How Venessa Wood Built a Mission-Driven Business with Ag Women Connect
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
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There’s a difference between starting a business to make money and building something that feels like a calling.
In my recent conversation with Venessa Joy, founder of Ag Women Connect — a growing community built to equip and encourage women in agriculture — we didn’t just talk about entrepreneurship. We talked about purpose. Community. Conviction. And what it really takes to build something that’s rooted in mission.
If you’ve ever felt pulled toward building something bigger than yourself, here are the biggest lessons Venessa shared.
Practical Business Lessons from Ag Women Connect Founder Venessa Wood
1. Get Involved, Even When It’s Scary
She credits much of her intellectual, spiritual, mental, and emotional growth over the last five years to intentionally surrounding herself with people who are:
Further along than she is
Mentors she can learn from
Women who sharpen her faith and leadership
And she didn’t stop at one circle. She emphasized not having tunnel vision.
Instead of staying laser-focused on just Ag Women Connect, she chose to diversify — getting involved in her community, in politics, and in other organizations.
If you want to build something mission-driven, you cannot isolate yourself. Growth happens in rooms that stretch you.
2. Stop Feeling Like You Have to Be “On” All the Time
Coming from a network marketing background, Venessa admitted she once felt pressure to constantly post, constantly share, constantly be visible.
Always on.
But she’s done with that.
She shared a simple but powerful example: on her anniversary, she chose to be fully present with her husband instead of spending time crafting the “perfect” social media post.
Her words?
“Don’t be afraid to just do what you need to do and stop worrying about what other people are expecting you to do.”
If your business is truly built around your values, your decisions should reflect your real priorities, including how and when you show up online.
3. Let Go of What Other People Think
Venessa was honest about stepping into leadership.
When you lead, you will be scrutinized. You will be misunderstood. Not everyone who is with you is truly for you.
Her advice?
Trust that God moves people in and out of your life for a reason. Don’t second-guess it. Don’t chase approval.
This matters deeply in a mission-driven business.
If your foundation is approval, your mission will wobble. If your foundation is calling, you can withstand criticism.
4. You Don’t Have to Reinvent Yourself on January 1
Another practical insight she shared: growth doesn’t start on New Year’s Day.
If you want clarity, if you want change, if you want new habits, you don’t wait for a calendar flip.
You choose growth consistently.
Mission-driven entrepreneurs aren’t seasonal about development. They stay open to challenge and refinement year-round.
5. Get Back in the Saddle
Her final encouragement was beautifully fitting for equine entrepreneurs:
“Just get back in the saddle.”
If you’ve taken time off…
If you’ve gone through a hard season…
If things haven’t been perfect…
Get back in.
It doesn’t have to be flawless to be successful.
She’s built Ag Women Connect without obsessing over perfection. She doesn’t wait until everything is polished. She moves forward, learns, and adjusts.
That’s how mission-driven businesses are sustained.
The Big Takeaway
Building a mission-driven business isn’t about louder marketing or bigger platforms.
It’s about surrounding yourself with the right people and aligning your actions with your values.
Venessa didn’t build Ag Women Connect by staying comfortable.
She built it by staying connected to her faith, her community, and her calling.
And that’s something every equine entrepreneur can apply.
Ready to build a business that meets your definition of success? Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching will give you a step-by-step roadmap to get there.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
The Business Barn Collective: Growth-focused coaching circles for equestrian entrepreneurs ready to leave striving behind and build from a place of purpose.
Take the Reins: 1:1 Business Coaching for Equestrian Entrepreneurs
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