Is life balance still a goal? If it is, and it’s not really working, listen to this podcast interview with Mike Cook of “Strategic Doers”, who shares a better alternative than chasing after “life balance”.

“Balance is impossible. Balance implies all things are equal. They are not.” ~ Mike Cook

How many of us are still trying to figure out the elusive “life balance” equation? Meet Mike Cook, a small business coach in Virginia, who isn’t just about business but whole life coaching. He who helps small business owners tackle the daily challenge of growing and managing their businesses.

There are some real nuggets in here, not only for business owners and leaders but Christ-followers who want something MORE than a “balanced life.” A glorifying one.

“We need an integrated life, not a balanced life. A life with Christ integrated in every aspect in our life.” ~ Mike Cook

Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…Mike Cook, has a better concept.

How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. When we asked Mike to share a success story with us, he shared his own. Mike is a fix it guy and wanted to fix the work-life balance issues and time management issues that others were facing. God truly showed him the truth of an integrated life and now he shares that with others.

So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day?

Try praying this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus’s Name, Amen

Featured Guest: Mike Cook & Mollie Yoder

Workplace / Ministry: Strategic Doers - The Pocket Testament League

Interview, iWork4Him, PowerPodMartha BrangenbergSeptember 7, 2020work-life balance, Business Owners, life coach, faith at work, prayer

143. Hair and Haiti

What do hair and Haiti have in common? A lot, apparently, if you’re a woman of God who loves both. Today, Mollie Yoder of the Pocket Testament League introduces us to Salem Hicks, an entrepreneur and hair stylist that heard God’s voice call her to Haiti to birth a unique ministry for at risk women!

Salem Hicks was doing hair in the film industry when she began hearing God’s voice calling her to a 1-week mission trip to Nicaragua. That 1-week trip turned into an internship in Haiti where Salem was asked to help lead a team into a brothel to minister to the women there. In the brothel, she shared her story and as she prayed, felt the Holy Spirit say, “this is what I made you for Salem.” God gave her a vision – to start an education and support center for women at risk of abuse and prostitution in Haiti.

Salem lived in Haiti for 3-4 years running her God-given ministry until she was evacuated out in 2018 amidst political unrest. According to Salem, God had to remove her from the situation she was in so that she could see what He was doing. Now, through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry she started is self-sustaining and Haitian run!

Salem currently runs Bloom Studio in Lynchburg, Virginia. Her hair salon funds Salem’s travel to Haiti and profits go towards ministry expenses. God uses Bloom Studio as a safe space for women to be poured into not just physically but also spiritually and emotionally. Featured Guest: Salem Hicks & Mollie Yoder

Workplace / Ministry: BLOOM Studio, LLC - The Pocket Testament League

PowerPod, iWork4Him, Interview, sheWorks4HimMartha BrangenbergAugust 31, 2020Faith and Work, faith at work, entrepreneur, Business Owners, God's purpose, God's will, womens ministry, women of faith

136. Kingdom Business: It’s The WHY Not The What

Curious to know how to build a Kingdom business? This is it. This podcast has the answer and template for how to build and lead a business for God’s glory. Hear about how with Kingdom Leadership workshops and their template to build a business God’s way.

Featured Guests: Rick Betenbough & Casey Brewer

Ministry/Workplace: Kingdom Leadership Workshops - Betenbough Homes

Interview, iWork4Him, PowerPodMartha BrangenbergAugust 5, 2020Christian business, faith at work, leadership, qualities of a good leader, impact, CEO, Business Owners

131. The Day I met Stanley Tam

Hear the inspiring story of Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI), a pioneer organization in the Faith and Work Movement. Founded 44 years ago, FCCI asked the question, “what would it look like to apply biblical principles to business, and how would it impact the world for God’s glory?”

Taped on location from D.C. at the Impact Summit, one of FCCI’s founders, Bobby Mitchell, recalls meeting Stanley Tam, the Christ-loving CEO of U.S. Plastic, in May of 1980. At the time, Tam said that his goal was to bring five people to Christ each day, donate two million dollars annually, and plant churches internationally. Today, the business Stanley Tam built has generated more than $140 million towards the work of the Lord. It was this conversation that awoke Mitchell to the kind of Kingdom impact that businesses could have if they collaborated. Imagine thousands of companies like Tam’s, all dedicated to hearing God’s voice and fulfilling God’s purposes!

According to Chad Merrill, the current CEO of FCCI, their vision is to transform the world through Christ, one business owner at a time. They do this by equipping and encouraging business owners to live lives of cultural influence through biblical business practices, generosity, service, and stewardship. Ultimately, FCCI believes that God owns it all, and we are entrusted with resources to further His glory, not ours. It is from this place of stewardship that business owners are finding purpose and fulfillment at work.

To hear Bobby Mitchell’s story and more about what FCCI is doing for faith-led businesses worldwide, listen now.

Featured Guests: Bobby Mitchell & Chad Merrill

Workplace / Ministry: FCCI

iWork4Him, Interview, PowerPodMartha BrangenbergJuly 20, 2020Business Owners, Collaboration, Companies for Christ, Faith and Work, Biblical business practices, Stewardship, Christian business, faith at work, CEO

128. Lead people, manage things

It’s okay to make a profit in your business, isn’t it? What’s the difference between leading and managing? Tune in to this podcast to hear the answers to some provocative questions like these, from Bobby Albert, of Values-Driven Leadership.

Featured Guest: Bobby Albert

Workplace / Ministry: Bobby Albert

PowerPod, iWork4Him, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJuly 8, 2020Business Owners, Christian business, Stewardship, leadership, qualities of a good leader

127. Wise Counsel

Every business is a ministry and…every ministry is a business. Hear about the Wise Counsel round-table group and from some of their members, and how to build businesses with a solid foundation of character, morals and spiritual principles.

Featured Guest: John Beehner, with Glen Hettinger & Harry Lewis

Workplace / Ministry: Wise Counsel

PowerPod, iWork4Him, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJuly 6, 2020Christian business, Companies for Christ, Business Owners, faith at work

126. Not Done, RE-DONE

Is it possible to have a new purpose at 65? Why yes, yes it is. Hear a not-done-yet story of business ownership, from Lyle and Sara Squires – a married couple who God decided they should do it again. For His Glory.

Featured Guests: Lyle & Sara Squires

Workplace / Ministry: Office Pride

iRetire4Him, PowerPod, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJuly 1, 2020retirement, God's purpose, Business Owners, Christian business, Companies for Christ, faith at work, Faith and Work

125. Measuring success, by looking back

How do YOU measure success in your work? Hear from the Housh’s who own a roofing company that gives all the glory to Christ. Hear about what Arry means when he says they measure success by looking back.

Featured Guests: Arry & Becky Housh

Workplace / Ministry: Arry's Roofing

iWork4Him, PowerPod, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJune 29, 2020Faith and Work, faith at work, Christian business, testimony, Business Owners, Biblical business practices, Stewardship

123. Core Values = Decision Filters

Could owning a franchise change your life? Quite possibly, it could be your calling. Greg Carr, left his job, left his state (sounds like an Abraham assignment) and started a business with a lot of faith and little else.

Featured Guest: Greg Carr
Workplace / Ministry: Office Pride

PowerPod, iWork4Him, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJune 22, 2020franchise, faith at work, finding your calling, Business Owners, Christian business

119. The Most Profitable Job

“The Most Profitable Job” is being re-released on the iWork4Him Podcast platform in October of 2022. To see the full show notes CLICK HERE.

Featured Guest: John DeAngelis & Mike Oppedahl
Workplace/Ministry: DeAngelis Diamond Construction & GIANT Worldwide

PowerPod, iWork4Him, InterviewMartha BrangenbergJune 8, 2020Faith and Work, faith at work, Christian business, Business Owners, Biblical business practices, good steward, Stewardship

117. The Lost Art of Mutual Respect

“The Lost Art of Mutual Respect” is being re-released on the iWork4Him Podcast platform in September of 2022. To see the full show notes CLICK HERE..

Featured Guest: Dina Dwyer-Owens
Ministry/Workplace: Neighborly Brands & Dina Dwyer-Owens

sheWorks4Him, PowerPod, InterviewJim BrangenbergJune 1, 2020leadership, qualities of a good leader, authentic leadership, franchise, faith at work, women in the workplace, women of faith, management, Business Owners, womens ministry

108. Advanced Accountability

“Advanced Accountability” is being re-released on the iWork4Him Podcast platform in July of 2022. To see the full show notes CLICK HERE.

Featured Guest: Phil Struble
Ministry/Workplace: Zebedee & Sons Fishing Company

iWork4Him, PowerPod, InterviewJim BrangenbergApril 29, 2020accountability, Christian business, Biblical business practices, core values, cultural influence, Business Owners, Faith and Work, leadership, authentic leadership