A Conversation on Leadership, Redemption, and Overcoming Life’s Biggest Challenges
In this episode of The Second Chance Podcast, I sit down with James Robbins, a leadership expert, business strategist, and bestselling author, to talk about the power of resilience, personal growth, and self-forgiveness.
James has spent over 20 years helping leaders build stronger teams, overcome obstacles, and unlock their full potential. But his story isn’t just about success—it’s about struggle, loss, and finding the strength to move forward when life takes an unexpected turn.
This conversation is packed with real-life lessons on how to face failure, rebuild, and lead with authenticity. If you’ve ever dealt with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or the weight of past mistakes, this episode is for you.
The Journey: From Preacher to Leadership Expert
James started his career in ministry, spending over two decades preaching and guiding others. But while he was teaching leadership and personal growth to his congregation, he was also struggling with his own sense of restlessness. He felt called to something different—something more entrepreneurial.
As he built his leadership consultancy, James faced a life-altering challenge: his marriage of 25 years ended in divorce. And when you’re a preacher, divorce is not just a personal struggle—it’s a public one.
“When you are working in ministry, it’s just one of those rare jobs where if you get divorced, it’s career-ending.” – James Robbins
James shared how he had to navigate shame, doubt, and judgment—not just from others, but from himself. The hardest part? Learning to forgive himself and step into the next chapter of his life.
The Power of Self-Forgiveness and Growth
One of the most powerful moments in our conversation was when James talked about his journey to self-forgiveness. He described a moment when he realized that his heart had become a prison, not just for the people he hadn’t forgiven, but for himself.
“The heart is not meant to be a prison. And yet when we don’t forgive people, it’s like we have these little jail cells down there. But the problem is, they bang their cups on the walls and we get triggered from time to time. And I realized—I had to let everyone out of there, including myself.” – James Robbins
Through deep reflection, coaching, and personal growth, James transformed his pain into a new purpose. He built a thriving leadership consulting business, launched the Born to Climb podcast, and wrote bestselling books to help others climb their own mountains of adversity.
Key Leadership Lessons from James Robbins
During our conversation, James dropped some incredible leadership insights that every business owner, executive, and entrepreneur should take to heart:
1. Care About Your Team—Genuinely
Leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about human connection. James emphasizes that if your team feels like you care about them, they will work harder, trust you more, and stay engaged.
2. People Need a Mountain to Climb
Employees (and leaders) need something meaningful to work toward. If there’s no challenge, there’s no motivation. Leaders must help their teams find goals that matter.
3. The Growth Mindset is Everything
The biggest obstacle to success? Fear of failure. James shared how, for years, he was terrified of public speaking. But when he adopted a growth mindset, he stopped trying to “prove himself” and started focusing on getting better every day.
“Stop trying to prove yourself and start focusing on getting better. Everything you do is just feedback and lessons.” – James Robbins
James’ New Book: The Call to Climb
James’ new book, The Call to Climb, launches August 5th. It’s all about realigning your life with your purpose, breaking through obstacles, and climbing the personal and professional mountains that stand in your way.
📘 Pre-Order Here: https://www.jamesrobbins.com
Watch & Listen to the Full Episode
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