Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Straughter.
Hi Simone, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Simone and I am a Houston based blogger. My brand and blog is titled “God’s very own butter”. I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time but would be too focused on other people’s opinions. After experiencing life and having my daughters, my perspective changed.
How can I as a mother I teach my daughters to go after their dreams and not allow their dreams and desires to be altered by other people’s opinions if I was doing that exact thing.
I am re-launching my blog by the end of the year. After the unexpected passing of my brother-in-law in July of this year, I lost all desire to continue blogging and influencing and deleted everything. But after some time and prayer, I believe that this is something that God wants me to do so, I am re-launching. With this launch, I am dedicating my blog in honor and memory of my brother-in-law.
My thought process behind starting my Blog/Brand is to show my life candidly as a Christian, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Friend. The good, the bad, and the not so pretty. I feel like we live in a society where everything is glamorized and a lot of times people aren’t honest about who and where they are or even what they are really dealing with. I feel like the world is in a huge identity crisis, especially women. My goal and inspiration is to show women that I am just like them, WE are all the same in some way or another. Whether it is being a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, or friend, we as women all have something in common.
I also want to show people what the love of GOD really is. Most churches unfortunately have become a toxic place for many because of man made rules and traditions. Because of that, I want to show who GOD is and what he stands for. GOD is love and we truly show that we love GOD by how we love other humans. That’s where “GOD’s very own Butter” comes from. Butter is used to spread and I believe my purpose is to be used by GOD to spread his love for mankind. And if I can inspire one person, that is good enough for me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing comes easy Chile! I think my biggest struggle is imposter syndrome. I’ve cried, quit, started over, quit again, cried some more, picked myself back up and started over again. I often wonder if I am equipped or interesting enough. Is my story important? Do people wanna hear what I have to say? Am I qualified? I am aware that I am sometimes less than confident and often fear failing but every time I have those moments, GOD always seems me a sweet reminder that I am on the right track.
I AM DOING THIS SCARED but I know who I am and whose I am! It is not about me. GOD’s word tells me that in my weakness, his strength is made perfect. So, in those moments of doubt, I go to GOD for encouragement and strength. Giving up is not an option and if I help one person, if I can shine some light, or if I can bring some hope then that is good enough for me. My goal is to max out with everything that GOD has put inside me. I want to end my life completely empty, giving my all. As long as I am following GOD’s will, success is my only option.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work for Progressive as a claim adjuster but prior to working for Progressive, I worked for Hertz for over 5 years. I was laid off from Hertz due to COVID which was a little hurtful because I had worked so hard at Hertz to get to where I was. I started off as a transporter, worked my way up to running my own Branch, and then to the corporate side as a Recruiter. I was so excited because I was learning a different side of the company but all things work together for our good. Although, COVID caused some things to shift, I am so proud of all the success I had at Hertz. I received over 5 promotions in my 5 years there and though sometimes I wanted to give up, I am so proud of myself for not doing so.
Was it easy? The answer is a BIG FAT NO! I faced many obstacles but I had to learn from them, dust myself off, and make the change. I’ll share a few key things that I learned.
– Perception is reality. Sometimes you may not feel like you have said anything wrong and not even meant anything harmful by what you say but perception is reality. Everybody does not perceive things the same, so what may not be offensive to you, may be offensive to others. So doing a little fine tuning can make the world of a difference. Whether it be being a little bit more cautious of your body language or the tone of your voice can save many unnecessary conflicts.
– Keep a work-life balance. When it is time for you to clock out, clock out! Live outside of work and don’t just live work. That work will be there when you clock in tomorrow, trust me, it isn’t going anywhere.
– Build rapport and connect with people. Don’t burn bridges. You never know who you will need in the future. A-lot of times it’s not what you know but who you know!
At every one of my interviews for my promotions, I always asked what was 1 word to describe their experience at work and I would always start with mine. My word was humble. Humble because I had to really take the low seat and get out of my way to really succeed. Not lose myself but take constructive criticism and advice, digest it, and apply it. I can honestly say it was not peaches and cream all the time, but listening and applying made the world of difference in my success. I am far from perfect and sometimes it was hard accepting my flaws but I learned from them and it has brought me success in everything I touch.
I want the world to know that nothing I have wanted or worked for has come easy but it was totally worth it to not give up!
So like Snoop said, “I want to thank me for me, I want to thank me for believing in me, and I want to thank me for putting in all this hard work!”. Lol
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to my amazing husband Leon and daughters Dakota Skye, Denver Jade, and Noelle Skye who now lives with Jesus (RIH Noelle).
My husband has been my biggest supporter from listening to all my ideas, encouraging me when I want to give up, and literally learning photography to help me with my content. Leon is literally my rock and always reminding me that I got this and I can do anything I put my mind to. I love you Leon – Olive Juice – Alligator Food.
My babies. They are the absolute reason I can’t give up and seeing their beautiful faces daily is a constant reminder of why I am doing the things I do. I want them to see through my life that they can do whatever it is that they want to do and be whoever they want to be.
I love them so much because they love me wholeheartedly just the way I am, the good, the bad, and not so pretty.
Last, but certainly not least, I have to give honor to GOD. Without GOD’s guidance, patience, and love there is no vision. The vision of GOD’s very own butter is from GOD himself and without him, I am absolutely nothing. I love him because he first loved me and because of that, I owe him all I have and more.
Contact Info:
- Email: simalexandriaa@gmail.com
- Website: godsveryownbutter.com
- Instagram: simalexandriaa_
Image Credits
Christian Homme (@christinadeshomme)
Tommy Sanders (Instagram: @tsanders___)
