Bestselling author Jordan Lee Dooley kicks off online livestream Convocation series

Liberty University’s final Convocation before Spring Break, featuring bestselling author Jordan Lee Dooley, was streamed online to the student body who stayed in their dorms and watched with their community groups due to the university’s decision to restrict large gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After Liberty President Jerry Falwell addressed campus concerns about coronavirus and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ritchie McKay spoke about the abrupt ending to a historic season (read more), Dooley sat down for a conversation with Senior Vice President for Spiritual Development David Nasser. She told the story of how she became an author and a social media influencer — she airs “The She” podcast and her @jordanleedooley Instagram account has more than 330,000 followers.

After working hard throughout college to obtain high grades, Dooley said she began to realize that she wasn’t sure what she desired to do with her life when she graduated. She talked with her mom, then decided that it was time to pursue some of the passions that she had always had, including using her creativity to start an Etsy shop out of her sorority house.

Her business has since expanded significantly, giving Dooley an open door to pursue book writing, blogging, podcasting, and speaking.

Dooley and her husband, Matt, a former NFL player, have a passion for helping others find purpose in their lives. Her new book, “Own Your Everyday” was written to help women find their path in life. The Jordan Lee Dooley website has sections intended for all the different seasons of a women’s life, including everyday advice, romance and marriage tips, social media and business wisdom, and practical tips on how to obtain your goals.

She talked about the wisdom found in planning even though we may not always know how our plans are going to turn out. The Indiana native encourages young women to first know where they want go so they can plan practical ways to get there.

“In the book, I talk about the wisdom of planning because I don’t think you can really make the most of today unless you realize, ‘This is where I’m aiming for.’”

Dooley said that no matter what circumstances arise, nothing can change God’s plan for your life, and this truth should be the motivation for young people to be persistent and faithful in pushing forward each day in pursuit of where He is leading.

“Let’s plan, let’s be proactive and make the most of today with what we have and where we are,” Dooley said. “I always say start small and have fun.”

Nasser asked Dooley to talk about dealing with circumstances that are uncomfortable and are not in line with our expectations.

“I think we live in a world that tells us to live a happy life,” she said. “There are moments in your life that we look forward to and have an expectation of what it’s going to be. But I’ve been challenged over the last year that I don’t want my life to be a happy life; I want it to be a meaningful life.”

Dooley implied that the difference of pursuing a life of happiness leads to always wanting more while the pursuit of a meaningful life leads to a Christ-follower staying true to the path that the Lord has them on.

“Seek the meaning. Make this the most meaningful week of your life,” she said.

Nasser mentioned the commonality that he saw between Dooley’s method and the Apostle Paul’s epistle when he tells readers that the joy of the Lord is his strength.

Dooley then told viewers how she and her husband use her podcast to give listeners practical tips on starting their own small business. Due to her current success in entrepreneurship, she is a member of the Liberty University School of Business Board of Advisors.