Magic in the Room #144: The Iceberg Model: Finding your direction with Guest Chris King

April 18, 2023

In our final episode about the iceberg model, Chris and Luke sit down with Chris King to discuss the importance of being oriented to where you are and your direction. The iceberg model shows that there are many under-the-surface factors that influence us, such as our personality and experience. By understanding those factors, we can use them to move in the direction we want to go.

Chris is the owner operator of Chris King Counseling Services LLC, a private Counseling practice in the Tulsa OK area. After spending over 20 years helping people in areas of camp ministry, youth work, and experiential learning, Chris has been helping counseling clients move toward wholeness since 2011. He was the Director of Programs at New Life Ranch and Camp Orchard Hill, Youth Ministry Director at Liberty Church, and Lead Facilitator with Challenge Quest before entering into therapy work full time. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma and a Nationally Certified Counselor who uses cognitive behavioral therapy, ACT, and reality therapy in a typically experiential context.

Find Chris and his practice at chriskingcounseling.com

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Credits:

This episode of Magic in the Room was recorded onsite at Chris King Counseling
Music by evangrimmusic.com

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Magic in the Room #199: The Power of Mattering

By Sarah Whitfield • April 7, 2026

In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke Freeman, Hannah Bratterud, and Chris Province dive into the concept of “mattering,” inspired by Zach Mercurio’s work, and explore why it is a foundational driver of engagement, performance, and culture in organizations. They challenge leaders to move beyond assuming people matter to actively ensuring individuals feel that they matter by being valued and by contributing value to a shared purpose. The conversation highlights how mattering differs from belonging, why it cannot be replaced by perks or efficiency, and how leadership behaviors like attention, recognition, and presence directly shape whether people feel seen, heard, and understood. Through examples ranging from workplace dynamics to broader societal trends like social disconnection, they argue that disengagement, conflict, and even poor performance are symptoms of a mattering deficit. Ultimately, they position mattering not as a soft concept, but as a measurable, actionable leadership responsibility that underpins trust, resilience, and long-term success.

Magic in the Room #198: The GUEST Experience

By Sarah Whitfield • March 3, 2026

In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke, Hannah, and Chris explore how the concept of mattering transforms customer experience through their practical GUEST framework. Building on the idea that people thrive when they feel noticed, affirmed, and valued, they argue that exceptional service is not just about efficiency or technical competence, but about intentionally designing experiences where guests truly feel significant. They unpack the five elements of the GUEST model: Greet with empathy, Uncover needs, Express gratitude, Share names, and Teach benefits. They show how each step reinforces belonging and loyalty, whether in a 30-second interaction or a 30-year relationship. The conversation highlights the difference between service and hospitality, the power of recovery when mistakes occur, and the leadership responsibility to embed mattering into culture rather than leaving it to chance.