Can Your Soul Carry Your Success? - #459

What if getting what you want costs you something you never intended to lose? As coaches, we spend a lot of time helping people move toward meaningful goals: growing a business, expanding their impact, stepping into greater influence, or finally gaining the freedom they've been working toward. But success brings its own challenges to the soul. In this episode, we explore a question Christian coaches may not ask often enough: Are we helping people prepare their souls to carry the success they're working so hard to create? We'll look at what Scripture says about the surprising spiritual dangers of abundance, why the finish line keeps moving, and how to uncover the deeper desire beneath the goals we pursue. We'll also explore practical questions that can help clients protect what matters most before greater opportunity begins quietly renegotiating their lives. Because someday, a client may actually get the thing they've been working toward. The hope is that when they arrive, they're still deeply rooted in God, present to the people they love, and able to enjoy what He has given them. Feeling Behind? Workshop: What if you could stop feeling like you're perpetually behind? If you're tired of ending the day wondering why you didn't get enough done, looking at other people and feeling like you should be further along, or carrying the nagging sense that you need to hurry up and catch up, Feeling Behind? is for you. Join us for this free online workshop on October 27 and come away with a little more breathing room, a little less pressure, and greater freedom to live the life God has given you at the pace He is actually asking you to live it. Learn more and register for Feeling Behind? https://www.kimaverycoaching.com/behind/ --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Building a coaching practice can feel like trying to solve a puzzle when you're not even sure you have all the pieces. You know you want to serve people well, honor God with your gifts, and build something sustainable, but what actually makes the difference between a practice that struggles and one that grows?  In this special episode, Chris McCluskey draws from decades of experience building his own practice and helping shape the field of Christian coaching to share five keys that matter most. Whether you're just beginning or you've been coaching for years, you'll come away with practical wisdom for building a practice with greater clarity and confidence. Chris offers the kind of perspective that usually comes from traveling the road yourself, including what deserves your attention, what can quietly derail you, and how to hold the business side of coaching alongside your desire to faithfully serve God and your clients.  Think of it as a chance to pull up a chair with someone a few miles farther down the road and learn what he wishes more coaches knew. Get Clients Now by CJ Hayden https://a.co/d/0bFvsfMC --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

What does master-level coaching sound like when a leader faces one of the hardest conversations they'll ever have? In this Coaching Mastery episode, Dr. Andrew Gorter coaches a leader preparing to let a team member go. Rather than offering advice or leadership techniques, Andrew demonstrates how powerful coaching helps clients discover their own clarity, strengthen their leadership identity, and move confidently into difficult situations. Throughout the coaching session, Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC pauses to highlight the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Master Certified Coach (MCC) competencies at work, helping listeners understand not only what Andrew is doing, but why his coaching creates such meaningful transformation. Whether you're pursuing an ICF credential, developing your coaching skills, or simply wanting to lead others with greater wisdom and presence, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear masterful coaching in action. In this episode, you'll discover: * Why masterful coaches resist the urge to solve their client's problem. * How powerful coaching moves from managing circumstances to shaping leadership identity. * What it looks like to partner with a client instead of directing the conversation. * How simple, thoughtful questions can unlock profound insight. * The importance of honoring both compassion and clarity during difficult leadership moments. * How awareness naturally leads to confident action. Featured Guests Dr. Andrew Gorter, MCC is a Master Certified Coach, licensed marriage and family therapist, and founder of Plus One Coaching. For more than 25 years, he has coached family business leaders, executives, and organizations toward greater clarity, healthier leadership, and lasting impact. Learn more about Andrew Gorter: https://plusonecoaching.com/  Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC serves as Director of Education for the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. She is a Master Certified Coach, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, ICF Mentor Coach, and Global Ambassador for the International Coaching Federation's Coach Education Community. Her commentary throughout this episode helps listeners recognize the subtle coaching choices that distinguish MCC-level coaching. Learn more about Cindy Schmelzenbach: https://coachingwithcindy.com/ Resources Mentioned Coaching Process Diagram: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle ICF Minimum Skills Requirements for MCC Coaching: https://coachingfederation.org/resource/mcc-minimum-skills-requirements/  Professional Christian Coaching Institute: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/   --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

What if coaching is not another leadership trend, but a deeply practical way to help Christian leaders listen, discern, and lead with greater clarity? In this conversation, Chris McCluskey talks with Fr. Ian Pac-Urar and the Reverend David Limiero about the emerging Orthodox Christian coaching movement and why professional-grade coaching is gaining traction among clergy, ministry leaders, and people of faith. Together, they explore why coaching can be especially meaningful in ministry settings where leaders often carry heavy responsibility, complex decisions, and a quiet sense of isolation. Rather than offering advice from the outside, coaching creates space for leaders to hear themselves think, notice what God may already be stirring, and discern the next faithful step with greater clarity. They also discuss how coaching fits naturally alongside the Orthodox tradition's deep emphasis on contemplation, sacred listening, humility, and discernment. Far from replacing pastoral care, spiritual direction, mentoring, confession, or discipleship, coaching can strengthen the way leaders listen, serve, and accompany others in the life of faith. For those interested in learning more about coaching within the Orthodox Christian context, visit: orthodoxcoaching.net edensviewcoaching.com/orthodox professionalchristiancoaching.com/orthodox --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Marketing your coaching can feel overwhelming, especially when every platform, expert, and algorithm seems to be shouting a different set of instructions. Should you post more? Network more? Launch something? Create a download? Start a podcast? Before long, the calling that once felt clear can get buried under pressure, comparison, and a very loud list of "shoulds." This conversation brings a welcome sense of clarity and calm. You'll hear a grounded, practical approach to building a coaching business without hype, gimmicks, or frantic self-promotion. Instead of chasing every strategy, you'll be invited back to a few timeless principles that help you build trust, serve generously, and take the next faithful step toward the clients you're called to serve. Connect with Kris Kelso and get your free inventory: Hats Exercise: A Guide to Mastering Your Many Roles as a Solopreneur KrisKelso.com/hats --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

What does it really look like to grow a coaching practice beyond "company of one"? In this episode, we talk with Sylvia Laurence, founder of Trevero, about scaling with associates, navigating rapid post-Covid growth, and the hard lessons that shaped her leadership along the way. From overstaffing and pruning to narrowing her niche within the Chick-fil-A ecosystem, Sylvia shares how clarity, focus, and decisive action created traction that broad marketing never could. If you've ever considered expanding your practice, this conversation offers grounded wisdom. You'll hear why growth often comes through pruning, how to market with precision instead of noise, and what leaders must learn internally before bringing on associates. Connect with Sylvia Laurence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialaurence/ --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

The future of coaching is changing fast. But not in the way you might think. In this episode, we slow down the conversation around AI and take a thoughtful look at what's actually ahead. You'll walk away with clarity, a steadier sense of your place in it all, and a deeper confidence in what truly matters in coaching. * Understand four possible futures shaping coaching by 2036 * See how AI may expand coaching without replacing it * Identify the skills that will become more valuable over time * Feel grounded in your role as a coach in a changing world 2026 ICF Coaching Futures Report: icfcoachingfuturesreport.com/ International Christian Coaching Day Resources:  professionalchristiancoaching.com/day    --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Suffering eventually walks into every coaching conversation. The question is not whether it will appear, but how we will respond when it does. In this thoughtful and grounded conversation, we explore what it means to stay present with clients in seasons of pain without rushing to fix, rescue, or theologize too quickly. You'll hear practical wisdom for normalizing hardship, honoring the limits of the coaching lane, and holding fast to the redemptive hope of our faith while remaining deeply attuned to the human experience in front of us. In this episode, you'll gain: * A clearer framework for coaching clients who are walking through deep suffering * Confidence in staying present without trying to "solve" the pain * Insight into when to refer to counseling and how to recognize those indicators * Encouragement to anchor your coaching in Scripture without becoming directive * A renewed vision for how suffering, held in faith, can lead to transformation --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Presence lies at the center of both professional coaching and Christian formation. This episode explores presence not as a technique or coaching skill alone, but as a disciplined way of being. For Christian coaches, presence is where ICF-aligned professionalism and faith come together rather than compete. In coaching, presence means being fully engaged, comfortable with not knowing, able to work with silence, and responsive rather than reactive. Spiritually, Scripture reveals God as a present God. From the burning bush to the ministry of Jesus, transformation flows from attentive presence, not hurried action. The conversation addresses a key truth: we cannot be present with clients beyond the level we are present with ourselves. Stillness, surrender, and self-awareness shape our ability to hold space for others. Practical reflections highlight what Christ-centered, client-centered presence looks like in real sessions, including honoring boundaries, resisting advice-giving, trusting the process, and allowing insight to emerge in its own time.   --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos  

Few things sharpen a coach's skills more than listening in on a real coaching session guided by MCC-level insight. In this episode, you'll hear an actual recording from Bryan Brown, MCC, a session that was part of the portfolio he submitted for his Master Certified Coach credential. His calm presence, precise questions, and steady partnership offer a rare look at coaching mastery in real time. Along the way, Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC, provides thoughtful commentary that highlights what's happening beneath the surface. She draws attention to the subtle skills Bryan uses to evoke awareness, empower choice, and hold space for deep transformation. Whether you're an experienced coach or still growing your confidence, this combination of live coaching and expert reflection will equip, inspire, and expand your understanding of what truly excellent coaching can sound like. About Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC Cindy has a passion for supporting coaches in personal and professional development journeys. Having lived internationally in leadership roles for 27 years, she's energized by diverse cultures and human experiences. These experiences enhance her coaching interactions significantly. Cindy holds her ICF MCC credential and is a certified Mentor Coach and Coach Supervisor. Additionally, she's a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with an MA in Counseling. She serves as Director of Education at Professional Christian Coaching Institute, an ICF accredited level 1 and level 2 provider. In her private practice, she offers life coaching, CliftonStrengths coaching, ICF mentor coaching and coach supervision. Learn more at: https://coachingwithcindy.com -- About Bryan Brown Bryan Brown, MDiv, PCCis the President and Founder of Coaching To Lead, LLC. With 25 years experience in developing leaders, Bryan enjoys increasing the capacity and confidence of emerging leaders as well as coaching established leaders to maximize their influence. Bryan also enjoys using his experience to work with teams on strategic planning and team development. Bryan studied Human Resource Management at Samford University then received his M.Div. from Birmingham Theological Seminary. As a missionary, pastor, entrepreneur, husband and father, he has learned to apply the principles of Biblical leadership and team development in multiple contexts. Bryan currently serves as the International Leadership Director at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, working with pastors and church leaders who seek to ignite movements of Life on Life Missional Discipleship around the world. In this role, he has the privilege to regularly train and coach leaders in Australia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. Bryan also engages leaders through his private coaching practice, www.coachingtolead.com, to clarify and intentionally pursue their callings. His passion and experience is coming alongside leaders to accelerate their growth and influence, while at the same time maintaining their personal health and enjoying the opportunities before them. Bryan is also the developer of Trusted Leader 360 °a  Christ-centered 360° tool designed to help leaders grow in emotional intelligence, relational trust, and lasting impact The Coaching Process diagram: www.professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle    --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos