An INNER VIEW with DeAnna Kane the NEW Hollywood Chapter Director

An INNER VIEW with DeAnna Kane the NEW Hollywood Chapter Director

BIO

DeAnna Kane earned her master’s degree of Science in Education Leadership from Keiser University and graduated at the top of her class. She began her professional writing career for donor development and fundraising with the Museum of the Bible in 2015 and then moved into managing many of their high-end donor events for the Museum’s grand opening in 2017. DeAnna also produces large women’s conferences as well as helped coordinate logistics for many Influence Women events.

DeAnna combined her talent for writing and event planning to launch KC Media Publishing as CEO with business partner Leslie Callaway. KC Media Publishing currently produces Heart of Hospitality Magazine combined with The Empowered Magazine, which has a presence in 34 countries. She co-authored the etiquette book Just the Basics: Manners Made Easy with Leslie, and they are writing an etiquette curriculum to accompany the book.

In addition to serving on the advisory board of Influence Women, she has accepted the position of director of the Hollywood Chapter of Influence Women. She also serves on the National Board of Mon Ami Ministries as well as serving as the executive director of communications and public relations for Connection Point Church LA. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her four kids and a plethora of animals, including cats, dogs, and horses.

INNER VIEW

Kathleen Cooke: Influence Women is thrilled to have you as the new Hollywood Chapter Director. What has God been teaching you recently as you prepare to take on this new role?

DeAnna Kane: I think, as women, we have an over-burning desire to be successful in all we do. We strive to be perfect and accomplished and stretch our boundaries always to be doing more. I believe God has equipped us to go above and beyond anything and everything we want to do, but what He didn’t say is we have to do it alone. Of course, God’s Word tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us, but I also believe he brings people into our lives to come beside us and lift us up, support us, and encourage us. He brings people to help us and puts others in our path so that we may help them.

I struggle with asking people for help. I remember at an event, I had a friend ask me if she could help with anything, and when I gave her a task, I actually started to do the task myself as I was explaining. She laughed and said, “Did you actually plan on letting me do that, or did you just want to do it yourself?” We laughed, and I let her take over. It was clear to me that I was so used to doing things on my own that I would have to really work at letting go and delegating better. This is where women need to build their tribe. Find those people you can rely on and trust to help you accomplish all that you want to do and stop looking at other women as competition. Women really get things done, so trust that God wants you to build a tribe to succeed. God never meant us to do life alone.

Kathleen: Whenever someone is asked to do a new job or take on a new leadership role, women often think about what might happen if they fail. What have you learned about making mistakes and not letting past failures stop your forward movement?

DeAnna: One year, I was throwing a birthday party for my business partner, Leslie, and I was holding the birthday cake. I zigged, and the cake zagged. It fell to the ground with the loudest thump ever possible. I stood there looking at the cake, and the first thing that crossed my mind was, “How can I fix this without everyone knowing what I just did?” Then I heard the collective, “Noooooo…, come from behind me.” For some reason, it just struck me so funny that I burst out laughing. Of course, there was nothing I could do to keep anyone from seeing it, and when the absurd thought struck me to cover it up, it was so outlandish that laughter bubbled up, and I couldn’t stop.  (more…)

Will 2024 Be A Year of Procrastination or Fortitude?

Will 2024 Be A Year of Procrastination or Fortitude?

I love writing, producing an award-winning program, or hosting a great event that nourishes souls. But it is often agonizing getting there. I know the destination, but the journey of getting there never stops being challenging. I have a beast inside me that occasionally rears its head, hissing that I’m not good enough, not worthy, and blowing flames of ensuing failure at me if I awaken it. This beast can wake me up in the middle of the night, prompting me to avoid the pain of attempting what God says I can do – “all things.” I end up in the pit of procrastination while watching others from the sidelines instead of doing the hard work to move forward.

Procrastination is a form of anxiety and fear. 

Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and the author of “Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind,” said in a WSJ article, “Procrastination is a distraction. Anxiety triggers procrastination, especially for perfectionists, because we worry our solution to the problem won’t be good enough. Procrastination feels better than being anxious or trying to come up with a solution.”

No one wants to live in pain, so we stop moving forward to avoid failure and suffering. Procrastination holds us back. But it is a mindset that can be broken. God is a forward moving God who wants us to go forward and trust Him. Throughout the Bible, in story after story, God reminds us to make decisions on His Kingdom’s purposes and His will. We may not be good enough yet, but we can do “all things through Him who strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13). The issue is whether we are fully engaged and aligned with Him and His will, or are we just running to Him with our willful desires when fear sets in.

Our mind needs to be sound and calm when we are anxious so we don’t lose sight of the road in front of us. It’s a choice. When we only focus on the pain and not God’s promise to be with us through the struggles, we freeze and procrastinate. The squeaky wheel (our pain and fear) is heard, but the wheel isn’t broken. It’s still going around. Our job is to keep going forward; in time and with God’s guidance, we will prevail. The Bible tells us that we are to be “anxious for nothing” and to take our requests (not demands) to God (Philippians 4:6-7). He will empower us and find solutions to the squeaky wheel if we stay connected to His will, which may not turn out the way we planned. It’s a message I have had to be reminded of again and again and why my quiet time with God is essential.

Want to break through the fear and learn how to gain fortitude in 2024? 

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fortitude as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger and bear pain or adversity with courage.” In the world we live in today, we need fortitude and the strength to face the oncoming cultural winds that often bring pain and suffering. We need to take on the “mind of Christ” living within us. This year focus on where God is taking you. We are to “walk by faith and not sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). Kingdom purpose must be at the forefront of all we do, both for our families and for our careers. This year will you watch from the sidelines or push forward?

God’s on the journey with you, so trust Him to be there. Let’s roll!