We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was Pastor of America’s oldest Protestant congregation (Marble Collegiate Church, NYC) … It is located on 5th Ave. in New York City … Norman Vincent Peale was the pastor there when he wrote “The Power of Positive Thinking” … We were viewed in three states on TV each week, along the upper half of the eastern seaboard on radio each week, and in 167 countries around the world via live-streaming each week – Publishers were willing to print my books simply because of where I was – I was doing network TV specials – plus, I adored being there (both the city and the church) – but after ten years, I walked away from that to re-invent myself. There were numerous reasons including family located 500 miles away, a huge upcoming building program that would’ve required an ongoing commitment of time and professional focus that does not energize me, and a general feeling that I had done what I was there to do. Additionally, I decided I want to spend my time doing solely what I love doing (and feel gifted for) and to do so in a less specific audience (no longer merely within the confines of faith communities, but also corporate, campus, civic, etc.)..

Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

About You, Your Work, Services & Brand

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.
Please provide as much detail as you feel relevant as this is one of the core questions where the reader will get to know about you and your brand/organization/etc

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is simply to help enhance the personal life journeys of individuals. We only get one shot at this thing called “life.” I can think of few things more tragic than to come to the end of it, look back, and say, “If I had it all to do over again,” I would do it differently.” So, my heartfelt desire is to introduce as many people as possible to the handful of central themes that can prevent that from happening — themes like the centrality of love (life’s most important issue), self-actualization, finding a purpose, identifying primary priorities and de-emphasizing menial concerns, seeing beauty, etc.

There are daily steps people can take to find life worth having. A few key people shared those steps with me, and they have made all the difference. I’m grateful for the lessons they taught — so I want to pay my gratitude forward by passing those lessons along to as many others as I can.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is one’s opportunity over against one’s lack of responsibility. Let me explain ….

It is my OPPORTUNITY (Calling, in religious settings) to share Truth. That’s it. I am simply charged to share Truth, to throw it out there where others can see or hear. In my case, that is through spoken words. For others, it may be through music, painting, sculpting, dance, etc. Once I have placed my understanding of Truth before others, I have seized my opportunity, and my role is complete. The RESPONSIBILITY for accessing and applying that Truth lies solely on the shoulders (in the hearts) of the hearers. They may accept, reject, embrace, ignore, or amend. Their experiences shade their understanding of whatever Truth was spoken. In responding to the question about what a particular poem meant, Robert Frost answered, “It meant whatever it meant to you.”

I find it rewarding to know that I can share something with other people that may, if they choose to accept it, enrich their lives. And, the enrichment may occur in ways I could never imagine because of how they reinterpret what I shared.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drmichaelbbrown.com
• Instagram: drmichaelbbrown
• Facebook: drmichaelbbrown
• Linkedin: Michael Brown
• Twitter: @drmichaelbbrown
• Other: Note: There is another Dr. Michael Brown, also from NC, who has a large following on social media. To find me, it is important to include the middle “b” in my address — drmichaelbbrown (two b’s).

Image Credits
These photos belong to me, but were originally used as part of a PR campaign for the PBS show “5 Steps to a Loving and Purposeful Life.”