By Lauren Schwab

What do people think of when they hear your name?

I have come to realize my name associates me with something. I have a love an adoration for my piglets, things that sparkle, and leading young women! And I have become known for some of these specific things. In fact, I will be occasionally out and about or at a pork event and people will say, “You’re the pig queen!” or they recognize my curly hair.

This is the same for you too. I listened to a recent pod cast by Terri Savelle Foy where she says we all have our own ‘brand’, a ‘unique selling point’ that distinguishes us among others. Check out this list and see if you agree with what she says these famous names are known for:

Marie Callender? Pies.
Mrs. Fields? Cookies.
Little Debbie? Snack cakes.
Bill Gates? Microsoft. Money.
Elvis Presley? King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (or a “hunk of burning love”).
Billy Graham? Salvation.

Another person who popped into my mind was Taylor Swift. She is more than an amazing singer and performer, she has made her name a brand. When people think of Taylor they think of talent, beauty, long blonde hair, love, break ups, a role model to young girls and more. Their is “Taylor Swift” everything in her online store and she is leaving a legacy in music with her own personal brand and touch to the profession, setting her apart from others in the industry. Whether you enjoy her music or not, she is a successful business women who has created meaning with her name and music.

“Your name has meaning as well. God wants you to have a good name and to be known for something—your uniqueness, your gifts, your purpose. You have something that is undeniably you, and it is useful to you fulfilling your purpose,” Terri says.

There is a connection between your potential, your passion and your purpose.

Terri encouraged me to think of the times when people have commented, “Oh, you are so good at that,” and not to dismiss it as just a passing comment. They are likely recognizing one of your gifts.

While I love taking care of the mother sows when they give birth to their piglets, I also have a passion for writing and public speaking. I decided to combine my interests and talents to develop a passion for telling others what we do on our farm, so they can understand and feel good about the care and commitment farmers have for the land and its animals we all live on and respect. This has been my motivation for writing this blog and continuing to travel and present presentations to students and professionals about pig farming as I had the opportunity to do this week for the Ohio Nutrition Council Conference and Miami’s Nutrition in Public Policy Conference. Each time I meet new people at these events, I am in awe and pleased with how curious people are about my farm and how I take care of the pigs. It is amazing to find so many people fascinated and interested in how the pigs are raised and their food is produced. I am proud to be a young women in agriculture. While I am not sure with my future commitment to taking over the family farm, I know it will always be part of my identity and personal brand. I have come to learn through this, what you’re able to do, God wants you to do. There is something everyone excels at whether you have identified it yet or not. Everyone is above average at something. And it is a personal gift.

Terri says, “Successful people don’t focus their time, energy, and resources on their weaknesses. They maximize their strengths… You have been created with certain talents and gifts that are unique to you in order to fulfill your purpose. You may be crying out for wisdom, a plan, direction, or change while God is saying to you, ‘Stir up the gift I have given you.’ In other words, discover it and develop it.”

First Corinthians 7:7 tells us, “. . . each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”

Terri explains it can be easy to think, “I don’t have any special abilities to offer. I’m not that talented.” Talents are things that come so natural to us that many times we don’t even recognize them as talents. In fact, we think the opposite. We tend to think anyone can do this. When, in fact, not just anyone can do what you do the way you do it. It’s your gift.

In God’s Word, there are rewards for developing your unique gift.

Your gift will make room for you and bring you before great men.
– Proverbs 18:16

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. – Proverbs 17:8

Do whatever you have the gift to do and do it well. It is an avenue God has given to prosper you. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”Get busy about fulfilling His purpose for your life. Give it all you’ve got. Your gift is already in you!