Ep. 142: Stop Hiding. Start Shining. How to Let Your Light Shine Online

Episode OverviewYou know you're called. You know God put this business on your heart. But if no one can find you — are you really shining your light?This month's Founder Encounter brought together guest speaker Darin Adams, who works alongside the team at Thrive, to unpack something deeply practical and deeply spiritual at the same time: why so many faith-driven entrepreneurs are hiding online — and what to do about it. Tamara and Pastor Anthony rounded out the conversation with rich theological grounding, connecting the practical steps to God's call for His people to be a city on a hill.What started as a teaching on the five new rules for getting found online quickly became something more — a prophetic invitation to stop shrinking and start shining. Whether you're a business owner, author, podcaster, or marketplace leader, this session will give you tangible tools and a renewed sense of purpose for putting yourself out there.The marketplace has shifted — AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are now the gatekeepers of discovery. Getting found starts with getting chosen by them.Your Google Business Profile is the new website. It's free, it's powerful, and most people haven't optimized it.Consistency across all your online listings builds trust with AI search engines — even if your customers never visit those platforms.Online reviews carry as much weight as personal referrals. Asking for them, and responding quickly, matters more than you think.Most businesses don't lose customers to competitors — they lose them to silence. The follow-up is where the business actually happens.Visibility is an act of stewardship. When God calls you to shine, hiding is not humility — it's disobedience."Most businesses don't lose customers to competitors. They lose them to silence." — Darin Adams"Relationships start with visibility. If we are all hiding, we can't be in relationship." — Tamara"You're not answering to your customers to be the best business. You're answering to God for how you steward what He's called you to do." — Pastor AnthonyDarin Adams is a business strategist and marketplace leader who works alongside the team at Thrive to help small business owners and entrepreneurs maximize their online presence. With a heart for integrating faith and business, Darin brings practical digital strategy tools together with a kingdom perspective — helping founders not just grow their businesses, but shine their light in the marketplace. His teaching centers on one conviction: what you do can change people's lives, but only if they can find you.Online Visibility Audit — run a free scan of your business: getthrivenow.com/ovaGoogle Business Profile — business.google.com (free to set up)Thrive — business growth platform including social media scheduling, review management, website builder, and AI follow-up tools2 Corinthians 5:16 — "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh..."Matthew 5:14-16 — "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden..."Matthew 22:14 — "Many are called, but few are chosen."What happened in this room on a Thursday afternoon is just a taste of what God does when His people gather intentionally. FounderCon is our annual in-person conference where faith and business collide — deep teaching, genuine community, and encounters that stick with you long after you leave.FounderCon 2025 | Hampton Roads, Virginia | NovemberLearn more and register at https://thefoundercollective.org/founderconKey TakeawaysPull QuotesAbout the GuestResources MentionedJoin Us at FounderCon