Mark Ross had spent three decades doing meaningful work – managing urban parks, leading teams, fulfilling a mission that mattered. But in his mid-fifties, something shifted.

“What’s next for me? Can I really do something different at this point?”

The questions kept coming. He’d tell himself the discontent would pass, that everything would settle back to normal. It didn’t. The unrest grew stronger, “like a smoldering fire that wouldn’t go away.”

After two false starts and countless conversations with trusted advisors, Mark finally stepped into what he calls “a necessary ending.” At 59, he retired from his 30-year career. He had a plan. He had savings. He had hope for what he called his “Encore Profession.”

What he didn’t have was clarity on how.

Mark discovered something unexpected in early retirement: you can leave the responsibilities of leadership, but you can’t turn off the desire to lead.

“I was no longer responsible for organizational results,” he explains, “but I still had plenty of desire to contribute and support leaders who were still on the ‘inside.'”

He’d spent decades managing people and processes. Now he wanted to walk alongside leaders as they navigated their own transitions. But without formal training, he felt like he was operating in the dark. How do you support someone without fixing? How do you ask questions that actually move people forward?

The gap between his desire and his capability was frustrating.

When Mark “happened” to meet Chris McCluskey, founder of Professional Christian Coaching Institute, something clicked. The timing was right. The fit was clear. Still, the questions nagged: How long would this take? What would it cost? Did he really want to commit to this for the long game?

But underneath the hesitation was something stronger: eagerness.

“I knew I needed to take this step,” Mark says, “or there wasn’t a future for me in this type of work.”

What surprised him most wasn’t just learning coaching skills – it was discovering the depth and breadth of coaching possibilities. The breakthrough came during the skills development phase when he realized: this work would require ongoing personal and professional growth for as long as he chose to engage with it.

And that’s exactly what he wanted.

Mark learned that coaching isn’t therapy, but it can be therapeutic. It isn’t consulting, but it can be consultative. “Coaching is a form of spiritual hospitality,” he discovered. It’s about evoking awareness that helps clients move forward with their own agenda – not his.

As a Christ-follower, he learned to trust three things in equal measure: the coaching process, the client, and the Holy Spirit at work. This applied whether his clients shared his faith or not.

Today, Mark calls himself an Encore-preneur – a term that captures his approach perfectly. He supports leaders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who are navigating transitions in their life and work. He’s served more than 50 clients, some for several sessions, others for four years and counting.

“There is impact every time a client shows up and leans into their story and makes progress toward what matters most to them,” he reflects.

But the transformation wasn’t just professional. The training gave Mark something he didn’t expect: confidence in simple conversation with virtually anyone, regardless of their position. He became a better listener. A non-fixer. More present in all his life roles.

“It’s ongoing… always learning, practicing, growing. A much more interesting life.”

If you’re in your own messy middle – sensing God might be stirring something new but unsure if coaching is really for you – Mark’s advice is practical:

“Try an intro course and test the waters.”

He’s direct about the investment: “Those who invest in themselves go the farthest. You are your most important asset.”

And then this, with the weight of someone who wishes he’d known sooner: “Whether you practice coaching as your profession or not, the training can enrich your life and improve your performance within your chosen profession.”

His final word? “You will NEVER know until you experiment.”