Do something "great" (with a caveat)...

A weekly newsletter to help high achievers reach their potential and make a difference.

What is it you actually do, Kent?

I’ve taken the last few weeks to answer that question and use it as a springboard to catalyze you. I’ve also offered opportunities for help through two types of coaching sessions—Purpose Clarity Coaching and Career Clarity Coaching.

Now, on to my second role…

Keynote Speaker and Trainer

I spent the last twenty years until 2023 in the non-profit world as an executive director and the founder and senior pastor of a church. Speaking to people every week on a different topic allowed me to develop my communication skills as few other things could have. Over my twenty-year ministry career, I spoke hundreds if not thousands of times, on four continents, and to audiences ranging from just a few to nearly a thousand people. love sharing ideas and watching people have light bulb moments (similar to coaching), and when I can teach my original content, even better!

How do I bring my purpose to bear in speaking and training? A catalyst is something that provokes or speeds significant change or action. I design each of my talks to have a “Catalyst moment.”

This comes from a story I read about Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln himself, known as a great communicator, attended Wednesday night services not far from the White House. He and a companion would sit in the pastor's study with the door open so he could listen without interacting with the crowd. Walking back to the White House one night, his companion asked, “What did you think of tonight's sermon?”

“Well,” Lincoln responded, “it was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented.”

“So, it was a great sermon?”

“No,” Lincoln replied. “It failed. It failed because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great.” Inspiring communicators always expect a lot from their listeners.

That’s why I never leave a talk without asking people to do something great. Here's the caveat: by great I don’t necessarily mean big. It’s usually a small but important step—determined by them—that I ask them to take in the next 24-48 hours.

Because the first step is usually the hardest.

Over the last year, I’ve invested significant time and energy into developing my speaking career—both keynote talks (a 45-60 minute talk that establishes the central theme and sets the tone for an event) and trainings/workshops (an interactive seminar or workshop in either a half-day or whole-day format).

In addition, I am also a public speaking coach and trainer for BostonSpeaks which helps people overcome their public speaking anxiety.

If you or your company/organization are interested in having me speak, don’t hesitate to reach out!

You can check out my speaking page here.

Do Something Great

It’s usually hard for us to see the things that come naturally to us that could be leveraged for a raise or promotion in our current career, to make a pivot to a new career, or to start a lucrative side hustle.

What skills have you gained and honed over the years in your career(s) that you could leverage as a part of your current career, a new career, or a side hustle? Write down three things you are skilled at and enjoy doing. Not sure? What do people normally ask you for advice about or point out that comes easily to you? What problems do people ask you to help them solve? If need be, take it a step further by asking two people who know you well what they think you are good at and what comes easily to you.

Now, what is the next "great" step you need to take?

Next time, I’ll share my third role and how you can spend more time doing what brings you life.

Until then,