The Opportunity Collective

For the first time, The Opportunity Collective has a returning guest! We are fortunate that it is one with such grace, kindness, and compassion as Kimberly Phinney.

A year ago, Kimberly was getting her community of faithful creatives, The Way Back To Ourselves, rolling. Our communities are “brother and sister” communities. Both communities build on the idea that creatives or creators are better off collaborating than competing with one another.

Since we last talked with Kimberly, she has seen more pain and even more grace in her life. She even wrote a book that she never expected to write! Of Wings and Dirt is a collection of poems chronicling Kimberly’s time going through mental and physical illness.

Kimberly is a wife, mother, teacher, writer, artist, creative coach, and mental health counselor. She is also a dear friend, and I know every member of The Opportunity Collective would love to get to know her.

Opportunities that Kimberly wants to share with you!

Kimberly and The Way Back To Ourselves community are hosting a creative arts retreat called The Cultivate Retreat from June 22-23 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There are only 11 spots left for the in-person retreat, but several spots are left for the virtual ticket. Kimberly also offers writing, editing, and creative coaching services. I can personally vouch for her editing, as she has helped me find my voice on several writing projects.

How can you help Kimberly and The Way Back To Ourselves? I’m glad you asked… Kimberly is looking for help with her podcast production. Like many creatives (myself included), podcast editing is one of the less fun aspects of hosting a podcast. If you are savvy with podcast editing or production, let Kimberly know!

Follow Kimberly Phinney

Connect with Kimberly at thewayback2ourselves.com, on Instagram, or read more of her work on Substack.

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Blake Roberts has been marrying therapy with creativity for years without realizing it. When he left his undergrad with a major in Christian Ministry but no desire to work in a Church, he had no idea what he would end up doing. Eventually, he worked in marketing with artists at his father-in-law’s art gallery in Nashville, Tennessee. At the same time, he was experiencing a new awakening as he went through therapy for himself.

The result? Therapy as creative work. Blake has moved on from the art gallery and opened his private counseling practice.

In this episode, we chat about how his therapeutic values are also creative values.

* CURIOSITY OVER CRITICISM

* IF YOU CAN NAME IT, YOU CAN TAME IT

* THERE IS BEAUTY IN THE MIDST OF PAIN

* HEALING ISN’T LINEAR

* PRESENCE OVER PERFORMANCE MATTERS MOST

We then discuss Blake’s theory of Three Creative Paths and how we can move our ideas past shame and fear and create for the right reasons.

Opportunities that Blake wants to share with you!

While Blake can only accept therapy clients in the state of Tennessee, there are many other opportunities for you to help him and for him to help you. One service that Blake is seeking some help with is clarifying his workshops. He is currently designing workshops and courses based on these ideas of therapy and creativity, but it can be hard to know how to merge them all together. If you have any ideas, he’d love to talk to you!

Follow Blake Roberts

Connect with Blake on Substack, Instagram, or reach out to him at www.blakerobertscounseling.com

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Made for More with Chad Lunsford

The Opportunity Collective is celebrating the release of Chad Lunsford’s book, Made for More: Reach Your Highest Purpose & Live Your Greatest Story.

Let’s face it, we all want to reach our highest purpose and live our greatest story. But sometimes, that feels more like a pipe dream than a reality. You will meet plenty of obstacles and barriers on your journey toward purpose. You won’t have a platform that is large enough. You will struggle to come up with funding. You will doubt your ability to make an impact.

The answer? If you are called to do something, do it. When we know what we are made for, not doing it would be disobedience.

Chad knows this personally as he wrote this book to obey God’s calling on his life. In this podcast, he talks about overcoming obstacles to live out the conviction to create.

Opportunities that Chad wants to share with you!

Chad offers leadership coaching for those feeling confused, overwhelmed, and stuck at Stay Forth. He has also created Made For More, a 501c3 non-profit organization that creates transformational resources and experiences to awaken people to their worth in Christ and inspire them to live into their God-given purpose.

As Chad mentions in the podcast, he does not have the most prominent platform. But he really wants to get the message of Made for More out to more people. If you enjoy this podcast episode, help Chad by sharing his new book and this episode on your social media.

Connect with Chad Lunsford:

Connect with Chad on Instagram or reach out to him via email at [email protected]

Connect with Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Welcome to The Opportunity Collective. This Substack is a space for faithful creators to collaborate to create more opportunities and live more purpose-driven lives. I’ll write/podcast primarily about faith and work while sharing some of my life lessons along the way. Before you keep scrolling, hit the subscribe button and become an official member of The Opportunity Collective.

May in Indy Special with Sting Ray Robb

When it is May in Indianapolis, everyone puts their checkered flag on their lawn. There is a buzz throughout the city as hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see the greatest spectacle in racing.

So, join me in celebrating this month as I welcome Sting Ray Robb, an IndyCar Driver for team AJ Foyt, to The Opportunity Collective.

Now I know what you are thinking… “Sting Ray?! That is not his real name.” Well, let me clear the air, yes. Sting Ray is his legal name. In this podcast episode, He covers why he is named Sting Ray.

Now that we have clarified the whole name thing, you might be wondering,” Are racecar drivers faithful creators?”

Sting Ray considers himself a creative person for multiple reasons. He creates opportunities for dozens of people who work on the AJ Foyt Team, from mechanics to marketers. If Sting Ray does well in a race, he makes more opportunities for others. By stewarding the car he has been given, Sting Ray glorifies God, brings glory to his team, and lives a more purpose-filled life.

Opportunities that Sting Ray wants to share with you!

Sting Ray partners with an event called Faith in the Fastlane, and he would love to connect with worship artists or personalities who might be able to co-host the event. He is also open to receiving mockups for merchandising ideas from talented designers. The best way to collaborate with Sting Ray is by sending him a message on Instagram or an email through his website (links below).

Follow Sting Ray Robb

Connect with Sting Ray on Instagram or reach out to him at https://www.stingrayrobb.com

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Welcome to The Opportunity Collective. This Substack is a space for faithful creators to collaborate to create more opportunities and live more purpose-driven lives. I’ll write/podcast primarily about faith and work while sharing some of my life lessons along the way. Before you keep scrolling, hit the subscribe button and become an official member of The Opportunity Collective.

Finding Opportunities in Creative Collabs

I’ve seen countless creatives pigeonhole their collaborations with other faithful creators into a single genre of creativity. Musicians only work with musicians. Graphic designers collaborate with other graphic designers. Non-fiction authors primarily bounce ideas off of other non-fiction authors.

Matt Doering is breaking the mold when it comes to creative collaborations. He does this by cross-pollinating his singer/songwriter art with faithful creators of genres that seem to have nothing in common with Matt’s work.

Matt tours Texas with a poet. He works with apparel companies to create vintage thrifted hats. His coffee-loving has led to Matt likely being one of the first musicians with a coffee blend. While Matt loves to collaborate with other singer/songwriters, he does not limit his collaboration to faithful creators who work in the same medium as him.

And you don’t have to limit your creative collaborations either…

How Matt Can Help You:

Matt is an ultra-talented singer/songwriter who has worked with many faithful creators. Some of the ways he likes to help include:

* Creating bumper music or theme songs for podcasts or videos

* Assisting a bit in music producing

* Dabbling in graphic design

How You Can Help Matt:

Matt is looking for someone who can help him get organized in his social media planning and marketing. Do you have experience creating a content calendar? Matt would love to chat! Also, if you are a songwriter, Matt is always looking to co-write with like-minded creators like you.

Follow Matt Doering:

Listen to Matt Doering’s music on Spotify, and make sure to connect with him on Instagram as well. You can learn more about Matt and his music at www.mattdoeringmusic.com

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Working in Multiple Spaces

So you’re a creative… What that probably means is that you have multiple jobs while you are building your passion project.

That’s not to say that your jobs are not something you can also be passionate about. I’d venture to say that you are likely excited about your nine-to-five, too.

But when you work in multiple spaces throughout your week, it can be hard to balance both your time and your energy. Sure. You want to give your all to the things you find purpose in. But what happens when you find purpose in several places?

Jonathan Mayo knows a thing or two about working in multiple places. He works in three very distinct arenas (one is a literal stadium on Friday nights).

Jonathan manages time and energy as he transitions between his three spaces of purpose. But what helps is that he can connect the dots between his professions with a throughline of calling. Each place allows him to live into his vocation of leadership development.

How Jonathan Can Help You:

Jonathan has a heart for those who are leading and creating. He realizes that while some of us have places for connection, some faithful creators out there feel like they are an island to themselves. Jonathan would love to be a listening ear if you would like to talk to someone skilled in connecting the dots in your story.

How You Can Help Jonathan:

Jonathan and the Sagamore Leadership Initiative team have developed a leadership curriculum designed for emerging high school and college leaders. If you know of a school, church, business, non-profit, or organization interested in equipping the next generation of leaders with this curriculum, please visit www.sagamoreleadership.org to receive more information!

Follow Jonathan Mayo:

Follow Jonathan on Instagram, X, and Facebook @ fbcoachjmayo.

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

The Sacredness of Secular Work

This is one of the most important conversations we can have as faithful creators.

In this episode of the Opportunity Collective podcast, we welcome Jordan Raynor, an author and advocate for integrating faith and work.

We discuss the concept of collaboration > competition, the importance of valuing work beyond just a source of income, and how the traditional idea of 'good works' encompasses both spiritual and everyday work, tasks, and employment.

Jordan emphasizes the significance of understanding work as a gift from God, instilled in us since creation and ultimately redeemed by Jesus Christ.

Stick to the end of the podcast to hear about how to win an upcoming trip to France for two winners who pre-order Jordan Raynor's new book, 'The Sacredness of Secular Work' before February 3rd.

How Jordan Can Help You:

Jordan’s new book,” The Sacredness of Secular Work,” is the guide you need to see how your work matters for eternity—beyond sharing the gospel with those you work with.

Pre-order The Sacredness of Secular Work before February 3, and you could win an epic trip for two to France to rehearse for eternity in a castle, vineyard, cathedral, and more!

How You Can Help Jordan:

How does the gospel influence the work of Mere Christians—those of us who aren’t pastors or religious professionals but who work as entrepreneurs, baristas, and accountants? That’s the question Jordan’s flagship podcast explores every week as he interviews guests across the widest variety of vocations.Do you know someone who integrates their faith with their work? Jordan would love to interview them on his podcast Mere Christians. Contact Jordan at JordanRaynor.com.

Follow Jordan Raynor:

Follow Jordan on Instagram or LinkedIn. Make sure you are purchasing his new book, “The Sacredness of Secular Work,” and learn more at jordanraynor.com

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Was this episode helpful? Please share it with a friend on social media or in a message.

Trauma, Burnout, and Collaboration…

A light subject matter to start The Opportunity Collective podcast in 2024! (sarcasm)

But if anyone can make trauma and burnout approachable and hopeful, it is Kate Reed. Kate is a trauma informed and burnout prevention consultant with a mission to help you become as healthy as possible and fight for your highest good.

Kate helps us collaborate by:

* Reminding us that we should be interested in the other person in the room before we seek to be interesting ourselves.

* Arguing that community care is sometimes more necessary than self-care.

* Preaching that we should accept help as often as we seek to help others.

How Kate Can Help You:

Kate has three FREE assessments that you can take to help you be a more effective leader and collaborator.

* The Peace Index: How do you find inner peace amid chaos?

* The Five Voices: What is your primary leadership voice (and weapon)?

* The Communication Code: What do you need, and how do you ask for it?

How You Can Help Kate:

Kate comes the most alive when she is connecting with people. She truly wants to connect with you and see if there is any way she can help you or your organization be more trauma-informed and prioritize your health. Schedule a virtual coffee with Kate by contacting her on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Follow Kate Reed:

Follow Kate on Instagram or LinkedIn. For everything else trauma informed and burnout prevention consulting, check out her Linktree!

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

Before you create, you may need to set it on fire…

In this episode of The Opportunity Collective, we talk to Natalie Born about innovation, creation, alignment, and collaboration. 

Natalie Born is a Principal Consultant with Arch and Tower, the host of a top 25 innovation podcast called Innovation Meets Leadership, and the author of “Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation.” 

Natalie has collaborated on two approved US patents and has over 20 years of experience leading product development, strategy, and innovation teams working globally in over 18 countries.

Natalie knows something about helping you make your dreams as a faithful creator a reality. 

🌟 How Natalie can help you 🌟:

Natalie specializes in breaking through conventional thinking, encouraging individuals to innovate and build something entirely new from the ground up. Whether you're tuning in to Natalie's Innovation Meets Leadership podcast, the Thrive Today podcast tailored for women business leaders, or diving into her latest book, "Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation," you're bound to gain valuable insights.

🙌 How You Can Help Natalie🙌:

Creating content at Natalie's pace requires a community effort. Here's how you can lend your support: Like, follow, subscribe, and consider purchasing her work. A quick comment or review is as impactful as buying a book. Please take a moment to contact Natalie and express your interest in her projects. Your engagement makes a difference!

Follow Natalie Born:

 Follow @innovationmeetsleadership on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin, or head over to www.innovationmeetsleadership.com for more innovation resources. 

Follow Daniel Eccles:

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective and everything else Daniel is up to at danieleccles.com ⁠, or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles

What is the difference between coaching, mentoring, and consulting?

In this episode of The Opportunity Collective, we explore the nuanced differences between coaching, mentoring, and consulting, shedding light on the distinct roles they play in personal and professional development.

Our guest, Bobby Barbour, a seasoned life and leadership coach specializing in high-performing leaders under the age of 40, joins us to provide clarity on the transformative impact a coach can have on one's life. As the demands on faithful creators evolve, strategic resource stewardship becomes crucial, and Bobby is here to guide individuals through these transitional times.

🌟 How Bobby can help you 🌟:

Discover the potential for personal and professional growth through a free, no-pressure coaching conversation exclusively for members of The Opportunity Collective. Bobby invites you to explore coaching firsthand and determine its compatibility with your current season of life. His goal is to empower faithful creators to enhance their capacity to navigate the evolving challenges they face.

🙌 How You Can Help Bobby 🙌:

Making a difference is simple—connect Bobby with more individuals seeking guidance. Bobby is actively seeking new connections to assist leaders in thriving during times of transition. Additionally, he welcomes opportunities to share his insights on podcasts or in person, expanding his reach to impact even more lives. 

Join The Opportunity Collective today and collaborate with other emerging leaders to start creating opportunities.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find out more about The Opportunity Collective, LifeMappingU, and everything else Daniel is up to at this⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠menu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠or you can follow Daniel on Instagram @djeccles