It all starts with an idea…

Last week as I was getting ready for work, my wife said, “I could totally see you being a speaker someday.” Her words seemed to come out of nowhere.

I paused and looked at her. “What did you say?”

“I said I could totally see you being a speaker someday.”

Little did she know, I had been wrestling that idea in my head for weeks. I was just too scared to tell anyone. Her encouragement was the catalyst I needed. It was time to pay attention to what I was feeling in my heart.

The next morning I woke up earlier than I have in years and I grabbed an old, dusty journal. It was a high school graduation gift that I had been given thirteen years earlier. At the bottom of the page, I penned three words:

I am here

Those three words were the recognition that my past experiences had led me to this moment in time. This was a moment of discovery. I saw, with absolute clarity, certain decisions that had shaped my past. These weren’t coincidences, they were puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly to create a bigger picture.

As I connected the dots, I began to feel a calling. It was a feeling beyond my ability to explain. This was something deep, a unique a part of who I was and who I was created to be.

It was as if I had tapped into my calling.

Trusting the Inner Voice

Thirteen years ago, I was asked to give my testimony at church after a mission trip to the Bahamas. When I stood and shard, I didn’t feel fear. Instead, it felt like my spirit was on fire. It was one of the most exhilarating feelings in my life.

Since then, I’ve had numerous opportunities to speak. And each time, I’ve been met with encouragement. People have always told me that I needed to speak. I responded kindly, but shrugged off the suggestion because I was convinced no one would care to listen to my story. In fact, I wondered if I had a story to tell.

But today, I’m making a decision to listen to those voices no longer.

Instead, I will listen to the voice that says:

Don’t doubt your heart, don’t doubt your story, don’t doubt Me.

As I continued to write in my journal, I flipped through the pages from years past. Although they were covered with dust from lack of use, I quickly recognized unique moments. The pages skipped days, weeks, and even years, but they consistently pointed to a truth.

My heart has been calling me for years.

Advice from a Friend

I have this overwhelming feeling to listen intently to what my spirit is saying. I can’t explain why, but I feel urged to respond. The demands of three small children and the responsibilities of running a business provide plenty of excuses—excuses I will no longer listen to.

As a starting point, I reached out to a friend who has been a corporate speaker for more than twenty years. His encouragement was overwhelming.

He looked right at me and said, “Matt, don’t let what is good keep you from what is great. You need to start writing.”

“About what?” I sheepishly replied.

“Grab a pen, it will come to you.” He replied.

This blog is a step of faith to trust what my heart is saying.

I am going to write.

From here forward, I will put pen to paper and see what happens. Today’s words are the byproduct of my first step. My prayer is that in some way, it will encourage you.

Should you care to join, I’d love the company.

MH