“The Championship Way”

Let’s get one thing straight: you were born with purpose. That’s not a maybe. That’s a fact. You may not see it yet. You might have taken some wrong turns. But trust me, purpose doesn’t disappear — it just waits for you to wake up and walk into it.

Finding your purpose isn’t about luck. It’s about paying attention.

Start With What’s Already in You

You’ve got natural gifts. Everyone does. The problem is, most people overlook them because they come easily. But that’s the clue: what comes naturally to you is not random — it’s strategic. So ask yourself:

• Do people open up to you easily?
• Are you someone who lights up a room?
• Do you love planning, organizing, decorating, and creating?
• Are you wired for tech, fashion, music, art, or leadership?
• Are you that person others lean on to get things done?

These are not just hobbies or quirks. These are indicators. Your talents were designed to do something. You weren’t just given them to sit on them. You were given them to serve, build, and lead.

What Lights You Up?

Let’s go deeper. What do you love doing? Not just what you’re good at — but what brings you life?

Because here’s the formula:
Purpose = Talents + Passion + Service

Here’s how that plays out:

• Do you love music? Maybe your lane is teaching kids how to play or producing tracks for up-and-coming artists.
• You’re the social butterfly? Event planning, community outreach, youth programs — places that need your energy are everywhere.
• You can walk into a room and see exactly how it should be arranged. That’s not just an eye for décor — that’s an eye for design. That’s business.
• You’re a natural leader? Schools, churches, nonprofits, startups — pick your arena and go lead.
• You’re crafty or creative? Education, digital art, branding — someone needs what you can build with your hands and heart.
• You’re tech-savvy? That’s currency. Fixing, selling, consulting, coding — take your pick.
• Do you love fashion? Help people find their confidence through style. That’s not vanity. That’s transformation.
• Do you write well? Then write. Blog. Ghostwrite. Teach others. Use your words to move minds.
• You organize like a machine? That’s a business. That’s peace-bringing. That’s a gift in a world full of chaos.

Purpose Isn’t Found. It’s Built.

Stop waiting for a lightning bolt. Start moving. Start experimenting. Get in the game. Try, fail, adjust. That’s how purpose shows up — when you show up.

You don’t need to have all the answers today. What you need is movement.

• Start where you are
• Use what you’ve got.
• Do what you can.

Once you align your gifts with what fuels you — and use it to serve others — you’ll stop wandering and start walking in purpose.

You were made for something greater. So get up, get focused, and let’s go get it.

– Coach Q

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Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell
National Champion Coach | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mental Performance & Publishing Coach

Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell empowers individuals and organizations to win in life, leadership, and legacy. As a dynamic speaker, author, and mental performance coach, he helps audiences break barriers, master mindset, and lead with purpose. Through Off the Bench Consulting and Zeal Literary Press, Coach Q guides others to transform their stories into impact — whether on the court, in business, or in print.

Book Coach Q today to inspire your team, elevate your performance, or publish your purpose-driven story.

📧 Email: offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 979–2196
🌐 Website: https://linktr.ee/CoachQ

To many, success is obvious. It’s a life that includes a nice car, a fine home, an impressive job, and an attractive spouse. Yet, people with all of these things aren’t any happier than those with less impressive lives. It’s because all those achievements serve only to impress others. They do little to enhance the quality of your life.

Those with large homes still spend 80% of their time in just a couple of rooms. A $20,000 car provides just as reliable transportation as an $80,000 car. Even the most attractive people can become tiresome after a short period of time.

Success in the Western world is too focused on showing off to your friends, family, and neighbors. It doesn’t focus on what will make you happy. You can’t find happiness by trying to impress others. You only show yourself that your own interests aren’t important.

Redefine success with your own definition:

1. What is your passion? If you can determine the central focus of your life, everything else becomes much easier to determine. Do you want to write a great novel? Focus on the next 25 years on creating and raising a family? Explore the world? Explore yourself?

2. Career. What do you like to do? Most people prioritize money first, but what would you like to spend 8 hours a day doing for 40+ years? Of course, you’ll need to make enough money to pay your bills and pursue your passion.

· Let’s assume that your passion is writing. Your career choice should support your interest in writing. That means your income is sufficient to be fully engaged in your writing activities. You might even consider a career related to writing, such as an editor.

3. Home. Your choice of living accommodations can also support your passion or be an obstacle. A home that is too big can take up too much of your time to maintain or cost too much relative to your income. You might also have to hire staff or a housekeeping service to help. Managing those people is a drain on your time and focus.

· Do you need to live in the city, country, or suburbs to support what you truly desire? How many bedrooms would be ideal?

4. How much free time do you want to have? This isn’t just free time to pursue your passion, it’s also free time to enjoy other things in life, such as your family, friends, hobbies, or attending the ballet. A successful life would include enough free time to satisfy all of your interests. Your career choice is a big part of this.

· Limiting your non-essential activities is also necessary to create the free time you desire. Avoid joining clubs, committees, and other voluntary activities that don’t add sufficient quality to your life.

5. Consider the end of your life. Imagine you only have a few months to live. What would you like to look back upon? Think about the kind of life you’d have to live to feel good at the end of it. Your time is limited, so make the most of it.

Truly, a successful life is one that allows you to accomplish or experience the things you consider most important. Those accomplishments won’t be the same for everyone. Avoid allowing society to determine the definition of success. Decide what is most important to you and then create a life that supports those things.

Pursuing society’s definition of success will result in confusion, resentment, and disenchantment. Be brave enough to find your own path.

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Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell
National Champion Coach | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mental Performance & Publishing Coach

Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell empowers individuals and organizations to win in life, leadership, and legacy. As a dynamic speaker, author, and mental performance coach, he helps audiences break barriers, master mindset, and lead with purpose. Through Off the Bench Consulting and Zeal Literary Press, Coach Q guides others to transform their stories into impact — whether on the court, in business, or in print.

Book Coach Q today to inspire your team, elevate your performance, or publish your purpose-driven story.

📧 Email: offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 979–2196
🌐 Website: https://linktr.ee/CoachQ

We are living in some chaotic days and times. The coronavirus is something we have never seen before in our lifetimes, the way it is sweeping across the world and changing its face. Businesses, organizations, and households of every demographic are having to reevaluate what’s essential and navigate through the unknown.

For someone who studies transition, leadership, and cultures, it’s been interesting to see the real leaders emerge from the flames of all this and lead people to peace of mind. I’ve seen so many people step up and be a beacon of light to lead so many other people out of this, like a lighthouse would guide a ship in a storm. Now more than ever, we need “REAL LEADERS”; our lives and the lives of others are dependent on our actions. The “REAL LEADER” position is not one of position or title but one of duty to lead and lead with grace and integrity. So many of our communities and colleagues are looking for us to provide real leadership and direction that will build trust and confidence.

As I have watched in the last couple of weeks and have sat and thought about the previous 11 months leading up to this very moment, there are so many things I have learned through this process, and it’s crazy how many people have a leadership position but don’t know how to lead in these positions. I want to share some proven tips to help you build trust amid chaos.

Your body language matters:

My mom would tell us kids all the time that “Fix your face & stand up straight, people are watching.” In the face of chaos, most of us need to learn how to fix our face and stand up straight, let people know that everything is ok with a calm demeanor. Trust is built when a leader has a steady disposition, and this is what inspires others in times of the unknown. It is also essential that you focus on the tone of your voice and the words you use when addressing your people. I learned early in my career that I could move more people with honey than with rotten lemons. I learned that in these situations, I was to be firm but not reactive to the changing, stressful time; you must not give in to your emotions and don’t allow yourself to move in fear or panic.

FACT-N not CRANK-N

My dad would say, “I’m FACT-N, not CRANK-N.” Yes, you are saying what the hell. What he was telling us was that he was providing us with the facts; he was not giving us speculation. So many leaders lead and make moves on speculation and proven facts given. In the chaos, you must provide timely, accurate information; when your information is reliable, it affirms your people and builds trust. I’ve witnessed insecure people in leadership positions speculate, project, and guess information given to them, and jump to an automatic conclusion. It’s not a race, and this is not about being right or wrong. It’s all about making the right move for the greater good, unless the information is valid and trusted. If you get the data from a trusted source, you should be able to share that source with your people if they ask, which builds trust. When leaders don’t share all the information, they look like they are manipulating it to benefit themselves, and trust is lost. If you can’t share all the correct information, resist the urge to share.

One Band, One Sound

The great quote from the movie “Drum Line.” My dad is a professional musician, and I would hear him say to his band a lot, “We have to keep it tight.” All he meant to say is that there is only one band, one sound, the band must stay connected and on the same beat. When a leader is aligned with his people, he can encourage not just good ideas, but “GREAT” ideas, able to see all angles of the issues, and flesh out anything that will not get you and your team to the bottom line. The most significant leverage for a leader is emerging from the war room with a clear communication plan —a single message— and nothing erodes a leader's credibility faster than an inconsistent message. “REAL LEADERS” are great listeners; they can gather the information given and move on a plan that will benefit everyone. They will provide a clear and unified message that stays on point.

Control the Controllable

As leaders, our mindset is essential in how we frame certain situations. As leaders, we can’t get caught up in guessing what our people are thinking about us. We have to be secure in our skin. We must be able to acknowledge our deficits — and those in a crisis —but can’t get caught up in wasting our precious energy on complaining about our shortcomings and those of the people we are leading. Instead, focus your time and energy on the things you can control, for example, “how can you as a leader pick people up and build them,” “how can you identify what to fix in how you communicate,” “how can you spend more time getting to know your people.” When we start to control the things we can control and reallocate tasks toward the things that will build my people, according to what they do, you begin to move the chains toward success, and a powerful momentum follows—a feeling from your people. Leaders, I challenge you to spend more time and effort seeking solutions rather than worrying about the problem or blaming your people.

Heart for others:

In this time of need, we have seen a rich spectrum of emotions from around the world, and the same feelings are happening every day with the people you are leading. As leaders, if we don’t take the time out to get to know our people and remember that we were in the same spot at one point, we're not doing our job. No matter the position, age, or experience of the people you lead, doubt, anxiety, and even fear are more than likely to creep in and cause problems if not handled with care. I believe there is no right or wrong way to feel about these circumstances, but I will say there has to be a heart of empathy and compassion for you people. We are all human and need a vote of confidence for those leading us. I’m not talking about a fake vote of faith, but a real, genuine vote of confidence that allows you to show compassion, give grace, and then return to your key message of a heart for others. Pulling people out of the whole and not kicking them while they’re down because you have to show that you are the boss is not a “REAL LEADER.” You are just a manager of people. The only way to control the controllable is through a real, genuine, and authentic line of communication.

Resource: “Five tips for leading through the crisis” by Trent Hanson

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Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell
National Champion Coach | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mental Performance & Publishing Coach

Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell empowers individuals and organizations to win in life, leadership, and legacy. As a dynamic speaker, author, and mental performance coach, he helps audiences break barriers, master mindset, and lead with purpose. Through Off the Bench Consulting and Zeal Literary Press, Coach Q guides others to transform their stories into impact — whether on the court, in business, or in print.

Book Coach Q today to inspire your team, elevate your performance, or publish your purpose-driven story.

📧 Email: offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 979–2196
🌐 Website: https://linktr.ee/CoachQ

By Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell

A transition is a period of change from one state or condition to another. Simply stated, but so hard to understand for many in this world. Life brings both welcome and unwelcome transitional periods, and how we choose to deal with those changes will determine whether we succeed or face our demise.

In the last twelve months, I have faced two career transitions. In April of 2019, the welcomed change was good, but the second one on March 15, 2020, was unwelcomed and surprising. As collegiate coaches, the state of transition is looming over our heads like mistletoe, always waiting on the boss to wake up on the wrong side of the bed and get rid of people — yes, college sports is one of the most chaotic careers known to man. But when you do it for the people and not for the game, it becomes so much more rewarding. Now, back to the topic of leading yourself through a time of transition.

Have you ever had one of those friends who turns everything into a practical joke? I went out with a couple of friends to a Tex-Mex restaurant, and as I got up to go to the bathroom, someone stopped me to ask about the next game. I talked for a few minutes, then headed to the bathroom. As I open the door, I see him standing there at the urinal with his shirt up and pants and underwear to the ground like a two-year-old would do going to the bathroom. You’re asking why I would give you that visual? I gave you that visual because that’s how I felt when I was at Mississippi State in 2012.

I had just bought a home (that I told myself I would not do there), but I wanted to show my boss I had a dog in the fight, and it was going to be easier on my mom and dad to live with me so my dad could care for my mother, who was dying from ovarian cancer. The transition hit me hard, and I didn’t know what to do. I lost everything. The one constant thing was that “NO ONE GAVE A F&*%.” I told myself that I would never be caught at the urinal with my pants down to my ankles ever again.

So, what did I learn from this lesson? I learned a lot, and I would love to share it with you. The information I’m about to give is what I used to get through this challenging time in my life, and I have used it to help hundreds of people, from at-risk students to entrepreneurs.

LEADING YOURSELF DURING TRANSITION:

A transition is a period when you grow!

I will start with my feelings when I first got the news.

1. Fear — How am I going to be able to take care of my mom?

2. Anxiety of the Unknown- What next? Will someone hire me when we just had a down season?

3. Self-doubt — Am I good enough to get another job, and who can I work for that will value my dream and life?

4. Overwhelmed — I was stressed out by all the new changes.

5. Sadness –I let my family down by the constant reminder of the situation.

6. Anger — Once again, no one took my family or me into consideration.

These were my feelings, and I had to process them—fast. As we go through the following stages, I want to be as transparent as possible so you know and understand that there is someone who has been there and can walk you through the process.

6 Stages of my Transition

1. Confusion

I was baffled. Eleven months before buying my home, I was asked why I was still living in an apartment after three years. If I wanted to be taken seriously, I would need to show that I was in it for the long haul. I asked my boss, “Do you have any thoughts of retiring anytime soon?” My boss’s reply was, “Nope, I have more fun now than I have ever had.” So, when we were told 11 months later that she was retiring, I was bewildered. You may never know the truth — the real truth — and you spend so much time talking and trying to figure it out that you waste time moving on to the next chapter, or what we tell our kids a lot in sports, “on to the next play.” I suggest you get past the confusion stage quickly, as it could hinder you from making the next play for you or your family.

2. Depression

At this point, I had lost my mother and my mom’s mother less than seven days apart. I will never forget being on the road recruiting in Dallas, Texas, when my dad called me to tell me to say my last goodbyes. I could hear her breathing her last couple of breaths. Three minutes later, my mom was gone, and who would ever guess that I would be dealing with the fact that my mom never made it to the home I had bought? On top of that, eleven months later, I would have to sell the home that I had just bought. I was incredibly depressed, but I would not allow myself to heal. I just covered it up at work. I would get up at 4:30 am and go to the office, work out, and then start working. I would go home and break down, then work out again, and then go back to the office and work. It was not healthy, and it would come back to get me later. I suggest that if you are feeling depressed, seek immediate help, and get this behind you so that you can move on and be great. To those out there who think talking to someone makes you weak, the only weakness is a mind not willing to heal.

3. Embrace

When I got to the point where I was embracing the fact that I was in transition and I was going to have to face this head-on, I began to get stuff done. Before I embraced and accepted what was to come, it was sunny and 70 degrees, but it was gloomy through my lens and my attitude. Once I embraced transition with a championship mindset, gloomy days became 70 degrees and sunny. I had to piss out all the “BS” that was getting in my way and move on to the next play. We all have to accept that shit happens, and while it may not be fair or just, it is the right now of your life, and you can’t run or hide from it. We have to face it and attack it with an impactful purpose, and even though it may be tough, you can do it.

4. Self-reflection

I’m a person who looks at the person staring back at me in the mirror to see if I can recognize him. This is tough for many people to do honestly. Most people don’t like how they look and don’t like being in their own skin, but I want you to look past all of that and look way deep down into your soul right now — do your values align with what you are doing and who you say you want to be in this world? Did you do everything you could have, and were you honest enough to take some or all of the ownership of the situation? As I looked into the mirror, I had to be okay with what was in store, know that everything was going to be okay, and that, like this job, I was purposed to be great. That’s what I believed, and I stood on that thought. What we think about daily and how we see ourselves is what we become.

5. Rebirth of the best version of yourself

This stage is where I live…Every day, I’m trying to find the best version of myself. If you ever hear the story about an eagle’s rebirth, it’s amazing, and I try to do it every day. (https://youtu.be/J65MycJKwgw). This stage allows us to be in our true purpose. It will permit you to be better than you have ever been because you have had some weaknesses uncovered, and now you don’t have those blind spots. The new you is ready to embrace all challenges. After I was reborn into a better version of myself, I said I would find other ways to build something for myself outside of basketball. In high school and college, I never wanted to be considered just the black guy who plays sports. I wanted people to know my name. That’s Franqua Bedell; he is the SGA vice president, head resident assistant, campus ambassador, and, oh, student-athlete. I had to take on this same approach in my career. So, if the day comes (which it did and will) that the person who controls your future feels like playing God, I will have something else to fall back on.

6. Be honest, but take the high road

Most of the time, people want to get back at the person who did them wrong. I would suggest that you be honest about how things happen, but also remember that they have a family. Be kind and know that it will come back to you. Nothing is proven, but I do believe in karma. Make sure you stay honest and take the high road.

A few takeaways that I would like to share:

1. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Allow yourself to feel it and process it! You have the right to go through all of the stages mentioned above.

2. Have a daily “Regeneration and You Time.” Make sure you take care of yourself.

3. Be an Eagle. Fly above everything and know that you are made to be great! Don’t be afraid to risk something new.

Source: The 5 Stages of Transitions, by Chakameh

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Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell
National Champion Coach | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mental Performance & Publishing Coach

Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell empowers individuals and organizations to win in life, leadership, and legacy. As a dynamic speaker, author, and mental performance coach, he helps audiences break barriers, master mindset, and lead with purpose. Through Off the Bench Consulting and Zeal Literary Press, Coach Q guides others to transform their stories into impact — whether on the court, in business, or in print.

Book Coach Q today to inspire your team, elevate your performance, or publish your purpose-driven story.

📧 Email: offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 979–2196
🌐 Website: https://linktr.ee/CoachQ

By: Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell

1. Special Pain Point:

We must recognize that this moment of transition is a life-altering situation that most of us want to forget, because it may be too painful or just a bunch of stuff we don’t want to think about anymore. Rather than push it deep down or throw it out of your mind, you should embrace it and give it the respect it deserves as a cornerstone of your life principles.

2.“Do or Die” Moments:

Times, so many of us view stress as a “THREAT” and not as a challenge to face and overcome. I have used these moments of stress to my advantage during my years in the locker room. I have taken challenging moments that seemed overwhelming and designed to be those “do or die moments.” The only out we had as a program was to do our jobs and be successful or go down fighting for our lives. We have to take these moments of transition and turn them into “Do or Die” occasions.

3. Appreciation:

There is a lot to be said for transition and change — we sometimes have to step back and take a really good look at the gift of transformation. Research has shown that getting stuck in life’s grooves is detrimental to cognitive growth. Just like the body when working out: if you do the same daily workout routine, you are ignoring other parts of your body, and you start to overcompensate, risking injury. We risk the same harm to our mental health when we don’t deal with the process of change and transition.

4. Flashback:

We have to go back in our minds and pull out our success. We have to remember the times we’ve experienced success in previous transitional periods. We must draw on the knowledge we gained from our last experience and use it to our advantage. We must draw on these experiences for the strength we used to cope and get through them. If you have been let go from your job, it doesn’t take away all of the things you have accomplished before this situation.

5. Lean on your Champions:

We must lean on our champions — these are the people who love and care for you as a person. These are the same people who will tell you the truth. In stressful times, social support is one of the most significant keys to successfully coping with transition or change. Get with people who will encourage you and remind you that you are still the same awesome superstar.

6. Double P’s:

Produce, prepare, produce, and prepare. The biggest tip I give to anyone dealing with a significant transition is. One of the best ways to separate yourself from everyone else is by being prepared and having things in order, whether it's content, an online course, a new skill you've learned, or new ideas you've developed during your time away. This is the best way to guarantee that, when all is said and done, you have put in the work to move into the next situation like a champ, prepared for the position, and that we are more confident and people will take us seriously.

7. Positive focus:

We must focus on the positive aspects of the transition or change. Our minds and thoughts are tools, and we have to use them very wisely. If our minds are preoccupied with negative thoughts, we can lose focus on the positive change about to happen. So declutter everything that's keeping you from being great, and get ready to expect something you never thought would happen.

8. You are not alone:

Know that you are not alone, and that others are going through transition and change just like you. Know that you are teaching your children how to lead in a time of transition. We are either role-modeling a positive image of change or a negative one. During the coronavirus pandemic, I have witnessed a world maintain faith and optimism in such a transitional period. More people have given me reassurance that it would be okay and that greatness was possible in this time of transition.

9. This, too, shall pass:

We must realize that change and transition will happen at some point in our lives. Without change, our life course would be boring. If we seek change, or if it finds us, we must take into account that no one person’s life stands entirely still. People leave us, people die, we lose material possessions, and we will get fired at some point in time. But we must know this, embrace the transition moments in our lives, and allow ourselves to grow from them and understand that this, too, shall pass.

Follow me on LinkedIn @Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell, IG @Qleadershipcoach, Youtube @Coach Q for daily updates on transition, motivation, leadership & personal development. Email me @ offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com for coaching, consulting & speaking.

Reference: Susan Krauss Whitbourne (2017). 10 Ways to make it through your life’s transition: Change can be useful if you approach it with these ten research-based tips. Psychology Today: online

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Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell
National Champion Coach | Transformational Speaker | Author | Mental Performance & Publishing Coach

Dr. Franqua “Coach Q” Bedell empowers individuals and organizations to win in life, leadership, and legacy. As a dynamic speaker, author, and mental performance coach, he helps audiences break barriers, master mindset, and lead with purpose. Through Off the Bench Consulting and Zeal Literary Press, Coach Q guides others to transform their stories into impact — whether on the court, in business, or in print.

Book Coach Q today to inspire your team, elevate your performance, or publish your purpose-driven story.

📧 Email: offthebenchconsulting@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 979–2196
🌐 Website: https://linktr.ee/CoachQ