Profit From Your Passion
Profit From Your Passion
“The John Maxwell Team gave me the programs, content, and structure I needed to start to build a business.”
– Christian DeVries, certified John Maxwell Team Coach, Speaker & Teacher
Do what you love and the money will follow, right? This is the maxim we’ve all been taught and know in our hearts to be true. But what happens when you second guess the thing you love, and don’t see how it can lead to riches, let alone a stable career? Most people dream of finding a job that not only pays well, but is something they are also passionate about. It may seem idealistic, but in order to do what you love and get paid for it, you have to first find your passion. Be warned – it doesn’t end there.
You have to embark on a journey within, examine yourself, and be willing to reevaluate. You’ve got to be ready for the road ahead, and the work required. For many, that price is too high.
This week’s featured team member is determined to follow his dream and turn his passion into profits – no matter the startup costs. Christian DeVries knows first-hand how hard it can be to walk an unknown path in the name of following your passion.
Before joining The John Maxwell Team, Christian worked as a college soccer coach for over twenty years. He has a deep passion for the sports industry and the beauty of getting a team to work together towards a singular goal. “When I stepped away from being a college soccer coach I was looking to build a business in sports leadership,” said Christian.
Christian attended the International Maxwell Certification in March 2015, and it changed his life forever. “The John Maxwell Team gave me the programs, content, and structure I needed to start to build a business,” explained Christian. “I spent a lot of time talking to the walls because they don’t talk back, but they also don’t push you. I had to take the next step into uncertainty to gain clarity.”
In the year after his first IMC event, Christian has made great strides towards his passion in sports leadership. He told us, “I got out of my own way and stopped overthinking everything. When I started to focus on who I was, what my passion was, and what I really had to offer, the opportunities presented themselves to me.”
Christian has even gotten his family involved, bringing both his brother and father onto the team. “I have built my team for my business by bringing in four other people to the John Maxwell Team.” Teamwork really does make the dream work!
To those just beginning to seek out their passion in life, Christian offers three pieces of advice: “Develop yourself and your personal brand, trust yourself, and last, but not least, be yourself!”
About Christian:
As Executive Director and Lead Coach for VOLTA Sports and Leadership Development Group, Christian draws on more two decades of experience in higher education and college athletics working with individuals, teams, and organizations to identify and escalate performance and create organizational, personal, and career growth. Christian is an expert in designing and creating innovative solutions and approaches that combine a business focus with personal development, leadership creativity, and interpersonal relationships. His work consists of designing and leading programs, seminars, and one-on-one coaching sessions that inform and inspire people, leading them to produce impactful results.
Prior to VOLTA, Christian served as both men’s and women’s head soccer coach at the intercollegiate level including NAIA, NCAA II, and NCAA III schools. He also served as the Compliance Officer and was instrumental in the development and teaching of the sports management curriculum at a public Liberal Arts university. He enjoys light construction and has spent his last few summers in Jamaica with The ARK Angel. He lives in Mobile, AL with his wife and three kids.