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

Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

I started as a pastor, wearing many hats: Christian music recording artist and worship leader in a church. Eventually, I became the executive pastor, helping a local church in Nebraska become one of the fastest-growing churches in America. We grew from the 500’s to the 2000s in multiple locations within 8-9 years. This journey started in 2009. I was responsible for many leadership systems and structures supporting growth. If there was a vision, I was responsible for building the systems and strategy to keep it. And I did. Somewhere around 2015, I started to experience burnout like nothing I have ever experienced. Relationships were muted and stressed, and the loneliness I felt was like nothing I had ever experienced. People say that people and organizations embrace change when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. I met this pain face to face.
I had known for a long time that I was created for something different and more. My whole existence was wrapped up inside a church ecosystem. My faith, friends, finances, family, and influence all existed within this inner circle, and I couldn’t see a way out. I wasn’t in a good place, and the longer I stayed, the greater risk I placed on myself and the church that something horrible was about to happen. Finally, I started speaking at some conferences and coaching other churches/organizations, and I knew I was on to something. So I started my master’s program in organizational leadership and executive coaching. I was passionate about helping leaders win, and organizations chase vision like never before and creating a culture that can sustain it. Then came Christmas eve of 2017.

I was getting ready to perform and lead the music portion of the Christmas eve services. I walked to the stage with the guitar strapped on my back, knowing in my gut that this was it. This would be the last time I would walk this hallway and step on this stage. My only prayer was that the good Lord would show me how I could be brave to take this big step, be honest, and care for my family. I had a conversation with a former Nebraska Cornhusker football player I mentored years ago that night. For some reason, he showed me his paycheck. He was working at a car dealership as a finance manager. I asked him if they needed help. On December 26th, I drove to the first job interview I had since high school at a car lot. I left the full-time ministry. There is good and bad with this. I was embarrassed, lost almost every friend I had, and had to rebuild from ground zero. The friends that stuck around knew my next season would be powerful and painful.

I put my head down and worked my tail off. I dreamt bigger than I ever dreamed. I hired coaches and finished school. I launched my company, Teams.Coach in 2018 and have been committed to helping c-level leaders build unstoppable business and culture machines ever since. We have seen companies and leaders turn significant cash deficits into million-dollar monthly profits. The leaders we work with are brave and passionate and will change the world. Our TEAMS Coaching methodology is widely accepted and is integrated into our Teams.Coach app. And this is just how we got started.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I learned that not everyone will be your champion and want what’s best for you. You have to strategically choose who the most influential voices in your life are. This is one of the most significant responsibilities of leading yourself and controlling your inputs and influences. I made the mistake of feeling like I had to accept the people around me as the hand that was dealt me. That is not true! I had felt stuck for way too long and didn’t realize it until it was almost too late. As long as I had something to bring to the table for someone else’s vision, I had a purpose. But what about my purpose? I made critical changes to the crowd around me, and life has never been the same. My family, vision, and purpose are my priorities.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teams.coach
• Instagram: teams.coach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamscoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkingjr75/
• Twitter: michaelkingjr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTmrGGYi1b-1tlc-mHjLecA

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2022 Team.Coach, LLC