We recently connected with Rob Lohman and have shared our conversation below.
Rob, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
As an entrepreneur, I have had to learn to “build the plane in the air.” Others tend to wait until the plane looks shiny and is all ready to go before the initial take off.
LIFTED From The Rut is more of a calling, than a business. You might say it is a businistry … where business meets ministry. You see, my story involves addiction, mental health, recovery and transformation. My story is one of failures, successes, roadblocks and bulldozers. A story of triumphantly overcoming barriers only to be better on the other side.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
― Charles R. Swindoll
Becoming an Interventionist, Recovery Coach, Podcaster, and Speaker were definitely not on the “I want to be a __________” list as a kid. After a serious life transition, a friend approached me with the idea of becoming an Interventionist. “Why would I want to do that?” I asked. After a few hours of discussion, this pathway resonated with me because I have such a heart to help others NOT go down the path I went in my own addiction. I knew good recovery AND I knew bad recovery.
The path was laid before me….to which I took the first step in December 2015. After completing a rigorous Interventionist training, I launched LIFTED From The Rut on January 1, 2016…..then started “building the plane in the air.”
I sought out experienced Interventionists who had been in the field for decades. New to the field, I became a sponge… absorbing knowledge from any avenue. Books, other training programs, attending conferences, filling journals with notes..notes..and more notes. Researched the right insurance to carry. Developed marketing materials and started knocking on the doors of referral sources consisting of addiction counselors, treatment centers, recovery coaches, and just everyday people.
THE PLANE WAS BEING BUILT DAILY.
As time went on, I began to feel like I was just “doing” interventions. One would end and another would hopefully come. I became weary. Why? I realized, thanks to a counselor friend, that I cared so deeply for every client and wanted their recovery MORE than they did, that self-care took a back seat. I sought help, had many conversations and learned about healthy boundaries for myself. I preached “boundaries” to my clients, but did not practice it myself.
Sort of felt like the car mechanic who helps everyone else fix their problems, but had the most broken down car of all. Can you relate?
After that, I began to invest in coaches for myself. I grew as an individual and as a businistry man. That pivotal point in my life set me up for success after success. The plane was built. The runway was clear. We were flying high and helping hundreds of people find FREEDOM from addiction.
What a blessing! So grateful my eyes were opened. I could only see what I wanted to see. Now, the blinders are off and the future is bright.
I love what I do…..Restoring Hope, Identity & Purpose to Living a Transformed Life.
(oh yeah, I am still building planes in the air as the DREAMER … but now I have a team helping me with the plans)
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Sober since 2001, I currently help people suffering from substance abuse to find freedom from addiction and feeling stuck in a rut. I do this through sharing my testimony, Professional Interventions and Recovery Coaching, Advocacy, and being the host of Beyond The Bars Radio Podcast and Addiction, Freedom & Faith Podcast.
Addiction is all around us…. BUT so is recovery. The great thing about today, versus 2001, is there are many pathways to recovery. One of the challenges with that is many of the programs are more about behavior modification than getting to the true root issues in order to live a transformed life.
The mission statement of LIFTED From The Rut is: Restoring Hope, Identity & Purpose
So, why and when do people reach out to my team and myself for help?
A loved one contacts me typically in the midst of the chaos of addiction OR during a transitional period in their life. My role in that moment is to listen. To listen beyond the fear of the moment. To listen without judgement. Just listen.
From there we would determine how to help them and their loved one to break free from the cycles of addiction towards moving into a life of recovery to then move into living a transformed life. We would identify the core issues, take a historical inventory and develop a transformational plan for the family and loved one.
Core services offered are Interventions, Coaching, Speaking and Global Podcasting (Beyond The Bars Radio Podcast and Addiction, Freedom & Faith Podcast).
Focusing on my work around Interventions, I believe a few things that set me apart (and have also heard this from my clients) is the depths of the education provided for the family during the intervention process along my fluid style…as we need to change plans along the way based on the situations at hand.
The deep roots of my Christian Faith are also an extremely important part that sets me apart. About 40% of my clientele are not Christians, but they appreciate how bold I am and committed I am to my Faith, especially the core of what I believe: in that “My identity is in Jesus Christ, not in my circumstances.”
Along with addiction comes shame, guilt, identity from our past mistakes, and the “baggage” from that. What I do know is that having a relationship with Jesus Christ has allowed me to walk through the shame connected to my past experiences and step into the unconditional love that God pours out on me….a FREEDOM that others can also experience.
FREEDOM from addiction is possible. But let’s not stop there. The end goal is to live a TRANSFORMED life, not just a life free from the addictive substances. This takes work and perseverance. Those who stay committed to the transformational process WILL be transformed.
To illustrate this, I will end with the Value statement of L.I.F.T.E.D. From The Rut:
Living authentically from our
Identity in Jesus Christ while experiencing
Freedom from strongholds by renewing our minds so we can
Testify to the world what God has, is and will do in & through us so that others may
Experience God’s love, grace and mercy to
Disciple the lost to live transformed lives through the healing power of Jesus Christ.
That is the LEGACY I wish to leave here on Earth.
Gratefully,
Rob Lohman
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have definitely been through the ringer AND continue to overcome and press on! My “rap sheet” includes alcohol and drug addiction, gambling addiction, divorce, bankruptcies, mental health struggles, suicide ideation, prison, and FREEDOM from addiction, a life of recovery and transformation. Grateful for the life I live now beyond all of the chaos.
My drinking career started at age 14 which lead to some very dark places in my life. The climax of my drinking “career” happened on June 7, 2001 with a suicide attempt interrupted by the compassion of my dog Jake. Upon a divine intervention, I was freed from substance abuse addiction which began a rollercoaster ride in recovery…to which I have not taken another drink or placed another bet.
In year eleven (11) of my sobriety journey and year 5 of my marriage, I had an emotional nervous breakdown which lead to a thirteen (13) year prison sentence, to which I was released in 10.5 months to a halfway house where I started to rebuild my life, along with my two children and wife who decided to remain married to me after the breakdown.
This is why I now invest in the lives of those wanting to see positive change, whether it is coming out of addiction, prison or just wanting more for their lives.
And, if you need some help navigating the world of addiction and recovery, set up a Freedom Discovery Call with me at www.RecoverWithRob.com
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media. Two small words that have a HUGE impact on business….positively or negatively.
Not a shy person, stepping into social media presented no fear to me. The challenge was “How” do you do this the right way…not just the right way, but the most effective and influential way.
How do you decide which social media platform to use OR do you do them all at once and never sleep. That was me….shotgun approach.
I have this tendency to “build the plane in the air”, like my mentor Nick Unsworth says. Sometimes I would leap before I looked. Two steps forward, five steps backwards.
But “I am doing so much and be so productive, why is my audience not only not growing, but not engaging.” I would ask myself that question repeatedly. Then I had a light bulb moment. Ready for this? Ok, here it was.. “Hey Rob, maybe go LEARN from those who have gone before you, and then implement.”
That’s what I did. I sought out professionals in the industry who actually not only had a huge following, but a following that engage in their content.
This started me in a more laser focused direction to BUILD my audience that also engaged in my content and services.
That was key. I had to get out of my own way. I chose to get out of my own way. I chose to seek education, coaching and then implement what I learned.
My advice would be to :
Start building an audience WHILE you are learning new skills and tools, then implement them ASAP.
Keep building the plane(s) in the air. Eventually you will have a fleet.
Resource up by hiring others to do what you do not do well.
And… sleeeeeeeeep. Well get at least enough sleep to keep going.
That’s all. By the way, check out my social media links in this article. Follow, like, share, comment. Would love to get to know you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RobLohmanSpeaks.com
- Instagram: @roblohmanliftedfromtherut
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobLohmanLiftedFromTheRut/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlohman/
- Twitter: @roblohman
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wmae4IWo-hNHTHnfqeq0Q
- Other: www.BeyondTheBarsRadio.com www.AddictionFreedomAndFaith.com