IN THIS EPISODE WE LEARN:
Jason welcomes Lori Been for a practical, faith-forward conversation on vocation, transition, and designing work that serves others. Lori shares her journey from higher-ed career services into entrepreneurship in Nashville’s music industry—blending image consulting, media/interview prep, and career coaching—and why she ultimately refocused on purpose-driven coaching for professionals navigating change. The centerpiece of the episode is Lori’s framework from Purposeful Branding, which anchors your calling in identity in Christ, clarifies your gifts, defines your audience, and builds a brand that serves.
What You’ll Learn
- Vocation ≠ Identity: Why Your Work Is Not Your Identity—and How Rooting Your Identity in Christ Protects You Against Idols of Career and Title.
- From Stifled to Strategic: Recognizing when creativity is being constrained, and practical steps to pivot with wisdom (networking, pilot projects, timing, and “who can I serve?”).
- Purposeful Branding (beyond logos): Start with gifts → who you serve → how you help → then visuals. Avoid jumping straight to color palettes and logos.
- Audience Clarity: How to identify the people best served by your natural strengths—often found in what feels “easy” or energizing to you.
- Transferable Skills: Why experiences across domains (universities, music industry, media coaching) compound and don’t “reset” when you change lanes.
- Faith & Work: Insights from FCCI, the Gotham Program (Redeemer), mission work in the Amazon, and launching church-based vocation ministries.
- Women & Entrepreneurship: Lori’s heart to equip Christian women to build businesses that serve their homes and communities—with schedules that fit real life.
Standout Quotes
- “What you do is not who you are. Your identity is in Christ.”
- “Pay attention to what feels easy and life-giving—those gifts often point to who you’re called to serve.”
- “Start with who you serve. Then build the brand to match.”
- “Not everyone can leap today—so prep a strategy now for when God opens the door.”
Scripture References
- Jeremiah 17:9 — Be cautious about “follow your heart”; seek God’s wisdom first.
- Identity in Christ (theme) — Guard against making work an idol; let calling flow from who God says you are.
Segment Highlights
- Origin Story & Calling — Early love for campus life; grad program in Higher Ed; decade in university career centers; pivot to Nashville entrepreneurship.
- Music Industry — Image & interview coaching for artists; networking through contact; lessons on authenticity and message.
- Purposeful Branding — The framework: gifts, audience, service, authenticity → THEN visuals.
- Work vs. Identity — Why Titles Shift, Seasons Change, and a Christ-Centered Identity Stabilizes Vocation.
- Faith & Work Ecosystem — FCCI, Gotham Program, church vocation ministry, Amazon missions.
- What’s Next — A development program to help Christian women start businesses from a place of obedience, ownership, and service.