by R. A. Weigel
Your personal growth means change. And change is not a destination – it’s a journey. Life is not simply about who you are now, but more about who you are becoming and that requires some stretching.
Many years ago, (before I learned the skills of coaching), I read a book by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith called, What Got You Here – Won’t Get You There. The premise for the book is that no matter what skills or knowledge you currently have, it won’t be enough to get you to that next wrung in life. I’ve used that concept and built my own phrase – “learning is never full.” Wherever you are in life, God made you to keep growing in some capacity. (Job 17:9 (NLT) – The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.)
Throughout my life’s journey I’ve noticed that many people tend to put others in a box or label you as this or that type of person. Personally, I don’t like being put in box because it feels like people trying to hinder my growth. But I know that God never puts any of us in a box. Instead, he expects us to keep growing and continually reaching toward the fullness of our mental, skill-based, and spiritual potential.
You might say, that is what CCNI is all about. We are Christian coaches supporting Christian coaches so that all of us can become more of what God has called each of us to become. And as a coach, you know that great growth happens more effectively when we have someone helping, encouraging, supporting, guiding, and asking powerful questions. (Philippians 2:4 (NLT) – Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.)
God didn’t design us to stop reaching for what’s next. He wants us to do greater things for his glory. It reminds me of the old-fashioned carousels. Just outside the carousel was a ring dispenser. It was located just over your head and far enough away to make reaching for it – a challenge. Usually there were a large number of iron rings and only a few brass ones and you wouldn’t always know what you might grab. Catching the brass ring meant looking up, stretching out in the right direction, and not being afraid to let go of your comfortable position. So, it is with your personal growth. It happens because you’re willing to do something that stretches you.
Stretching means different things for different people. For some it is attending the CCNI Business Summit to stretch their business practices. For others it’s attending the webinars and the fall eSummit to stretch their coaching prowess. For others the stretch is becoming a presenter, speaker, or support person for their fellow Christian coaches. Growth is personal but it only happens when stretching is involved.
Your journey belongs to you and there will certainly be times when it can be lonely, frustrating, irritating, and even scary. God knows your current situation, but you can also be sure that He is always ready to nudge you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to stretch for the brass ring. So, let’s keep working together and helping each other to reach for the brass ring of our personal growth. Isn’t that what we are called to do?
Rich Weigel has an extensive background in leadership with over twenty years leading school districts. In addition to establishing his new business as an Executive and Leadership coach, he was an adjunct professor for Olivet Nazarene University providing instruction for Strategic Leadership at the doctorate level. Rich served as CCNI’s President in 2020 and is currently the Immediate Past President. He can be reached at proedcoach@gmail.com.
