I have been greatly blessed in life AND life has been very hard. I have much to offer others regarding how to start and grow a global market-leading business with a wonderful culture. This is the arena where I am a coach and consultant. AND I have confronted addictive behaviors and have had to admit to personal powerlessness. I have suffered from and been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. I have lived in much fear and shame. I have witnessed my child battle cancer and I have faced my own cancer, both of which felt like deaths. This suffering has been the catalyst for my spiritual journey. Life is treacherous;  AND life promises resurrection. 

My first half of life was more about surviving rather than thriving. It’s helpful to walk with someone who is a little further down the road to give some perspective and to help dispel the illusion of separateness. I believe there is hope for peace, contentment and happiness in all aspects of life, including work. I have enjoyed a career in the corporate arena and achieved a lot of worldly success, but getting to the top of the ladder often felt empty and like the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall (as stated by Thomas Merton). Much of my business framework and workplace values are summarized in my Thrivers book. Spiritually, I was raised as an evangelical Christian (see my book No Matter the Cost –  my “first-half-of-life” manuscript) and in 2001 I started a men’s ministry called Band of Brothers (bandofbrothers.org). In the past several years I have been greatly impacted by the non-dualistic and contemplative work of Fr. Richard Rohr, the author of many books including Falling Upward. I recently completed his 2-year Living School program at the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC). This is the arena where I am a spiritual director. There is no intention when working with my clients to proselytize any particular religion, but I do reference the ancient wisdom of perennial traditions representing and respectful of different faiths. We will consider the big patterns that are true always and everywhere. Clearly my own spiritual tradition is Judeo-Christian. 

I typically work with business leaders who are in transition, perhaps questioning the systems, world views and religious beliefs that no longer seem to be working. My model for being an elder to executives is holistic – Mind, Body and Spirit – where we work to Rewire the Mind, Regulate the Body, and Connect to Everyone and Everything. I believe it is impossible to experience true personal growth and transformation without exploring all aspects of well-being. “Spirituality” is not just for the church – it is the human language of failure and glory in all of life, including our work. It’s the language of meaning and purpose, which usually is transformed through unwanted yet necessary suffering. I believe that pondering the big questions of life is important to the way we deal with the suffering. Even Albert Einstein commented, “I think the most important question facing humanity is, ‘Is the universe a friendly place?'” Our core belief or view of the benevolence or wrath of the Divine is a crucial question. 

I consider myself a “wounded healer” who continues to do life wrong – every day. As often stated by Rohr, “We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right.” An elder has lived long enough to know that life is very hard, and an elder understands that all will be okay and knows that in the end life is “very good.” Often what we thought were curses were actually blessings. I believe in good endings because I believe that resurrection(s) follows death(s), a truth that is echoed by the loss and renewal pattern found in nature. An elder also is about being curious, being present, and is about always being a life-long student – i.e. a growth mindset. Our time together will include my role as a coach, consultant, and spiritual director. Holistically, it is all about laying the groundwork for your transformation – which is all about surrender and letting go. An “elder” brings a perspective that helps you hold the space, paradox and tension between the “very hard” AND “very good.” The only term that feels inclusive of my role with those business executives I work with is “Executive Elder.”