Faith in Business

By: Kathleen Ries-Jubenville   |    Read time: 3 minutes

I have been struggling with whether or not to include elements of my Christian faith in my business messaging. And if so, to what extent? But I finally decided to go all in with it. Here's why...

I believe that God has supported me - even guided me down this path - as I have transitioned from an executive career in business management to an entrepreneurial career in high performance coaching. Many times over the past couple of years, I have been unexpectedly introduced to the right expert to guide me through my next steps. I did not know where the path would lead me, but somehow, I arrived at the place I was meant to be. I know this is true because I feel so fulfilled in this work and am so excited to wake up each morning with the opportunity to do it. Throughout my career, each promotion or transition has taken me to another level in serving others and this one is no exception. This pivot is unique, however, because it was the biggest change and the most unpredictable one. In fact, at the beginning of this journey, I scoffed at the idea of becoming a coach several times  - even though experts in the industry were suggesting it because they saw something in me I could not yet see. Now, I can't imagine doing anything else. Two years ago, I simply wrote in my journal and prayed to God..."How can I spend the remaining years of my life enjoying freedom and abundance while making an impact in the world?" I would like to take credit for orchestrating this entire transition, but the only thing I did was take a courageous step forward each time the next opportunity presented itself. Kind of like stepping on rocks to get across a fast-flowing stream. My feet may have gotten a little wet along the way, but now I am on the other side. I am here. I am no longer a corporate accountant. I am a high performance coach. Since I believe this was God's plan for my life and that he guided me here, it seems like the least I can do is give Him credit for it!

"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

- Proverbs 16:9, NKJV

I also believe that every person needs love, hope, and grace to thrive. We crave love. We may not have received it in the past and we cannot guarantee we will get it in the future. But when we feel loved today, we can get through whatever comes our way. We also need hope for our future. When we believe we have opportunities to grow and improve our lives - when we feel we have some level of control over it - we end up with more resilience and motivation. Finally, deep down, we desire grace for our past. We have all made mistakes. Many mistakes, big and small. If we don't find forgiveness, it becomes easy to dwell on remorse and shame. To get past our mistakes, we have to discover and embrace the unique and special soul inside of us - the perfection God created hiding underneath the cloak of imperfect humanity we are wearing. When a person accepts God's gift of grace like that, they want to share that feeling with others! I want to share my faith because it has such a profound effect on my well-being in the life I am living now and I believe it can improve the quality of life for others too.

"It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with the Jews and then right on to everyone else!"

- Romans 1:16, MSG

Finally, I believe my faith gives me the emotional support and wise counsel I need to maintain my confidence each day as I live the business owner's life of uncertainty and indecision. It takes courage and willpower to do the work of imagining, creating, networking, fulfilling agreements, paying the bills, and leading your team. It's easy to feel discouraged and directionless at times. I seek out many sources of information to bolster my courage and discover my path. I follow many thought leaders, like Brendon Burchard. I get inspired by various authors, such as Paulo Coelho. I read about historical champions, like Eleanor Roosevelt. I appreciate the wisdom of ancient sages, like Buddha. And I regularly and prayerfully consider God's words in the Bible and try to apply them in my life. I will be sharing quotes and ideas from everyone who has helped me succeed in my personal and professional life, especially as it applies to business leadership and management. I would be remiss if I didn't include the one who had the biggest impact - God. The only reason I am even hesitating to share my faith is because of a fear of someone feeling uncomfortable with it. How can I coach others to be authentic and courageous if I cave in to my fears? I can't. So, I am going to include my faith in all correspondence where it is relevant. My intent is to reference any information that supports our endeavors to be light in the world. Therefore, my messages are for everyone, not just Christians. I hope people of all beliefs will connect with me so we can respectfully support each other on our shared journey - our Fearless Climb to influential leadership!