Ready … Fire … Reload … Repeat
It was 2008 and I was a headstrong young man who loved hunting down new adventures triggered by my hunger for success. I believed my faith driven endeavors would be blessed by God. I started my business and a new church, relying on my good health and limited counsel. I pointed my faith at each new target believing that hitting it would bring me one step closer to reaching my dream. I was confident in my abilities, my decisions and my determination to achieve my goals. Until, I wasn’t.
Badly Broken
Cleaning out the church building by myself after a handful of years exploded memories of broken relationships, driving the death of my dream like a stake through my heart. My actions resulted in severe business and personal financial failure. Having to declare bankruptcy, I lost my home, my car and suffered through the shame of all of that.
Sad Songs
With relationships severed, I sunk down into a deep depression …. brought low by sickness, I was homeless, and afraid. I remember singing in a church choir, hiding a heavy heart. One terrifying thought kept surfacing, “I have nowhere to sleep tonight … again.”
Band of Believers in Business
There was a band of believers in business that showed me mercy I didn’t deserve. One of them took me in. I lived with my friend Dick and his family. I watched their trustworthiness, care and tight knit community they had amongst friends and family. Their steadfastness helped me to see more of my pride, learn to trust again and turn from my sin.
Christ’s love moved through them. He and his wife displayed this love daily in word and deed. Away from their home, our band of believers in business was a committed community. I gleaned great wisdom as they challenged me to grow in Christ. Sensing God’s comfort, I was being healed.
Under Construction
After many months, it was time for me to move on. I didn’t want to leave their loving home and the community I was graciously invited into, but it seemed God was moving me on too. He would go on to re-build my life slowly.
I remember a generous Croatian man named Alex slapping down a $100 bill after a Christian business gathering and say, “I want you to make some calls for me.” Little did he know that I only had about $20 to my name. One band of believers in business lead to another. God brought stability and blessing to me through their commitment as friends.
Reset to Be Sent Out
Bending down, I ran my hands over the complicated metal and plastic machines around the showroom wondering if I could ever be passionate about selling copiers. I saw a small button that said reset and thought that’s exactly what I need. But I doubted I could join the ranks of professional account executives, even though being weeks removed from sleeping on the ground, I really needed to.
I knew that selling copiers and software solutions was an ultra competitive space with many vendors serving a limited number of companies. “Who dreams of selling copiers?” I thought while nervously waiting for my job interview. And if I would have pursued my passions at that point, my purpose wouldn’t have been realized.
I’m a proponent of pursuing the paths God seems to set before you, because ultimately his divine steering never fails. However, our passions betray us when we’re blinded by the dreams they dangle in front of us. They fool us because they may not reflect that one unexplainable gift of grace that others notice in each one of us when we do something so exceptional it stands out to them, even if we don’t see it.
Rather than following our passions down dead ends and rabbit holes, our lives are moved in such a way that purpose is revealed, though usually not in the moment.
Failures provide the purifying fires that reveal our purpose. Think about your life experiences … when have you been in situations (that felt like the exact opposite of your life purpose,) but served to refine you like one walking through the fire of adversity.
Back in the showroom, I was interviewed by a fire walker who had been refined and somehow saw the same business development skills Alex saw in me. A man of quiet strength. Walking into the Monday morning meetings, his steady leadership exuded quiet confidence because he had proven himself trustworthy to his team. He drew up the weekly battle plans with a sharpened strategy that open ears were motivated to go out and pursue. His words inspired hope that we could serve people well by selling a lot.
Fast forward over five years later and I had been awarded 2 Presidents Clubs awards, nearly missing a third along, with other awards of service in San Diego, while helping to lead at another church. Success is strange because you don’t learn as much from successful experiences as you do during seasons of failure.
But, success can propel you to encourage others through the platform it provides. I was blessed to see the purpose God has for my life. He introduced me and provided opportunities to serve the Friends I Trust by helping them develop their businesses. I have delighted to sow time, treasures and talents into other business owners lives and endeavors in San Diego and now in Japan, because encouraging others in committed community is part of my calling.
Friends I Trust Beginnings
I strive to connect people to the possibilities of God’s greater purpose for their lives in creative and encouraging ways. I do this through serving aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners pursuing growth together in a committed community called Friends I Trust.
His Body Builds Up the Broken
In hindsight, I now see that God allowed that season of failure to break me. Shattering my self righteous religious foundation was necessary. Looking back, I know Jesus Christ’s great love paid for my major life failures. His loving discipline was with me through everything. The body of Christ is powerful, building up the broken.
Wayne Schmidt
Friends I Trust Founder
committed community is critical to our success
Friends I Trust Core Values
Our 3 core values are built upon Christ who keeps us together.
They start with being a trustworthy community member.
We desire to grow in our startups and our lives.
Trustworthiness
Trust depends on the credibility of the source. Although we are flawed, our source isn’t.
Community
Community is a long-term commitment. It requires consistent effort, time, and genuine engagement.
Growth
To be more like Christ is our ultimate goal. That means excellent conduct in a business context.
