He races motorcycles at 135 mph.
He’s loves to workout as well as read, research, and study.
He sleeps three hours each night and has strictly disciplined eating habits: no sugar, no candy, no soda, no white flour.
He is almost always impeccably dressed — the cuffs of his sleeve are monogrammed with “007″ because his name is almost the same as the Secret Service agent.
After I finished speaking at 1 Million Cups a couple of weeks ago, James pulled me aside.
“Just a quick meeting in secret,” he said.
He then prayed for my arm.
James is a life coach on a not-so-secret mission to bring hope and healing to the world, equipping people for life today and life tomorrow.
James grew up with a dad as a preacher, but even though he spent significant time in church, it didn’t prevent hard times coming his way.
He was kidnapped by a local gang and locked in the trunk of a car.
“I said the 23rd Psalm over and over again in the back of that trunk.”
His best friend was killed by a gang and he helped identify him at the morgue.
“That’s an image I’ll never forget.”
His business partner robbed him of 6.1 million dollars. He lost his dream house, his dream cars, and almost everything. He did everything he could to make ends meet for his family.
“But I didn’t jump out a window or bite a bullet. I still had hope.”
In 2008, at the invitation of a friend, James went to be trained as a life coach. He loves it and has been doing it ever since.
“Oh man, the last time I played catch was in 3rd grade, back when I lived in Michigan. My grandson is almost that age, now.”
We met on the square this gorgeous afternoon. James was dressed to the nines. I, well, wasn’t. I asked about his work as a life coach.
“One thing I do is encourage my clients to choose one word that affects their space, their circle, their thinking for one year. My word for 2018 is ‘equip.’ The purpose is to keep you focused so that you know what you need to do every day. The purpose of the word is to keep you from being or living scatter-brained.”
Equip is a cool word, a great word that summarizes the work that James does, helping other people live their best life.
Immediately, I started brainstorming words that might work for my 2018.
Quixotic. Whimsical. Quirky. Adventure. Quest.
Nothing seemed to fit, so I’ll keep brainstorming.
After catch, we shared stories while I sipped a Dr Pepper.
“That catch was really cool, I thoroughly enjoyed that. I’m going to have to get a glove and go play catch with my grandson.”
My work as catch-playing ambassador continues. Another new friend discovered through the rhythmic popping of leather and snap of the wrists.
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Dad and I were able to get our monthly round of golf in today. I three-putted the last hole to shoot 40. Although, I did have a pretty sweet birdie on the par 5.
