus worksheet++++++++++Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?I have good news for you.  It is possible.  It is worth it.  You can do it. Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do. 