Rod McKenzie, Jr.

Chief Story Coach

Story Changes Everything, Inc.

About Me

I’m Rod McKenzie, Jr. and I am very happy with my life and love to experience new things. I am a family man who will do just about anything for his wife and kids. I am a big picture person who love business and figuring things out for myself and others.

Professional Life

For close to 25 years I have thrived in an entrepreneurial environment. I have owned several businesses and get excited when I help another entrepreneur get going. In fact, with one company I helped tens of thousands of people start and run their own businesses.

Currently, I am the Chief Story Coach at Story Changes Everything, Inc. I help businesses develop their story foundation and design their content to gain clarity and success through purpose-driven storytelling. To learn more about my business, head on over to its website: www.StoryCoaching.co.

Author

“The Story Formula” which is a step-by-step system to crate and tell a powerful story, transform customers into heroes, and take a business to the next level.
Available on Amazon.com in both print and in the Kindle format.

“The Purpose of Purpose” where I help people discover their real purpose in life and how to us it to make their life better.
Available on Amazon.com in both print and in the Kindle format.

“Are You Ready to Start a Business?” which helps people avoid the critical mistakes that many people make and give a road map to get a business started.

Available on Amazon.com in both print and in the Kindle format.

Some Triumphs

I have had the opportunity to do many things in my professional life which I am proud of, some of which are listed below:
• Graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1994 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science and Minor’s in Business Management and Psychology.
• Received my MCNE, or Master Certified Network Engineer certification with Novell. I know it was a long time ago and the company has been bought several times over, but in the early 90s it was quite an accomplishment.
• Interviewed and told the stories of over 1,000 people.
• Created and launched hundreds of products including branding, messaging, and content.
• Sold over 76 million storytelling sales publications.
• Author of several presentation books for specific niche markets which facilitated sales systems and processes.
• Presented at many workshops, shows, and conventions ranging from small groups to thousands.
• Been involved in mentoring with business accelerators.
• Coached business owners and helped them turn their businesses around and at times even pivot into a better direction.

Some Challenges

• Didn’t communicate well enough and lost a business deal worth millions.
• Made a poor decision that went against my gut feeling that cost me years of grief.
• Made many poor business decisions and had to clean up the mess.
• Learned the hard way that not everything works out the way you plan it.
• Got sick and had to exit several businesses and restart everything.
• The rest of this list is long, but you get the idea.

Personal Information

I live in Spanish Fork, Utah and have been married to my wife for over 28 years. Together we have six children ranging from 26 years old clear down to nine years old. My family is where my heart is and I love being around them and supporting them through whatever may come.

My Purpose

I am a firm believer that everyone on this earth has a real purpose in life which is what makes them truly happy. I have been fortunate enough to discover a method that can help most anyone what that purpose is.

The one-sentence version is:

I thrive when I look at someone smile and know that I contributed to it.

To explain it more fully, it takes a bit more space:

When I look at someone and see distress in their eyes, I wonder what I can do to help them. I want to help them clarify their thoughts, feelings, or whatever caused their distress.

When I see a prospective or new business owner with the glazed look in their eyes that says: “What am I doing and how can I make this work?” I really light up as I help them, because I thrive when I’m helping people make sense of it all.

It might even be my wife or one of my children (I have six) who is having a rough day, so I have a lot of opportunities to help people figure out what they need to do to find solutions.

Ultimately, my joy is full when I can make a difference in someone’s life. I want to find a way to make things work. I love feeling the joy of seeing a smile in someone that may not have been there before. I love seeing the light go on in someone’s mind.

What People Say...

Rod is a confidence booster. He has the keen ability to make you feel confident in your abilities and skills. He is a person of love and passion and helps you want to be a person of the same. He has the ability to help you see out of the box solutions to your problems and concerns. I have worked with many mentors and motivational speakers, and working with him helped me gain a perspective on my life's work that I had never seen before with the previous people I have worked with.
Joseph D. Kepo’o, Chiropractic Physician
Rod mentored me as I started one of my businesses and helped my colleagues discover our purpose. His training and time have helped me to become a better leader and entrepreneur.
Tanner Ravsten • CEO/Owner of Luxe Cars and Imports, LLC
Rod is always a pleasure to work with. He has an extensive background in business as well as purpose driven projects and always has great insight to share. He asks the tough questions to help you think about your current position and about where you need to go.
Jason Woodland
Rod brings years of experience in marketing, sales, and a talent for strategy to the table - whatever table you happen to find yourself. His book, "Are You Ready to Start a Business?" is where any aspiring entrepreneur should begin.
Ryan Houmand • Author and People Developer
I have worked with Rod McKenzie, Jr. on a myriad of business projects over the past 19 years. Mr. McKenzie has consistently displayed a rare set of creative, organizational, and operational skills. He's a self-starter who needs little to no direction and he has demonstrated that he's willing to do whatever it takes to deliver for the team or a project. His vast experience and creative spirit make him an incredible contribution to any team, not to mention he's one of the most humble and nicest guys you are ever going to have the pleasure to work with in business.
Todd Strand • Networking Executive & Serial Entrepreneur
Rod asks the hard questions, the good questions. The questions that when they are asked you say, "These are the answers I was looking for right in front of me." He is a good guide and a valued friend. • Author, Game Inventor, Entrepreneur, and member of the 7X Mastermind Team
Mike Agrelius • Entrepreneur
Rod really helped my wife and I identify the deep-down purpose in our work. Once we made that connection, so many things became easier.
Andrew Schultz
Rod's experience, combined with his processes and format for figuring out what needs to be done, is eye opening. His ability to help individuals or organizations move in a more productive direction is where he shines.
Terry G. – Saratoga Springs, UT
Working with Rod is a joy. He is a deep thinker and has a positive energy that can help anyone feel confident about making their business a success.
Eric Thayne • Owner, Celadora Studios
Working with Rod was the best business decision I've ever made. He helped me get very clear on what I really wanted and how to get there. He gave me clear, actionable items to help propel my business forward in a big way. It was refreshing working with someone with such high integrity and business know-how.
Camille S.
I have known and worked with Rod for several years on a variety of church service projects. He has been invaluable in his organizational skills and dedication to see the job to its conclusion.
Marty Cooper • Longview, Washington
They say if you walk into a room and you're the most successful person there, then you're in the wrong place. The problem with Rod is he's so smart he's always been the giant in the room. So instead of continuously looking for a different room, he's spent his time mentoring, teaching, and elevating those around him. I've been blessed to call him friend and mentor. Co-Founder of Activity Living. Founder of Blue International. Founder of Green House Properties. Now retired and traveling the world with wife and four children.
L.D. Stauffer • Serial Entrepreneur

Contact Me

Rod McKenzie, Jr.

Email: Rod@StoryCoaching.co
Phone: +1 (801) 874-2949

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