We recently had the chance to connect with Tyler Wooten and have shared our conversation below.
Tyler, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Spending time with my wife and our two sons is one of my greatest joys. We love having unstructured days together—no packed schedule, just good food, slow moments, and a couple great cups of coffee along the way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Tyler Wooten. I serve as a pastor and leadership coach, living just north of Dallas with my incredible wife and our two young boys. Being a husband and dad is at the center of who I am—it’s my greatest joy and the foundation of everything else I do.
I’m deeply passionate about faith, family, and living a simple, healthy life. Through my coaching and consulting work, I help faith-driven leaders break burnout, build sustainable momentum, and lead with purpose. What makes my work unique is the way I integrate spiritual depth with practical leadership strategy—I believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your soul to fulfill your calling.
More than anything, I want to help people live and lead from a place of alignment—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. That’s the heart behind everything I do.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was creative, fun, social—a dreamer and a connector who loved to laugh. I had a natural energy for life and people. But somewhere in the early years of my professional career, I started to lose that version of myself. For some reason, I bought into the lie that being “professional” meant being overwhelmingly intense, closed-off, and overly serious.
Yes, there’s value in maturity and self-awareness in the workplace—but in the process, I lost sight of who I was at my core. I became uptight, constantly serious, and eventually overwhelmed. That led to stress, then anxiety, and ultimately a deep sense of misalignment. My wife once joked—in the kindest way—that she married a fun, outgoing guy, and somehow, in just a few years, I became boring. She kept it real, and honestly, I needed that. She was my biggest supporter in my role and always showed deep empathy for the weight I carried at work. But it was her calling out the joy in me, along with the Lord doing a supernatural work in my life, that made all the difference.
Over the past few years, I’ve been on a mission to return to who I really am. Though I’m naturally introverted, that doesn’t mean I have to be disconnected or dull. I’ve rediscovered the joy of being fully myself—laughing more, dreaming again, and leading from a place of authenticity. Life is better than ever—and because of that, I’d like to think my leadership is more fun, more free, more grounded, and more effective than it’s ever been.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I carried seasons of burnout for years—leading while bleeding, trying to hold it all together but slowly breaking inside. It wasn’t until I hit a real breaking point that things changed. I remember one night before speaking at church, I had a breakdown in the back study. Words and thoughts weren’t connecting, and I was weeping quietly. The only strength I found was to text my wife the simple word, “Help,” just as she was coming off the stage herself. She came back to me, but everything felt blurry.
Then my assistant knocked on the door and said, “Pastor, you’re up soon.” I stood up, wiped my tears, brushed myself off, and took the stage. I spoke for 47 minutes with a smile on my face, like nothing had happened. But after the service, I got in my car and just froze. As I reflected on that moment, I was terrified—because I had gotten so good at “turning it on” that I could pour out my heart genuinely at any time, yet still hide the brokenness inside. It wasn’t a disingenuous act; I truly cared deeply. But I had learned to separate what I was feeling internally from what I presented outwardly. This is a common experience for many leaders.
I realized then that I was burned out. I had stepped into performance mode—not necessarily acting or pretending—but I lost touch with my humanity as a person and began living solely as a product. I was out of balance, misaligned. Sitting there in my car, I thought, “I need help.” And I finally reached out.
From that moment, the Lord began a healing process through His supernatural touch, people, honesty, and wisdom. He gave me a strategy—not just for leadership, but for personal life—to avoid burnout and build lasting momentum. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to help leaders across the nation become burnout-proof through my coaching business.
The other day, someone asked me what my favorite part of this work is. I said without hesitation: “When a spouse or a child texts me ‘Thank you.’” That’s the real victory—helping leaders heal so their whole family can thrive.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I believe in authenticity. Are there different expressions of me in different environments? Sure—like anyone. But at the core, it’s always me. I have values that I live and die by in every arena I’m in. Years ago, I wouldn’t have been so sure. Now, without a doubt—I’m just me. Life is more fulfilling, more effective, and easier that way.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could—and I believe I do. I give my best because I’m doing it for the Lord. Would I be tempted by discouragement at times? Of course. It’s human to appreciate being seen; it’s kind to be recognized. But I’ve learned that if I live by praise, I’ll die by criticism. I have to stay focused and committed to fulfilling my purpose.
Even when people don’t acknowledge the work, it still serves them—and I’m okay with that. I don’t do what I do for praise at all. I do it out of obedience, calling, and love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tylerwooten.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerwooten
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tylerjwooten
Image Credits
Jenny Johnson, Waking Starlight Photography
Abner Cruz, 1017 Media
