Jeff Thomas - From Chasing Money to Purpose

A Leader’s Journey podcast

🎙️ Join host Joel Gunn on "A Leader's Journey" podcast with guest Jeff Thomas! 🌟 Jeff shares his story of being written a seven figure 💲💲💲💲💲💲💲 check after 10 years in the wealth management business. He realized he had been chasing the money💰 rather than focusing on helping families and making a positive impact. 🌍🔥 From Houston to your headphones, this podcast is a must-listen for leaders seeking growth and impact. 🎧✨

#ALeadersJourney #LeadershipPodcast #Transformation #Faith #PurposefulLiving

HIGHLIGHTS:

Reconnecting with Faith: A Journey of Purpose and Priorities
Jeff experienced a crisis of purpose and lack of excitement about his life, leading to a period of soul-searching. He explored different world religions and took part in Bible Study Fellowship, which helped him understand his priorities and focus on his faith. He realized he'd been chasing worldly success more than pursuing his relationship with God.

A Personal Turning Point in Parental Responsibility
Jeff recounts a period of frustration with their daughter's lack of learning at Sunday school, only to realize that his own role in her spiritual education was crucial. Within days, a friend invited them to a class for both adults and children, illustrating God's far-reaching plans and assistance in their spiritual journey.

Finding Purpose Beyond Wealth
Our guest discusses his spiritual journey and its impact on his business life. Jeff had a revelation that led him to question the financial advice they were providing to clients, ultimately recognizing the importance of relying on God rather than accumulating wealth. He also shared his experience of overcoming an addiction of monitoring his performance scores at work by replacing it with journaling spiritual conversations.

Integrating Faith into the Business World
Jeff recounts his experience of introducing faith-based conversations into their work at Morgan Stanley. He initially feared the impact on their business, but found that the conversations made the relationships more meaningful and the business stable. He also discusses the challenge of being a Christian in the business world, noting that many people are hesitant to discuss their faith in the workplace due to fear of legal repercussions.

Breaking Through the Fear
Jeff discusses the fear of engaging in spiritual conversations and how it was alleviated through learning from others. Surveys show that 80% of people are interested in such discussions.

From Emptiness to Enlightenment
In the first ten years of the Jeff's career, he followed their own way which led to emptiness. Over the next ten years, he learned to follow God's way and built trust in it. In 2010, he began studying biblical principles under the guidance of Ron Blue, a mentor who founded a wealth management company based on such principles. After a three-year mentorship, Jeff had a significant spiritual experience, solidifying his commitment to following God's way.

A Divine Message that Led to Success
Jeff recalls a divine message to scale their business, despite lacking experience in scaling. He felt a sense of purpose and trust in their ability to follow instructions and give credit to God. This event occurred in 2010, and they have since built a successful financial company.

Creating a Christ-Centered Firm Amidst Corporate Challenges
While leading a Christian group at Morgan Stanley, Jeff recognized the limitations of changing the company's culture. He took a year to prepare and launched their new firm, aiming to create a Christ-centered environment, while acknowledging that his path may differ from those still fighting the battle within the corporate culture.

Building a Christ-centered Wealth Management Business
In a nutshell, Jeff discusses the importance of building a Christ-centered wealth management business and highlights four key questions that should be asked when considering a financial plan:
* who owns the money,
* how much is enough for you
* how much is enough for your family,
* how will you give away the rest?