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Facing an Uncertain Future with Unshakeable Faith with Roger Taylor
8 Plays1 hour ago
Roger Taylor shares a pivotal moment in his career when he was asked to train his replacement without knowing what his own future would hold, and how he relied on God to navigate the uncertainty.
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Crossroads Career Podcast, a show where we help you hear God calling, get the right job, and maximize your potential through inspiring stories of individuals and professionals who've experienced a crossroads in their career.
00:00:16
Speaker
Welcome back to the Crossroads Career Podcast. My name is Tim and we have Hannah in the house and a wonderful guest today.
Corporate Experience and Team Development
00:00:24
Speaker
Roger, welcome to the program and give us a little 90 second, you know, ah tell us about yourself.
00:00:31
Speaker
Thank you, Tim and Hannah. Nice to be here. i am somebody that grew up in corporate America, started right out of college with a corporate job and in commercial insurance.
00:00:43
Speaker
We're doing things like property, cash, product liability, workers' compensation, that type of thing. And through my career, I had a lot of opportunity to bring people into the workplace through the hiring process.
00:00:55
Speaker
I've led some small teams and large teams. So I've done a lot of work with folks in developing their own careers.
Involvement with Career Ministry and Crossroads
00:01:01
Speaker
And about 2013 or so, i got involved with the career ministry of the church that I'm with and also got involved with Crossroads Career, or was introduced to Crossroads Career at the same time, and have been enjoying doing conversations with folks that come to me through Crossroads Career as well as through the career ministry of the church that i'm that I'm with. And that's where I'm at right now.
00:01:25
Speaker
I love that. um Thank you so much, Roger, for joining us. And we're excited for just the wealth of experience that you'll share with us. Can you tell us a little bit more about what like life and work looks like right now beyond what you just shared?
Retirement and Continued Career Engagement
00:01:39
Speaker
What life and work looks for me right now is that I am retired from corporate America. i do a little bit of contract work in the same industry that I'm in right now and spend a fair amount of time involved with career discussions with with different people, whether it's people that come through CrossFit's career or people that come through the church that I'm with.
00:01:59
Speaker
you You mentioned yeah insurance. I'm always curious about how people get into that industry, right? So a little bit of side note, but how do you get into it? Like, do you wake up one day and say, boy, I really want to sell insurance? Or is that something that your your dad or your family did before? Or how did you get into that?
Career Beginnings in Insurance
00:02:19
Speaker
I got into it after because my dad was into it, but it wasn't something that I sought when I was in college. I got a degree in economics. I was looking for a job in the business world, and I knew that an opportunity came up in the same field that my dad was in. and I knew that my dad had a good job, ah that my mom didn't have to work, the family was well provided for.
00:02:44
Speaker
He got some vacation time. So those are things that I knew about it. That's all I knew about it. So I went through exploring it from an and an interview perspective because it was an opportunity that was available.
00:02:55
Speaker
And I interviewed in that industry and other industries and just took the best opportunity that came when I got into it. And I stayed in it by choice. yeah Yeah, exactly. That's interesting.
00:03:06
Speaker
Well, ah yeah, tell us, um yeah it'd be good for our listeners to hear about a time, you know, when you kind of faced maybe some uncertainty in your work or some kind of transition that God had you in, because you've been in this job for a very long time, correct?
00:03:24
Speaker
Been in the same field, a number of different jobs in the same industry. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Career Setback and Overcoming Job Loss
00:03:29
Speaker
the The time that comes to mind that I can draw some sometimes when i'm talking with folks that are unfulfilled in their career is that i had a job where it was it it had ah a high title and a high job tier that was associated with it.
00:03:46
Speaker
And I had two conversations with my boss fairly close together. The first conversation was he said, the result of your department add more to my bonus than any other department.
00:03:57
Speaker
It's a good thing. It is. It was said in a very favorable way. And that means the results are really good versus objective. And that that's so what the situation was.
00:04:09
Speaker
But in a short time period after that, had another conversation where he said, I want to make a change. And I want somebody with a different to take a different perspective to what you're taking, different approach to the job that you're in. So I'm going to replace you.
00:04:23
Speaker
I'm going to bring in somebody. want you to work with them to help them understand the role and they will replace you. There was no conversation or comment about, will there be something for me? What will I do next?
00:04:35
Speaker
It's just that we're going to bring in somebody and we want you to help them understand the role so that they can replace you. so that's That's a hard pill to swallow, right? I mean, you know you're doing your job. You're doing really well, obviously, because he's getting a bigger bonus.
00:04:51
Speaker
And then he comes in and tells you that. you know I'm guessing as you're driving home that day, there's a lot going on in your mind. Like, what is going on? What what did I do wrong? How can I change this? right yeah Those are the kinds of thoughts that go through my mind.
00:05:05
Speaker
what it What led to this? I didn't see it coming. um Also thoughts like, I've got kids that are in college and some more that still go to college. What am I going to do next?
00:05:16
Speaker
what Where's the income going to come from? And one of the things I experienced in that scenario was that i was I knew as a fact that God knew about my circumstances and what was going to happen before it ever happened.
00:05:34
Speaker
And I believe that he brings all things together for those are good work for good for those who seek him. So I knew all that, and I got a chance to put those things into practice.
00:05:46
Speaker
i had I spent a lot of time, hours, over the months training this individual. that Things transpired. He brought in the person that he said he was going to bring in, a person. I spent a lot of time training that person, building ah a good relationship with them at the same time, putting them through that training.
00:06:03
Speaker
And when the time came, i made the announcement to my staff that I'm stepping out of the role and this person is coming into the role and the staff had, that kind of thing didn't surprise them because they were used to seeing somebody introduce their replacement because that person was going to move into something bigger or equally as grand somewhere else.
Leadership and Team Growth
00:06:24
Speaker
And then for me, the situation when they ask, what are you going to do I don't know. are you going to stay with the company? I don't know. those were Those were questions there. But what I did know, and I saw God work in this, was that I had a piece about that situation.
00:06:41
Speaker
People, as I went through that process of training that person and over the months, some people came to me, some particular people that were really close to the situation, like one of the HR people said, you are doing remarkable in this.
00:06:54
Speaker
There's no negative vibes coming. good relationship with a person that's training. I sit in meetings with them, along with other people that that are in the side, those meetings that that they report to.
00:07:05
Speaker
And if i I provide information, provide support, help with that person grow, they said, that's remarkable. And what I knew, as as if I were looking in at myself from the outside, was that I wasn't closing my eyes, pretending in my mind, pretending that there weren't potential negative consequences of not having a job when it was all done or what the income was going to be like or wondering what was happening.
00:07:33
Speaker
I was fully aware of the potentials that were out there, but it was also fully at peace to the point that I could work with folks. um coaching individuals from a job perspective that they still came to me and doing the job without being distracted, really.
00:07:50
Speaker
That to me was a big area of God at work in my life with that in a situation where I didn't know if anything was coming. And that lasted from a month's perspective.
00:08:04
Speaker
And ah that was that was a big item to walk through. There was, I was approached months into it at the time, finally came where the with a full transition took place.
00:08:15
Speaker
And I moved out of a nice office into a cubicle. And I was thinking that everybody in the entire building is seeing that happening, wondering the question you asked that you've mentioned, Tim, that you you thought muse might be going out of my head. Those people thinking, well, what happened here?
00:08:31
Speaker
Somebody moved up the ladder has obviously come down the ladder because you don't move from an office to a cubicle. No. Typically, no. So it'll sometimes go through my mind, um but I had a piece about that.
00:08:44
Speaker
I was approached, asked to interview for a particular job of a much smaller team, a team of about seven people that had some um operational logistics challenges and in terms of the way they had been performing.
00:09:00
Speaker
and I turned it down twice. say I didn't know and didn' wasn't interested, didn't want to interview for it. Much smaller scope than what I had. What I had before was that included four management direct reports and doing some teaching of assistant managers, moving help them develop in their career.
00:09:17
Speaker
I was approached a third time by someone who talked me into saying, okay, all right, I'll i'll interview and I was given the job and I'll give it a shot.
00:09:28
Speaker
And I fast forward seven years later when I transitioned out of that company, left that company on my own from a safe spot. And that team of seven people with some operational challenges, that team of seven people became a well operating team.
00:09:45
Speaker
And the responsibilities that I was asked to take on were increased significantly. I should take on another department. And I moved seven years later from that team of seven people to a team of about 86 people with four managers and an assistant direct reports and an assistant manager helping that person learn.
00:10:04
Speaker
And it was very satisfying. I never got the job title and salary back from position that I lost. But God provided all that I needed through that.
00:10:15
Speaker
Wow. Well, thank you for sharing how God met you
Navigating Career Transitions with Faith
00:10:19
Speaker
through that. And can you speak a little bit more just to how you navigated the complexity of those relationships and conversations through the transition?
00:10:31
Speaker
it really came to personal relationships. i had a rapport with people to begin with. Whatever that was, whether it was from a peer to peer or what person just knowing things about their personality or knowing things about each other, ah kept that going, ah believing that I was in the right spot, believing scripture-wise that you do the best you can because...
00:10:55
Speaker
your boss is the Lord, that's who you're working for. So it didn't let up and that kept relationships going. I think that helped the opportunity to move into a different role there as well, because that kept relationships going.
00:11:09
Speaker
And it was, there were challenges that were there, mental challenges. still, I used to have this and now I don't have that, but it was able to keep moving forward with that because of a faith that God will provide for all things, whether it was going to be this company or someplace else.
00:11:25
Speaker
And relationships with people kept, kept in place, kept intact. Wow. That's so great. I think the an interesting question you know I'm thinking about right now, Roger, is that there's a lot of listeners and people that are in this situation, right, where – They could transition up, right? They can go to the next management level or they can try to go to another level, but they're pretty comfortable where they're at, right? Life's good.
00:11:55
Speaker
Pay is good. um Things are dialed in, right? You know, maybe they don't have to work as hard. And, you know, this question of should I leave and go to the next spot is on their mind. Yeah.
00:12:09
Speaker
I'm curious, you know, when you were in that position, what were some of the the the keys that helped you make the jump, right? From what you were, where you were to, you know, this next level, even though for you, it might've been a little bit different, but what were you thinking about during that time?
00:12:26
Speaker
the The change that I had to make with the state that can't save employer was to take a step down. An important part of that transition that I that i saw as things unfolded later is that the background that that transition gave me was exactly the background that the company that I went to was looking for.
00:12:46
Speaker
When I was ready to to make that transition, he said which is seven years after the the initial job transition took place, there was a company that was looking for somebody with that background.
00:13:00
Speaker
And I expressed an interest to see what that's like. yeah what's What's the possibility there with the smaller a smaller company, with background that I've got. So I had the the right background that they were looking for to put in the application to go through the interview process with those folks.
00:13:20
Speaker
and As I got into that interview process, it became ah clear that I could be ah good fit, actually little overqualified for that position.
00:13:31
Speaker
And that was part of the interview process there, too, is looking at me saying, this is what we've got, and you've got a broader background than that. But believing that that was the right thing to pursue,
00:13:44
Speaker
I still had a lot of fears about that, making that step because I was at a place where I was comfortable. The company that i left was preparing to go through a reorganization. They didn't know exactly what things were going to look like, but somebody above me within the company, within our home office, called me to say, we're going to go through this organization.
00:14:05
Speaker
What you manage now isn't going to look the same. What I want to communicate to you is that we want you to stay. and before any changes that were announced. So that's the position that I was in But I had the opportunity to look at something else that was out there.
00:14:22
Speaker
And flying out for the the final interview with a company that I was looking to go to, i was battling around in my mind, I could stay where I'm at. What if I stay where I'm at? And then i end up regretting it for some reason.
00:14:37
Speaker
but What if I make a move from a place where i'm ah I'm valued to someplace else and my 29 years doesn't fit with a culture of a new company, of a smaller company.
00:14:49
Speaker
don The things just don't go right. What happens then could I really go back to to where I came out of? Once you step out, it's hard to do that. So a lot of the what ifs. And on that plane, that I read through the the workbook, You Were Created for Good Works. It sounded like a commercial. It's really not. i It was introduced...
00:15:09
Speaker
through to Crossroads Career and Career Ministry in spring of 2013, at the same time I was looking at making this transition. So I was reading the workbook on the plane out there and reading through step two, the attitude, the fear part.
00:15:26
Speaker
And when I saw that, that told me, This is what I can do to help understand whether my fears of making this transition are correct. I can identify things to ask in this interview that I'm going to these people to really find out if the fears are real.
00:15:44
Speaker
And by the time I got off the plane, I went from wondering, am I going to get this opportunity to say yes or no, and not really sure what I want to do with that. Or I left from from wondering that to knowing I had the right questions so that I was going to make a good decision. If they gave me the opportunity to say yes or no, I would know what to do with that.
00:16:04
Speaker
And when I got off the plane, I had that kind of confidence. And ultimately, i was given the opportunity. I accepted it and it worked out very well. But there was that time of fear that a lot of people go through.
00:16:16
Speaker
So in the two types of experiences that I mentioned, the one of losing a job and then moving to another, the losing the job. One of the perspectives that gives me as I'm talking with folks that come to be unfulfilled, unhappy, is that being uncomfortable in your role doesn't mean that you need to leave. That's really good. That is amazing. and you know Roger, we're so grateful for your experience and for you sharing that experience as a career coach and a guide with Crossroads amongst
Staying Focused and Trusting the Path
00:16:48
Speaker
others. and so
00:16:49
Speaker
Can you share like what advice did you get along the way or did you learn along the way that made a big difference? and I'm sure you often you know might share it as you're listening to folks, but what advice did you get or did you learn that made a big difference for you?
00:17:04
Speaker
they Stay focused. to Do whatever I'm doing. Put my mind into it.
00:17:11
Speaker
that from from folks that were giving me the spiritual side of that, God knows what's happening. Just believe and trust. And that became easier to do, as I mentioned, as I looked at myself and saw I'm not feeling any panic on this, even though a lot of people would look at it and say, there's reason.
00:17:29
Speaker
like I didn't. so So stay focused, stay grounded in scripture, believing it's true. And focus means is doing doing the job right and taking the right next step.
00:17:41
Speaker
I don't have to see what the end step is. Like when I took that step to take on that team of seven people from leading much larger team and with direct reports, et cetera, from that, I didn't have to know the next step.
00:17:54
Speaker
Just take the right next step as I believe God was showing it to me. Yeah. Well, that's an interesting you know perspective in terms of the steps, right? Because I think a lot of job seekers look at, they're they're very overwhelmed, right? When they lose a job or there's some kind of transition, immediately fear kind of comes in like a flood and they start to try to do 14 things at once, right?
00:18:21
Speaker
So can you speak to that? Like, what does it look like when you take a step at a time practically? there's a temptation to think about looking way ahead and figure out what you want a block a mile down the road to look like when I need you to make a block and to try to create situation where can you know more? maybe That could be a temptation.
00:18:43
Speaker
For me, ah it really wasn't, but i the thought crossed my mind, do I look to other employers? Yeah. Rather than sit here where I had been been given a piece and wait to see what happens.
00:18:55
Speaker
but I could have moved to other employers. Sometimes people come unhappy the job that they're in I know of one particular case, as I talked to somebody in a role as a guide across one's career and very happy, feeling like they needed to leave and fast forward into the future, they came back saying, things have changed and I don't want to leave anymore.
00:19:18
Speaker
But they still took steps that were diligent in building resume, doing a job search, and but ultimately, but trusting God along the way and came to change the circumstances that said, I don't want to leave anymore. I like where I'm at.
00:19:35
Speaker
We have so much appreciate God's patience with me and what he did just need to listen to that inner peace that I was receiving and just have patience to let God move. If I trusted him, he wasn't going to let me take a wrong step and he wasn't going to let me take no steps.
00:19:51
Speaker
and no I know. I love that example because it's, People being willing to focus on whatever's in front of them and take next steps and then try to discern, yeah you know, with with God in them and by their side, what to do next. So that is that is a great practical example. Well, Tim, do you have anything else before we wrap up?
00:20:10
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, as I'm sitting here listening, you know, it sounds like attitude is a big part, Roger, of your journey, right? And and having a positive attitude, that is a very difficult thing in the circumstance you were talking about, right? So I am curious, did you have like,
00:20:30
Speaker
mental checks or you know every hour you you departed to the parking lot and kind of refocused or you went to the bathroom, you're like, all right, i got it I got to get into the word of God. I got to pray. like you know that for For a lot of people, that that would be very, very challenging.
00:20:48
Speaker
So what were some maybe practical things that you did during those times where you didn't know and you kept getting you know on your way to the cubicle?
Attitude and Forgiveness in Career Journeys
00:20:57
Speaker
It was... The mornings before coming to work, that was prayer time.
00:21:01
Speaker
And not just prayer time, but accompanied with bibles Bible reading and scripture reading time. That was prayer to help. As a reminder, here's what the scripture says. And if I look at Old Testament things, things that were prophesied, they came true.
00:21:15
Speaker
things that Jesus talked about that that in the New Testament, his promises were true. I was experiencing those that helped so keep me focused. And the the fear part that I mentioned about the transition was addressed through that transition, sort through the attitude piece of that.
00:21:33
Speaker
Another piece of the attitude that I had to to get around, no it was anger. Anger is why was I put in that situation?
00:21:45
Speaker
Yeah. And it sounds like yeah like a commercial, but I think it was more foresight given to the people that wrote parts of that workbook is that forgiveness is needed. had to offer forgiveness, not verbally talking to the individual, but in my mind, because the person, the individual would have said, forgive for what?
00:22:04
Speaker
I made a business decision and that's how it worked out. And they didn't write really they didn't realize they were hurting you necessarily at the time. well they sometimes you make decisions to hurt that hurt the people that don't feel good to people from a business perspective. That just can happen sometimes.
00:22:22
Speaker
i think but So they wouldn't have seen a need for that. But i felt I felt some anger there. And I would go through that anger in my mind on my way home from work sometimes.
00:22:32
Speaker
over I had to go through that forgiveness, which I did. And that provided a lot of peace and then and the clarity to see even more looking back over the path, what had been unfolded.
00:22:44
Speaker
to get me to where I was, where I had what I needed, and and and in a position where I was able to help other folks in their work and their work and and and in their careers.
00:22:55
Speaker
And in a situation that I'm in now as somebody that does some coaching with folks going through a career situation. So attitude going through that search is is a lot. And I see that when people come in, sometimes looking for some help as they have to get through the initial panic, sometimes anger about why they're in the situation that they're in to be able to focus appropriately to move forward in the next steps.
Conclusion and Encouragement
00:23:23
Speaker
Well, and thank you for sharing about that because that is so relatable and is just needed to be like, how do we walk through all of those really real experiences and emotions that come with this? And how do you mourn or forgive or all of that um just through it? So thank you for sharing because that is just so helpful and incredible to see God work through your life and um for you to be an example um of how people can do this and kind of endure through the challenges and also see hope.
00:23:53
Speaker
beyond. So thank you so much for joining us, Roger. This was an incredible talk. And we think that our listeners are just really going to enjoy. And so listeners, if y'all are walking through a transition similar to Roger's, then go and call a guide. Heck, you might get to talk to Roger, oh but go you know and go on Crossroads Career and you can have a free session to talk with a guide and walk through whatever your situation is, or you can join a small group and go through a workbook and really be able to be met exactly where you're at.
00:24:25
Speaker
Thanks Roger for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you folks, both for the conversation and the opportunity to share what, what God's done through me and, and through the ministry Crossroads Career.
00:24:36
Speaker
Absolutely. Looking for guidance in your career? Our Crossroads guides are ready to help. Set up a complimentary call now by visiting our website, crossroadscareer.org.
00:24:48
Speaker
Thanks for listening.