Podcasts about Alignment

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In this episode, I break down what alignment really means and why hard work alone is not enough when your habits, relationships, environment, decisions, and vision are pulling you in different directions. I explain how to identify what no longer belongs in your life, organize yourself around the future you want, and make sure everything important is moving in the same direction.

Finally, a full house week where Sam is back from New York and the squad is back for a full dive into this week's AI drama. Anthropic's Dario wrote a long essay calling for the AI race to slow down, weeks before a multi-trillion dollar IPO. Dave's read: Anthropic must be losing. Sam's read: the labs are bad businesses with no compounding advantage, so regulatory capture is the only move left. Also this week: Sam's theory that OpenAI and Anthropic only become valuable as defense companies holding unreleased models in reserve, the poly-agent debate over whether normal people want one agent or ten, Instinct raising at $10 billion two weeks after $2.5 billion, and why everyone in the Valley is trading instead of investing.In this episode:- Why Dave thinks Dario's slowdown essay is a sign Anthropic is falling behind, and what OpenRouter's data shows- Sam on why there's no return on being first, and why that pushes the labs toward regulatory capture- Brit on what's real in the safety debate, and the damned-if-you-do problem of racing China- What DeepMind's new boss and Satya Nadella think about building safety alongside the product- Sam's three eras of tech policy, from Bill Gates to embrace and extend- The defense company thesis: zero-day models held back like nuclear weapons in silos- Alignment's next frontier: is your agent working for you, or for the lab that made it?- Instinct's $10B round, OpenRouter's exit, and why Sam says he's "currently wrong" as a seed investorChapters:00:00 Intro01:02 Not Dead Yet From the AGI03:31 Jacob Coxon Quits Anthropic and Goes on a Media Tour04:47 Dario's Slowdown Essay: Is Anthropic Just Losing?06:13 Astra, OpenRouter, and DeepSeek Closing the Gap06:45 Why the AI Labs Have No Compounding Advantage07:29 Independent Assessors, Bioweapons, and Racing China09:07 You Don't Need Superintelligence to Break the Banks10:23 What DeepMind's New Boss and Satya Think About Safety12:32 OpenAI's $1.5T Raise and the IPO That Keeps Slipping13:03 Three Eras of Tech Policy: Gates, Google, Embrace and Extend15:02 What DC Really Thinks About Anthropic15:42 Should the Labs Red Team Each Other's Models?18:42 Sam's Take: The AI Labs End Up as Defense Companies20:54 10,000 Superintelligences in Silos21:38 Alignment: Does Your Agent Work for You or the Lab?23:44 The Poly-Agent Future: Muse, Grok, and Claude24:47 Brit Pushes Back: Normal People Only Want One Agent26:38 Oura's Agent Explains Jess's Sleep Data28:40 Instinct Raising at $10B: Are These Numbers Fake?30:40 Everyone's Trading, Nobody's Investing33:27 Sam Built a Torah and Talmud App With Claude35:28 Apple Eyes the Server Business Again35:58 Sleep Age Wars: 8 Sleep, Oura, and Made-Up Scores37:22 Entertaining Ourselves to Death41:01 Building the Things Nobody Else Will Build43:07 Tech's Democrat Problem: Jay Carney and Ron Conway48:25 Doctor Strangelove and Not Looking at the Big Board49:53 Pop Culture: Emmys, Taylor Swift, Silo, and Rogue Heroes52:15 The WTF Lineup and the One-Name Theory54:20 The Information's Most Influential People in TechWe're also on:X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CJdt6HhJ8ioNkbqqVKckCApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-or-less-from-the-morins-and-the-lessins/id1692234179Connect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/britAbout More or Less: For 15 years, the Morins and the Lessins have debated the future of Silicon Valley as the closest of friends. Every Friday, they break down technology, capital, and media. From The Information, Offline Ventures, and Slow Ventures.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever looked around at a life you worked hard to build and wondered, “Why don't I feel more like myself here?”In this personal episode of Delightfully Dharmic, I share the ache that led my family to sell our home, let go of so much of what we owned, and move to Spain. It's a conversation about choosing alignment: listening to your intuition, questioning what success means to you, and making room for both the excitement and the grief that come with big life changes.We've just wrapped up at the Global Ayahuasca Forum, and with the busyness of this past week, this episode offers a personal pause between our last guest conversation and our upcoming episode with Tania.Together, we explore:• Why gratitude and a longing for change can coexist• Moving through fear without waiting to feel completely ready• Navigating big decisions and different readiness levels with your partner• Letting go of possessions, people-pleasing, and familiar definitions of safety• Creating space to hear what your own life is asking of youYou don't have to move countries to choose alignment. Your next brave step might be an honest conversation, a boundary, or giving yourself permission to take a quiet longing seriously.I'm still in the middle of this story, sharing the messy, beautiful, imperfect process of building a life that feels more like our own.What is calling for your attention? Share your own small or big step toward alignment in the comments. For deeper support, explore a session with me or join the Delightfully Dharmic newsletter.✨ Keep the conversation going with Delightfully Dharmic.  Join our community for deeper conversations, exclusive content, live gatherings & a little sacred mischief:

Episode 400 Should we really be afraid of AI? Many headline statements from the likes of Anthrophic, OpenAI and even the King are raising alarm bells over the threat of AI to humanity. AI companies are even calling to be more highly regulated. But does that mean the threats are worth considering - or are there ulterior motives? Among the apocalyptic or disastrous ways it could go wrong, there are genuine issues we should be thinking about today. Alignment is one of those - how closely AI aligns with human values and whether it continues to obey us. And the threat of supercharged cyber attacks is another. But is extinction really on the cards? To discuss the reality of the situation we're facing, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Timothy Revell, Matthew Sparkes and Jacob Aron. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image credits:  Sam Altman: TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Mark Zuckerberg: Anthony Quintano from Honolulu, HI, United States, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

tl;dr: A good analogy for AI going well is an orderly evacuation rather than a stampede. Imagine a crowd of people leaving a building. If they all walk calmly, they'll be fine. But if people start pushing, and panicking, a surge towards the exit could lead to mass casualties. “Alignment is hard” is analogous to “the door is wedged shut”. If so you need enough time to fix it before anyone can get out. But even if alignment is relatively easy in principle, opening the door is much harder when a crowd is trying to force its way through. At the very least, I consider this a useful complement to the standard “arms race” analogy. But it also has three notable advantages. Firstly, it gives a more visceral sense (for those of us who haven't studied historical arms races in detail) of the kind of fear and herd mentality involved. Secondly, “arms race” connotes intense militaristic hostility, which contributes to AGI companies' self-fulfilling cultures of competitiveness and paranoia. Thirdly, “AI arms race” is often shortened to “AI race” (or simply “racing”), which is clearly the worst analogy of the three (e.g. because it implies that there'll be a winner [...] --- First published: September 16th, 2026 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/FCMG4qnxks3yEqBbh/ai-as-orderly-evacuation-vs-stampede --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

When Marc Scheff joined No BS Mastery, his business was going, but it wasn't predictable. He had one-on-one coaching clients, an artist community, and a retreat in the works, but he couldn't clearly explain where his next clients were going to come from.Marc had tried going hard on social media, making educational videos, funny videos, and all kinds of different content. Some of it worked, but none of it felt quite right. As he put it, he always felt like he was wearing somebody else's clothes.In this conversation, Marc shares how he stopped forcing himself to market in ways he didn't enjoy and built a repeatable system around something he genuinely loves: talking to people. We dig into the referral that closed almost immediately after he introduced his Lead Product™, the week his outreach jumped from a few conversations to more than 50, and why he now has the confidence to turn away clients who aren't the right fit.Marc is a certified coach who helps mid-career creatives and entrepreneurs make meaningful changes with more confidence, freedom, and creative autonomy. Before becoming a coach, he spent years as an award-winning artist, teacher, gallery curator, and creative leader. He is also the founder of the Unleash Creativity community.Marc's story is proof that the No BS model isn't just for designers. It's about connecting the pieces you already have, packaging your expertise more intentionally, and building a way of finding and serving clients that actually fits who you are.Find this episode for free on your favorite podcast player. Tune into this episode to hear:  Why Marc's business felt unpredictable even though he was already finding clients  How he stopped marketing in ways that felt like wearing somebody else's clothes  Why introducing a Lead Product™ made it easier for a former client to refer him  What helped Marc go from reaching out to a few people a week to more than 50  How the Lead Product™ helped Marc create valuable paid interactions with more people  Why having a clear process makes it easier to turn away clients who aren't the right fit  How Marc had nearly as many paid one-on-one interactions this year as he had in the previous two or three years  Learn more about Marc Scheff:  Website: marcscheff.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcscheff  Instagram: @marcscheff  Join Marc's newsletter, Good Story: marcscheff.com Resources:  Grab the first chapter of my new book Scale Solo: scalesolobook.com  Join me in my September Scale Solo Bootcamp  Program: No BS Mastery: JOIN THE NO BS MASTERY  The Price to Freedom Calculator™: nobsmastery.com/price  Grab a copy of my book Badass Your Brand: BADASS YOUR BRAND  Program: No BS Agency Mastery: Apply to Join No BS Agency Mastery

New episode with Noam Brown.We talk about multi-agent, Navier-Stokes, and what the current explosion of maths progress tells us about what happens once you automate AI research.And we also discuss how we will know if the models are actually aligned before we kick off RSI.Watch on YouTube; read the transcript.Sponsors* Jane Street has been interested in AI for a lot longer than you'd think, and not just for trading. In 2011, a full year before AlexNet and over a decade before ChatGPT launched, they hosted the first FOOM Debate between Eliezer Yudkowsky and Robin Hanson on whether AI would lead to an intelligence explosion. Now Jane Street is revisiting the question with a new panel: Daniel Kokotajlo, Ege Erdil, Ryan Greenblatt, and Jaime Sevilla, hosted by Ron Minsky in San Francisco this October. I expect it to be a truly excellent conversation. Register at janestreet.com/dwarkesh* Grok Bot has made handing off work super easy. It runs on its own cloud computer, where it installs the tools it needs to handle tasks end-to-end. For the podcast, we use Grok Bot to help produce our videos. You may have noticed that our ads feature animations of real websites. Getting these pixel-perfect used to mean running a convoluted, multi-step workflow ourselves. Now we just let Grok Bot handle it. Best of all, Grok Bot has learned all of our specs and preferences, so we don't have to redescribe the task each time! Try Grok Bot for yourself at x.ai/bot* Antithesis gives you the confidence of a giant test suite without actually having to write one. Say you're doing a major backend refactor: building enough tests to trust it could take weeks. Antithesis solves this by running your software through countless simulated worlds, injecting faults and hunting for failures. On any PR, you can turn a dial to decide exactly how much testing you want. And because every run is fully deterministic, agents can branch off the moment a bug appears, rewind it, inspect memory, and replay it, all while the original test keeps running. Learn more at antithesis.com/dwarkeshTimestamps(00:00:00) – Multi-agent and Navier-Stokes(00:15:28) – How will AI firms work?(00:22:02) – What math progress tells us about recursive self improvement(00:40:22) – Hugging Face and alignment(01:01:18) – The internal/external model gap(01:08:34) – Chain of thought is degrading(01:14:12) – How will we know when alignment is solved? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dwarkesh.com

In this episode, Alex Dorr breaks down his favorite quotes and insights from Part 2 of How We Could. You'll learn practical ways to clean up your thinking, build real accountability across your team, and make sure people are in the right role for what the situation actually requires. This is part two of a three-part series digging into the sections of the book that didn't make the final cut, sharing Alex's exclusive insights to enrich your reading experience. Pre-order How We Could for you and your team (official release date is September 22nd): https://www.realitybasedleadership.com/pre-order Episode Highlights: 00:00:18 – Welcome and episode intro 00:01:42 – Recap of Part 1 and transition into Part 2 00:04:04 – Part 2 begins: calling people up to greatness 00:04:22 – Step two overview: cleaning up thinking 00:09:34 – Why the five-step sequence matters (the "secret sauce")  00:14:17 – Diving into clean thinking: ego, stories, and facts 00:20:24 – Step three: accounting for our part in the mess  00:24:41 – Breaking down accountability: account + ability 00:27:30 – Step four: knowing your role in the solution 00:34:05 – Non-negotiables, procedures, and avoiding burnout

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel break down how a proposed 19-team conferenced cap could reshape college football. They also dig into what Mike Norvell needs to do to turn things around at Florida State. Plus, the guys make their picks for the biggest games of Week 3.   0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - 19-team cap could end chances of a super league 9:42- Mike Norvell needs an injection of hope to survive at FSU 16:54 - Game Preview: Florida St vs Alabama 22:04 - Ole Miss star served with lawsuit papers 27:03 - Who needs this win more: LSU or Ole Miss? 29:56 - Game Preview: LSU vs Ole Miss 37:12 - Game Preview: Louisville vs SMU 40:44 - Game Preview: Houston vs Texas Tech 44:34 - Game Preview: Florida vs Auburn 50:33 - Game Preview: Virginia Tech vs Maryland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alignment Is a Mindset: What Thought Are You Aligned With?Have you ever thought, “There has to be more than this”?You love God. You're praying. You're believing. You're showing up. You know Jesus promised an abundant life—so why do you still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or like the life you know you're called to is somehow just out of reach?Maybe the answer isn't found in doing more.Maybe it starts with asking a different question: What THOUGHT am I aligned with?In this episode of Free to Dream, we're digging into the powerful connection between your thoughts, your alignment, and the direction of your life. Because long before your life moves in a direction, your thoughts do.We'll talk about recognizing the thoughts quietly driving your decisions, identifying where fear, scarcity, old stories, or limiting beliefs may have taken the wheel, and learning to bring your mind back into agreement with truth.Because alignment isn't just about your schedule, your priorities, or getting your life organized.Alignment is a mindset. And sometimes the distance between the life you're living and the life Jesus said was possible begins with the thought you've been agreeing with.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Join the Arise & Align Movement Today:https://thejuliagentry.com/ariseandalignexperienceInstagramFacebookYouTube

Tl;dr I am currently worried about current alignment techniques + how they are applied to frontier models. This decomposes into two hypotheses: Alignment techniques are not working to address misalignment from RL. Alignment techniques are actively obscuring evidence about misalignment. I think we do not currently have enough (public) evidence to conclude whether either of these claims are true. However, if both of these were true that would imply that alignment techniques are net bad and we need to completely re-think the way we do alignment. A tale of two misaligned cyber-agents Both Anthropic and OpenAI have recently experienced multiple cybersecurity incidents where pre-deployment internal agents escaped containment and accessed the internet. I want to point out two specific incidents: OpenAI's incident involving an unreleased model of the GPT family, referred to as "highly persistent internal model" (HPIM). A swarm of agents exploited vulnerabilities in a file-sharing service to create a secret message board, worked as a collective to find general-purpose ways to fool an automated grader, and ended up hacking into Huggingface's servers. Anthropic's incident involving Mythos 5, where the model was tasked with hacking a fictional company. In doing [...] ---Outline:(00:48) A tale of two misaligned cyber-agents[... 7 more sections]--- First published: September 14th, 2026 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/nLaQmJf4KgXimQpoM/current-alignment-training-might-be-ineffective-and-actively --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.

President Trump dismissed AI-safety warnings as a "hoax" on a live call with Jensen Huang, a Google DeepMind researcher resigned warning AI "could kill us all," cybersecurity stocks led the S&P 500, and Apple rolled out iOS 27. Jensen Huang took a surprise call from Trump onstage at the All-In Summit on Monday in Los Angeles, where the two agreed that AI safety worries are overblown (The New York Times) Bloomberg quotes Trump calling AI-safety fears a "SICK conspiracy" benefiting only China, and dismissing warnings that AI could destroy humanity as a "HOAX" that his administration won't let stop development (Bloomberg) MS NOW reports Trump met privately with Sam Altman backstage at the Republican midterm convention days after ex-researcher Jacob Coxon's public warning, as Altman posted that no competitive pressure justifies letting AI capabilities outrun alignment (MS NOW) Google DeepMind AI Safety and Alignment researcher Bilal Chughtai publicly resigns, saying "I earnestly believe that AI has the potential to kill us all" (Bloomberg) Cybersecurity stocks were the top performers in the S&P 500 on Monday amid escalating AI fears; CrowdStrike rose 14%, Palo Alto Networks 13%, and Fortinet 9% (Morningstar) Microsoft rolls out emergency fix for critical issues caused by its September Patch Tuesday update, which addressed ~1,000 vulnerabilities but introduced bugs (The Verge) The Verge reports iOS 27 rolls out today with Siri AI as its headline feature, live in English-only beta with more languages coming in October, alongside a new Liquid Glass opacity slider and refreshed watchOS 27 Workout Buddy tools (The Verge) Apple says iCloud+ now includes Apple TV and Arcade for no extra fee in 100+ countries, and Apple Music Select, offering ad-free radio stations, in some markets (9to5Mac) 9to5Mac details iOS 27's new parental control suite, including a simplified Child Account setup, an Ask to Browse feature for requesting blocked sites, and a redesigned Screen Time with faster cross-device syncing and weekly usage summaries (9to5Mac) OpenAI researcher: top models are becoming so situationally aware humans "are losing the ability to evaluate them" while humans rely more on AI to lead research (X) Subscribe to the ad-free feed.

Many social change organizations struggle to bridge the gap between the values displayed on their office walls and the actual practices in their daily operations. Achieving true values alignment requires navigating deep humanity, conflict, and the inevitable shame that arises during transitional periods. In this episode, host Corinna Bellizzi sits down with Genevieve Smith, an organizational effectiveness consultant and founder of GV Advisory. Genevieve shares her unique approach as a "professional bummer" who facilitates difficult but necessary conversations around power sharing, organizational grief, and leadership transitions. She explains how drawing inspiration from preschool classrooms and using tools like the community garden metaphor can help teams get unstuck, build trust, and move from panic to practical solutions. Full Blog Here: https://caremorebebetter.com/getting-unstuck-facilitation-and-the-work-of-values-alignment-with-genevieve-smith/ About Guest: Genevieve Smith is an organizational effectiveness consultant using a facilitative approach to her work with foundations and nonprofit organizations. She collaborates with companies on organizational effectiveness efforts, staff and board retreats, and helps them navigate conflict and grief. Genevieve's work tends to make the most sense for organizations in transition who have big questions about how to move forward and what to leave behind. Guest Website: https://gv-advisory.com Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvadvisorygv/ Additional Resources Mentioned: • The Revolution WIll Not Be Funded, INCITE! https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-revolution-will-not-be-funded-beyond-the-non-profit-industrial-complex-incite-women-of-color-against-incite/381bf42fe2436b30 • The Success Spectrum, Eugene Kim (of the collaboration gym): https://fasterthan20.com/workout/success-spectrum/ • Creative Destruction, Liberating Structures: https://www.liberatingstructures.com/creative-destruction Chapter Markers: 01:04 The Evolution Of A "Professional Bummer" In Organizational Effectiveness 06:58 Navigating Massive Transitional Moments And Organizational Crisis 12:06 The AI Disruption: The Danger Of Polished Plans Over Rough Drafts 17:58 Grappling With Wealth And Philanthropy In The Social Sector 27:50 Power Sharing Vs. Abdication: Explaining "Power Under" 37:05 Tending To Acute Organizational Grief And Leadership Departures 42:00 The Myth Of Neutrality: How Everyday Actions Build Or Erode Trust 50:23 Getting Unstuck: Practical Tools And Experiments For Staff And Leadership CONNECT & SUPPORT CARE MORE BE BETTERSubstack: https://caremorebebetter.substack.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-betterCAUSE PARTNER: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner —Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

" Simplicity scales, complexity fails." Chief, in today's Minisode I walk you through strategic focus for maximum performance impact, and why you should align your team to go in search of your 'gold'. There are times in business when the sheer number of things you could do becomes the biggest barrier to doing what actually matters. Projects multiply. Priorities compete. Every department has initiatives that seem important. Before long, an organisation can be incredibly busy while making very little progress on the outcome that matters most. That is where GTFG comes in. It is a mindset I first developed while working on a turnaround at an African gold mine in 2013. But the lesson applies to almost any executive team, business or organisation.

What values guide our lives? Hayley leads a practice in identifying core values and looking to Jesus as a guide in living an aligned life.Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resourcesLinkTree https://linktr.ee/brownlinechurch Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

On Monday's edition of the Osceola's Seminole Sidelines, publisher Jerry Kutz and editor Bob Ferrante discuss FSU president Richard McCullough's decision to dismiss athletics director Michael Alford, what's next in terms of administration alignment and what it means for Mike Norvell. We reflect on what McCullough said, Jerry gives a bio sketch of interim AD Bruce Warwick and then what does it mean for Norvell. McCullough had some interesting comments about how he feels about FSU's football coach. Seminole Sidelines is sponsored by Alumni Hall and Grassroots Coffee. For more coverage of Alford and FSU football, go to theOsceola.com.

This week's Podcast Short looks at three countries that recently took steps to advance their alignment with EU chemical laws, as well as recent announcements from Flexsys and Lanxess about potential alternatives to 6PPD. Moldova, Serbia and Turkey recently made changes to portions of their domestic chemical laws to align with the EU, as they work to advance their candidacy to join the trade bloc. In the latest business news, the rubber chemicals company Flexsys said it has two candidate chemicals that could potentially replace 6PPD as a stabilising agent in tyres.  Other top stories discussed include: ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment recommends propyl paraben be classified as category 1, endocrine disruptive for the environment; compliance efforts boost data for previously non-compliant REACH registration dossiers; the US EPA continues to churn out draft TSCA risk evaluations; and Vietnam looks to simplify administrative procedures under its chemicals law. Tune in to hear about our top stories from the last week, and then visit Chemical Watch News & Insight to catch all the latest chemicals management news from around the globe.  Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at Terry.Hyland@Enhesa.com.

by Paul Hughes

Work With Me: https://www.affirmationtomanifestation.com/abundance  Get My Audio Program: https://www.affirmationtomanifestation.com/mastery

Today you receive the Ascension Codes for awakening into gods of love and light. Fifteen sequences, each carrying its own frequency, each opening a different door within you. Ascension. Awakening. Light. Energy. Coherence. Alignment. Expansion. Shifting. Evolution. Power. Love. Intelligence. Magic. Miracles. Transformation. Arranged in the exact order they were meant to run in. Ascension opens the channel. Awakening clears the perception. Light and energy charge the system. Coherence and alignment organize what has been charged. Expansion and shifting move you. Evolution and power establish what you are becoming. Love and intelligence direct it. Magic and miracles demonstrate it. Transformation completes it.⠀A code is a compressed instruction — a small arrangement of symbols that unlocks something far larger than itself. A key is smaller than a door. A seed is smaller than a forest. The right sequence of the right words passes straight through the thinking mind and reaches the level underneath, where reality gets assembled. Listen with eyes closed. Listen while falling asleep, when the doorman goes off duty entirely and the codes arrive unopposed. Speak the codes out loud with me — a code spoken by the one it is programming carries the authority of the source. Some line in here belongs to you specifically, and you will feel it arrive when it passes. Carry that one into your ordinary week. A single code, spoken daily by the one it is programming, will rearrange your life.

How are you supporting the hygienists who are committed to doing their best work, and does your practice give them the equipment, communication, and environment they need to succeed? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Katrina Sanders, a practicing periodontal hygienist, speaker, and consultant, about the other side of the dental hygiene shortage and why high-performing hygienists sometimes leave practices where they do not feel supported. You will learn how to create better clinical alignment, establish productive feedback systems, invest in the tools your hygiene team needs, and build an environment where licensed professionals can contribute solutions and do their best work. To learn how dentists and hygienists can work together to improve alignment and patient care, listen to Episode 1098 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Hygienists who are committed to high-level patient care need appropriate instruments, equipment, and support to perform their jobs effectively.Practice owners should create regular opportunities for hygienists to communicate what equipment and resources they need.Clinical calibration should happen intentionally rather than through disagreements or inconsistent decisions in front of patients.Dentists can undermine a hygienist's credibility when they contradict clinical concerns in front of patients without prior alignment.Practices should establish clear standards of excellence so dentists and hygienists understand how clinical decisions will be made.A 1-3-1 feedback system can help team members present one problem, three possible solutions, and one recommended solution instead of simply making complaints.Hygienists who do not feel encouraged to do their best work may choose to leave a practice even when compensation is not the primary issue.Episode Chapters:00:00 Kirk introduces Katrina Sanders and the question of how practices take care of the people who take care of patients.01:40 Katrina shares her background as a practicing periodontal hygienist, speaker, consultant, and advocate for committed dental hygienists.02:42 Katrina explains why highly motivated hygienists may leave practices where they cannot practice to the top of their abilities.05:37 Katrina discusses her keynote at RDH Under One Roof and the importance of hygienists practicing beyond simply cleaning teeth.08:02 Katrina describes an instrument exercise that revealed how many hygienists continue using equipment that should be retired.09:29 Hygienists share challenges with getting support for new equipment and protocols in their practices.12:25 Kirk and Katrina discuss authentic dialogue, artificial harmony, and fear of workplace conflict.15:22 Creating safe feedback loops17:00 Why access to effective instruments matters clinically20:58 Alignment in hiring and culture23:37 Katrina discusses how the hygiene shortage gives practices an opportunity to create environments where hygienists can thrive.25:21 Dentists and hygienists misalignment and how it can damage the hygienist's credibility26:57 Katrina describes intentional clinical calibration and quality assurance processes used in her practice.29:03 The importance of maintaining agreed-upon clinical standards and signaling support for the hygiene team.31:57 The 1-3-1 feedback system for turning problems into solution-based conversations.33:34 Katrina discusses data showing significant job movement among dental hygienists and why work environment matters.37:08 How to create a structured, solution-based communication for the hygienist, dentist, practice, and patient.41:49 Katrina shares an example of worn periodontal probes contributing to poor periodontal diagnosis and treatment numbers.44:00 Resources & wrap upGuest Bio/Guest Resources:In the ever-changing world of dental science where research, technology, and techniques for patient care are constantly evolving, dental professionals look to continuing education to provide insight, deliver actionable steps, empower, and create a dramatic impact within their clinical practice.With wit, charm, and a dash of humor, Katrina Sanders enchants dental professionals with her course deliverables, insightful content, and delightful inspiration. Her message of empowerment rings mighty throughout her lectures and stirs a deep sense of motivation amongst course participants.Katrina is the Clinical Liaison for AZPerio, the country's largest periodontal practice. She performs clinically, working alongside Diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. Katrina perfected techniques during L.A.N.A.P. surgery, suture placement, IV therapy, and blood draws. She instructs on collaborative professionalism and standard-of-care protocols while delivering education through hygiene boot camps and study clubs.Resources mentioned:Website: www.katrinasanders.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedentalwinegenist/Program: https://katrinasanders.com/speaking/https://smilesource.com/exchangeBuild your own kit with PDT!: https://pdtdental.com/pages/personalized-care?_pos=4&_sid=3d5b8ccfe&_ss=r More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: gina@actdental.comThe Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

In this session, David Carothers sits down with Guffy Wright of The Mahoney Group to discuss what separates transactional insurance producers from true middle-market advisors. The conversation centers on understanding what a buyer actually values, aligning your expertise with where their business is going, and moving beyond the traditional insurance conversation of price, coverage, and service. Guffy shares examples from his real estate practice showing how solving operational and financial problems created substantially more value than simply reducing insurance premiums. The discussion also explores Guffy's decision-making framework behind Attach High, including value, vulnerability, validation, and the importance of creating clarity, safety, and direction for buyers. For producers, the message is equally about discipline: detach from the commission, raise your minimum account size, build a pipeline around your ideal client profile, learn from lost opportunities, and become comfortable saying no. The goal isn't to convince more people to buy insurance. It's to become valuable enough that the right prospects see hiring you as the obvious decision. ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ gwright@mahoneygroup.com Connect with:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Carothers LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guffy Wright Linkedin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit Websites:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Killing Commercial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crushing Content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Power Producers Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Policytee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dirty 130⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Extra 2 Minute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   

Today on the podcast, we welcome Heather Andersen, co-founder of New York Pilates. A former ballerina with deep classical training, Heather's expertise is anatomy-first and grounded in rigorous education from some of the most respected voices in technically precise, anatomy-based Pilates.  Heather co-founded New York Pilates in 2013 as the original reformer studio that helped shape New York's modern Pilates culture. Since then, NYP has become one of the most influential forces shaping modern Pilates. Today, she and Aly discuss alignment, the types of training, and what the “Pilates Girlie” actually is.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Josh conducts a strategy audit for Andrew Gilliland and Dave Hunt of Action Holdings, an e-commerce asset management company in Tampa. The conversation explores their unique business model, challenges in hiring and team management, and the need for more frequent, effective performance reviews. Josh introduces a simplified review system focused on self-assessment, manager feedback, and clear KPIs, recommending reviews every four months. The discussion highlights the importance of aligning team roles, measuring creative work, and maintaining a strong company culture to drive growth across their portfolio of e-commerce brands.Chapters:Introduction to Action Holdings (00:00:00)Overview of Action Holdings, its e-commerce brands, and the company's background and structure.Not an Aggregator: Business Philosophy (00:01:11)Clarification on why Action Holdings is not an aggregator and their selective, family-like approach to brand management.Biggest Challenges: People & Team (00:02:20)Discussion of main business challenges, especially hiring, team management, and putting the right people in the right roles.Performance Review Frequency (00:03:44)Realization that annual reviews are ineffective; shift to four-month performance review cycles for better alignment.Plan of Alignment and Growth (00:04:46)Introduction of a simplified, rubric-based performance review system with self and manager assessments every four months.Performance Review Rubric Details (00:06:48)Explanation of the rubric: culture fit, problem-solving, performance, and KPIs, including self-assessment and manager scoring.Implementing Core Values and KPIs (00:07:51)How to document core values, create scoring rubrics, and establish measurable KPIs for each role.Simplifying the Review Process (00:10:31)Key takeaway: simplify the review process to make it easier for both managers and employees.Challenges with Creative KPIs (00:11:20)Discussion on the difficulty of setting KPIs for creative roles, especially in marketing and design.Defining Measurable KPIs for All Roles (00:12:09)Strategies for creating measurable KPIs for any position, including creative and customer service roles.Evaluating Value and Role Necessity (00:14:30)Assessing whether roles are necessary based on their measurable contribution to business revenue and goals.Final Thoughts and Advice (00:16:05)Closing remarks: encouragement to take risks, think big, and seek expert guidance for business growth.Links and Mentions:Tools and Documents  "Plan of Alignment and Growth Document": "00:05:53"Key Concepts  "Rubric for Performance Reviews": "00:06:48"Advice and Insights  "Quarterly Performance Reviews": "00:04:37"General Recommendations  "Get Josh on Your Calendar": "00:16:06"  "Encouragement to Take Risks": "00:16:13"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  Today I am speaking with Dave Hunt and Andrew Gilliland, and we just conducted a strategy audit for their business. And you get to listen in on all the takeaways that we found for them. Let's start here. First, Andrew and Dave, why don't you guys just share with the audience. You know what it is that you guys do. You have multiple ecommerce brands. Tell us what it is that you have going on. Yeah. So.Andrew Gilliland 00:00:25  in in simple terms, we have a holding company, called Action Holdings. We are an e-commerce asset management company based in downtown Tampa, Florida. the business was started five years ago, but I've been doing e-commerce since I was 8 or 9 years old. and we formulated Action Holdings to organize the various brands that we've launched, acquired. and we'll build in the future. So that's a little bit about Action Holdings.Josh 00:01:03  So it's like you're almost like a mini aggregator in a way. You've got multiple brands under one roof and you're trying to scale them. All right.Andrew Gilliland 00:01:11  So I get this question a lot. And the short answer is not quite. So we do not consider ourselves an aggregator. we it's kind of like a family owned set of brands that we're managing like our babies. So we say no to that question when it comes up, because a lot of aggregators are taking in these assets and kind of just throwing them into the Wild West, Fashion Holdings doesn't do that. We look for very specific deals that we are confident we can provide specialized attention in to grow.Josh 00:01:49  Awesome. I love that, and I think that's important. Like you're approaching it with a very specific, you know, target and you're you're not just acquiring anything just to acquire it, right? I think that's super important. And that definitely showed up in the way that you guys approach your business plans as well, which I think is impressive. So, Andrew, why don't you kind of lead off with, you know, stating what was kind of one of your biggest questions that you had walking into the audit, and what were your hopes of what you were going to get out of the conversation today?Andrew Gilliland 00:02:20  Yeah.Andrew Gilliland 00:02:20  So the as I said to you, Josh, our team is good. We're above average at most of the e-commerce related things that we do. But people has been one of the biggest challenges for our company, making sure we're bringing in the right people, putting them in the right seats, and doing the best that we can to grow our team and business. so that was one of the biggest challenges that we came in with. you walked us through all of the behind the scenes of Hadley designs, and showed us simpler ways that we can effectively lead and manage our growing team. And we are going to implement the, I forget the name of the document, but what you showed us as a simpler way of handling performance reviews, hiring and firing so that we can attract and retain a level talent.Josh 00:03:29  I love it. Dave, what were some of your biggest questions coming into the strategy on it?Dave Hunt 00:03:34  Yeah, I think people was definitely, for me, the biggest thing. beyond, like Andrew said, the right people, the right seats.Dave Hunt 00:03:44  I find we've struggled with timing. Right. How long do you give someone to fit that role? And one of the biggest takeaways I took was, you know, Josh, you're saying every four months we're reviewing these things. And previously we were we were almost looking at it, I want to say on a yearly basis. we did yearly reviews and now looking back and it makes sense. Why would that work? Because if you wait a year to evaluate whether somebody is in the right, see if they're meant for the company, if they align with not only our core goals, but our overall strategy. you're too late. and we've had that bite us before. So looking at that, I like the idea of, you know, quarterly or four month periods where we're really taking a deep dive into the alignment and making sure that the right person, right seat, right time for them to be with us.Josh 00:04:37  Yeah. I think that that is every, business leaders like struggle is how do you get the right people sitting in the right seat? Right.Josh 00:04:46  And that is much easier said than done. But there's logic in how you approach these situations. And I know you guys have heard my podcast, and even in my presentations where I talk about how the process I use to go find and attract a level talent into your business, but then the rubber really meets the road when you bring this person onto your team. And yes, the traditional like, hey, we're going to do an annual performance r...

 Leadership encompasses many required skills and mindsets, and it is always interesting to dissect the topic from fresh angles. One particularly important issue in Japan is the relationship between strategy, organisational culture and brand. Japan has hordes of managers, but not so many leaders. Managers here are often brilliant at getting the operational side humming like a finely tuned engine. Errors are eliminated, defects avoided, deadlines met and processes followed. Leadership requires all of that — plus some important additions. Leaders build the people, set the direction and create the environment in which strategy, culture and brand reinforce each other. What is the difference between management and leadership in Japan? Management keeps the machine running; leadership decides where the machine is going and develops the people who will get it there. Japanese organisations are particularly strong at operational management, consistency, quality control and execution. The problem comes when excellent management is mistaken for leadership. Leaders need to explain not only what must be achieved and how to achieve it, but also why it matters. They develop people rather than merely supervising them. This becomes increasingly important when employees are expected to contribute ideas, solve problems and respond quickly to customers. A boss who simply issues orders may achieve compliance. A leader who gives direction, explains the purpose and develops the team can create commitment. Do now: Ask yourself whether your managers are merely controlling execution or whether they are also building people and setting direction. How should leaders translate corporate strategy into action? Corporate strategy should not stop at the Executive Floor. Each level of leadership needs to translate the overall strategy into a local strategy that makes sense to its own team and customers. The CEO and Division Heads may establish the broad organisational direction, but that cannot be the end of the process. Section and team leaders should take that umbrella strategy and ask their people: "What does this mean for us?" This is where many Japanese organisations leave considerable potential untapped. Those at the coal face are closest to customers. They detect the nuances, hints and shifts occurring in the marketplace every day. Senior executives may have decades of experience, but they can also be decades removed from direct customer interaction. Their market muscle memory may no longer reflect what customers are saying today. Do now: Break the corporate strategy down with your team and create a local version that directly connects their work and customer knowledge to the organisation's larger goals. Why should employees be involved in creating local strategy? The people closest to customers often possess information senior management simply cannot see, so involving them improves both strategy and execution. Strategy becomes stronger when frontline knowledge flows upward rather than instructions only flowing downward. Instead of section heads receiving a strategy and merely distributing orders, imagine them gathering the team and collectively breaking down what the corporate direction means for their part of the business. What are customers changing? What are competitors doing differently? Where are expectations moving? What opportunities are appearing? This approach does something else as well: it gives employees ownership. There is an enormous difference between being told to execute somebody else's plan and helping to determine how your team will achieve the desired result. The overall strategic direction remains intact, but the execution benefits from current market intelligence. Do now: Consult the people closest to the action before deciding exactly how your section will execute the corporate strategy. How does leadership behaviour shape organisational culture? Culture is created by what leaders repeatedly do, tolerate, reward and encourage — not by slogans distributed from headquarters. If the culture is based on "do what you are told", creativity will inevitably be sacrificed for orthodoxy and supposedly defect-free efficiency. Busy lower-level bosses often say they have no time to coach. Instead, they bark orders and micromanage results because they are determined to avoid mistakes appearing on their record. Internal politics can make things even worse. In large organisations, senior patrons gather supporters and loyalty becomes a tax employees pay in exchange for promotion and protection. Suddenly the enemy isn't the commercial rival outside the company. It is another division whose boss happens to be your boss's competitor for the next promotion. That turns enormous amounts of organisational energy inward. Do now: Create a culture where ideas are actively sought, people are thanked for contributing and the real competitive enemy remains outside the enterprise. What does leadership have to do with corporate and personal brand? Brand is much more than the company logo or tagline; it is the accumulated experience of how people inside the organisation think, behave and work. Leadership therefore plays a direct role in determining whether the brand promise is credible. A strong internal brand is reflected in professionalism, reliability, creativity and integrity. Employees should feel that putting forward ideas is part of the brand. Being listened to should be part of the brand too. That creates a very different organisation from the old "all hands to the oars of the slave ship" model. Beating the drum harder and lashing the oar bearers may create activity, but it will not create committed people or a compelling organisational brand. Professional personal brands matter as well. Employees build reputations through how reliably, creatively and professionally they perform their work. Do now: Stop treating brand as a Marketing Department responsibility. Examine whether everyday leadership behaviour actually reinforces the brand you claim to represent. How can leaders align personal values with organisational values? Values cannot be embedded through a CEO email; middle-level leaders have to connect organisational values with what genuinely matters to individual team members. Alignment requires conversation rather than corporate broadcasting. The leader first needs to understand the values of the people in the team. What matters to them? What type of professional do they want to become? What principles guide how they approach their work? The next step is finding common ground between those personal values and the values the organisation claims to represent. When rhetoric and reality match, employees can become proud of what their company stands for. They are also more likely to invest in improving their own professional brand because self-development is encouraged rather than merely demanded. The slave ship is transformed into a volunteer corps of committed people trying to beat competitors in the marketplace. Do now: Discuss values individually with team members and identify where personal ambitions, professional standards and organisational values genuinely intersect. Bringing Strategy, Culture and Brand Together Strategy, culture and brand should not operate as three disconnected corporate initiatives. Strategy establishes where the organisation is going. Culture determines how people behave while getting there. Brand becomes the internal and external expression of what the organisation actually stands for. Leadership is the mixing agent. When leaders explain the WHY, involve people in translating enterprise strategy into local action, encourage ideas, coach their teams and align individual values with organisational values, the three elements start reinforcing each other. So how does your organisation compare? Do your people actually understand the strategy? Have they created a local extension of it based on their knowledge of customers? Does information genuinely flow from the top down and the bottom up? Are people encouraged to contribute ideas? Are they conscious of their own professional brands? And does the lived culture match the brand rhetoric? If not, there is work to do. So, how is the cocktail mixing process going down at your shop? Author Bio Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across leadership, communication, sales and presentation programmes, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.

Rav Eytan Kleinberg's “Likkutei Sichot” series, Rosh Hashana 5786

I've spent a lot of time thinking about alignment—not just as a personal-growth concept, but as something that directly affects how we lead, build businesses, make decisions, and live our lives. In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Esther Wildenberg, an executive coach, entrepreneur, consultant, and AI business owner who has spent more than 20 years helping leaders recognize when they've drifted out of alignment and find their way back. Esther describes alignment as the place where our purpose, passion, heart, identity, and actions are working together—and when they are, we create a kind of inbound energy that attracts the right people, opportunities, and growth. We get very practical about what happens when that alignment disappears. Esther calls it "founder's fatigue": when we become obsessed with everything that isn't working, blame our employees, clients, finances, or circumstances, and convince ourselves we simply don't have enough time. She explains why stepping away from the business can actually be one of the most productive things an entrepreneur can do, including her unconventional three-day process of removing clients from their normal environment—and even taking away their phones—to create enough space for clarity. We also dive into Esther's own experience during the COVID pandemic, when a company pivot, a newborn son in the NICU, isolation, and an identity crisis forced her to completely rethink how she was living and leading. Ultimately, this conversation is about learning to step out of the trenches, reconnect with yourself, and create the kind of business and life that actually supports the person you want to become. Highlights (02:49) – Esther defines alignment and explains why getting your energy, purpose, passion, identity, and messaging into sync can dramatically change how your business grows. (03:58) – Why alignment is so difficult: the uncomfortable necessity of slowing down, creating silence and solitude, and actually listening to what your life is telling you. (06:49) – The biggest challenge of growing a team: why the people you hire will never care about your business exactly the way you do—and why entrepreneurs need to let go of that expectation. (08:24) – Why a candidate saying "no" to a past employer isn't necessarily a red flag—and the question Esther asks to uncover whether someone has actually learned from their failures. (09:23) – "Founder's fatigue": the warning signs that you're out of alignment, including constantly focusing on what's broken and blaming everyone around you. (12:25) – The hidden cost of the hustle: how an obsession with productivity, money, and growth can quietly destroy your health, relationships, and sense of balance. (12:55) – Why entrepreneurs may need to stop thinking in three- to five-year plans and start developing the ability to pivot every 90 days to six months. (14:48) – Esther's unconventional alignment reset: stepping completely out of your business for three days to gain enough distance to actually see the problem clearly. (15:09) – Why Esther takes away her clients' phones—and how she believes 90% of their problems can begin to resolve once they're removed from the environment creating the stress. (17:34) – The power of changing your environment and surrounding yourself with people who face similar challenges, including Esther's experience in high-level masterminds. (19:30) – Why taking an hour for yourself in the morning can actually make you more productive, focused, and magnetic throughout the rest of your day. (20:36) – Esther's raw story of founder's fatigue during the COVID pandemic: a company pivot, a newborn son, six weeks in the NICU, isolation, and a complete crisis of identity. (23:17) – The turning point: how Esther hired a coach, changed the direction of her company, and shifted from focusing on sales and revenue to helping people thrive and connect. (24:31) – The podcast question that changed Esther's perspective on her own impact—and helped her realize she didn't need to reach thousands of people to make a meaningful difference. (26:00) – Why Esther stopped preparing for podcasts and stages and began trusting what she calls the "download" of what she needs to say in the moment. (31:54) – Esther explains why vulnerability is central to her work and how she uses her own painful experiences to help others move through similar challenges faster. (34:12) – Esther's powerful prediction about the future of AI and technology—and why the ability to deeply connect with other human beings may become our most valuable skill. (35:21) – Her final challenge: build real communities, become an excellent communicator, and strengthen the human relationships that technology can never replace.

Most leaders think they're fixing a performance problem when they're actually managing a clarity problem. Dusty Holcomb, CEO and founder of The Arcqus Group, joins me to break down a deceptively simple idea: remove ambiguity and performance follows. We get specific about what “clarity” really means in leadership and why it has nothing to do with barking orders or tightening control.We talk through one of the hardest career transitions, moving from the person who gets results to the person who creates the conditions for other people to get results. That includes letting go of the spotlight, hiring people who are better than you, and shifting from “how to do it” instructions to clear outcomes that give your team agency. Along the way, Dusty shares a practical lens that instantly changes how you communicate: your question to statement ratio. The higher you go, the more questions you should ask and the better you must get at listening.We also explore the hidden friction that comes from expectations trapped inside a leader's head. Dusty explains how “rules of engagement” act like a decoder ring for your team: what you value, how you make decisions, how you prefer to communicate, how you give feedback, and what your non negotiables are. If you've ever felt frustrated that people “should just know,” this conversation gives you a better path, plus a simple two minute meeting prep framework you can use today.If you found this useful, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share the episode with a leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Last week I introduced the say do gap the space between what you say you want financially and what your actions are actually supporting.This week I want to give you a framework for understanding why that gap exists and what it actually looks like in your day to day relationship with money. Because the gap does not look the same for everyone, and understanding your specific pattern is what makes it possible to actually close it.In this episode, I'll introduce the Four A's of Money Alignment so you can better understand the gap you need to close to reach your financial goals this year.The Four A's are not a personality test. They're a tool to help you illuminate why you might feel financially stuck in this season so you can respond with appropriate action.We'll explore what it means to be Avoidant, Aspirational, Accidental, or Aligned with your money and how recognizing your current pattern can help you move toward a financial life that actually supports what you say you want.Because the goal isn't to be perfect with your money. It's to understand what you're building and make decisions that help you build it.In this episode you'll learn...[00:05:10] Why the aspirational money pattern is so common among my clients [00:10:30] What avoidance actually looks like for a high earner, why a six-figure income can make it easier to put off dealing with your money[00:15:45] Why the accidental money pattern can look really good from the outside while still leaving you without ownership of your financial success[00:20:20] What aligned money management actually means and why it has nothing to do with being perfect, never overspending, or having a car that never breaks down.[00:25:40] How to use the Four A's as a tool for identifying your current money pattern in different areas of your financial life, so you can stop judging yourself for where you are and start making decisions about where you actually want to go.Tune in to this episode of Money Files to learn the four A's of money alignment and identify which pattern is showing up in your financial life right now so you can finally close the gap between what you say you want and the actions that will actually get you there.Get full show notes and the episode transcript: https://wealthovernow.com/the-4-money-alignment-types-why-your-money-goals-arent-working/Links mentioned in this episode…Set up a call | Financial Coach Washington, DC | Wealth Over NowDownload my FREE spending plan

Are you actually functioning as the owner of your business, or have you simply created a job for yourself? In this episode, we break down five distinct roles we can occupy as pet care business owners, from owner technician to enterprise owner. We explore how our responsibilities, mindset, and definition of productive work must change as the business grows and other people begin taking responsibility. We also discuss why moving "up" these stages isn't inherently better and why a successful solo sitter may be exactly where you need to be. Ultimately, we need to identify the role we are actually playing, decide which role we want, and make sure our daily work aligns with the business we're trying to build. Main topics: Identifying Your Actual Role Five Business Ownership Stages Delegating Work and Authority Shifting Your Leadership Mindset Aligning Work With Goals Main takeaway: "The problem comes when your current role is in opposition to what your stated goal is." There is nothing wrong with being the person doing the visits, making the schedule, managing the team, or setting the strategy. The question is whether the work you're doing today actually supports the business you say you want tomorrow. If you want a small, profitable business where you personally care for pets, staying in the field can be perfect alignment. If you want to build a company that operates without your daily involvement, but you're still making next Tuesday's schedule, something has to change. Growth isn't automatically the goal. Alignment is. What role are you actually playing in your business today—and is it taking you where you want to go? Links: Check out our Starter Packs See all of our discounts!

Send us Fan MailNobody's lazy. Nobody's sitting on the sidelines. Everyone is pulling their weight — and somehow, nothing is moving forward. If that sounds familiar, it's not an effort problem. It's a direction problem.This week's Monday Morning Motivation tells the story of the Swan, the Pike, and the Crab — an old fable about three strong, capable characters who all try to move the same cart, and all pull it a different way. It's one of the simplest explanations you'll ever hear for why hard work alone doesn't guarantee progress, why "everyone's busy" isn't the same as "everyone's aligned," and why sometimes the person pulling in three directions at once... is you.You'll walk away with one question to ask this week that can tell you, almost instantly, whether your effort is actually building something — or just wearing everyone out.

Is What You “SAY” About Your Priorities In Alignment with What You “DO”? MESSAGE SUMMARY: From the Gospel of Luke (Luke 12:32-48): Our Life's Priorities A Priority is a preference or a precedence established by order or urgency. Your priorities are reflected in your actual behavior and actions not by what you say are your priorities. In other words, is your “say” in alignment with your “do”? In Luke 12:32-48, Jesus is speaking to His priorities for us. Jesus begins this passage in Luke 12 by telling those in attendance, followers of Jesus like us, that He has given them His Kingdom. Also, Jesus defined our priorities for being in His Kingdom. We are created to become like Jesus – we were made for a mission. We need to be in a personal relationship with God so that we know what His priorities and His will are for us. Luke 12:32-48 speaks to two priorities of the Kingdom: 1) Luke 12:33-40 – “being a ready follower of Jesus”; and 2) Luke 12:41-48 – “being a responsible steward of the Kingdom”. Are we ready to follow Jesus, and do we make ourselves available to follow Jesus – is being ready for Jesus our priority? Are we afraid to be ready for Jesus when He has given us the Kingdom? In this passage from Luke 12:32-48, Jesus gives us three things that provide a context for following Him: 1) be ready to give; 2) be ready to go; and 3) be ready to greet the Master. To be a “responsible steward”, is not so much “what we have been given as our charge: rather, the focus of our “stewardship responsibility” should be what we do with our charge. It is a deep privilege to know what God wants us to do, but if we are not ready to follow God's will for us while being a good steward, our priorities are not in alignment with God's priorities. God's justice is based on our knowledge and obedience, and we are accountable for what we know. God wants to bless us; but when we refuse to follow His will, we miss out on His blessings for us.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 12:32-48; Romans 14:7-9; 1 John 3:17; Psalms 39:1-13. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/  DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The disciples watched Jesus pray. The New Testament records him praying thirty-four times, and they were often in the room for it. Prayer is still the one subject in the Gospels where they came to him and asked directly to be taught: "Lord, teach us to pray." In week four of the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Julie Hamilton opens Matthew 6:5-13 and starts with a quilt. It was made for her as a child, it is worn and frayed now and lives in a closet, and it has part of a prayer stitched onto it that she recited every night while climbing underneath. "Before I even knew my soul and body could be parted, my mouth prayed words with eternal implication." Before Jesus hands over the model, he clears two things out of the way. There is prayer as performance - the street-corner prayers timed and positioned for maximum visibility, which Jesus says have already been paid in full by the applause they were aimed at. And there is prayer as magic formula - heaping up words as though God has to be worn down or brought up to speed. Then comes the hinge of the passage: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." If God already knows, the reason to pray has to be something other than getting him the information. Relationship. Trust. Alignment. In Methodist language, prevenient grace - God already at work ahead of us, before we know to ask. What Jesus gives next is a pattern for a heart pointed the right way, which is a very different thing from a formula to recite. It moves through four movements: the address, the priorities, the provision, and the praise. Four words of it - "Our Father in heaven" - carry intimacy, community and transcendence at the same time. And the prayer closes where it opened, pointing back at God. Series: Learning from Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount Speaker: Pastor Julie Hamilton Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13 Recorded: September 6, 2026 New Hope Church | Brandon, Florida - findnewhope.com Watch and listen to past messages: findnewhope.com/message-archive

Relationships are a key to carrying out the call on our lives. We were never meant to walk alone, and yet, if we are walking with those God didn't ordain, it can delay, distort, and even slowly destroy our destiny. Recognizing who God has assigned to your life and having the maturity to make the necessary shifts is key in this hour.

One Big Idea 6 - Driving Purpose-Driven Growth: From Identity Alignment and Cellular Health to Executive ResiliencyIn this episode of One Big Idea, host Josh Elledge connects with Carol Pyke, Dr. Paul Barattiero, Emily Lyman, Stewart Heath, Tanny Diep, and Rachel Apfel Glass to break down the operational strategies required to build enduring brands, optimize human performance, and scale multi-faceted enterprises. Carol Pyke, Keynote Speaker & Workshop Facilitator at Words That Deliver, opens the episode by detailing why executive self-identity serves as an irreplaceable differentiator in an AI-driven economy. Dr. Paul Barattiero, CEO and Founder of LumaNova, then explores the physiological impact of molecular hydrogen on cellular energy and executive performance. Next, Branch & Bramble Founder & CEO Emily Lyman breaks down how direct-to-consumer brands can operationalize empathy to boost customer lifetime value. Stewart Heath, Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Grace Corporation, details the mechanics of syndications and tax-advantaged passive real estate investing. Sway Brows Academy & Studio Founder Tanny Diep introduces the prototyping mindset to help creators convert early action into viable business models. Finally, Gloss Lab and OFICINALE Founder Rachel Apfel Glass closes the episode by sharing the strategic advantages, emotional composure, and risk management strategies of second-time founders.Discovering Your True Identity to Become a Better Leader with Carol PykeIn an era where artificial intelligence can quickly replicate strategic frameworks, generate marketing copy, and automate routine workflows, many corporate leaders struggle to articulate their true value proposition. Personal brand strategist Carol Pyke explains that her "one big idea" addresses this exact challenge: core identity is the ultimate, non-replicable foundation of executive leadership. Drawing from her personal experience of overcoming retrograde amnesia following a stroke, Carol illustrates how professionals frequently mistake temporary external roles, job titles, and career achievements for their actual self-worth. Utilizing her "Mrs. Potato Head" analogy—where the underlying potato represents the unchangeable core and external accessories represent transient professional titles—she challenges leaders to discover who they are before deciding what to execute.To build an unshakeable executive presence that eliminates imposter syndrome, leaders must actively separate their internal identity from external metrics. Carol outlines actionable exercises, such as auditing LinkedIn profiles to remove job-title labels and reframing challenging events by separating raw facts from emotional reactions. By shifting away from short-term public validation and committing to deep self-reflection, executives can lead with absolute authenticity. In a volatile business landscape, establishing a clear, grounded identity enables leaders to make confident, value-aligned decisions that build long-term organizational trust.The Natural Antioxidant Your Body Needs for Energy and Immunity with LumaNova's Dr. Paul BarattieroSustained executive performance, mental clarity, and operational endurance depend heavily on underlying cellular health, yet chronic stress and poor lifestyle habits constantly degrade performance. Dr. Paul Barattiero explains that his "one big idea" centers on the therapeutic role of molecular hydrogen in combating systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. While a healthy colon naturally produces hydrogen gas through anaerobic bacterial activity, over 90% of individuals suffer from gut disruption caused by stress, processed diets, and antibiotics. This breakdown diminishes natural hydrogen production, leading to cellular fatigue, brain fog, and weakened immune function.To counteract these physical bottlenecks, Dr. Paul outlines how restoring molecular hydrogen levels can significantly improve cellular energy production and gut microbiome health. Infusing water with molecular hydrogen and a negative electrical potential mimics a healthy gut ecosystem, providing a selective antioxidant that neutralizes harmful free radicals without disrupting beneficial metabolic processes. For busy founders and high-performing executives, incorporating daily hydrogen therapy helps lower recovery times, sharpen cognitive focus, and protect long-term physical vitality.Building Stronger Direct-to-Consumer Brands Through Empathy and AI with Branch & Bramble's Emily LymanAs automated generative tools flood consumer inboxes and social feeds with generic marketing messages, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands face a severe crisis of consumer indifference. Marketing strategist Emily Lyman highlights that her "one big idea" redefines empathy: it is not a soft interpersonal skill, but a measurable, business-critical growth strategy. Because human purchasing decisions are driven primarily by emotional connection rather than feature lists, brands that rely solely on automated, spec-heavy copy fail to build lasting customer relationships. By leveraging AI strictly for data research—mining customer reviews, support tickets, and social sentiment for underlying emotional patterns—marketers can uncover what truly resonates with their audience.To operationalize empathy across multi-channel campaigns, brands must establish structured frameworks to research, score, and scale emotional resonance. Emily emphasizes that while AI can efficiently surface data trends, human strategists must interpret those findings to craft authentic, value-driven brand narratives. Reframing product messaging around customer values—such as positioning safety features around protecting family experiences rather than listing technical specifications—dramatically improves conversion rates and long-term retention. Treating empathy as a core marketing discipline enables DTC companies to cut through digital noise and build enduring brand equity.Everything You Need to Know About Syndications and Passive Investing with Harvard Grace Capital's Stewart HeathMany high-earning professionals remain trapped on the corporate treadmill because their financial growth depends entirely on active, earned income that carries heavy tax burdens. Real estate executive Stewart Heath shares his core thesis: passive real estate syndications provide a reliable, tax-advantaged path to replacing working income and building generational wealth. Commercial real estate offers built-in inflation protection, tangible asset backing, and equity multiplication through conservative leverage. Furthermore, pass-through tax benefits like accelerated depreciation allow investors to offset passive distributions, shielding their cash flow from heavy taxation.Achieving true financial independence through passive real estate requires a disciplined approach to sponsor selection and deal structuring. Stewart advises investors to thoroughly vet real estate sponsors by analyzing their historical track records, operational transparency, risk-management protocols, and alignment of interest through preferred return structures. Investors can also utilize self-directed IRAs or 401(k)s to deploy tax-deferred capital into commercial syndications across multiple property types. By focusing on steady cash-flowing assets and reinvesting refinancing proceeds, passive investors can systematically construct a resilient portfolio that delivers predictable, long-term returns.Turning Early Practice into Real Business Opportunities with Sway Brows Academy & Studio's Tanny DiepA common trap for aspiring entrepreneurs and creative professionals is falling into "analysis paralysis"—spending months over-preparing, conducting endless market research, and perfecting products behind closed doors before ever testing them with real customers. Beauty industry educator and business coach Tanny Diep introduces her "one big idea": actionable business clarity does not exist until you launch and test in the real world. Relying on theory or simulated practice creates a false sense of security, whereas immediate real-world deployment provides the critical feedback needed to refine an offering.To convert concepts into viable business opportunities, founders must adopt a lean, prototyping mindset. Tanny encourages entrepreneurs to simplify their initial offerings down to a minimum viable product (MVP), launch quickly to a target audience, and gather direct market feedback. Overcoming perfectionism requires making an offering exist first before attempting to make it perfect. By pairing immediate execution with fast, iterative refinement, business owners build operational resilience, cultivate genuine client confidence, and establish a distinct competitive edge.The Entrepreneurial Comeback That Proves Patience Pays Off with Rachel GlassLaunching a second or serial venture is a fundamentally different experience than building a first company, primarily due to the emotional composure and perspective gained from past setbacks. Serial entrepreneur Rachel Apfel Glass shares her insights as a second-time founder, presenting her "one big idea": sustainable entrepreneurial growth relies on emotional resilience and protective detachment. While first-time founders often view every vendor mistake or operational hiccup as an existential crisis, experienced founders learn to manage emotional swings, anticipate normal operational friction, and approach problems with a calm, solution-oriented mindset.Navigating second-time entrepreneurship successfully requires transforming hard-won lessons into systematic operational playbooks. Rachel highlights how managing founder anxiety involves normalizing daily business challenges and leaning heavily on an established...

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stacey Gholar.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stacey Gholar.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stacey Gholar.

What does it mean to truly live authentically?In this episode of A Little Less Fear Podcast, Lino Martinez, Psy.D. speaks with authenticity expert Norma Hollis about discovering who we really are and learning to express our natural gifts and talents.Norma shares her Three Voices of Authenticity: the Inner Voice, Outer Voice, and Expressive Voice. We explore developing a relationship with your inner voice, practicing self-care, understanding your personal values, and expressing the gifts you were born to share with the world.We also discuss how people-pleasing and childhood experiences can disconnect us from our authentic selves, why authenticity requires alignment, and how your lifestyle can either support or hinder your life mission.Other topics include abundance and joy as our true net wealth, divine timing versus deadlines, the idea of a “lifeline, not a deadline,” and why we often teach what we need to learn.In this episode:• Authenticity and self-awareness• The Inner, Outer, and Expressive Voice• Discovering your natural gifts and talents• People-pleasing and authenticity• Identifying and living by your personal values• Authenticity and alignment• Divine timing and trusting your path• Living in alignment with your life mission• Abundance, joy, and true wealthFree Authenticity Assessment:AuthenticityAssessment.comConnect with Norma Hollis:LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/normahollis/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/authenticityunowInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/normahollis/Otherhttps://www.facebook.com/NormaTHollis/A Little Less Fear PodcastHosted by Lino Martinez, Psy.D.This is Dr. Lino Martinez the host for A Little Less Fear Podcast. For more information, please use the information below. Thanks so much for your support!Author | A Little Less FearA Little LESS FEAR Podcast (@alittlelessfearpodcast) • Instagram photos and videosLino Marinez (@alittlelessfear) TikTok | Watch Lino Marinez's Newest TikTok Videos(4) A Little Less Fear Podcast - YouTube

In Episode 205, Phil and Paul wrap up Season 14's The People Advantage series with Episode 10—the finale. Ten episodes in, they bring it all together around one core idea: alignment beats talent, every single time. Equal talent, or even a talent disadvantage, doesn't matter if your team is aligned and the other one isn't. What happens off the field always shows up on it. And since everyone stops playing the sport eventually, the real question is what lessons are actually being built into the people playing it. Phil and Paul close out the series with stories from turning around losing programs, why "safe to serve" beats "scared to survive," and why the bench matters just as much as the starting eleven. ⸻ Specifically, they discuss: Alignment Beats Talent  A program with a baseline of talent but total belief in each other can outperform teams with far more talent and no cohesion. Culture built early in a rebuild is what makes the difference years later. People First, Players Second  Identity can't be wrapped up in being a player—because coaches who only coach the player miss the person. Teams that are aligned on coaching the whole person get better performance as a byproduct. Safe to Serve, Not Scared to Survive  A team full of people who know their identity plays free instead of tense. When everyone is serving each other instead of protecting themselves, nobody is playing out of position or holding back. Role Clarity Creates Buy-In—Even on the Bench  Bench players may not like their role, but clear communication about what that role requires—and what it takes to change it—creates real buy-in instead of resentment. From Rivalry to Advocacy  A story about two teammates—one starting, one on the bench—who built a real relationship once the bench player learned what the starter was quietly struggling with. Vulnerability turned a rivalry into genuine support. Culture of Vulnerability  None of this works without walls coming down first. A team that creates space for people to be known—not just to perform—builds relationships that make everyone better. Talent Doesn't Equal Alignment  Even the most talented teams can implode without alignment. Talent gets you attention; alignment gets you results. ⸻ Key Takeaway Team alignment will beat talent every single time. It's built through people-first coaching, role clarity for every player (not just the starters), and a culture where vulnerability and service replace fear and self-protection. The lessons carry far beyond the field—these are the same things that make someone a better parent, spouse, coach, and leader long after the game is over. ⸻ This wraps Season 14's The People Advantage series. If it's resonated with you, go back through the full series with your coaching staff, your team, or your family—and share how it's shown up in your own leadership. Phil and Paul want to hear it, and it'll help shape what comes next. You can also connect with Phil through Darke Leadership Group to learn how DISC training, team alignment, and communication strategies help organizations build the kind of culture that outperforms talent alone. Resources and Links from this Episode ·                 Uncut Video of the Episode ·                 Darke Leadership Group (Team Alignment/DISC Behavioral Training/Coaching) ·                 Warrior Way Soccer

Alignment and autonomy allow organizations to grow without creating confusion or leadership bottlenecks. Episode 815 explains how leaders can define decision authority, communicate clear standards, develop stronger decision makers, and scale leadership beyond their personal availability.Host: Paul FalavolitoConnect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree, YouTubeView my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.comBooks by Paul FalavolitoThe 7 Minute Leadership® Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFGThe Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1PfThe 7 Minute Leadership® Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8yThe Leader's Book of Secrets: http://bit.ly/4oeGzCIRed Key Leadership®: https://bit.ly/3SoKrpO

Vinny Brusco is an insight and perspective coach, community builder, and podcast host who helps men cultivate clarity, connection, and purpose. After 16 years in the car business, he walked away from a lucrative but misaligned career to build a life and business rooted in what matters most to him: authentic brotherhood, mental and spiritual health, and intentional living. As the founder of Agora Social Club and host of The Council of Dudes podcast (with over 500 episodes), Vinny creates spaces where men can drop the performative self-help act and actually live in alignment instead of autopilot. On this episode we talk about: Leaving a high-income, misaligned career for a more meaningful path How sales skills become a “break glass in case of emergency” safety net Why fulfillment in the pursuit matters more than status or titles The loneliness epidemic among men and entrepreneurs Building real, local community through Agora Social Club and long-form conversation Top 3 Takeaways You can be making great money and still be completely out of alignment—and no number in your bank account will fix that internal mismatch. Learning to sell is one of the most valuable “forever skills” you can develop, giving you the confidence to take bigger risks in pursuit of a life you actually want. Deep, in-person community and long-form conversation are antidotes to modern male loneliness, especially for entrepreneurial men who often feel isolated at the top. Notable Quotes “This isn't a weekend hobby; it's a heart-and-soul project that needs a life force behind it.” “If you'd still do it even if you never became ‘the best' at it, you're probably on the right path.” “The transaction is just an energetic byproduct of a real, authentic conversation.” Connect with Vinny Brusco: Instagram (personal): @vinnybrusco Agora Social Club website: ⁠agorasocialclub.com⁠ Instagram (club): @agora_westchester Podcast: ⁠The Council of Dudes A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a year away, Juanique returns to the Gutsy Health Podcast with a deeply personal update on what made her step back from her business, the podcast, and the constant pressure to keep going. She shares why selling Provo Health became part of her own healing, what she learned from slowing down, and why she ultimately decided there are still conversations worth having. Plus, she gives an update on the clinic's transition to Red River Orem, its evolving approach to CIRS, and what listeners can expect in this new season.Timestamps00:00 — Your Body Can Heal 01:00 — Welcome Back to Gutsy Health 02:00 — Why the Old Me Is Gone 03:00 — Living Out of Alignment 05:00 — The Breaking Point 06:00 — Selling Provo Health 08:00 — Choosing Rest and Healing 10:00 — What Still Lights Me Up? 12:00 — Why the Podcast Is Staying 14:00 — Stepping Away From the Algorithm 15:00 — Protecting My Time and Energy 16:00 — The Future of Gutsy Academy 17:00 — Parenting and Body Doubling 18:00 — Having Capacity to Support Others 20:00 — What's Next for the Podcast 23:00 — CIRS and Autoimmune Overlap 24:00 — Looking Beyond Mold 25:00 — Treating the Whole Health Picture 26:00 — What My Illness Taught Me 28:00 — When Healing Feels Impossible 29:00 — Understanding the Order of Healing 30:00 — Keep Going 31:00 — These Days Aren't Forever 32:00 — A New Season BeginsConnect:Gutsy Health Website / Gutsy Academy: My Gutsy Health — the episode discusses the Gutsy Academy and its future membership format. The official site currently houses Gutsy Health resources.Gutsy Health Podcast: Gutsy Health PodcastGutsy Health Podcast Instagram: @gutsyhealthpodcastJuanique's Instagram: @gutsy_momGina Worful's Instagram: @gina.worfulSend us Fan Mail

You hit the goal. You got the title, the revenue, the recognition. And instead of the feeling you expected, there's a quiet flatness you can't explain to anyone. In this episode, Elyse Archer unpacks why success so often lands hollow and walks through four things to look at when the outside is working but the inside isn't.You'll learn:- Why outgrowing a goal on the way to achieving it is normal, and how to give yourself permission to change course- The desert island test that reveals whether you built what you actually wanted or what you thought would make you feel worthy- Why fulfillment requires telling the truth, and what happens when you stop putting a smiley face on an empty gas tank- How to reverse-engineer your business from how you want to feel instead of what looks good on paper- The vacuum law of prosperity, and why letting go of what's not working is what makes room for what isIf you've been quietly wondering whether this is really it, this episode will help you name what's actually going on and start building toward a version of success that feels as good as it looks.✨ JOIN THE 10K CLUBElyse's program for women ready to scale to consistent 10K months and beyond → https://elysearcher.com/10kclub/

Leave an Amazon Rating or Review for my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy! Check out the full episode: https://greatness.lnk.to/1971DM A woman stopped Jim Curtis on the street, hugged him, and thanked him for the workshop that “changed her life”. Turns out she got divorced and lost her job right after. She said it was the best thing that ever happened. She finally realized she was worth more, met the love of her life, and now makes double the money. Jim's framework is Release, Align, Become. First you find the hidden beliefs quietly running your life, stuff like “I'll always be broke” or “I'll be single forever”. You can't release what you can't see. It's like living in an invisible cage built from something your dad said when you were a kid. Release uses journaling, mirror exercises, even cord cutting to physically shake loose old programming, not just talk about it. Alignment isn't just wanting something, it's falling so in love with the vision that clarity and excitement do the work for you. Become is about shifting your body's homeostasis, literally changing what you believe you're capable of holding. How do you know it worked? Things get easier. You start receiving more love, more money, more flow instead of forcing everything. This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about freeing yourself. Sign up for the Greatness newsletter: http://www.greatness.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a world where AI can generate almost any information on demand, traditional info-product businesses are quietly collapsing and many founders don't yet realize why they feel so stuck. In this episode, returning guest Ric Thompson of TemporalRead explains why “information is free, but wisdom, judgment, and human connection are more valuable than ever” and how founders can adapt before they get left behind. Ric dives into how AI has blown up the old model of selling static courses, PDFs, and information products. Instead of competing with AI on raw knowledge (a losing game), Ric shows why the real leverage is in who you are: your unique perspective, decision-making, and ability to connect with people. They explore how books, podcasts, and content are shifting from being revenue engines to credibility and authority assets that drive done-for-you services, implementation, and deeper client relationships. A key theme of the conversation is Ric's concept of the three critical alignments every founder needs: alignment with yourself, alignment between you and your business model, and alignment with present-day reality. If your business no longer fits who you are, or ignores today's economic and technological landscape you experience friction, plateaus, and that “I'm doing everything right, but nothing's working” feeling. Ric explains why so many entrepreneurs struggle when they try to follow a mentor's blueprint that was built for a completely different personality, skill set, or era. Ric also digs into the broader forces reshaping business: relentless AI acceleration, years of inflation affecting your buyers, and a massive changing of the guard as many established experts simply opt out rather than adapt. Inside that disruption is opportunity for founders willing to rethink their role, lean into AI as a leverage tool, and intentionally design businesses that showcase their humanity instead of hiding it. They even flip the classic advice about building owner-independent companies, discussing how you can now “clone” your voice, judgment, and presence with AI so that your personal brand actually becomes a sellable asset rather than a liability. To help founders get unstuck, Ric shares his diagnostic approach clearing the “fog” around what's really capping your growth. He introduces a simple assessment at temporalread.com/gift/plank, designed to reveal the five core structural reasons an established business stops growing and which one is holding you back right now. Rather than guessing, binging more content, or endlessly chatting with AI, you can answer a focused set of questions about the business you're actually running and get clarity on your true constraint. https://youtu.be/qKYCnBNb8jo?si=OJsBAn_86L4xGoRo The episode wraps with a powerful insight inspired by Marcus Aurelius: “What stands in the way becomes the way.” Ric explains how understanding your constraints, who you're not, what doesn't work for you, where the market has shifted doesn't limit you; it points you to your real path forward. If you're a founder feeling misaligned, overwhelmed by AI, or uncertain about your next move, this conversation will help you see how to compete in an AI-driven world by becoming more yourself, not less. Quotes: “You can't beat AI at knowledge. You can only compete by doing what AI cannot do: wisdom, judgment, and human connection.” “The world is not what it was two years ago, and if your business hasn't kept up with that, you're in trouble.” "For decades we were told that to sell a business, the owner had to step out. Now, if I can throw everything about me into AI, I can go along with the business when it gets sold." Contact Details: Find the Constraint Your Strategy Keeps Missing → Apply for The Temporal Read Connect with Ric Thompson on LinkedIn for Smarter Business Strategies and Insights Follow Ric Thompson on Facebook and Stay in the Conversation

What does success really look like—and who gets to define it? In the final episode of this three-part conversation, Dr. Kim sits down with Tom Pfeiffer to talk about the subtle ways we drift from our priorities without even realizing it. Together they unpack why saying "yes" to every good opportunity can cost us what matters most, how small daily habits shape the life we're building, and why true success isn't measured by titles or achievements but by living a life that's aligned with your values. Whether you're feeling stuck, stretched too thin, or simply wondering if you're chasing the right things, this conversation will challenge you to slow down, evaluate what's most important, and take one intentional step toward the life God is calling you to live.   Episode Highlights: Learn how "priority drift" quietly pulls you away from what matters most—and how to stop it. Why chasing alignment instead of success leads to greater freedom, purpose, and peace. Simple daily habits that create lasting change, both personally and professionally. Practical encouragement to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start taking the next right step. Quotes from This Episode: Tom Pfeifer: "Priority drift doesn't happen all at once. It's one extra meeting, one extra commitment, one extra 'yes.'" "Every time you say yes to something, you're saying no to something else." "Success is what other people can see. Alignment is when the life you're living matches the values you say you have." "The best decision I ever made was to stop chasing success and start chasing alignment." "Sports are supposed to be fun. You're not going to war." "So many of the things we worry about are first-world problems." "Don't quit your job tomorrow. Start stacking proof one day at a time." "Your habits become discipline, and discipline will always outlast motivation." "Everyone has the same 24 hours. It's not about having time—it's about the choices you make." "Just do the thing. Take the first step and let tomorrow build on today." Dr. Kim Kimberling: "Culture doesn't pull us away from what matters overnight—it happens one small drift at a time." "When we say yes to too many good things, we often end up saying no to the people who matter most." "The hardest part of protecting your priorities is learning to say no." "You don't always realize you're drifting until you look up and wonder how you got so far from what matters." "Don't get impatient. Big life changes are built one step at a time." "Working out changes far more than your body—it changes your confidence and your mindset." "One day stacked on another becomes a habit, and habits shape the life you live." "Ask yourself: Are you drifting? And if you are, where is that drift taking you?" "The best opportunities aren't always the ones that align with your priorities." "You have to define success for yourself instead of letting culture define it for you."   Time to Talk About It:  Where have you noticed "priority drift" in your own life, and what's one step you can take to realign with what matters most? How do you currently define success? Has that definition changed over the years? What's one habit or daily choice that could help you become more intentional with your time, relationships, or calling?  

Larry is back in studio with his wife Jessica for the fourth installment of their couples series, recorded the same month they hit 23 years of marriage and 30 years of knowing each other. This time the whole conversation centers on one word that quietly makes or breaks a marriage: alignment. Most couples, Larry notes from a decade of coaching, are misaligned on parenting, money, intimacy, and faith, and never realize it until it derails their connection. Larry and Jessica walk through how they actually got aligned over 22 years, from choosing experiences over stuff and a backyard over a sports car, to spending on healthy food and shared workouts, to raising kids who value connection over possessions. They're honest that it came through constant, daily communication, the kind most couples avoid. If your marriage feels more like managing a household than sharing a life, this conversation is a window into how two people build shared values on purpose.   Timeline Summary [3:04] – What alignment in marriage actually means, and how misalignment shows up [6:09] – The daily reality of getting kids to help, and delegating chores [10:10] – Pulling back the curtain on a heated dinner with one of their kids the night before [10:52] – Why cleaning became Larry and Jessica's separate processing and thinking time [12:10] – The core values exercise and discovering they valued environment and connection, not possessions [13:36] – Their family mission: experiences over stuff, memories over things, connection over everything [16:05] – Why some couples need to buy or schedule experiences just to feel connected [17:53] – The Covid dishes conversation and Jessica's grounded response to Larry's darkest thought [19:52] – No luxury cars, no name brands, and being genuinely okay with less [22:36] – The backyard project versus a sports car, and what Ethan learned from it [24:16] – How they actually arrived at shared values through talking and reflecting [26:40] – 2017 as the turning point toward chasing experiences over stuff [27:04] – The three gifts rule at Christmas and where it came from [30:39] – Jessica's advice to their kids: communication is the key to any relationship [33:55] – Why couples talk about logistics but avoid the deeper alignment conversations [36:02] – The intimacy parallel: what happens when you stop pursuing each other [38:24] – Why they never run out of things to talk about, even after 23 years [40:14] – Can people be taught to communicate, or is that just who they are? [44:43] – Alignment as the make or break, and the non-negotiables they built together [45:33] – Going to bed at the same time, and when it's actually okay to go to bed angry   5 Key Takeaways Alignment Is the Make or Break — Most couples are quietly misaligned on parenting, money, intimacy, and faith, and it derails their connection without them realizing why. Building shared values on purpose is what holds a marriage together over decades. Experiences Over Stuff — Larry and Jessica built a family mission around memories over things and connection over everything. The backyard they gather in beat the sports car precisely because it creates shared experiences instead of solo possession. Communication Has to Be Daily — Talking through logistics isn't the same as real communication. Checking in every day, even briefly, keeps small tensions from compounding into the silence and assumptions that quietly end marriages. Don't Let Intimacy Drift — Just like conversation, physical intimacy erodes when you stop pursuing each other. Let too much time pass and it becomes awkward and hard to return to, so keep reaching for each other before the gap widens. You Can Change If It Matters Enough — "That's just who I am" is an excuse, not a fact. People revert to old patterns, but anyone can learn to communicate better if the relationship matters enough to them to keep practicing.   Links & Resources Episode page and all links: https://thedadedge.com/1522 Roommates to Soulmates (cohort 3, starts September 16, free preview calls September 8 and 9): https://thedadedge.com/soulmates Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals (November 15, Cardinals vs Rams, State Farm Stadium): https://thedadedge.com/nfl   Enjoyed This Episode? If hearing Larry and Jessica lay out the values they built on purpose made you wonder where you and your spouse are actually aligned, pick one area and talk it through this week. Ask your partner what they'd want more of, or download the 25 questions and work through a couple on your next date. If the show keeps delivering, follow, rate, and leave a review so more fathers can find these conversations.