About Us

NextSteps Consulting Services LLC

NextSteps Consulting Services LLC supports traditional clients in varied areas of coaching, life coaching, business and career, fitness, budgeting, and finance.

However, our purpose and passion:

  • Helping young people to discover their path in life earlier and to make fewer mistakes along the way. 
  • To aid the incarcerated and previously incarcerated in getting their lives back on track, moving forward, and fulfilling their God-given purpose.

Our Why

Why we do what we do is twofold with one goal.
At an early age, I desired to help people; even then, I recognized the importance the youth played in our future. For most of my adult life, I focused on supporting and developing young people. Once I became a certified Life Coach, my focus became clear. With new tools at my disposal, my goals morphed into “helping young people make one less mistake”; if I can reduce the number of mistakes – mistakes are a part of life, then maybe, I can prevent the one (mistake) that can ruin lives.

Our son Jordan had a heart for kids and worked in the public school system that served low-income at-risk students while pursuing his undergrad. During those three years, we saw the squelching of his spirit and the despair he felt for the children in situations that to most would seem nothing but hopeless. After his passing, my wife and I wanted to help do what he wanted to but couldn’t; we founded a nonprofit organization in his honor called Jordan’s Light. Through various community outreach programs, Jordan’s Light’s mission is to instill hope in young people, motivate, encourage, equip, provide options, and empower them to surmount their obstacles and chart their path to a successful life.

Working with the incarcerated population was the furthest thing from my mind at the initial suggestion. In fact, during our first call, unbeknown to the party on the other end, I was adamant that I wanted nothing to do with the penal system or those incarcerated in it. As I defended my position to myself within my head as to why I wanted nothing to do with them and all the preconceived ideas of what jail and inmates were like, I heard these words “They are people too” – Those four words ended the debate instantly for me. I have been working at the jail ever since, meeting good people who made mistakes along the way. After four years in the re-entry program; – working to transform the thinking and lives of the incarcerated and those re-entering society and building and improving the overall effectiveness of the re-entry program, we are truly making a difference.

You can’t claim to love people and be selective with whom you show love. If people need help (want help) and we have the means to do so, we have a moral obligation to help.

bio.

Winston Smith is a caring, compassionate and results oriented professionally certified coach whose life’s work is about assisting clients going through major life transitions. He loves helping people be successful and fulfilled, and he lives by his personal philosophy of “Love God and love people, live life to the fullest, help where you can, and have fun doing it.” He loves his work because he, himself, has struggled with the same challenges his clients face: pressure of career, family obligations, and balancing life.
This Child of God, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Leader, Mentor, Life Coach, and Friend has a colorful, broad and extensive career inclusive of being a leader in the telecommunications industry for over thirty years. He has worked with and for industry leaders such as Ticket Master, AT&T, Sprint, and Windstream communications and served in support roles with global clients like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and U.S. Government, providing data transmission and Fiber infrastructure throughout the continental United States. He also served 8 years in the US Coast Guard Reserves.
In 2016, Winston expanded his servant/leadership roles and skill set by completing his certification as a Certified Life Coach and Certified MRT Facilitator/Presenter. It’s no surprise that the natural progression was for him to launch Next Steps Consulting Services LLC. Through Next Steps he has served clients as a Life Coach in all areas and stages of life. His client base includes both Private and Public citizens including those moving through various stages of the Penal system. He is a strong believer that a strong coaching relationship promotes self-discovery and positive change and is passionate about making a difference, (A personal difference): meeting people right where they are; and making a change, one person, one step, one action at a time. Less talk, more doing. (Action)

connected.

Winston is a true believer in connectivity to one’s community and craft which is demonstrated in his involvement as a Church leader from 1999 thru present. He has also served or serves as:

  • Young Adult leader/facilitator (2014 – present)
  • Member of the Royal Rangers (2007 – present) (Christian Mentoring Organization, founded by the AOG church)
  • Royal Ranger Company Commander, Outpost 303, (2011 – 2013)
  • Facilitator, instructor and Life Coach with the Douglas County Police Dept.’s Youth Against Violence program. (2018 – present)
  • Facilitator & Life Coach at the Douglas County Sheriffs’ office – inmate population (2017 – present)
Winston has been married for 24+ years , is the father of 3 wonderful children, and grandfather to 2 grandchildren. He is an active member of his church, loves to travel and is a motorcycle enthusiast/rider.

real.

Winston’s favorite book is The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsonentire and his life’s journey has been modeled after his favorite quote: Small steps done consistently overtime yields big results. Expect to hear more great things about Winston Smith in the very near future!

contact.

For a consultation and/or life coaching services or for speaking engagements you may reach Winston by telephone – 404-692-2909 by email info@nextstepsconsultingservices.com