‘The Ramsey Show’ cohost Ken Coleman (’94) inspires students to discover a God-given purpose for their futures
What should I do with my life?
What did God create me to do?
Some young people may ask these questions as they grapple with a lack of confidence and deep confusion about their futures. Last fall, Liberty University alumnus and radio show host Ken Coleman (’94) spent several days with students and career coaches from the school’s Career Services office, teaching his proven methods for discovering a fulfilling career and a life of purpose.
Coleman has been a regular cohost on “The Ramsey Show” since 2014, joining personal finance expert Dave Ramsey on the second-largest syndicated radio talk show in America. Coleman is a three-time bestselling author, speaker, and the host of the Ramsey podcast, “Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman,” where he interviews world-class experts and industry leaders about improvement, leadership, and professional and personal success. He frequently appears on top-rated podcasts and national news programs like FOX Business.
Ken Coleman interviews former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow on his podcast “Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman.”
Coleman made a major career pivot in his early 30s, abandoning a long-planned path in politics to pursue broadcasting despite minimal experience. He started in sports broadcasting but said he answered God’s call on his own life by transitioning to the self-help space: “I realized I didn’t want to broadcast or communicate publicly to entertain; I wanted to broadcast and communicate publicly to help transform.”
He said yes to every opportunity, frequently working in unpaid roles, and made strategic connections with mentors and fellow professionals in the broadcasting space. His efforts eventually landed him at Ramsey Solutions, where he has helped thousands of individuals unlock their potential and advance in their professional lives.
Throughout his media career, Coleman has interviewed presidents, heads of state, some of the top names in sports and entertainment, and thousands of everyday professionals and leaders who have impacted their spheres of influence. These experiences have given him a unique perspective to be able to coach others to “level up their careers and lead well.”
Coleman studied political science at Liberty, aware of the school’s strong pipeline to jobs in Washington, D.C. He was familiar with the school, having grown up in a family that regularly watched Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell on his “Old-Time Gospel Hour” TV ministry. Coleman’s father was a strong supporter of the Moral Majority, a conservative Christian organization founded by Falwell that mobilized Christians to campaign for and support traditional moral values.
He said Liberty impacted him so deeply by shaping his worldview and helping him discover his missional objectives that he wanted to give back to his alma mater. In September, he offered free workshops and made it possible for hundreds of students to access Ramsey Solutions’ Get Clear Assessment career discovery tool for free.
During a workshop, Coleman told Liberty students that the culture may pressure them to get a degree in order to land a good job, but there’s much more to a career when you align your work and mission with serving others.
“That is not what God has for you — just a good job. God has a plan. He has specific wiring for you to create human results while getting a paycheck. In the world of work, we want to look at the missional results — the results that motivate me — and always tie it back to people.”
Ken Coleman conducts a workshop for students in the Career Services space at the Montview Student Union. (Photo by Ryan Anderson)
Coleman said each student received a comprehensive purpose statement at the end of the assessment, which helped them identify their unique, God-given talents and passions to determine a clear, life-changing sense of purpose through dignified work.
“We don’t want to go get a J-O-B,” Coleman reminded students, noting that he has spoken with many people who feel unfulfilled despite making higher-than-average incomes. “A J-O-B pays the bills, but a J-O-B will make you miserable if you show up every day and you’re doing something you’re not good at. You certainly don’t love it, and it produces a result that you don’t care about. That’s a recipe for misery, and that’s the way a lot of the world looks at work.”
Coleman challenged students to reflect on three key questions to help guide their careers: Who are the people you want to help? What problem or desire do they have? What are the solutions to the problem or desire that inspire you?
“God has a plan. He has a specific wiring for you to create human results while getting a paycheck.”
– Ken Coleman (’94)
He said meaningful work always carries a personal connection, even if you don’t always interact with people face-to-face. “God gave you a heart, and it should drive the work you do.”
“(Your work) should be Kingdom-driven,” he added. “The devil is real, and the devil uses fear, doubt, and pride to confuse you. And God is not a God of confusion; God is a God of clarity. If it’s any one of those three, and sometimes it’s all three, Satan is trying to trip you up. (Satan) doesn’t want you to go out there and win big for the Kingdom.”
Coleman said that while he treasures the distinctly Christian education he received at Liberty, including incredible out-of-the-classroom experiences in our nation’s capital, he also treasures the relationships he built there, with friends like real estate entrepreneurs and former Minor League Baseball players David and Jason Benham (’98) and FOX News host Shannon Bream (’93). “Those are lifelong friendships that aren’t just ‘we stay in touch.’ We bled together, we’ve cried together, we’ve won together. And I think that’s what’s special about this place — I was able to meet like-minded, like-valued people who are doing great things.”
He said he would encourage alumni to “come back and walk this place.”
“Liberty invested in you. Now, how can you invest in others? If this place was special to you in any way, and you have an ability to add to the furthering of the work, then I think you are required to do it.”
Student Support
Liberty’s Career Services provides career development opportunities for residential and online students and alumni through various employer connection events, career coaching services, and multiple resources to help them align their personal objectives, talents, and experiences so they can realize their God-given potential.
Learn more at Liberty.edu/Career-Services.
