INSIDER: 2 Chairs: The Secret that Changes Everything
Courtney A. Harris, MBA Candidate
In your life, many problems will trouble your heart greatly and leave you at a loss for what to do and where to turn…problems such as accidents, job loss, poor health, divorce, troubled children or financial struggles. Much to our chagrin, we tend to have a whole lot more of these problems than we’d care to admit. For this reason, we need something bigger than us, something bigger than our problems, and, if you’re looking for answers for yourself, your family, or a friend, top sports/entertainment search executive and sought- after keynote speaker Bob Beaudine has them. His new book, 2 Chairs: The Secret that Changes Everything, is crucial not only for people who are in trouble themselves, but also for those who just don’t know what advice to give to others in trouble.
In 2 Chairs, Beaudine outlines seven steps that, if followed, will leave you feeling affirmed, accepted, loved, joyful, hopeful, peaceful and empowered with a plan of action to overcome your troubles. But before you can embark on these seven steps, Beaudine says you must first begin with three simple but disruptive questions:
- Does God know your situation?
- Is it too hard for Him to handle?
- Does He have a good plan for you?
The point of these questions is to remind you of three important things: (1) God knows your situation and you are not alone; (2) though your situation is too hard for you to handle, it is not too hard for God; and (3) God has plans for you - plans to prosper you and not harm you and to give you hope and a future. After remembering these three key points, you will be ready to discover the life changing secret that is 2 Chairs.
THINK POINT #1: Discover the Secret of 2 Chairs and Call Your WHO Friend
Did you know that God is calling to you right now? He is seeking your attention and a real relationship with you. He has such great and wonderful thoughts to share with you, but needs face-to-face time to tell you. So how do you answer his call? Beaudine says through two chairs. It doesn’t matter what type of chairs you use…lawn chairs, living room chairs, rocking chairs on the porch or even an open bench at the park where you do your morning run. And, they don’t have to be the same chairs every time. Don’t worry about spending money on creating the perfect two chairs space. What truly matters is that you show up expecting to actually speak with Him, to hear his voice, either audibly, in your mind or in your heart.
Beaudine asserts that two chairs is your chance to sit with God, your chance to talk with Him about anything and everything that is troubling you, your chance to give God your worries, pain, hurt, and shame, your chance to ask for and receive forgiveness and your chance to be consumed by God’s love. Focusing on two chairs may seem odd at first, but, as Beaudine notes, if you want something now that you’ve never had, you’re going to have to do something now that you’ve never done. Two chairs is worth a shot.
In times of trouble, we often feel isolated, however, Beaudine says four very important words to remember are “You are not alone.” Though you may even feel the urge to hide from others, that’s the exact opposite of what you need to do. Don’t make the mistake of not reaching out and leaning on close friends and family when you are in need. In fact, a lot of times, all it takes to get you back on track is some empathy, encouragement, and guidance from a great and true friend. Unfortunately, recognizing who these friends are can be difficult especially given today’s disingenuous use of the word friend and the myriad acquaintances who crowd our lives. Therefore, Beaudine has coined a new word for your true friends. He calls them your WHO. These are the people WHO matter most in your life. The people WHO know you best. The people WHO God himself has placed in your life to help, mentor and direct you in any and every way they can. So, when you find yourself facing tough times, don’t hesitate to reach out to your WHO.
THINK POINT #2: See the Field and Change Will Do You Good
During a crisis, Beaudine notes, it’s often difficult for you to see a solution. Often, your anxiety overwhelms you and convinces you that even worse things are going to happen next. Therefore, when faced with trouble, you must immediately go to your two chairs and call your WHO friend to get some perspective on your situation, or, as Beaudine says, so you can “see the field” accurately. According to Beaudine, you cannot see the field on your own. In his executive search career, he has had opportunities to interview the likes of Hall of Fame coaches, titans of industry, governors and even a U.S. president, and Beaudine says one thing they all had in common was ability to tell him about one specific person that elevated their perspective, helped them see what all they were truly capable of, helped them see the field correctly. Again, you cannot see the field on your own, so go to your two chairs and call your WHO friend. When we allow God and the people WHO matter most in our lives to elevate our perspective, we start to see the field correctly. We start to see life through God’s eyes and see the amazing opportunities he has for us.
Though we undoubtedly love the idea of new opportunities, most of us don’t actually like change, especially unexpected change due to trouble. That type of change can be particularly overwhelming. However, change, in the long run, is still good, and taking time to go to your two chairs to talk to God about necessary adjustments in your life is vital. Ask Him questions about what you should change and listen for His answers. Though there will be some changes that are tougher than others to make, God doesn’t usually suggest big, crazy, impossible changes but rather changes that are easy to put into action – small changes that bring immediate results. They won’t be too complicated and are sure to do you good, so what impactful changes are waiting for you at your two chairs?
THINK POINT #3: Be Strong and Courageous! Order Yourself…Eyes Forward, and Do the Done!
Beaudine goes on to assert that many of life’s obstacles cannot be remedied with worldly solutions. To face and overcome these obstacles, Beaudine says, you are going to need real strength and courage. Fortunately, the source of this strength and courage is simple to find. So simple, Beaudine claims, that it is just one word – relationship. When we have relationship with God, especially through two chairs, He transmits his strength and courage to us, more strength and courage than we could ever imagine because His is of a limitless supply. God’s strength and courage is greater than ours because He always succeeds. He always wins. His strength and courage is battletested against every kind of issue. Therefore, in times of trouble, go to your two chairs and relinquish your problems to God in exchange for His strength and courage. Furthermore, replace all negative self-talk with this new positive thought: With God’s help, courage, and strength, we can fight and win.
Furthermore, when you sit in two chairs and give your worries, burdens, and problems to God in exchange for His courage and strength, be sure to listen to what He says in return. Beaudine says it will be something like this, “Come on, let’s go! Follow Me. Order yourself…eyes forward!” This is God reminding you that when you are facing trouble, it does you absolutely no good to ruminate on the past. You can’t go back on an old path, back to old places or back to old habits. That path, those places and those habits have run out. Don’t look back, instead order yourself with your eyes forward. When you do this, you’ll be ready for the next and final step of 2 Chairs: Do the Done.
During times of trouble we usually moan, worry, complain and play the victim, but what we should actually be doing, Beaudine contests, is being of good cheer. It’s tough to be cheerful in hard times, but if you remember that God has already won and he has overcome the world and everything you’re facing, you can be of good cheer, you can be courageous, and you can take heart and be confident in knowing that God has already done what needs to be done in regards to your problem. This is what it means to Do the Done. Think of your problems as already fixed. It’s already done.
Conclusion
Bob Beaudine’s 2 Chairs: The Secret That Changes Everything is a powerful guidebook for facing the tough times in our lives. 2 Chairs reminds us that, with God’s help, we can make it through tough listings, downturned markets, financial struggles, familial issues, and all other problems we encounter in life. We are not alone. We are not defeated. The answers, the strength, the courage, and the plan we need are all waiting for us at 2 Chairs. God is calling. Will you answer?
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Recommended Reading
Beaudine, Bob (2016), 2 Chairs: The Secret That Changes Everything, Franklin, TN: Worthy.
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About the Author
Courtney A. Harris, MBA Candidate
Baylor University
Courtney is a graduate student from Valdosta, Georgia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Duke University in 2016. Before beginning graduate school at Baylor, Courtney worked with The Fossil Group, a North Carolina-based marketing and investing firm, as an intern, and later, junior executive, in their brand management division. Courtney is seeking an MBA degree with a concentration in marketing and plans to work in the entertainment industry.
