Business Coach : Full Of Purpose
-Do you remember when it happened– when you found peace? This is a question a business coach would ask you.
-I remember the day it happened. It was June 8, 1991. It was an amazing day. I got a chance to sit down and talk to a guy who was a minister who came and talked to me and said– hey. I’d love to chat with you a little bit. I’m the minister.
And I thought– oh, my gosh. Look at the time. I’ve got to go. I have no time for this. But I actually did end up sitting down with him that day, and he asked me– do you love God?
And I said– I suppose. I mean, wouldn’t I be stupid not to? Didn’t he create everything?
And then he proceeded to ask me– well, how much time do you spend reading your Bible or praying?
And I said– well, you know, I pray a little bit. I have a Bible. I don’t really read it that much.
But he said– in the Old Testament, God asked the nation of Israel to honor him one day a week, the Sabbath day. When was last time you took one day– not one day a week, but one day– to honor God and thank him for all that he’s given you?
I said– well, I am pretty blessed. I don’t know. I had never taken a whole day. I don’t even know what I would do for a whole day praising God.
And he said– well, when you love somebody, when you really love them, don’t you honor them and want to spend all your time with them?
And that really hit me, because I had been dating my girlfriend for a long time, and I really said I loved her, but I didn’t really back that up with any actions. So I felt like that day I was telling God despite all you’ve done for me, I don’t have time for you. I don’t really care. That day, I fell on my knees, and I said, “God, everything I have is yours. Wherever you want me to go, I’ll go. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do.” A business coach will encourage you to back up your words with actions.
That changed my whole purpose. Instead of getting the bigger contract and being the best player in the league, all of a sudden I realized– this is all about you. Everything I do is about you. My marriage is about you. It’s about honoring you.
When we make the vow, a lot of times, in our marriage, we make a vow before God. But we forget that he’s a partner in this relationship, right? He’s the one we’re vowing to. And when we vow to each other, we’re going to let each other down. There’s no question. If I’m trusting you, you’re going to let me down. As great as you are, Clay, you’re going to let me down. And I’m going to let you down. But when I put my trust in him, we can continue to grow with each other.
-You just said something to me that’s super-profound. You just said as great as something may be, they’re always going to let you down. A business coach would inform you that it is no different in the business world.
DAVID ROBINSON: Absolutely
-I know you try to hold yourself to a very high standard, but you’re also very self-aware. We all occasionally miss the mark. I love that about you, that you’re not full of yourself, and do you believe you’re not a perfect human. But you’re saying– hey, I’m going to let you down at some point, so you shouldn’t put your faith in me.
-Absolutely.
-I guess for somebody who is watching this, and they say if I could just make enough money– if I could just make enough money– I’m going to be happy. What would you say to that person?
I would say that’s a slight delusion. I don’t know if I was there. I wasn’t really so focused on the money. But I did get to a place where I had enough money. If where I was at that point, my second year in the NBA and with a pretty good contract, was not enough for me, what could the world give me that would satisfy that emptiness inside? And my conclusion was nothing. There’s nothing more that they have for me out there. So I had to start looking in the right directions. And that’s when God answered that said hey– I’ve got it for you. I have a plan for your life– a purpose for your life. I’m the one that created you. I know what to do with you.
-What was your process like once you discovered– OK, this is how I’m going to find this sense of peace? Did you become a super-intense reader of the Bible? How did you educate yourself? A business coach will tell you that educating yourself is vital.
-That was my change. From that first day, when I sat down and administer and I prayed “God, come into my heart– take over my life”– from that day, I started reading my Bible. My mom thought I was crazy. I’d read my Bible four or five hours a day, because I didn’t know anything about it. I had heard all of these things, but I really didn’t know what it said. So I just sat down, and I started reading, reading, reading. A business coach will tell you that reading on a topic you are learning about is vital to growth.
My mom came home, and she’s like– what’s wrong with you? Have you joined a cult or something? I’m going– no, Mom, no! Really, God just became real to me. I’m reading my Bible, and I’m thinking– wow, this thing has been here the whole time, and I’ve never really read it. It’s actually pretty good, Mom. I got excited about it.
Everybody in my life thought it was a phase. They’re like– oh, he’s just picked something up, and he’s going to put it down. But here we are, 22 years later, and my marriage, my children– everything reflects my faith now. And God just keeps blessing me and blessing me. so I think some people are starting to believe it’s real now.
-It’s interesting, though, because you’ve been a happy guy for a long time. Your brother is now a minister, and your father is serving the Lord. It’s been sort of like you have one great big happy family.
-It wasn’t always like that. My brother was not saved. He went to the Naval Academy after me– smart kid. I remember when I first got saved, I sat him down, and I said, “Chuck, you have to know this. Let’s go through the scriptures.” And he said, “Wait a second. You’re kind of scaring me. I’ve never heard you talk like this.”
And I said, “No, no– you don’t understand. This is real. This is what life is all about.”
And he said, “No, no– I heard you. I’m not ready for this. I’m enjoying my life. I want to go out and party and have fun and do all this stuff.”
It really broke my heart when I first talked to him, because I thought– how can you see this stuff and not believe it, not understand it? But everybody comes in their own time. No matter what I say, I can’t convince him. God has to bring him to himself. So I just was faithful and loved on him, and whenever he asked me questions, I would answer the questions. And about a year and a half later, two years later, he calls me up, and he says, “Hey, David. I went to this church today, and I knew it was my time. I couldn’t run anymore.”
Now he’s 16 years as a pastor. He has a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter. His life has just been ridiculous, blessed beyond measure. I’ve watched him do that in my brother’s life, my sister’s life, my father’s life– it’s been a real blessing for all of us. Making changes affects all areas of your life. Even a business coach will tell you this.