My Journey – From Corporate Magician to Faith Innovator

The Curtain Falls, and Reality Hits

Let me ask you something. Have you ever felt like you were winning at life, crushing your goals, and still losing the game? Like you’re running up the mountain, but when you get to the top, the view isn’t what you expected?

I’ve been there. I spent years as a corporate magician, standing in the spotlight, hearing the applause, and basking in the admiration of rooms full of strangers. On the surface, I had it all—success, prestige, recognition. But beneath the surface? There was this gnawing void I couldn’t shake.

Today, I want to pull back the curtain—literally and figuratively—and share my journey. It’s a story about chasing the wrong dreams, losing my way, and how God turned what I thought was my greatest success into something infinitely more meaningful. If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing the wrong prize, this one’s for you.

Part 1: Building a Life That Looked Like Success

Let’s rewind to where it all began. As a kid, I was obsessed with magic. Not just the tricks, but the wonder. That split second when people would gasp, eyes wide, completely swept away by the impossible. I wanted to create those moments—to make people believe there was something bigger, something extraordinary just beyond their grasp.

And I did. That fascination became my career. I put in the hours, the grind. I hustled my way into the corporate world, performing for Fortune 500 companies, sharing stages with legends, and living a life most people only dream about.

I mean, let’s be honest—it sounds incredible, right? And on the surface, it was. But success has a funny way of masking the cracks in the foundation. While I was busy building this image of success, I didn’t notice what I was losing in the process.

Nights away from my family. Missed milestones. Moments I could never get back. I was chasing applause, but I wasn’t listening to the quiet voices that mattered most—the ones at home.

Part 2: When the Spotlight Fades

There’s always a breaking point. Mine came after a particularly big show.

It was one of those nights where everything went perfectly. The audience was electric. People came up to me afterward, telling me how much they loved it, how inspiring it was, how it made their night. I should’ve been riding high.

But as I walked back to my hotel room, the silence hit me. I checked my phone—one missed call from my wife. She had left a voicemail about something that happened with one of our kids. Nothing major, but it mattered. And I wasn’t there.

I sat there in that hotel room, staring at the walls, feeling the weight of it all. I had worked so hard to create this life for my family, but in the process, I was becoming a stranger to them. The applause that used to fuel me suddenly felt hollow. I was living for the wrong audience.

Part 3: The Question That Changed Everything

That night, I prayed like I hadn’t prayed in years. Not a polished, picture-perfect prayer, but a raw, desperate cry: ‘God, what am I doing? Why do I feel so empty when I’ve achieved everything I set out to do?’

And in that stillness, a question rose in my heart—a question I couldn’t ignore: ‘Whose glory are you chasing?’

It was like a spotlight turned inward, exposing what I had refused to see. I had been using my gifts, my platform, my energy—for me. For my glory, my recognition, my success. Sure, I told myself it was for my family, but deep down, it was about the applause.

That night was a turning point. I realized I didn’t just need a new plan; I needed a new purpose.

Surrendering the Illusion

Surrendering doesn’t come naturally to most of us—especially not to someone used to controlling the narrative. But God wasn’t asking me to quit magic; He was asking me to reimagine it.

Over the next few months, I made some hard decisions. I scaled back my performances, prioritized being present for my family, and started looking for ways to use my gifts in a way that glorified God, not me.

Let me tell you—it wasn’t easy. Turning down lucrative gigs, redefining my identity, stepping into the unknown? Terrifying. But what I found on the other side was more fulfilling than anything I’d experienced before.

Redeeming the Gifts

Here’s the thing about God: He doesn’t waste anything. The skills I had spent years honing—the storytelling, the ability to connect, the knack for creating moments of awe—those weren’t accidents. They were gifts, entrusted to me for a reason.

I started performing in new spaces—churches, youth events, even secular venues where people weren’t expecting to hear about faith. And instead of relying on my own cleverness, I started leaning into God’s creativity.

It’s funny—what used to be about making people say, ‘Wow, that was amazing,’ became about making them ask, ‘What else is possible?’ Instead of being the star, I became the signpost, pointing people toward the ultimate source of wonder: God Himself.

The Invitation

So now I want to ask you: What about your gifts? What’s in your hands right now? What opportunities, talents, or passions has God entrusted to you?

Are you using them for something bigger than yourself? Or, like me, are you chasing the wrong applause?

Here’s the good news: No matter where you are in your journey, it’s never too late to course-correct. God’s grace is big enough to redeem even our most misguided pursuits. All He asks is that we bring our gifts to Him and let Him rewrite the story.

Closing Challenge

This isn’t just my story—it’s a reminder that our gifts, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary they seem, have a purpose far greater than we can imagine.

So here’s my challenge to you this week: Take some time to reflect on your gifts. Ask God how He wants to use them. And then be brave enough to follow where He leads.

Because when you stop living for yourself and start living for Him, that’s when the real magic happens.

Thanks for listening. If this episode sparked something in you, I’d love to hear about it. Head over to FaithLabz.com to connect, find resources, and explore how we can grow in faith together.

Until next time, remember: You don’t have to be extraordinary to make an impact. You just have to be willing.