Chris Widener on Belief, Mentorship, and Leadership

What You’ll Learn

• Why belief is the true foundation of leadership
• How mentorship accelerates personal and professional growth
• What it means to borrow belief until you can carry it yourself
• Why integrity and kindness still matter in leadership
• How to become a voice instead of an echo

Belief is one of those things you don’t notice until it’s gone. In this conversation, Chris Widener shares how belief shaped his journey as a leader, speaker, and mentor, and why having someone believe in you at the right moment can change the entire trajectory of your life. This episode is about rebuilding confidence, leading with integrity, and becoming a voice instead of an echo.

15 Close The Deal Mindset Success Quotes:

 Chris Widener Quotes on Belief and Identity

• “When someone who’s already successful tells you they believe in you, they loan you belief until you can carry it yourself.”
• “Most people don’t fail because they lack ability. They fail because they stop believing they’re worthy of success.”
• “You don’t become confident overnight. Confidence is rebuilt one honest decision at a time.”
• “Belief isn’t pretending things are perfect. It’s deciding not to quit when they’re not.”
• “At the lowest point of my life, belief from someone else helped me believe again.”

Chris Widener Quotes on Leadership and Influence

• “Leadership always starts with leading yourself when no one is watching.”
• “Be a voice, not an echo. The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else.”
• “You can be successful without being cruel. Integrity is not a weakness in leadership.”
• “People don’t follow titles. They follow consistency, truth, and example.”
• “If your leadership requires tearing people down, it isn’t leadership.”

Chris Widener Quotes on Mentorship and Growth

• “One mentor can change the entire trajectory of your life.”
• “Mentorship works because it compresses decades of experience into a few honest conversations.”
• “The right mentor doesn’t just teach skills. They remind you who you are.”
• “Growth accelerates when you listen more than you speak and learn more than you perform.”
• “Most people don’t need more information. They need someone who believes in their potential.”

Learn more about Chris Widener:

https://chriswidener.com/

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Mentorship, Redemption & Revival: Chris Widener’s Journey on the Close The Deal Podcast

In this episode of the Close The Deal podcast, host Ewell Smith welcomes bestselling author, speaker, and faith-based entrepreneur Chris Widener for a deep, raw, and inspiring conversation. From humble beginnings and personal hardship to rubbing shoulders with Zig Ziglar and Jim Rohn, Chris’s journey is one of resilience, mentorship, and belief.

Chattanooga Eats and Conversation Starters

Every episode begins with a bit of flavor—literally. Chris shares his favorite restaurant in Chattanooga,  Sidetrack, known for its almond-encrusted red snapper. It’s a fun opening that reminds us how food connects people—and how every good conversation starts over a good meal.

Overcoming Loss and Finding Purpose

Chris shares a powerful and emotional story about losing his father at just four years old. His dad was a successful architect in Seattle, earning $90,000 in 1969—yet only left behind a $30,000 life insurance policy. What followed was years of instability: 28 different homes, 11 schools, and two stints living with relatives. By the sixth grade, Chris was using drugs. He was making money at the horse track and living without direction.

But something unexpected changed his path: a job as a ball boy for the Seattle Supersonics. It gave him a window into excellence, work ethic, and mentorship that would begin to shift his mindset.

The $24,000 Flower Pot Deal at Age 14

One of the most fascinating stories in the episode is Chris’s flower pot hustle at 14. A co-worker of his mother’s gave him the opportunity to sell a new self-watering flower pot. Chris surprised everyone by landing a purchase order for 24,000 units from a regional chain, earning $1 per pot.

But the man who gave him the opportunity got scared and backed out of the deal, unable to handle the idea of success. Chris uses this story to illustrate a deeper truth: many people subconsciously sabotage themselves because they don’t believe they’re worthy of success. It’s a vivid example of why belief—both in yourself and from others—is so powerful.

The Power of Someone Saying ‘I Believe in You’

Chris shares several stories about the impact of mentorship throughout his life, from a youth pastor who introduced him to faith and purpose, to a senior executive at Mars Candy who began sending him monthly checks to support his dream of planting a church. Chris had never asked for help, yet this man saw something in him and simply said, “I believe in you.”

That moment stuck with him—and shaped how he supports others today. Later, Chris would work with personal development legends like Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, and John Maxwell. These icons poured into him, helping shape his voice and encouraging him to be his authentic self—not a copy, but the best version of Chris Widener.

From Pulpit to Platform: A Life Built on Service

After years in ministry, Chris transitioned into speaking, coaching, and writing full time. Whether planting churches or writing bestselling books, he’s always been driven by one goal: helping people become who they were meant to be.

One piece of advice he gives often is this: “Be a voice, not an echo.” Don’t just repeat what others say. Do the inner work to discover your own truth. That mindset helped him stand out in a sea of speakers, finding success by being uniquely himself.

The Coming American Revival: A Spiritual Solution to a Divided Nation

As the conversation progresses, Chris and Ewell dig into the spiritual state of America. Chris shares the motivation behind his newest book, The Coming American Revival. He believes that America doesn’t have a political problem—it has a spiritual one.

Chris makes the case that if we followed timeless principles—love your neighbor, be honest, show patience, treat others with dignity—we could radically transform our homes, communities, and institutions. Revival, he says, starts not in Washington, but in the hearts of everyday people choosing to live with purpose, character, and faith.

Business with Kindness and Integrity

The episode also explores how successful businesses can be both profitable and principled. Chris contrasts toxic leadership styles like those of Gordon Ramsay or Steve Jobs with companies like Chick-fil-A and Dick’s Drive-In in Seattle, who treat employees well and operate with integrity.

He praises Chick-fil-A for closing on Sundays and still outperforming competitors, and Dick’s Drive-In for offering above-market pay and college tuition to staff. These stories underscore a simple truth: treating people well is not just good ethics—it’s good business.

Closing Thoughts from Chris Widener

Chris ends the episode with a reminder that who you are matters more than what you do. His best advice: “Be a voice, not an echo.” Discover your purpose, lean into your uniqueness, and live a life of service. Whether you're in business, ministry, or still figuring things out, the way you treat others—and yourself—makes all the difference.

Want to Connect with Chris?

Chris offers coaching for entrepreneurs and leaders, especially those who want to build businesses with faith and purpose at the core.

Email: chris@chriswidner.com
Website: www.ChrisWidner.com

Final Word from Ewell Smith

If you're just starting out, don’t wait for mentorship to find you—go out and seek it. Be intentional. Put yourself around people of character and wisdom. The earlier you do this, the faster your future comes forward.