How Fred Bays Built a Thriving Business After Cancer and Career Change

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Pulse Ox Podcast, host Eric Stopper sits down with Fred Bays—a former pastor turned successful entrepreneur and business coach. Dive deep into Fred’s journey as he shares raw insights about overcoming personal and professional crossroads, what it means to have a crisis of faith, and the practical tools he used to not just survive, but thrive.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Resilience in Transition: Fred opens up about how a cancer diagnosis forced him to pivot from 25 years as a pastor to starting a painting business from scratch, and eventually scaling it to multiple six figures—all while juggling a full-time teaching job.The Power of Strengths-Based Leadership: Learn how Fred leaned heavily into tools like StrengthsFinder, the DISC assessment, and the 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) to double down on what he—and his team—do best.Hiring for Your Weaknesses: Fred and Eric talk candidly about the reality of hiring people with opposing strengths, managing workplace friction, and empowering team members to own their lanes.Navigating Vulnerable Moments: Fred shares personal stories of hitting rock bottom—both in his 40s and recently at 54—and the key question he asks himself in moments of vulnerability: Is it time to pivot, or do I need to retool and press on?Crises of Faith and Real Talk on Spirituality: Eric recounts his own crisis of faith and asks Fred for hard-won wisdom on what to do when spiritual practices and belief systems stop “working.” Fred offers compassionate, practical advice rooted in his own faith journey as well as universal principles of resilience and humility.Daily Spiritual Practices for Entrepreneurs: Fred reveals the single practice he’s never abandoned after all these years, and how brief daily scripture and reflective prayer help him stay grounded while navigating business decisions.Resources & Mentions:Books: Good to Great by Jim Collins, works by John MaxwellTools: Clifton StrengthsFinder, DISC Assessment, Culture IndexFred’s Book: Principled Success (Amazon)Connect with Fred: PrincipledSuccessCoaching.comWhy You’ll Love This Episode:This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who’s struggled with change, questioned their direction, or wondered how to blend personal values with business ambitions. Fred’s pragmatic, deeply human approach to both faith and entrepreneurship will leave you with practical tools—and a hefty dose of hope—for whatever crossroads you may be facing.If you enjoyed this conversation, please like us on Spotify and let a friend know!#Entrepreneurship #FaithJourney #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerPivots #PulseOxPodcast00:00 Two Worlds, One Journey05:20 Culture Index: Prehire Coaching Insights07:11 "Prioritizing Daily 20% Tasks"12:15 Collaborative System Building14:27 Career Pivot and Business Decisions18:45 Spiritual Journey and Divine Testing21:57 Balancing Emotion, Logic, and Faith23:46 "Enduring Separation for Spiritual Connection"26:20 Balanced Faith: Humility and Empowerment30:41 "Embracing Divine Guidance"