Day 1 – A Different Kind of Start

DAY 1: A Different Kind of Start

Yesterday marked something significant.

Not just a new role…
but the beginning of a new season.

April 1, 2026 my first official day on staff at the church.

And what stood out most wasn’t the responsibilities…it was the peace.

The Morning That Felt Different

The day started simply—coffee with our campus Pastor.

No rush. No pressure. Just a conversation to begin the day.

On the way, we ran into someone I hadn’t seen in a while—Nate Kelly and his wife. Nate is the brother of Jon Kelly, who used to be the COO of one of my companies.

I hadn’t spoken to Jon in months.

But in that quick, unexpected moment, Nate said something that stuck with me:

“Jon speaks very highly of you. You meant a lot to him.”

It’s hard to explain what that does to you.

When someone you haven’t talked to in years…
still carries respect for you…
and you hear it through someone else—

That hits differently.

It reminded me that impact doesn’t always show up immediately.
Sometimes it echoes later.

Learning a New Environment

Most of the day was spent learning systems, processes, and structure.

The operational side of ministry.

If I’m being honest—this isn’t where I naturally gravitate.

I’m wired for:

• people

• leadership

• development

• one-on-one impact

Not spreadsheets. Not systems.

But I also recognize something:

Structure is what allows impact to scale.

So I leaned in.

Observed. Learned. Listened.

And started understanding how this environment functions behind the scenes.

An Unexpected Call

Later in the day, I got a call from Jon Kelly.

We hadn’t spoken in a long time.

We caught up on life, business, and what he’s building now—real estate, content, even a movie-based channel he’s turned into a podcast.

What stood out wasn’t just what he’s doing…

It was seeing someone who once worked with me
step into something of his own and actually build it.

That’s a different kind of reward.

The Peace I Didn’t Expect

But the biggest moment of the day didn’t come from a conversation.

It came from within.

That morning… I felt something I haven’t felt in a long time:

peace.

Real peace.

As an entrepreneur, my mind is always on.

There’s always:

• something to fix

• something to build

• something to chase

Even waking up at 3:30 AM doesn’t feel like enough time.

There’s always more.

But yesterday was different.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like:

“I have one assignment.
Go to work.
Be present.
Do what’s in front of me.”

And somehow…

It felt like I had more time, not less.

That’s hard to explain.

But I know it meant something.

The Tension

I don’t fully understand what this season is yet.

I’ve built businesses.
Led teams.
Operated at a high level.

And now…

I’m stepping into something that feels slower…
simpler…
but deeper.

There’s a tension there.

But it doesn’t feel wrong.

The Anchor

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

If peace is present…

I need to pay attention.

Closing Thought

I didn’t step into this role with full clarity.

But I did step into it with peace.

And right now—

That’s enough