mydtconnect-v1

How to Achieve Lifelong Change

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 18:32:01 GMT

Ever been to an amazing Christian conference, (like the World Discipleship Summit) heard lifechanging insights and wisdom that deeply inspired you, only to find yourself (maybe just a few months later) forgetting what you learned?

I have...many times. And there's a reason we all do this.

If you want to learn exactly how to achieve lifelong change when you stumble upon lifechanging insight, watch this video.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one. It can still be done remotely but we are also able to come to your church in person.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

We will do a 90-minute interactive ZOOM session with your congregation designed to inspire the professionals in your fellowship to be their best for God's glory.

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

How to Avoid Judginess at Work

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:29:05 GMT

Hollywood depicts all Christians as judgy. It's a standard movie trope that lazy writers continue to use. The truth, however, is this: All people are judgy.

Okay, that's probably not that hard to believe.

The psychology behind this is very interesting, however. The scripture that guides us away from judginess is pertinent. Watch this video to find out how we can all avoid being judgy in the workplace.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

You Can't Help Someone Who Doesn't Want It

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 23 May 2022 17:50:33 GMT

Christians want to help. It's part of our DNA. If we see someone not doing well in their work, we invest time to get them back on track. Psychology tells us, however, we can't help those who don't want it.

We see this same wisdom in Jesus as well. He kept walking and called others to follow Him, no matter their situation. And yet statistics show that a whopping 26% of a manager's day is spent on under-performing employees.

Watch this video to learn the psychological and benefical wisdom of knowing when someone wants help and when they don't

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Our Career as a Spiritual Act of Worship

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:28:38 GMT

It's very tempting to take credit when things go great in our career. We can easily get pleased with ourselves.

And yet, when we pause and consider how the success happened, it's impossible (yes, truly impossible) to explain how exactly it happened.

That's because success comes from the Lord. Our career can be a big part of our spiritual act of worship when we choose to vocally give Him the credit.

Watch to find out more.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

How to Leverage Your Talents for God's Church

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 11:54:53 GMT

I am convinced there is no better training ground for Christ than our professional lives. We spend more time at work than anywhere else in our lifetime.

And yet, how often do we consider how to take what we have learned in the marketplace and leverage it in God's church.

What this video to explore a storefront of ideas to consider when using your talents for the Kingdom of God.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

We Become What We Worship

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:21:09 GMT

Many Christians have a tough time pinpointing exactly what it means to worship God.

Sometimes we reference our Sunday morning music ministry or those times we pray in a humble poisition. But we aren't really certain.

That means we may also not be so good at determining whether we worship other things or not.

Watch this short video to find out what it means to worship and why it's so improtant that we understand it.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Our Emotions and God's Holy Spirit

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 14:01:16 GMT

Across our career journey we will all face difficulty and hardship. The intensity of that experience has much to do with our own attitude about it. It's true.

And as Christ's ambassadors in the marketplace, we want to keep in step with the Spirit as our foundation for effectiveness. So, how do we do that?

Watch this video to find out.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

How to Advise Like a Coach

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:16:26 GMT

When someone comes to ask for our advice, it can be easy to just offer up our opinion. This is especially true for those of us who are bosses in the workplace. After all, aren't we supposed to know the answers to our employee's dilemmas.

Yes, this is the same for those who are in full tiem ministry positions...perhaps doubly true. There is a better way and I learned it when I became a coach.

Watch this video to find out.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Five Career Traps Set by Fear

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:33:45 GMT

We can all probably quote at least one passage about fear. When I think about this odd and uncomfortable emotion, the following proverb comes to mind:

Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Fear can manifest itself in many ways, especially within our professional lives. And when it’s present here, it will most certainly stifle future career growth.

It might be anxiety about a delicate workplace situation. It could be fear of looking bad. It can be the fear of the unknown workload. Perhaps it is fear of missing out on an opportunity. And, as the proverbs suggests above, it could be fear of getting fired.

To help you identify the traps that accompany fear, we’ve assembled five of the most common ways fear can work against your career. In this short blog we won’t be diving into the solution. But this is what we ask: With each fear below, if you are willing, see if you can find one Bible passage that highlights a great solution.

Fear Defined

What exactly is fear? Being scared isn’t just for Halloween and scary movies! It is our most powerful emotion. Studies show people identify fear above any other sentiment. Fear is primal. It is controlled by two almond-sized regions of the brain called the amygdala, which facilitate past experience, decision-making and feelings. Our fear response is designed by God as a biological outcome of how we experience our environment, including the workplace.

While there is a valid role fear plays in life, the body tends to irrationally use the fear we generate in our own thinking. So, it is important we identify it as soon as we can. Here are the top five:

1. Playing it safe

Fear of making mistakes causes us to play it safe. This tends to be fear of looking bad or, said in another way, fear of social rejection. This is fear of man. And when present, it dampens our greatest strengths and prevents us from doing our most creative work. When we choose to play it safe, we don’t take risks that are very natural in the marketplace. Albert Einstein once said, “A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it was built for.” God did not design us to play it safe either. What biblical characters do you know chose not to play it safe?

2. Living in the past

It’s such an encouraging thing to achieve a major accomplish or reach a big goal in our career. Even more so is when we are recognized for it publicly. For many of us, we begin to fear not being able to replicate future success. We see ourselves as one-hit-wonders. As such, we hold on to past glory as if the best years are behind us. If you find yourself thinking about how great things used to be for you, it might mean you are stuck in a fear of success. When here, we often tell ourselves things like, “I’ve done enough, why push now,” or “Things are different now, I could never repeat that again,” or “If I achieve even bigger goals, I’ll be given more responsibility and I won’t be able to handle it.” What scripture comes to mind that teaches us to leave the past behind us?

3. Pushing instead of waiting

Many of us spend much time and effort forcing outcomes we can neither control nor fully understand. This can be a result of the fear of the unknown. We are surrounded by a business culture of pushing as fast and hard as we can to achieve results, be productive, grow the business, reach even higher. I see this manifest itself often in small business owners especially. We are so conditioned to expect (if not outright demand) results now, if we don’t get them, we push others and ourselves too hard. This is an obvious manifestation of fear. It’s as if we are saying, “If I don’t get this done or achieve this goal, something bad is going to happen to me.” Where have you seen people in God’s word unwilling to wait on God?

4. Choosing independence

Only God knows all, as is beautifully captured in Deuteronomy 29:29 . And yet, we often tell ourselves we are supposed to solve every problem that comes our way. If we don’t, we might possibly look bad or weak. This is ultimately a fear of being rejected. We have convinced ourselves it is wrong to be any kind of burden to others and start believing it be a Christian virtue. These types of limiting beliefs keep us from asking for help when stumped or blocked. Although getting assistance could foster a quick resolution, we cave to the fear of looking bad and suffer for it. Where in the Word does God encourage us to lean on others?

5. Making work more important than God

It is OK to “fail” at a company that does not share our values and ideals. It is not OK to allow an unscrupulous company to influence our relationship with God. As Christians, we are called to work in all things as if we are working for the Lord. However, if we find ourselves tempted to conduct unprincipled behavior to either keep our job or to get ahead, this is likely a fear of being poor (peniaphobia). I know many faithful disciples of Jesus who have this irrational fear. It’s real and it can cause us to consider doing business in a crooked way. What passages stand out to you as a warning against this behavior?

Fear Defeated

We are called by God to conquer fear. Knowing how to identify it can really helps us overcome it. There is no better example of a man overcoming fear (no, terror) than Jesus Himself. He endured physical pain, rejection, public humiliation and death. Each of these can be categorized in their own fear state. What passages can you hide in your heart that will help you defeat fear?

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer® to coach Christian professionals how to bring the power of Christ’s word, as the foundation of career success, into the corporate and small-business world.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

If you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one. During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

We will do a 90-minute interactive ZOOM session (or in-person session) with your congregation designed to inspire the professionals in your fellowship to be their best for God's glory.

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

A Renewed Look at Effective Discipling

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:38:14 GMT

The importance of understanding effective, lifelong discipling is to first understand the history of teaching.

Watch this video to discover how our understanding of Jesus affected our style of teaching and which has impacted our way of discipling one another.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

If you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one. During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Where to Start When Changing Yourself

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:01:27 GMT

We all have areas we want to improve. As Chrsitians, we think of this as repentance. And in the professional realm, striving for ongoing change is essential for offering ourselves as a living sacrifice.

It can be overwhelming, however, knowing where to start changing something specific (like getting up early, being more bold in meetings, saying less in meetings, handling employee complaints successfully, understanding financials, improving emotional intelligence and so on).

Watch this short video to learn my self-change management process and how to create your own.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

If you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one. During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Simplify Your Life for the Holidays

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:09:27 GMT

There is a parable that holds such wisdom about life simplification, it's almost always overlooked.

Watch this video to find out which parable and exactly how it applies. It's going to blow your mind.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

A Narrow Path Negates Superior Numbers

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 12:37:42 GMT

The wisdom from Jesus about choosing a narrow path is certainly meant as a metaphor for our eternal inheritance as a function of life chocies. It's truth is undeniable. If we choose to stray from the narrow path, destruction awaits.

This holds great signifigance in our professional life as well. A narrow path negates superior numbers. Yes, it's partly about making righteous decisions in our career, of course. It has a more practical application too.

Watch this video to find out more.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Disciples Have a Workplace Advantage

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 15:07:53 GMT

Companies hire employees based on Christian principles. It's true, although most disciples are not aware.

Hiring managers and senior leaders look for professionals that are a lot like Christ, whether they acknowledge it or not. If you are in the position to hire, you know exactly what I mean. Most of the interview process is spent vetting a person’s character as opposed to their specific skill set. You can train good skills, but not good character.

As a Christian, we have a distinct advantage because our character is to be Christ-like on and off the job. No, the business world does not refer to these character traits as "Fruits of the Spirit", but that is precisely what they desire in every employee. And that's what we come prepackaged with, virtues that make up the perfect employee.

Add to these virtues (fruits of the spirit) a faith that God is in control of all things, and our career adventures take on a new and very exciting perspective. God has placed us right where He wants us, as we are told in Acts 17:26

…and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

He decides the boundaries of our habitation (NASB), places where we would live (NET), exact places where we would live (NIV), boundaries of our dwelling (NKJV). Every Bible translation agrees that the author of the Book of Acts meant to write that God is involved with where we live. That means we are where we are for a reason. We work in the business or company we are meant to work.

When we realize we are right where we’re supposed to be, our attitude will change. We can rest (and work) assured God’s plan is in action. We can be energetic about whatever situation we experience. And when we are energetic about work, our leadership team will see it. That’s what leaders are looking for – energetic employee engagement. That’s who they want to promote and distribute responsibility.

And if you are part of the senior leadership team, that’s what your shareholders want in you – a devoted, energetic and focused captain at the helm. Knowing this is half the battle. Yes, skills and experience play a role in your workplace success and yet our character is what ultimately differentiates us.

Jesus gives us a distinct advantage. We certainly don’t want to be cocky about it. We can, however, enjoy the ride by keeping our eyes fixed on the Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

A Lot of Work is Easy With a Little Motivation

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:32:23 GMT

I'm sure you would agree, when we are excited about a job, task, project or duty, time just seems to fly. It's like we time warp into the future and lose ourselves in the work. The question is, "How do I get and stay motivated?"

We can look to something Jesus said to his disciples about a mustard seed of faith in order to learn about motivation. Watch to find out.

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Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

How to Know If We Are Chasing the Wind

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:27:18 GMT

The phrase "chasing after the wind" is Christian cannon. We all know where it comes from in God's word. And none of us want to be guilty of it. Sometimes we even asign the phrase to activities that were never meant to be considered such.

So, how can we know for sure whether our career ambitions are noble or wind-chasing? Watch to find out.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Why Doesn't Matter

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:46:21 GMT

Our career doesn't always go the way we would like. People don't always treat us the way we are supposed to be treated. Customers and bosses and fellow employees do thigns we don't understand. And we can get bogged down wondering why.

When the outcomes are damaging, it can be easy for us to not just obsess on why it happened, we question why God would allow it to happen.

The truth that Jesus taught is this: WHY DOESN'T MATTER. The freedom behind this wisdom will change the way we deal with disappoinment in a profound way.

Watch this video to hear the science, psychology and scripture that will help you have achieve a complete mindshift.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Limit the Hours You Give to Work

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:03:29 GMT

Work expands to fill whatever time we allow it.

That means, it's easy to let our calendar spiral out of control. If you have ever found yourself at the mercy of your own calendar, controlled by it's powerful influence over your freedom, you have given in to Parkinson's Law.

And it's time to learn how to limit the hours you give to work. Watch this video to grasp a deeper understanding of this important principle and what you can do about it.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Shrewd and Gentle at Work

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 15:24:41 GMT

We all deal with unpleasant colleagues in our career. I heard someone once say, "In my world it's either dominate or be dominated."

If you work with someone like this, Jesus has a great principle to consider.

Watch to find out more.

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

How to Prove God's Will for Your Career

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 17:34:05 GMT

So many of us pray for God to make our biggest decisions clear BEFORE we take the step. I know this is true for me, at least. I think you would agree, it seems better to know God's will instead of trying something out and it not working out.

Well, there is a way to know God's will and the scriptures give us a wonderful answer. Watch this video to find out.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Self-Deception Will Cost You

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:12:13 GMT

The science is clear (and I reference it specifically in this video) that if we choose deception and then receive a benefit as a result, we activate a self-deception system in our brains.

Once activated, it can lead us to becoming chronically deceptive no matter the consequence. This same, scientific truth is found in God's word. The best part, the Bible provides the antidote for it all. Watch to find out more.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

The Importance of Christian Ego

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:40:26 GMT

We always hear it said that ego is a bad thing, or perhaps we say "a big ego is bad". Best selling books have been recently written suggesting that ego is the enemy.

What if I told you that was not at all the case. Truth is, the word ego is actually found all throughout the Bible and happens to be part of one of the most important things Jesus ever said.

For Christians, ego is vitally important to a righteous life. Watch this video to find out how.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Is hard Work Really Its Own Reward

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 24 May 2021 16:16:17 GMT

There is a saying "Hard work is its own reward." Is it, really?

Some would argue the point. In fact, you if you look this up on Quora, several people have negative things to say about it.

Of course, we always want to ask, "What does God have to say about it?" The answer is intriguing and inspiring. Watch to find out more.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

This is Why Ambition is a Virtue

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 13:27:11 GMT

Most of the Christians I know have struggled with the idea of ambition always being selfish. They equate it with greed, a discontent with what they have. What if I told you ambition is actually virtuous, a moral good? What if our understanding of contentment is not about ambition at all?

Watch this video and you'll find out why I make such a radical claim (for some, at least).

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly FREE

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

The Executive Presence of Jesus and Why it Matters

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:52:06 GMT

We don't often hear people describe Jesus as someone with executive presence. He was (and is) the perfect example of it. Watch this short video to understand how Jesus had executive presence and why it matters for us today.

Shawn Sommerkamp

Please join us on our weekly

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Can We Spread the Gospel Through Career Success?

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 18:18:50 GMT

Many disciples of Jesus feel pulled in two different directions when it comes to serving the church and excelling in their career.

For the highly successful professional or entrepreneur, it takes real focus and dedication to excel in the marketplace. Doesn't that take away from time serving our brothers and sisters in church?

What if we could turn this notion on its head and use our career to spread the gospel? And no, I don't mean stepping away from our career to become a full-time minister.

Watch to find out more.

Please join us on our weekly

Christian Executive Coaching

Saturday ZOOM Sessions

They occur every Saturday at 8am EST US. The ZOOM link and pass code are immediately below.

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

pass code: 12345

We have disciples from all over the world join each week. If you are a career-minded disciple that wants to use your career to glorify God, this is the group for you.

Here is the format:

- Opening Prayer

- 20-minute TED Style lesson pertaining to career aspiration for Christian Professionals

- 30-minute open Q&A consultation

- 30-minute group coaching session

I hope to see you soon.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Quoting the Bible at Work

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 14:09:51 GMT

I often get asked whether it's a good idea to quote the Bible at work. Especially in today's cancel culture it may seem overtly risky to speak about God's word in the marketplace. There is a simple answer, we can quote the verse but not necessarily say the Book-Chapter-Verse of where it comes from.

Watch this video to find out more.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Saturday Weekly Christian Executive Coaching ReZOOMing March 6th

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:56:55 GMT

We are excited to announce that Season 2 of our weekly Saturday Executive Coaching sessions starts again March 6th. Join us as we explore rich content that guides us on our path to career excellence for Christ. Disciples from all over the world joined last year and we expect it to be even bigger this year.

The following ZOOM link will be used each week so feel free to create a recurring reminder in your calendar. See you there.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85080722267

Passcode = 12345

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

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Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

What to Do When Personalities Collide

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 21:25:01 GMT

We face difficult personalities at work all the time. We can learn from a unique conflict in the Book of Acts. Watch this video to find out more.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

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Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

What We Do in Practice We Do in the Game

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 20:35:40 GMT

I learned a valuable truth playing baseball as a youngster in my hometown of Tampa...the right kind of practice makes the right kind of improvement.

Practice alone does not always guarantee a great impact. After all, we could be using the wrong techniques, have misinformation or be slack in our time practicing. When this happens, we won;t be prepared for when it really matters.

It's no wonder Jesus taught this in Luke 16:10. Watch to find out more.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Dealing With Office Politics

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:44:30 GMT

It's hard to count how many times I've heard Christian professionals say, "I'm not going to pursue leadership roles in my company because I'm just no good at office politics."

I have great news for you...there's no such thing. Watch this video to find out how this seemingly absurd statement is very TRUE!

DOWNLOAD the Core Values Assessment HERE

(Note: Download the PDF to your computer first then complete the Core Values Assessment.)

If you want to do a DISC Assessment, email me directly --> shawn@motivationeer.com

Thanks.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Sugar Shortens Our Fuse

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:24:41 GMT

Sugar is one of those substances that seems to be in everything we eat, even though it's not good for the body.

What's worse is when we start off the day with sugary foods. What it leads to is a shortened fuse throughout the workday. We get crankier, more easily frustrated, less likely to be a good listener or a good leader when we have high amounts of processed sugar in our daily diet.

Some great science has been conducted on its effect. Watch to find out more.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Why We Get So Easily Offended

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 11:07:41 GMT

Fools show their annoyance at once. We know this profound (and cutting) truth. Yet we all get easily offended.

Ever wonder why? It's natural.

And no, I mean more than just "of the sinful nature". I mean we were designed to get offended. And when we better understand how it works in our bodies, we can take the steps to changing how we feel.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

You Just Got Fired, Now What?

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 11:40:47 GMT

Although most people, when asked, prefer never to get fired, you just did. Now what? I have great news for you...with God we can be thrilled about it. It is truly about our perspective. As disciples of Jesus, we know God works for the good all things that happen in our lives. This includes employment termination.

I have more good news, the global economy is so massive we can't even comprehend it. That means there are more job opportunities out there than imaginable. There is an abundance. And since the quarantine, most companies realize working from home is not just an option, but preferred.

Watch this video to find out more.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Your Age Doesn't Matter

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:40:59 GMT

If you look for ageism in the marketplace, you'll find it. If you don't look for it, you won't find it. That's because age only matters for those who focus on it.

It is a Limiting Belief (the "L" in F.A.I.L.) to think you're too old to start a new career, get a promotion, start a business...whatever. I can prove it, too. Watch this video to find out how.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Wise Women Know How to Negotiate

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 19:10:39 GMT

There is a fantastic (and often overlooked) story in the Old Testament about a wise woman who negotiated with an army general to save her city. When none of the men in the city had the courage or wisdom or ability to do it, she stepped up and won the day. Watch this video to learn more about her and her amazing accomplishment, which serves as a potent reminder for the modern day Christian woman to learn the power of negotiation.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

If You Are Too Agreeable, Try This

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:41:05 GMT

Agreeableness is one of the Big Five Personality Dimensions (along with Conscientiousness, Openness, Extroversion and Neuroticism). As delightful as agreeable people are, they do have some limitations in the workplace.

Agreeable professionals tend to not push very hard for pay raises or promotions. They tend to feel very uncomfortable having tough talks with those who are not performing well. And they often sit quietly in meetings even though expected to speak up.

If you are one of those super nice, polite, amiable and conciliatory professionals, and you realize it may be time to take a stand, watch this video. You'll learn a great way to approach this opportunity with excitement.

Please join us on our new Christian Professionals Coaching

Private Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianprofessionalsgroup/

Ask questions about your career and get answers. Connect with other disciples who are striving to make an impact for Christ through their career. Join in the discussion today.

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

Christians Have a Marketplace Advantage

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:50:00 GMT

Oh the cringey pain I feel every time Hollywood depicts a Christian on screen.

If you go by their definition of a Christian, we're a bunch of shallow, demeaning, judgemental creeps bent on making life miserable for everyone. Whether it's Ned Flanders (The Simpsons), Warden Norton (Shawshank Redemption), Reverend Shaw Moore (Footloose) or Monty Python's The meaning of Life, we Christians mostly get duped in film.

Well, the good news is, Hollywood doesn't have it right. Christians actually have a marketplace advantage. Watch this short video to find out how.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching VIRTUAL Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.

During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

How to Identify and Conquer Your Internal Blockers

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 12:16:58 GMT

This is a four-part video series on the four types of internal blockers. We can remember them using teh acronym F.A.I.L. which stands for Fear, Assumptions, Interpretations and Limiting Beliefs.

When we are focused on our fears, our assumptions, our interpretations or our limiting beliefs, we will not see all the opportunity that exists before us. Instead, we slip into a spiral of negativity that not drains our energy and limits the success we desire .

There is a way around each of these. Watch these videos to find out more.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.
During the COVID quarantine we will do it virtually, using the ZOOM platform.
It is 100% FREE for you and the church. We got it covered.

We will do a 90-minute interactive ZOOM session with your congregation designed to inspire the professionals in your fellowship to be their best for God's glory.

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

The Four Phrases of Self-Sabotage & What to Say Instead

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 17:44:26 GMT

The simple fact is this: We tell ourselves things about ourselves that undermine our deepest ambitions. There are four persistent phrases that stand out.

And we use these phrases so often we don't realize that self-sabotage is happening. Watch this video to find out what those phrases are and three power-phrases we can use to replace them.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us to schedule one.
It is 100% FREE for you and the church. The cost is completely covered.

Here's what you get:
- Friday night group Executive Coaching session for any group you choose (Elders, Campus, Bible Talk Leaders, Singles, Up-and-Comers)
- Friday dinner Executive Coaching session with one or two people of your choice
- Saturday three-hour Christian Professionals Workshop: it's life-changing...career-changing...heart-changing
- Saturday afternoon group or personal Executive Coaching session for those of your choice
- Saturday dinner group or personal Executive Coaching session for the person or group of your choice
- Sunday Offering/Contribution demo for the church that lasts only seven minutes but will change the way you view weekly giving

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

Your Presence Makes a Numerical Difference - Be Sure You Know How

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 11:42:05 GMT

When we promote ourselves within our own company, or we interview for new opportunities outside the company, it will make a difference when we quantify our impact.

In this video I show how Jesus used numbers throughout his parables. I also give you real world examples of how to take mundane statements about our own success and turn them into the language spoken by great business leaders.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

It's Possible to Ask Too Many Questions

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 12:36:26 GMT

Some professional lessons I learned the hard way. Asking too many questions was one of them.

I used to think I was asking questions to be a better employee. The kind intervention of a previous boss helped me see the truth.

That's when a powerful scripture instantly became practical.

Watch this short video to find out more about how it's possible to ask too many questions and what you can do about it.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Leaders Have Way More Career Options

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:41:53 GMT

Without trying to be dramatic, the simple truth is leadership skills are easily transferable across nearly every industry.

What might be most interesting is how few leaders actually know or take advantage of this.

Ever work with an executive that had ZERO industry experience? Heck yeah! We all know them.

So, how did they get the job? Because leadership skills are industry-agnostic. Watch this video to find out more.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

The Conflict Between Grace and Performance

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:48:53 GMT

Christian workplace leaders face a unique dilemma when managing team performance: Do we show our employees more grace than our non-Christian counterparts? Is it wrong for us to demand high performance from these employees? The best way to approach this answer, and therefore develop our own leadership style, is to study the life of Christ. Which side of the line did He walk?

Whether you are a leader in your career field or not, this video will provide careful insight about how to approach the grace vs performance question. Enjoy!

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Why Christians Don't Promote Themselves at Work

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 04 May 2020 12:57:02 GMT

If you're like most disciples, you have felt that awkward uncomfortability at the thought of telling your employer how awesome you are. The good news is, that's not what I'm talking about. It's not about self-promotion, it's about educating. Watch this video to learn why we shy away from self-promotion, why it's important to change this and how we can take on a new perspective.

And don't forget about our weekly

Saturday Executive Coaching Call

8:00am Eastern USA

Each week we are joined by disciples from all over the world to discuss righteous career growth. It's a FREE ZOOM video conference meeting and here's the format:

Opening prayer
First 20 minutes: Career-focused topic designed to change your perspective
Next 40 minutes: Open Q&A with consultative advice
Closing prayer
Final 60 minutes: Open Q&A with executive coaching

Schedule a FREE

Christian Executive Coaching Workshop

Head-to-Heart Connection (and Why it Matters)

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 11:23:30 GMT

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart for They Will See God...

Matthew 5:8, the header for this post, is a poignant reminder of the great day of redemption.

Or is it?

Could Jesus have been telling us we can see God while here on this earth?

This prolific statement from our Savior holds a secret that connects our minds with our hearts.

Once understood, this connection has the potential to change the way we see our professional life, and God's hand in it, forever.

Watch this video to discover a profound new way of looking at this verse and what it means for our career aspirations.

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And don't forget about our Christian Professionals Workshop at Your Church?

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us right away.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. The cost is completely covered.

Here's what you get:

- Friday night group Executive Coaching session for any group you choose (Elders, Campus, Bible Talk Leaders, Singles, Up-and-Comers)

- Friday dinner Executive Coaching session with one or two people of your choice

- Saturday three-hour Christian Professionals Workshop: it's life-changing...career-changing...heart-changing

- Saturday afternoon group or personal Executive Coaching session for those of your choice

- Saturday dinner group or personal Executive Coaching session for the person or group of your choice

- Sunday Offering/Contribution demo for the church that lasts only seven minutes but will change the way you view weekly giving

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

Five Career Traps Set by Fear

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:38:45 GMT

Fear will always hold us back, wherever it's present.

Believe it or not, we set traps for ourselves professionally. They are even more subtle than self-sabotage because we believe we're doing the right thing (meaning, it's not sin). In this video I explain the top five traps we set, for our own careers, when we give into certain fears. I also provide insight into how to avoid them. The list may surprise you and the solutions will give you solid footing to avoid these common fears in the future. Enjoy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

And don't forget about our Christian Professionals Workshop at Your Church?

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us right away.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. The cost is completely covered.

Here's what you get:

- Friday night group Executive Coaching session for any group you choose (Elders, Campus, Bible Talk Leaders, Singles, Up-and-Comers)

- Friday dinner Executive Coaching session with one or two people of your choice

- Saturday three-hour Christian Professionals Workshop: it's life-changing...career-changing...heart-changing

- Saturday afternoon group or personal Executive Coaching session for those of your choice

- Saturday dinner group or personal Executive Coaching session for the person or group of your choice

- Sunday Offering/Contribution demo for the church that lasts only seven minutes but will change the way you view weekly giving

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

Video: Stare At It Until You Get It

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:13:00 GMT

Feeling stuck on something at work? Pray first, then do this next:

If you’re stuck on a problem at work and can’t seem to figure it out, praying is the exact right place to start. What then? Well, just throwing up a prayer is not the only thing God calls us to do. Watch this short video and learn this powerful mind hack that may sound a little freaky at first, but really works: Stare at it until you get it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

And don't forget about our Christian Professionals Workshop at Your Church?

Also, if you haven't had us to your church to conduct a Christian Professionals Workshop, please contact us right away.

It is 100% FREE for you and the church. The cost is completely covered.

Here's what you get:

- Friday night group Executive Coaching session for any group you choose (Elders, Campus, Bible Talk Leaders, Singles, Up-and-Comers)

- Friday dinner Executive Coaching session with one or two people of your choice

- Saturday three-hour Christian Professionals Workshop: it's life-changing...career-changing...heart-changing

- Saturday afternoon group or personal Executive Coaching session for those of your choice

- Saturday dinner group or personal Executive Coaching session for the person or group of your choice

- Sunday Offering/Contribution demo for the church that lasts only seven minutes but will change the way you view weekly giving

Just select the button below and we will respond right away.

And to God be the glory!

Is Your Manager Holding You Back?

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 10:43:59 GMT

Psalm 9:9 "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

Could it be that your manager is holding you back? There is a way to determine if your boss is really a blocker. Yes, it can sometimes be hard to tell, so here are a few questions to ask yourself:

How often has your manager asked you about your career ambitions?
Do you have regularly scheduled and consistent time with your manager at least monthly?
Does your manager respond in a way that comes across condescending or disrespectful?
Does your manager share your success stories with their direct manager?
Are you ever praised or acknowledged for the work you do?
Does your manager take time to provide constructive feedback on how you can improve?
Does your manager consistently show signs of stress?
Is your manager hard to reach or access?

In the corporate world, leadership qualities in a manager are increasingly rare. Some people make great managers but inadequate leaders.

Managers know how to track the numbers, focus on departmental goals and report progress to leadership teams. However, this does not make a good leader. Leaders take a keen interest in their personnel. They know that the secret of department success is making every individual successful. Leaders let others eat first. They reward and praise and acknowledge. They shield you from the silly, political stuff at the top. They want to know what makes you tick and strive to align you for success.

Psalm 34:19 "Though a righteous man may have many troubles, the Lord delivers him from them all."

You may very well have a manager and not a leader. Worse yet, you may have a manager who is not at all interested in seeing you advance your career. Worse still, you may have experienced a manager who seems to be against you.

When you have a poor leader or a bad manager, it can generate significant stress in you and your fellow employees if you don’t know how to handle it.

Remember that people like Joseph and Daniel and David all had really bad bosses, and they persevered for considerable time under tyranny. They did so knowing God was sovereign, realizing it what was happening as part of God’s overall plan. Your situation is the same. God has you front of mind and knows what you are experiencing. Talk to him about this every day, even during the day as the drama unfolds.

It May Be Time to Take Action

And yes, it now may be time to take action. It is likely that the manager that's holding you back is not going to change any time soon. Now that you have prayed and placed it in God's hand, what can you do next? Perhaps consider having a talk with that manager directly. It is possible this manager doesn't realize what he is doing or can;t see the impact of his actions. Approaching him with humility and truth may make the difference.

Or you can go to your HR Manager and have a frank discussion. Let her know what is happening and ask her if there is anything that can be done about it. Bring multiple examples of your concern and be sure to come with a spirit of peace, not war.

If these two actions don't make a difference, it may be time to leave. In our next email we will cover the topic "How to Quite Your Job" in a way that glorifies God and set's you up for success.

Schedule us for a FREE Christian Professionals Workshop

If you want us to visit your congregation and conduct a Christian professionals workshop, we would love to come to you. It's 100% FREE -- it costs you nothing. The workshop is life-changing. We've been to many churches in the U.S. already including Dallas, Boston, LA, NJ, Charleston, Denver, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Hartford, Portland, Potomac Valley and others.

Speak to your evangelist and then smash the button below to contact us right away. We'll share more about it when you do.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to use their career to glorify God and support local church growth.

The Real Secret - Thankfulness

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 01:22:49 GMT

Where is the one place people are least likely to express gratitude?

A national polling firm named Penn, Schoen & Berland conducted a survey evaluating American attitude toward thankfulness. After completing more than 2,000 interviews across the US, this is what they found.

Select the video above to hear the results of their findings and the six Biblical reasons for thankfulness.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to bring the power of Christ’s word, as the foundation of career success, into corporate and small business America.

3 Facts About Time that Will Change the Way you Approach Life

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:53:13 GMT

“ Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”-Psalm 90:12

During a group coaching session, one of the participants wanted coaching on time management as they expressed this was an area in their life that was not going well for them.

The person was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed because they recently committed to a few new opportunities and were having a challenging time allocating their time effectively. As I coached them through this issue, the person mentioned that their “plate was already full” before committing themselves to these new opportunities.

By the end of the session, one of the hard truths about life that they embraced was this:

"W e can have the opportunity to do it all, but we can’t do it all right now .”

Mostly everything we do requires time and energy and there are only 24 hours in each day.

This is a fact that we must all embrace if we want to live a focused and meaningful life. Whenever I find myself becoming overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and/or pulled in too many directions, I ask myself “In this season of my life, what few things do I need to invest in that will give me the most meaning and allow me to have the most impact?”

Taking a moment to reflect both on the big picture and the scarcity of time will often bring clarity on what to commit to in the here and now.

A person’s concept, understanding, and value of time is directly correlated to how purposely and meaningfully they live their life. When we are connected with the fact that life is short (James 4:14), and time is precious, it puts things in perspective and is helpful when determining what to prioritize. If a person is not conscious of how little time they actually do have, they typically fill their schedules with frivolous activities and say yes to every request.

Most successful people do not manage time, they prioritize time.

In the Business Coaching Toolkit, Stephen G. Fairley notes these 3 facts about time:

Fact One: Time is a Limited Resource

In regard to time, everyone gets 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. The richest person in the world cannot buy an extra hour in a day. Time is a scarce and inflexible resource and it must be managed in that way. I have heard it said that time is money, but this far from the truth. If a person loses money, they can make more. Not so with time. An hour lost is lost forever. We should be good stewards of the time that God has given us.

Fact Two: There will Always Be More Things to Do than Time to Do Them In

To believe that we will one day get caught up with everything we have to do is an unrealistic expectation. This is why the traditional approaches to time management fails. Traditional time management techniques ask, “Do you have 10 things to do today? I can show you have to do 15. If you have 15 things to do, I can show you how to do 20.” The reality is that often we have more things to do every single day that simply cannot be done even through greater efficiency. Embracing this fact can alleviate stress our lives. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of being busy as busy does not equal productive.

Fact Three: Focus, Not Efficiency, Is the Key to Mastering Our Time

With so many things to do and so little time, we must make some hard choices on where we are going to spend our energy. Our focus helps us filter and make the decisions that are needed to live a life based on importance and not urgency. Being effective with time requires us to sift through the expanding items on our to-do lists and chose what is of the highest priority, leaving undone what is not priority.

Not all tasks are created equal. Failing to realize this is the number one reason we don’t fulfill our highest priorities.

Prioritizing Tip:

As you plan your week, ask yourself: “What is best thing I can do this week for my relationship with God? My relationship with my relationships? My health? My social life? My career?

Note: To receive a free time mastery system worksheet and other free useful updates, please visit my website at at www.teregicoleman.com to complete the contact form on the main page.

Teregi is a IFC-certified Professional Life Coach and public speaker who has 15+ years of people development experience. His mission as a coach is to increase the amount of flourishing in people’s lives.

Helping a Hurting Friend - Part 1

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:08:30 GMT

Often, we struggle with how to help the griever – what to say, what not to say, how to act, and how to love. For those helpers and friends, a few thoughts:

Timing. Often, when a death occurs there is an outpouring of support.

Neighbors and friends bring meals, relatives fly in from out of state, and

cards usually pour in. The details of planning the funeral and time spent with family often keep us occupied and “dealing” with our grief. But the weeks after the funeral may be the toughest part for many of us. As the loneliness sets in, the reality that we will now live without our loved one greets us every day and extreme emotional swings may suddenly appear.

Keep an eye on those who are three or so weeks past the funeral. This is often a crucial time for the griever and an opportunity to meet important needs. I often wait until this time to reach out to those I am not the main support for. I will often send a card and then reach out with a meal or initiate some time for coffee. Do not be offended if your grieving friend is not ready to talk.

Be patient and offer help at another time. Allow your friend to direct such help if appropriate or offer ways to support.

Create a safe and confidential environment. Generally, the griever

wants to talk, but careful planning and foresight are essential. A helping conversation is not the kind of discussion that is accomplished in a few minutes of fellowship or in passing. Ask your friend out for coffee or to a place that is conducive to this kind of conversation. Allocate at least an hour or so and be ready for more time if needed. Decide beforehand to be a listener and not a talker. Seek advice from a more seasoned mentor on how to help.

Listen and learn. This may be the most important and helpful feature of

helping those who are grieving. Listening in a non-judgmental fashion will allow your friend to open up in a safe and confidential manner. Listening with empathy, that is, going into your own painful experiences to feel what they might be feeling is critical. This does not mean you are trying to relate to their specific experience, but you feel similar hurts and are able to connect emotionally.

This kind of attentive listening takes great humility and will allow you to stay present in their pain. Refuse the temptation to listen and fix. There is no “fixing” grief–just staying in the moment and conveying love. Acknowledge the pain, stay with it, and simply love. Be willing to hear the same story repeatedly – it may be cathartic to your friend. Always use sensitivity, appropriate touch, warmth, and good eye contact.

For more information, go to my website www.inmotioncounseling.org or email Tim at timothysumerlin@gmail.com

Cultivating a Positive Outlook on Life

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:23:38 GMT

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things”

- Philippians 4:8-9.

Have you ever noticed that we tend to think about and focus on what goes wrong and not enough about what goes right in our lives? This is what psychologist calls our negativity bias. Our brain is built with a greater sensitivity to unpleasant news. Our negativity bias serves us well to warn us of danger; however, in our day-to-day lives when we focus on the negative we can overlook the everyday goodness and take it for granted.

By reflecting on 3 good things that happen each day we can train ourselves to look for the positive in everyday situations.

This practice is helpful because it guards against the unhelpful side of our negativity bias. By remembering and listing three positive things that have happened in your day--and considering what caused them, we tune into the sources of goodness in our life. This is a habit that can change the emotional tone of our lives, replacing feelings of disappointment or entitlement with those of gratitude--which may be why this practice is associated with significant increases in happiness.

Time required 10 minutes/day

How To Do It

Each day, write down three things that went well for you that day, and provide an explanation for why they went well. It is important to create a physical record of your items by writing them down; it is not enough simply to do this exercise in your head. The items can be relatively small in importance (e.g., “It was a beautiful day”) or relatively large (e.g., “I earned a big promotion”). To make this exercise part of your daily routine, some find that writing before bed is helpful.

As you write, follow these instructions:

1. Give the event a title (e.g., “I made a helpful contribution to my team at work today”)

2. Write down exactly what happened in as much detail as possible, including what you did or said and, if others were involved, what they did or said.

3. Include how these events made you feel at the time and how these events made you feel later (including now, as you remember it).

4. Explain what you think caused this event—why it came to pass.

5. If you find yourself focusing on negative feelings, refocus your mind on the good event and the positive feelings that came with it. This can take effort but gets easier with practice and can make a real difference in how you feel.

Why it works

Research shows that this practice is actually good for one’s mental health and increases happiness. By giving yourself the space to focus on the positive, this practice teaches you to notice, remember, and appreciate the better things in life. It may prompt you to pay closer attention to positive events down the road and engage in them more fully. Reflecting on the cause of the event may help you get in touch to the deeper sources of goodness in your life, fostering a mindset of gratitude.

Challenge: For the next seven days practice the Three Good Things exercise. After seven days, share with a friend in what way this exercise has impacted your outlook on life.

Sources:

Jeffrey Huffman, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Greater Good Science Center's Greater Good in Action website

Five Sure Fire Ways to Sabotage Self-Confidence

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:15:29 GMT

Each day is filled with great opportunities; however, too many of us miss out on opportunities in life because we lack self-confidence. The confidence gap is the place where fear gets in the way of our dreams and ambitions. In the same way we can cultivate confidence; there are also surefire ways we can perpetually undermine our own self confidence. Becoming aware of our own unhelpful thoughts and behaviors is key to moving forwarding in creating a meaningful life.

Here are 5 ways we can be sure to self-sabotage our confidence:

1. Dwelling on past failures:

If you have never failed, you have not tried anything new. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the past can be healthy; however, dwelling on past failures stifles our creativity and confidence. Learn the lesson that experience has taught you, but don’t dwell on the negative.

2. Comparison to others:

Comparison is the thief of joy. Each person has their own journey and experience that brought them where they are today. Usually the people who seem “naturally talented” have already done a lot more practice than we have in order to get to where they are. Continue to strive to be the best version of you that you can and focus on who you are becoming.

3. Giving in to Imposter Syndrome:

The imposture syndrome is where you are skilled at what you are doing; however, you get hooked on thoughts that you are not good enough and soon you will be “found out for who you really are’- which is a fake and a fraud. These thoughts typically occur when taking on a new project, responsibility, or leadership role. Take time to reflect on recent victories whenever these thoughts arise.

4. Harsh Self-Judgments:

At times we can say things to ourselves that we wouldn’t tell our worst friend. Don’t dwell on those thoughts. Allow them to come and go like passing cars and fully engage in what you should be doing. Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion.

5. Perfectionism:

Perfectionism is the result of us getting bullied into thoughts that you must perform tasks perfectly and not make mistakes. Perfectionist often think “I can’t make mistakes”, I have to do it right the first time”, or “if I can’t do it well, I should not try at all”. If we give into these thoughts, it’s a recipe for disaster. Give yourself permission to experiment and make mistakes.

Reflection : Which one of these hooks you most?

The next time you are tempted with one of these, decided not to get sucked in. Stay mentally present and engaged in the activity or project and these thoughts will pass.

How to Maximize Your Potential

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:23:40 GMT

Professionals are starting to catch on to something athletes have always known

It's been around a while

Interpersonal coaching has been around for decades. If we trace its roots, however, we find the principles of professional coaching splashed across the pages of the Old and New Testaments.

Perhaps the first coaching session – ever – happened in the Garden as God asked Adam and Eve a question for which He already knew the answer: “Who told you that you were naked?” For Adam and Eve to take responsibility for their own choices and grow, he asked a question. This is the essence of modern day coaching.

Today, companies and businesses use professional coaching to give senior leaders the edge. If you are an executive or business owner, you most certainly have witnessed this. If you aren't, you might be unaware that coaching has been an industry standard for two decades.

Here's the good news

We have now entered an era where anyone can have, and greatly benefit from, their own personal coach.

No longer is coaching only for senior leaders. No longer do you have to hope your manager will take a strong personal interest in your success. You can access professional coaching to profoundly influence your own career outcomes.

In a Forbes Magazine article, November 2013, Steve Siebold writes about the “Five Ways To Be Amazing At Work.” Among the five - find a Coach. He says:

“Corporate America and entrepreneurs are starting to catch on to something that athletes have always known: if you want to maximize your potential in anything, hire a coach.” Full Article Here

Coaching works, is powerful, and is being used across God’s kingdom today. Our goal at DT CONNECT is to provide access to professional coaching insights to all Christians, not just executives or business owners. Our content is designed to provide these insights at no (or very low) cost.

Yes, there are lots of secular coaches out there who can help you ratchet up your life and professional effectiveness. Making God the center of your ambition, however, is not in the cards with secular coaching. Without a vigilant focus on the life of Christ and God’s word, the lure for worldly success can be too great a temptation.

Christian coaching will help keep it all in perspective. Without the gospel, personal wealth is meaningless and deceptive. In the parable of the sower in Mark 4, Jesus warns of this as ‘seed among thorns’. He explained its meaning like this:

19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. - Mark 4:19 (NASB)

Thanks for your continued interest and support in DT CONNECT. As always, let us know what you would like to hear about in this blog or even through other content. And, as always, we encourage you to share with as many as possible. Thank you.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to bring the power of Christ’s word, as the foundation of career success, into corporate and small business America.

The Real Origins of Professional Coaching

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:49:58 GMT

Knowing where it all started is inspiring

Professional Coaching has grown in popularity across America in recent decades. More and more people are training to become interpersonal coaches as institutions like the Coach Training Alliance, International Coach Academy and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching are sprouting nationwide. The rapid growth of the professional coaching industry has even required a certification and standards organization called the International Coach Federation, a group designed to build the legitimacy of genuine interpersonal coaching and help weed out the casual therapist-friend or weekend mentor from claiming the now-prestigious professional coach title.

But where did it actually come from?

The modern day form of coaching is defined by its practitioners as a creative partnership where a process is used to help inspire a person to maximize their potential. But who was the first to truly coach someone? Where did that first coach begin, and what was the basis for it? Would we even recognize it by modern coaching techniques?

The word coach, according to historians, derived from the small Hungarian town of Kocs just west of Budapest. In the 1550’s it was here that superior wagons, carts and carriages were designed, wheeled vehicles drawn by horse power to carry people between Vienna and Budapest. The German-speaking Viennese called the horse drawn vehicle a Kotsche , which is how they heard the Hungarian town pronounced by its occupants. Eventually the French began to use the vehicles and naturally transliterated the word to coche . The Romans called it a cocchio , still do, and finally the English formed the word we have come to know as coach .

Academic Coaching and on to Sports

In 1830 the word first appeared in the academic world when Oxford University used it as a slang descriptor of a tutor who “carried” a student. It wasn’t until the 1860’s the term was actually used in the world of sports, in England. Athletes, as well as college and professional teams are all but worshipped today as mass media brings their exploits right into every home and local pub that has a radio, TV or internet. To ensure victory for the iconic team or individual, peak performance was demanded and thus the athletic coaching profession was born. Tasked with bringing more out of the individual than the individual could achieve alone, the sports coach is essential to athletic success. Can you imagine any team without a coach today?

Some of America’s most beloved sports have created legends in the sport coaching halls of fame. Bear Bryant, Vince Lombardi, Patricia Summitt, Joe Torre and Bill Belichick are just a few. They invariably guaranteed the local title no matter the institution. And for the true sport fanatic, winning was everything. Top sport coaches are paid tens of millions of dollars each year to ensure their team, and star performer, operates at maximum capacity. In the world of athletic competition, the results are unmistakable: great coaches guarantee great results. But how did it become what we know today as Professional Coaching?

The Transcendental Movement

It may have had its roots in the transcendental movement in the 1830’s and 40’s, led by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 to 1882). During a late summer speech in August 1837 called The American Scholar , sixty years after the Declaration of Independence, Emerson spoke the framework of a new culture apart from its dominant European influence. In his efforts to break the grip Britain still had on America, he spoke of two mental states, one higher and the other lower. In the lower state, the individual could not separate himself from being identified by his occupation or other mundane action. In the higher state, the individual “must reject old ideas and think for himself, becoming a ‘man thinking’ rather than a victim of societal influence”. He was using creative thought to change the way a person viewed himself within society and by changing that perception, the person’s future would ultimately change.

Transition to Interpersonal Coaching

By the middle of the 20th century, sports had become its own world. With the subtle influence of contemporary thinkers echoing in the past, the first major transition from the sports coaching model to interpersonal coaching is credited to W.T. Gallwey . He wrote a book in 1970 titled The Inner Game of Tennis , (influenced no doubt by his stint as a tennis instructor at Harvard in 1960). Gallwey’s instruction is based on the person using non-judgmental observations of critical internal variables believing the body will adjust and correct automatically to achieve best performance. Although foundational to the tennis world, he found himself lecturing more often to business leaders in the U.S. than to sports professionals. It was here the culmination of all aspects of coaching: transporting people – teaching students – training athletes, would finally take hold in the American business marketplace.

Since Gallwey, there have been a slew of creative thinkers who worked to develop techniques for shifting the mind to improve individual performance. The coaching tree has morphed into dozens of branches focused toward each client’s seemingly unique personal need. There are coaches who focus on life, relationships, executives, small business, transition, diet, exercise, dating and more, all to meet what Emerson saw as everyone’s chief want, to be the best they can be. Many, if not all, professional coaching foundational principles today have an aspect of maintaining the balance between the spiritual, mental, physical and emotional selves as the avenue to being one’s best. Most deal with energetic capacity in one way or another, defining the basis for change as a function of the available energy we have for that change. The energy comes from what we tell ourselves, whether in good thoughts (positive energy) or bad thoughts (negative energy). To be at peace is to have power and those without peace are those who are victims of self-punishment.

Maslow’s Self-Actualization and the Socratic Method

This now brings us into the realm of Maslow’s “need hierarchy” where we rise above the internal demands for self-esteem and find ourselves motivated for something more. When the more primal and basic desires have been met, only then are we taken to the place of self-actualization where our drive for self-fulfillment emerges. “What a man can be, he must be.” This instinct is fundamental to human life, as if planted there by design, a seed waiting for spring thaw.

But who was the very first coach to understand this “need” and who would be the first person to have it? Some of the oldest historical signs of transformational thinking may be credited to the ancient Greek philosophers like Epictetus (~150 BC) who emphasized the ethics of self-determination or Plato (~400 BC), the great transcendentalist, much older than Emerson of course, or Socrates (~450 BC) who constructed virtue ethics. There is also the teaching of Confucius (~600 BC) who taught personal morality, justice and sincerity.

Thanks especially to the writings of Plato, Socrates is credited with what we now consider the preeminent, modern-day coaching technique – helping the “student” discover the answer within themselves. Known as the Socratic method, it is based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presumptions.

Biblical roots of modern day coaching

Historical evidence shows even older writings where this modern day coaching technique was used. The first ever open-ended question recorded in history was spoken by God in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve, according to the Hebrew Old Testament scriptures. After the two ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, God asked , “Where are you?” and “Who told you that you were naked?” God knew these answers, but in order for Adam and Eve to grow in understanding and reasoning, to take responsibility for their own choices, he asked questions instead. The ancient Jewish teachings of the Maker, the Creator of all, Author of Life can therefore be considered the First Coach! And the tradition of Adam and Eve’s exploits were certainly not the end of the coaching process in the Holy Bible.

Modern Christianity is built on the foundation that Old and New Testament canonization contain the complete teachings of God for mankind. Part history, part poetry, part law, part philosophy, the essence of true coaching can be found throughout. As the ancient text is explored for other signs of coaching, we find God in the desert with Moses, who refused to be the spokesperson to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God asked him in response, “What about your brother Aaron, the Levite?” The story begins with a sheepish character, afraid of answering the call to be the great leader, giving into his fears of public speaking, refusing to go. Once asked about his brother Aaron, Moses considers the possibilities of what could be, perhaps imagining what it would be like to lead while having a public speaker doing the talking instead. God knew what Moses needed to inspire him…this single question. When the details of all that happened in Egypt are reviewed in the text, we find Aaron did not speak a single word in the events of the great Exodus. It was Moses alone.

God Coaches Joshua

God coaches Joshua in his moment of fear after suffering a great defeat against the city of Ai. Moses was now dead and Joshua was chosen as the great commander of the people. As a new leader, he already gained an important victory at the battle of Jericho. His next target seemed quite unimpressive. He sent only a portion of his army to the fight. The men of Ai crushed the Israelite soldiers throwing Joshua into an emotional tailspin. Overwhelmed with fear, he lay face down, devastated by his vision of the future, where the armies of surrounding cities would inevitably hear about the loss and surely come to finish off the seemingly impotent nation of Israel. God, in this moment, asked Joshua one question, “What are you doing down on your face?” Seemingly at once his energy shifted, his mind now free to imagine all the reasons he should be standing tall, having recently defeated the largest city in the region, and probably only making an incorrect battle plan against a small town. The future was indeed bright and Joshua had a better grasp of the truth, all stemming from this one question from God. After following new direction in dealing with shortcomings among his army, Joshua would be ready for battle once again.

Although just a few examples of how open-ended questions were used by God and his chosen people Israel, there are many others throughout the Bible. Samuel uses this style with Israel’s first King, Saul. Nathan uses coaching to get David to see his sin. God uses it through the Psalms and most of the prophets by posing deep questions and leaving us to answer. Still more, God uses this tact with Job to ultimately help him obtain humility, to inspire Isaiah to take up the prophet’s ministry and encourage Jeremiah to continue on after great sadness.

Ultimately, we see modern day coaching techniques used by Jesus Christ himself as he instructed his band of disciples in the desert and sea regions of modern day Palestine. He was famous for answering questions by asking more, and in doing so opened the eyes and hearts of many to follow.

Mainstream professional coaches today may never take interest in knowing just how far back true coaching goes. For those that have that interest they will find the first coach in the beginning of it all.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to bring the power of Christ’s word, as the foundation of career success, into corporate and small business America.

Good News for Conflict-Avoiders (Part 2 of 2)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:13:48 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Welcome back to “Good News For Conflict Avoiders” – Part 2 of 2.

If you missed part 1, click here .

Two HUGE pieces of Good News for all those who struggle with taking on conflict:

#1. You Don’t Have To Have It All Figured Out

How many times have you determined that you were going to deal with a specific conflict you had with someone only to come back home that night only to have bailed out and put it off once again?

Yup. Done that.

Why?

Fear? Yes.

Afraid that:

You might never get to an agreement?

They will try to make you see ‘their point of view’?

Not knowing the way to bring it up?

You have put off for so long that you will look silly to be bringing it up so much after the fact?

The awkwardness?

Ever feel like everywhere you go, God was trying to tell you something….?

Below are the three last conferences I attended this year & the main takeaway:

Marriage Conference: Just start the conversation with your spouse.

Unboxed Conference: In regards to race and politics: Just start the conversation with your friends.

Coaching Conference: In regards to ‘stuff’ from the past: Just start the conversation with those who hurt you or were hurt by you.

Why is this good news?

There is so much power in just exploring and or being brave enough to bring up a topic, and start a conversation about the ‘wedge’ that is trying to get or has gotten between you both.

This simple way of dealing with conflict will help you overcome the two greatest things that stand in the way:

Assumptions – that the past will repeat itself

Interpretations – making up stories in our head instead of allowing the future to unravel organically

Previously, I felt the weight of navigating the conversation until ‘unity’ was reached.

Although it is a righteous goal, I now know and trust that it might take MANY conversations for that to happen; and that’s OK.

Going forward, I am committed to simplify the process: let me hear what they are thinking about topic ‘x’ and then we will go from there – JUST START THE CONVERSATION. You may be closer to agreement than you think.

Focus on starting the conversation, not finishing it. You’ll never finish if you don’t start. If you start, you are that much closer to unity through empathy!

#2. One Moment of Conflict Pays High Dividends

In the film Back to the Future (1985) Marty, the son of George McFly travels back in time to 1955 and meets his mom and dad back when they are in high school.

Marty’s father George is bullied by his supervisor, Biff Tannen. George avoids this conflict and would rather be the brunt of jokes and be pushed around then stand up for himself and deal with Biff.

Finally, George’s anger reaches a tipping point when Biff tries to take advantage of a Lorraine (his future wife) in the car. George opens the car door knocks out Biff cold. Lorraine follows him to the dance floor, they kiss, and everything returns to ‘normal’ – except for a twist.

Marty, the son, awakens the next morning (back in 1985) to find that his dad George is a successful author, his mom Lorraine is fit and happy, and Biff is now a lowly auto valet.

That one act of courage in 1955, that one moment when George DID NOT avoid his conflict with Biff, that 30 seconds in high school where George knocked out the bully in his life, literally changed EVERYTHING for him, his marriage, and his family.

Not bad for 30 seconds of dealing with his conflict.

What conflict do currently have going on in your life right now?

Consider this definition:

Conflict

“ …some form of friction, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one or more members of another group. ”

Make a plan, pray about it, start the conversation & enjoy the high dividends for the rest of your life!

Best,

Dave

PS – Think you might need some help, no worries – reach out – click here .

Work Smarter, Not Harder

shawn@motivationeer.com (Shawn Sommerkamp) — Mon, 14 May 2018 15:12:00 GMT

Psalm 127:2

It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Although more frequently used in the late 80’s and early 90’s, the term “worker bee” used to be something of a compliment around the water cooler. It generally meant you were considered a very hard worker and a great addition to the team. You might have even been told at one time you were a work horse, suggesting a person who carries (or can carry) a heavy load. These days...BEAST MODE!

Bees and Horses

Did you know the worker bee and the work horse both have shortened life spans compared to their counterparts? It’s true. Worker Bees born during the “work season” (spring/summer) only live an average of six weeks. Drones (who don’t work nearly as hard) live over 90 days on average during the same period. Arabians, which are lighter horses used for entertainment and competition, can live up to 10 years longer than the hard-working draft horse.

If you are one of those professionals who believe it is critical to put in long hours and have an over-packed calendar just to get ahead, you are doing yourself a disservice. The implications on your health are very well known. Working too hard, especially in a high stress environment, will physically do you in. In Japan they actually have a word for it, karoshi . The term literally means “death from overwork” and has become something of an epidemic for our Asian allies.

Proverbs 19:2

Desire without knowledge is not good – how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

And the consequences are more than just physical. When you seem like you are always in a hurry at work, it can often come across that you are a poor planner or bad time manager. We think we appear important or someone with much responsibility, yet it tells a different story. Know anyone at work who always seems to be in a hurry, rushing to get to the next meeting? How about those colleagues who are habitually late? How do you view them?

Rest for the Mind

Being frantic or overworked does not give our minds the much-needed time for rest and cognitive rejuvenation. In a famous study done at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health over a five-year period, a comparison was done with workers of a 40-hour and 55-hour week. The results were conclusive: those who worked an average of 40 hours scored much higher on vocabulary, short term memory and reasoning. And if you have been successful, thus far, burning the candle at both ends, imagine what you could accomplish with a better work/life balance.

Here is a powerful truth: As gas expands to fill its container, so work fully occupies the time you surrender.

The work will always be there. You won’t ever be able to catch up to it. Instead, invest time learning to think laterally. Hire an executive coach to help you master valuable prioritization skills. Practice removing little bits of waste from your daily habits. Lay off the bad food and take time to prepare healthy meals. Commit to a sleep schedule that includes at least six hours of sleep each night. You will reap a lifetime of benefits as you work smarter, not harder.

Shawn Sommerkamp is a motivational speaker and Executive Coach with 20+ years of Fortune 100 leadership experience. He founded Motivationeer™ to coach Christian professionals how to bring the power of Christ’s word, as the foundation of career success, into corporate and small business America.