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Grand Haven, MI Mike Harrison has a purpose, a mission and he’s not messing around in accomplishing it. His mission: to change the world one life plan at a time. Harrison, a local pastor, is expanding his territories and reaching the world with his life planning principles, practices and strategies. “Each person is uniquely designed by God with a purpose, mission, goals and dreams; they just need to create a plan to achieve them.” Harrison stated in a recent press conference.
Harrison’s mission will be welcomed by many but it won’t be easy. In fact, “people who write down goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as people who don’t,” says Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech. Yet, 80 percent of U.S. residents say they don’t have goals, 16 percent have goals but don’t write them down, and only four percent write down their business and personal goals.
Harrison has been coaching professionally for the last five years, but started coaching his church members and colleagues about fifteen years ago. Pastor Sean Kidd said, “Mike’s ‘do it now’ coaching systems have helped me to excel beyond my contemporaries.” Harrison coaches mostly small business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. “My clients get more focus, balance and clarity for their lives as we create a life plan specifically suited for them. The coach’s privilege is to hold the plan in front of them as they move to action.”
Keeping the plan and vision in front of people is not new to Harrison. In 1997, along with 12 others, Harrison launched Lighthouse Christian Ministries, a non-denominational Christian Church and now the church has nearly 300 in attendance each Sunday. “As my wife and I realized our dream of starting a church, it became even more exciting for us to help others in our church, community and around the world to realize their dreams as well.” Harrison just completed ten years of service with Lighthouse on April 22, 2007.
Now, whether it’s from his home office or a local coffee shop, Harrison coaches people overseas as well as coast to coast here in the United States. Tonya Christiansen of Grand Haven’s Must Love Dogs said, “Mike and I met for our first coaching session in December of 2005 and I opened the doors to my store less than a year later! How amazing is that?!” Beyond local West Michigan, Harrison has been in demand worldwide, “I really was surprised to get calls in from government officials in Louisiana and even people from the offices at the United Nations; this is all very exciting to me,” Harrison said.
Managing three websites, two blogs, and connecting with a worldwide database of more than 3,000 has forced Harrison to be organized which makes him more valuable to his clients. “Clarifying, prioritizing and planning are a must for the executive who is inundated with voice mail and email requests all the while he or she is trying to serve their current customer base. My simple systems and strategies help professionals to interact professionally,” Harrison reported.
Harrison offers a complimentary tele-coaching session for anyone who requests it from his website. Locally, he teams up with Bobbie Twa, a career coach with Changing-Directions, Kris Cunningham, a speaker’s coach with Intentional Outcomes and David Wilson, a small business consultant with Wilson Planning. “My power team allows me to serve my clients’ dreams and goals with maximum impact,” Harrison said.
Life planning courses that help participants plan for the next stage of their life, including full- and part-time work, volunteerism, entrepreneurial ventures and learning and leisure opportunities are being held at schools and libraries in many cities and municipalities. Harrison hopes to bring more of these courses into West Michigan. “The greatest treasures in all the world are found in the cemeteries where people are buried with unrealized dreams, goals and aspirations. This is such a tragedy and must be changed,” Harrison said.
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mike[.]centermarkcoaching.com 
