Community Member Spotlight: Brad Nowlin

Welcome to the inaugural installation of Madeworthy’s Community Member Spotlight! This feature aims to shine a light on people in our community who are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. These are people who work to make Fort Worth a better place.

Our first community giver is Brad Nowlin. Members of Tanglewood Moms may be familiar with Brad; he’s been a longtime cheerleader of Tanglewood Moms and Madeworthy. He’s a counselor specializing in individuals and families. Brad is perfect for this issue because he offers business coaching and life transition counseling. He’s also had two successful careers. Finally, he’s just a great guy!

Photo credit: Gregory Cortez

Madeworthy: Your previous career and your current calling, while seemingly very different, make you perfect for this issue. Can you give us an overview of both of your careers?

Brad Nowlin: My first career was in advertising and marketing. In essence, trying to influence and shape consumer behavior. In the grocery store, you see lots of products and brands. Behind each product and each brand is a product or brand manager with profit and loss responsibility. I had that responsibility as the brand manager for Success Rice in Houston.

Changing careers coincided with a tumultuous weekend in Kansas City, when I agreed to divorce, leave my job at Sprint, and quit drinking—all in one weekend. During that time, I reflected on what success meant to me and decided to go back to school to become a counselor. It was more meaningful at that time to help save a marriage than to market boxes of rice.

I really have enjoyed both careers because they allow me to think about helping people, and that’s what is important, in my opinion.

MW: What is business coaching, and who can benefit from it?

BN: Business coaching is asking questions my client may not have thought of before. It’s using my experience to suggest ideas that might prove useful to businesses. One of the best markers for my business is when a client says, “That’s a great question.” It tells me we are connecting, collaborating, and moving toward solutions.

MW: As a business coach, what is your number one piece of advice for a young person moving from being a full-time student to being in the workforce? As a Gen Xer, I have a very different approach to life in general and work in particular than my Gen Z children.

BN: I recommend young people entering the workforce to continue to ‘sharpen the saw,’ as Stephen Covey suggests in his classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. Read, study, take classes, watch videos, use AI, and do everything you can to invest in yourself – physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially. It will pay dividends over your career.

MW: You involve behavioral economics in your business coaching. Can you explain what behavioral economics is?

BN: Behavioral economics is applying psychological insights and economic theory to explain how we make decisions. It acknowledges that we are irrational and complex and human. The goal is to get better at the process of making good decisions.

MW: Many of us find ourselves making big career changes in our middle years, either voluntarily or involuntarily. What is life transition counseling, and who can benefit from it?

BN: Life transition counseling is about helping people see their strengths and resources during a period of change. We work on resilience and uncovering and living from their values. It is rewarding to help people make changes so that they can bounce back better from divorce, job loss, or whatever they are going through.

MW: We have a lot of budding entrepreneurs in our readership. Is there one general piece of advice you can offer to entrepreneurs that might make it easier to weather the ups and downs of a new business?

BN: Entrepreneurs must withstand challenges and adapt to the unpredictable nature of business. Having access to capital and managing cash flow is critical as well. Treating all people (employees, vendors, customers, etc.) with respect is paramount.

Grace and Brad Nowlin
Photo credit: Gregory Cortez

MW: For many of us, our identities are tied to our professions. What happens when we lose a job?

BN: Having our identities tied to our profession is a common occurrence. In my office, we work to expand and diversify our identity so that we can handle the vicissitudes of life. This means clarifying our values and examining the roles we play to better understand ourselves.

MW: Of course, many of us don’t want to change careers, but sometimes our jobs feel a bit stale or uninspiring. Is there something we can do to spark interest in our jobs again?

BN: Emotions are clues, not directives, and feeling stuck in a job is not unusual. Questions such as the following can illuminate: Does the work align with my values and give me a chance to make a difference? Is it challenging enough or do I need (or get) to assume more responsibility? Is this work meaningful and purposeful, and what can I do to make it that way?

MW: For those of us with jobs, children, and aging parents, can you give us some advice on maintaining a work-life balance?

BN: Stress is responsibility without authority. Parenting is a challenge, as is caring for aging parents. Many people are in this sandwich, and it’s hard. There are many ways to manage stress, including mindfulness, breath work, exercise, prayer, journaling, etc., and the task is to find which ones work for you.

MW: And finally, is there something you think everyone needs to hear?

BN: Great relationships are worth it. I get to live that as well as counsel that, thanks to my wife, Grace.