A Life Through Books

Can you tell us a little about the process of getting this book published? How did you come up with the idea and how did you start?

The idea for If Jesus Was a Project Manager was born at the intersection of several worlds I’ve lived in simultaneously for decades — my Christian faith, my career in project management, and the leadership literature that shaped my professional practice along the way. Holy Scripture has always been my primary source and foundation. But God also used voices like Stephen Covey — whose books The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Speed of Trust I reference in my own writing — to sharpen how I think about principle-centered leadership, building trust, and inspiring others toward their highest potential. Over time, I kept seeing how these principles weren’t separate from Scripture — they were reflections of it. And I thought, someone needs to write that connection into a book. Eventually I realized that someone was me. The publishing process was a step of faith in itself. I chose to pursue it independently, which meant owning every decision — from manuscript to cover design to distribution. It’s now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and Books-A-Million, which still amazes me when I stop to think about it.

What surprised you most about getting your book published?

How personal the response would be. I expected people to appreciate the professional content — the project management frameworks, the leadership principles. What I didn’t fully anticipate was how deeply the faith integration would resonate with readers who felt seen for the first time as Christian professionals in secular workplaces. People reached out to tell me they finally had language for something they’d always felt but never knew how to articulate. That was humbling and holy.

Tell us a little about what you do when you aren’t writing

My life is wonderfully full. I’m a doctoral student — currently transitioning into a structured PhD programme at the University of Limerick in Ireland, where my research examines emotional intelligence as a mediator between project complexity and project success in highly regulated industries. I’m also an adjunct instructor, an independent project management consultant, and a speaker. I serve with PMI and love connecting with PMI student chapters. And underneath all of it, I’m the founder of Faith Forward Life, a ministry and content brand for Christian professionals. Life rarely has a dull moment — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

The moment I stopped asking “Is this good enough?” and started asking “Is this obedient?” But I’d be remiss not to mention that the road to that moment was shaped by years of formation — spiritually through Scripture and devotional practice, and professionally through writers and thinkers like Stephen Covey, whose books The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Speed of Trust I reference in my own writing. Covey’s framework of principle-centered leadership gave me a vocabulary for what I had already observed in Scripture and in decades of project management practice. It all connected. When I finally wrote If Jesus Was a Project Manager, I wasn’t starting from scratch — I was synthesizing a lifetime of living, leading, studying, and being led by the Holy Spirit. That’s when I understood that my whole life had been preparing me to write this book. That realization was the most pivotal moment of all.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

Honestly? My quiet mornings with God. I wake up between 4 and 4:30 am and give my first fruits to Him — prayer, praise, Scripture study, devotional time. Holy Scripture is my primary source — always. It is the foundation everything else is built on. But God has also used other voices to shape how I think and lead. Stephen Covey’s work — particularly The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Speed of Trust — profoundly shaped my professional practice and my understanding of principle-centered leadership long before I ever sat down to write. What I find beautiful is that Covey’s principles don’t compete with Scripture — they echo it. When I read about being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, or building trust as a foundational leadership currency, I see biblical truth expressed in the language of leadership. So my best ideas come from that convergence — the Word of God as the root, and everything else, including Covey, as branches that confirm and illustrate what Scripture already established. The overcomer testimonies that inspire my writing come from multiple streams — the timeless stories of men and women in Scripture, my own personal journey and the tests God has brought me through, stories I encounter secondhand through sermons and teachings, and real people I network and work with in the project management community. It all flows together. I find that when you are genuinely paying attention — spiritually and professionally — you are never short of material. Life itself becomes the curriculum.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

That the audience might be too niche — that blending Christian faith with project management might limit the reach of the work. I’ve sat with that criticism, prayed about it, and ultimately decided it’s the wrong lens. Every meaningful message has an intended audience. My job isn’t to appeal to everyone; it’s to serve the people God specifically sent me to reach. And the response from that community has confirmed I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

What has been your best accomplishment as a writer?

Being trusted with other people's stories — and learning to steward every source of testimony with equal care. The overcomer stories that shape my writing come from multiple streams: the timeless accounts of men and women in Scripture, my own personal journey and the tests God has brought me through, stories encountered secondhand through sermons and teachings, and real people I network and work with in the project management community. Gathering written testimonies directly from contributors is something I've pursued, and while the response has been slower than I anticipated, it has deepened my appreciation for every single story that does come in. Ultimately, what I've learned is that the Holy Spirit is never short of material — and neither am I. That trust in the process, and the willingness to be a faithful vessel for whatever stories God provides, is my greatest accomplishment as a writer.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

More than you might expect! I have a working draft manuscript already underway for Book 2 — If Jesus Was a Scrum Master: Servant Leadership in Secular Workplaces — and skeleton working drafts for Books 3 through 7 in my Faith at Work series. So the series has a clear vision and a runway, even if the books are at different stages of development. I wouldn't call any of them half-finished so much as Holy Spirit-paced. Each book has its own divine timing, and I've learned to trust that. They'll be done when they're supposed to be done.