Do you know who you are when the pressure's on? When the lie feels more real than the truth? When you're leading but don't feel worthy of the role?

Charles Hall is a blue-collar worker by day and an identity-based leadership coach by night.

He's walked through trauma, overcome lies about his own worth, and discovered that the best leaders don't just learn skills—they know who they are in Christ. Now he's helping other leaders do the same.

Join us as Charles shares how to discern truth from lies through pattern recognition, why leadership is about giving power away instead of hoarding it, and what it means to lead from identity clarity instead of confusion.

Redeem Your Business Today by the Following:

How can we honor God in our business?

Know who you are in Christ before you try to lead anyone else. A darkened heart has a darkened perception. But when we align ourselves with God's truth—not our performance, not people's approval—we can serve, love, and lead with humility.

Leadership isn't about being impressive. It's about being aligned with God. Influence is not the goal; it's the outcome of being who God calls us to be.

One challenge from today:

Ask yourself: Where am I leading from identity confusion instead of clarity? Where do I not know in my heart what God says about me—personally, tangibly, not just intellectually? Spend time with Him this week to get that answer.

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Website: www.crowncompassccd.com

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What God Says About Business

We have a story in the book of Judges of the angel of Lord coming to Gideon and said, Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor, and I want you to go out and defeat the Midianites. But Gideon, he's looking around and is like, are you talking to me? I'm not the mighty man of valor. He's like, I am the least, my family's the least in the family, the poorest in the families of the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in the youngest in my household. I'm not a mighty man of valor.

But that's the kind of the connection that we need to make today is like, no matter where we are, if God is with you, hey, your identity changes. Gideon was challenged with his identity and God did call him to be a leader and God was successful to make him a leader and a judge in Israel and deliver Israel.

Heck yeah. Thank you for being here. I'm glad to be here. So thank you. And just for me, it's just doing everything is unto the Lord ⁓ in everything I do. like carrying who I am in prayer and praise and worship into whatever I'm doing and whatever I'm trying to build, create, or even like, ⁓ like I'm a blue collar worker right now by day, right? I say by day, like, you know, like put on the Batman.

mask or whatever at night. it's just, it's honestly just carrying who God calls me to be. Like to be attitudes in a sense. You know, trying to allow him to have my heart in every aspect of what I do and not to do things out of like a lie or wearing a mask or like so people pleasing, trying to get someone's validation or approval and really trying to work from who God calls me to be, you know.

Mm-hmm.

having dominion multiplying, ⁓ being a fearfully, wonderfully made overcomer. ⁓ So just kind of working from that identity in how I handle people, because people are the most important asset, regardless of what we're doing.

They're the hardest, but they're also the most rewarding. It's that double-edged sword, it really is. ⁓ There's missionary who basically said, yeah, this missionary work would be really easy if it wasn't for all the people. But yeah, that's why they're there. So Charles, give us a little background of how God has led you in the past to prepare and bring you to the place you are today in starting this coaching practice.

Yes.

So it's really worked out in everything I do to try to be humble ⁓ and really what a disciple is, right? A disciplined learner. So I have to take that aspect to know who I am in my true relationship with God, to know what He calls me to do, and if I'm going to be a great leader, I'm going be a great servant above all else. So that means how can I serve people, how can I love people, how can I give to people? ⁓ But then that also means setting boundaries.

So boundaries come from knowing who I am and knowing what I can and can't do.

So for example, God's used that in my life as enduring, embracing, ⁓ in my sufferings to build character. So the characteristics of who he calls us to be can be acted out upon practically. So just in my life, it's overcome trauma, it's overcome the lies I believed, and then learning how to walk in his truth in all things.

yeah.

Yep, that's, I find that very interesting that, you know, there's a past guest basically said, your ideal customer is your previous version of yourself 90 % of the time. And God leads us through certain things in our lives. It's like, ooh, I figured out how to do that. So that's what you do. And you're helping people with their identity no matter what happens. And that's cool. That's neat. We all have a different life. That's great. You talk about identity-based

⁓ So when we're looking at leadership, we can reframe it, right? And so reframing is just seeing differently, right? So just having a different perspective. And this is something I've learned here recently that really kind of puts it into perspective, maybe a little better. ⁓ A darkened heart has a darkened perception. So if we have God's light in us,

and we claim to have his love and his light, then we should have a better perception. And that should come from our identity, not something that we can just like fake or perform doing. It's more of something that is like, it's not just a lack of skill. Because I can learn how to do whatever I want, but who do I believe I am? So pressure exposes that in our life. So the ability to reframe even in our sufferings, consider all joy in our sufferings.

that what God says is true and real versus what I think about my situation or a lie I believe from my past that it tells me about my situation. So basically it's identity confusion amongst pressure. And how do we get past that confusion or the double-mindedness in a sense of what we're not aware of and that it takes intentionality and practice because we don't fall to our level of training, we fall to our level of identity and who we believe we are.

And you said something interesting there. You said to talk about believing the lies versus believing the truth. But the lies seem so real. You know what saying? Especially when you're in the midst of it. So what do you do to discern if this is a lie or a truth? What have you found practically helpful to do that?

So patterns and pattern recognition. So in my life, learning how to be self-reflective and the more time I spend with God, the more intimacy I have with Him and knowledge that I have with Him, right? Proverbs 9 10, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And this is a process. So he says beginning. So that means it's like there's a beginning, right? Start to it. And then the latter part of the scripture says, knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

So after self-reflection of pattern recognition, can we have the understanding from the Holy Spirit leading us into truth?

Okay, no, that's... I get it, I get it. Reflection and I think talking to other people is good too and that's where friends, family, somebody who knows you well...

Thank you.

Mm-hmm. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. And real quick, just to add, if I could, just to add to that, right? Because that's the final touch in a sense. ⁓ So full unity has to have community or else it's just a union of one and that's pride and ego. So it starts with us and God and our foundation that we have. Because no one knows our own mind more than God and then also more than ourselves.

So it's really how we can relate that and then come into an understanding with people. So like for me and how I've had to grow is I've had to get a lot better at explaining things because I run on tangents. So I have to feed off other people too.

Yeah? Yep.

Gotcha, gotcha. So this whole identity thing with just whether you're leader or not, knowing who you are as an identity has probably had a big impact on your life. Can you think of a specific story where that identity came forth or showed in your life that made a difference in your life?

Yes.

⁓ So really I would say it's the zeal of like being a Christian ⁓ like when you when you first experience that like I'm a new creation like the reborn again factor of like like you the forgiveness and grace and mercy of like that overcomes that I'm not worthy or valuable like I'm not good enough like I'm too much and not enough at the same time

So it's been those pivotal moments of like breaking down with God, ⁓ just overcoming things in my life, like past relationships. ⁓ Mainly it's the lies, but it comes out in my behavior on who I believe I actually am. So it's God revealing my heart. So like at my job, now I can be more humble and not make things about me or I'm trying to prove myself. I can actually serve and work in a team better. ⁓ Or if I'm like talking with someone, it's...

How can I help this person see something, but how can I do it gently, kindly? How can I restore them gently without telling them too much truth and being too cruel or ⁓ giving them love but enabling them and not telling them the truth?

Yep, yep.

Yep. Paul said speak the truth in love. There's nice way of saying things and not a nice way of saying things. We're supposed to be loving in what we say. yeah, truthful at the same time. So in Christ, who are we in Christ? There's a lot of verses in the Bible that talk about who we are in Christ. Do you have a couple that stand out to you?

Yes.

Heck yeah.

⁓ Yes. So let's see here one second. I think I have this. I forgot. I don't want to like look around too much or take too much time. But I know one off the top of my head, sons and daughters, right? Like we're not like the workers having to earn our value. We're sons and daughters. And what son or daughter doesn't have that love from their parent in a sense, right? We love our kids, but we may not treat them the best sometimes or we may not react in a bad way.

But in that sense, we're sons and daughters, right? So he's a perfect father. And when we go to him, whenever we ask for something, would he not give us, you if we asked for bread, would he not give us a stone? You know, would he not give us a rock? Right? Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness, and then everything else will give into you. So it's mainly the identity because this is something I was thinking about here recently, and it was the kingdom of God is inside of us. And we have to unlock that through maturity of obedience.

in a sense, to His plan, right? So Proverbs 3, 5 through 6, trust in the Lord in all your ways, lean not on your own understanding, and He will set your path straight. So that would be one thing I would say that would be helpful because you have to realize too that this is a process and we have to be okay with being presently where we are. And that means sometimes being broken.

Yes, we are sons and daughters of Christ of God. As a leader, how does that affect your leadership? Knowing that you're a son of God or a daughter of God, how does that change the way you look at leadership leading those under you?

So once again, I said that would bring me to humility because I have to know that I have to be in right standing with God. So like righteousness, right? It's not my self-righteousness, it's His righteousness given me by faith. So the right alignment with Him. So I align myself with Him in what He says. So even in my prayer, acknowledging Him in all my ways, Like when He says no, be okay with that.

And whenever he gives us things, don't let that become an idol. So I would say like even just in what am I striving for at my job? What am I trying to accomplish and what I'm trying to do? And then also like do my values and what I'm chasing or is what I'm chasing like accordance to those values? Like am I aligned with those boundaries in a sense that he sets in place for our life?

And I think when you have that perspective that God's your father, he's in charge, that whole pride thing kind of goes away, because you're not trying to self promote yourself. That sounds funny, but promoting yourself that you have to be right all the time. It's interesting when you look at the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, and then there's patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith. Those things you can really have if you view God

Yes.

Yes.

Uh-huh.

Yes.

We're witnesses. not going out. You can't force people into thinking you're God. You have to guide again, but we can't. We're just lights and witnesses. That's all we do. And there again, that affects the way we lead as well. ⁓ what are some simple practical steps we can take to remember our identity throughout the day? Because life happens and things get busy and things

Yep.

Take time to be present ⁓ and that would be consistently like like whenever we're doing things I have to be able to do it consistently in order for it to even be able to be able to grow or do anything so like reading writing journaling and prayer and praise and worship obviously ⁓ Because each person's situation will be different someone they might be in a season of grief and then someone else could be in a season of like

having to over perform. And I think it's the pressure around us that we experience, even in leadership positions, of why do we feel we have all this pressure around us? And this is something that just in my own life that I've kind of seen and also kind of answered one of questions you asked before too was that like,

God led me to do all of this based on the lack of leadership I've seen in my life. Like not just me personally, but the people I've seen in leadership positions and how that's played out. know, so leadership should be giving power away and creating more leaders rather than hoarding it to maintain my own power. So the practicality would come from just like the reading, writing, journaling, making time, like intentionally making time to do what is most important, like priorities.

and if we're always giving, we'll never be refilled. And first, we need to be filled by God. And then secondly, we need to fill our cup too with ⁓ knowing what boundaries we'll operate in. So like not taking on too much of someone else's stuff, whether that be absorbing emotions or taking on too much responsibility that someone else should be stepping up to take over.

It reminds me of when I had small children. You always see these kids in the store, they're yelling and screaming. I was like, man, those are bad kids. And then I had my own kids. I know they could just be tired or whatever. But they act good in the store because I make them act good at home. It's that pattern there. And that's what you said, being present. And that's where that consistent day by day, you're in the word of God, praying, thinking, your mind is

set on God in the morning so when you get throughout the whole day, it's better, it's easier. It's that consistency throughout the whole day. That's how you remember it. And it could be as easy as a sticky note on the wall too. But yeah, those are a few different ways you can remember. ⁓ So other side, we talked about lies a little bit. ⁓

⁓ And so

Eyes to see and ears to hear, right? ⁓ Whenever we're handling situations like, even as a leader, sometimes we won't be able to recognize something or see it or, know, like, or like even, you know, we're not human doings, we're human beings. ⁓ So people think they have to perform and do everything on their own. ⁓ You know,

We think we have to people please sometimes. We think we have to earn other people's validation and approval. And one of the main lies that I've realized is, ⁓ even in myself, I've had to overcome, is not feeling good enough or valuable enough or even thinking that I'm worthy enough to have what I have or to be doing what I'm doing. But if God calls us, He plants us and then He raises us.

So it's like even whenever he was talking with Moses, you know, like, I made your mouth. You know what mean? Like, I know what you're capable of. You know what mean? So I think sometimes it's, we have to use the weapons of our warfare and get into some good ⁓ motivation, in a sense, so that we can therefore be inspiration for others. ⁓ Because the inspiration comes from within, knowing who you are.

It's not anything external. Sometimes we need the external source that God gives us. So like I'll listen to YouTube sometimes and depending on, you my own assessment of where I'm at and my feelings and whatnot and my emotions. Sometimes we're like, God, I need you to help me get out of this right now and then we can deal with this later. This isn't a time that I can process. You know, this is a time that I need to be able to act and not just react, but literally act based on initiation.

you know, once again, you're training, like you fall to your identity. So if you don't train your identity, obviously there's a point in time where you do, like if you go to the gym, right, like you're in the gym, you're training, right, you need the rest time, then you need the muscle memory, right, it takes time. So ultimately my point is, like, to believe you're valuable, to believe that you have worth, is to know who God says about you and what he says. And then from there, ⁓

We have to confront multiple lies, basically. Because there's a lot of manipulation, corruption, and distortion out there. So that would just be one of them,

That's a key one. I think that's big. that's that whole inferiority mindset. I'm not good enough. when I started going as a coach and things, I'm even as a podcaster, I'll be doing this and then I'll meet somebody who they've been doing for 10, 15, 20 years. Like, man, they're so much better than I am. And so I bang. Who am I? Why am I doing this? I just go work for them, you know. But God used one of my guests to really help me overcome that.

that he's made free is different from yours. And then the other verse was from 1st, 2nd Peter to 20, which says, a large house, in a big house, wealthy house, are not only vessels of silver and gold, but also of wood and of earth, some to honor and some to dishonor. And just like many, many vessels, he just doesn't have four, one of each kind. And I thought about my wife, my wife collects coffee mugs, okay? She has 30 or 40 right now. And, but last year I got

her a coffee mug for her birthday and she loved it. And even this year she doesn't need any but she's probably picked up three or four more because she just enjoys having many of them. And it just all came together that I'm God's workmanship. I'm just one vessel in God's mega plan. You there could be a thousand other people out there doing the exact same thing as I am and they're all ahead of me but that's okay because God has me right now right here where I am for his glory. And so to me that was

was

such an encouragement just to get that whole thought through my head. that was an identity thing of I'm important no matter if I'm not good as this other guy. So that was very neat to get over that. Charles, do you have any parting final inspiration or challenge for my audience today?

Yes, so I have a couple questions. ⁓ Basically, so I'll say the questions before I say the statements. So, where am I leading from identity confusion instead of clarity? So the identity confusion would be like, where do I not know in my heart that, like what God says about me?

Like me specifically, not just what the Scripture says either, because I mean, yes, the Scripture, you know, it's truth, it's His Word, but like that personal, tangible relationship with Him, because we have to experience the Word, right? We read it and it becomes intellect, like knowledge, but then how do I experience this with Him? Because we can do this. So what boundary am I avoiding because I'm afraid of how it will be received?

setting the boundaries in our life and not rescuing someone else. Like not having to be the savior or the fixer, the problem solver. ⁓ So who am I trying to be for people that I was never called to be for? how many times do I try to water the garden when I'm not even supposed to be planting seeds with this person? You know what mean? like, yeah.

Like, for example, just something small with that. Sometimes people need to be heard, not preached at. Sometimes people need to be seen and affirmed and validated because we can also be that Holy Spirit for someone to show them who God calls them to be, rather than trying to always feel like we have to save someone.

Sure, absolutely.

Because that's where that kind of comes from still is that that save your mentality of like I have to give them the word you know and sometimes I mean we're people right like like You know we all have our own salvation to work out with fear and trembling right but like Sometimes people need to be people still and we have to be able to give room for that

So what was the, you gave all these things. So what was the challenge? What was the, did you come down to one thing?

yeah, was just, ⁓

yeah, just the question, sorry, ⁓ and, ⁓ sorry, okay. ⁓ So leadership is not about being impressive. It's about being aligned with God. So try to be presently aligned continuously and consistently because influence is not the goal and authority is not the prize.

It is literally the outcome of being who God calls us to be.

Yes. Yes. Because even though only Jesus had, what, 12 disciples, really? you know? ⁓

Yes.

Charles, thank you so much for your time. I encourage you today to about your identity and Christ and how this impacts the way we lead. And friends, if you're looking to go deeper and want to learn more about Charles and his work, check out the show notes and the links and sites to get to know him a little bit better and where he's at. And friends, remember, your business represents the great God you serve. So build a business worthy of God's name and in a way that honors him.