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“You have to really understand yourself before you can be a leader of others.” – Deedee MyersThank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.My guest on today's show is returning guest Deedee Myers, CEO of DDJ Myers. She joins me for this episode for a conversation about what it takes for credit unions to keep moving forward. We have previously talked about the future of credit union leadership, and this time, we're building on that discussion with a closer look at the people and practices that can make a real difference. We kick things off with the boardroom, with Deedee sharing why a high-performing board can become a genuine competitive advantage and why a status-quo mindset can have the opposite effect. The two of us discuss what separates boards that are actively shaping their organizations from those which have become too comfortable, including the importance of preparation, meaningful conversations, accountability and keeping pace with a changing industry.Throughout our conversation, we discuss technology, generational change, and the evolving role of HR, with Deedee explaining why board members need broader experiences with the technology and services their members use as well as why HR has an increasingly important seat at the planning table. Deedee also gives us a look at what's ahead for DDJ Myers and its expanding relationship with ALM First, including a more integrated approach to supporting credit unions from the balance sheet to the boardroom.As we wrap up the conversation, we have a little fun and so something a little unusual. Deedee's son Bryce Myers-Haeussler joins us for our rapid-fire questions, sharing his own career plans, favorite ways to recharge and some exciting personal milestones, and we finally wrap up with a reminder from DeeDee to recognize our own mastery, keep growing into it and help others find theirs! I hope that you enjoy this conversation with Deedee Myers!Connect with Deedee:Deedee Myers, CEO at DDJ Myers, Ltd.ddjmyers.comDeedee: LinkedInDDJ Meyers, Ltd.: LinkedInShow notes from this episode:Shout-out: ZoomShout-out: IPadShout-out: America's Credit Unions CouncilShout-out: Peter MyersShout-out: ALM FirstShout-out: Bryce Myers-HaeusslerBook mentioned: The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible by Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Blake EricksonShout-out: OnPath Federal Credit UnionBook mentioned: The Gray Man Series by Mark GreaneyShout-out: Bryce's brother ScottShout-out: Eagle ScoutShout-out: Deedee's momShout-out: Grant ThorntonPrevious guests mentioned in this episode: Deedee MyersIn this episode:[1:09] - Deedee explains how high-performing boards drive strategic decisions, strengthen competitiveness, and avoid preserving the status quo.[4:54] - It's so important for boards to embrace technology, clarify their responsibilities, and evolve from oversight to strategic leadership.[7:26] - Hear how strategic HR aligns people, culture, and leadership with business priorities via workforce planning and development.[10:35] - A future-focused strategy integrates services while strengthening leadership, governance, talent, and measurable outcomes.[13:27] - Welcome Deedee's son Bryce to the show![14:28] - Hear what Deedee loves about the book The Science of Scaling.[14:58] - Bryce loves the Gray Man series of fictional books.[16:49] - Bryce reveals that he learned from his mom to start, persevere, and simply get the job done.[17:38] - Effective leadership begins with self-awareness, requiring us to understand and accept ourselves before influencing others.[18:27] - Deedee and Bryce share what they're looking forward to in the near future.[20:29] - Deedee encourages listeners to keep living into their mastery and to help others find theirs.
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 4140: Benjamin Hardy explains that indecision, not difficulty, is what keeps most people stuck, because a commitment you never fully make leaves every escape route open. He walks through what changes when a decision is made from a clear, resolved state and then defended over time. The result is a personal development shift where behavior, self-concept and attitude gradually line up behind the choice. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/what-happens-when-you-take-full-responsibility-of-your-life-691a282f0687 Quotes to ponder: "Indecision is potentially your greatest threat." "Where decisions are made in a single moment, commitment is seeing those decisions into the future." "Your goals are something you grow into." Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Heidi Lee serves as a stake communication director in the Mountain's Edge area of Southwest Las Vegas, as well as in the Las Vegas West Mission office. Over the past 20 years, her Church service has including serving in four stake Relief Society presidencies as secretary, counselor, and president. Her wide-ranging calling experience spans serving as a Stake JustServe Specialist, Young Women presidency member, ward camp director, Relief Society teacher, and Primary music leader. Most recently, Heidi served as the lead organizer for “A Walk with Jesus,” a multi-stake Easter walkthrough event that coordinated four neighboring stakes, numerous committees, and auxiliary leaders to transform a local chapel into interactive displays depicting the Savior's life and resurrection. A devoted stay-at-home mother, Heidi and her husband raised four children and now love spending time with their 16 grandchildren. In her personal time, she enjoys temple service and deep, lifelong gospel study. Links leadingsaints.org/fullpond A Walk With Jesus: Master Replication Guide Bible & Easter videos Read the tag comments Facebook: A Walk With Jesus – Southwest Las Vegas Instagram @walkwithjesusswlv Email Heidi Lee at heidillee@me.com YouTube: Southwest Las Vegas 2026 Walk with Jesus YouTube: Northwest Las Vegas 2025 Walk with Jesus YouTube: Northwest Las Vegas 2026 Walk with Jesus Highlights Heidi Lee talks about the successful initiative called “A Walk with Jesus,” which transformed a Latter-day Saint chapel into an immersive experience depicting the life of Jesus Christ. The project aimed to enhance the celebration of Easter and foster community engagement. Key Insights Community Engagement: The initiative was inspired by a desire to create a more significant Easter celebration, moving beyond traditional services to involve the broader community. Collaborative Effort: The project involved multiple stakes working together, with each stake contributing resources and leadership to create a unified experience. Interactive Experience: The chapel was transformed into various rooms representing key events in Jesus’s life, allowing participants to engage with the stories through self-guided tours and interactive displays. Youth Involvement: Local youth played a crucial role, participating in the event by dressing in costumes and helping facilitate the experience, which provided them with service hours and a sense of ownership. Feedback Mechanism: A comment wall was implemented to gather participant reflections, highlighting the spiritual impact of the experience and fostering a sense of connection to Christ. Financial Planning: The project was funded through contributions from each stake, with careful budgeting and community donations to cover costs, demonstrating the importance of financial stewardship in church projects. Leadership Applications Fostering Collaboration: Latter-day Saint leaders can encourage collaboration among different wards and stakes to create larger community events, enhancing unity and shared purpose. Engaging Youth: Involving youth in meaningful ways can empower them and strengthen their connection to church activities, making them feel valued and engaged. Creating Immersive Experiences: Leaders can consider how to transform traditional church events into more interactive and engaging experiences that resonate with members and the community, ultimately deepening faith and understanding of gospel principles. 00:05:01 – Introduction to Heidi Lee 00:05:34 – Origin of the Walk with Jesus Project 00:06:42 – Concept of Transforming the Chapel 00:08:52 – Initial Thoughts and Inspiration 00:10:06 – Mission Statement Development 00:12:55 – Organizing Stake Participation 00:15:14 – Role of Decorators and Committees 00:17:42 – Event Timeline and Structure 00:19:45 – Room Themes and Experiences 00:20:38 – Evening Concerts and Adjustments 00:22:59 – Visual Examples of the Event 00:23:10 – Chapel Usage and Event Flow 00:25:37 – Sunday Operations and Attendance 00:28:30 – Community Involvement and Outreach 00:30:59 – Youth Involvement and Costumes 00:32:13 – Red String Keepsake Initiative 00:34:00 – Managing Finances and Budget 00:37:12 – Donations and Support 00:40:42 – Lessons Learned for Future Events 00:42:32 – Social Media and Marketing Strategies 00:44:32 – Comment Wall and Feedback 00:46:33 – Event Impact and Attendance Growth 00:48:14 – Reflections on the Experience 00:50:17 – Addressing Questions and Future Planning The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 4140: Benjamin Hardy explains that indecision, not difficulty, is what keeps most people stuck, because a commitment you never fully make leaves every escape route open. He walks through what changes when a decision is made from a clear, resolved state and then defended over time. The result is a personal development shift where behavior, self-concept and attitude gradually line up behind the choice. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/what-happens-when-you-take-full-responsibility-of-your-life-691a282f0687 Quotes to ponder: "Indecision is potentially your greatest threat." "Where decisions are made in a single moment, commitment is seeing those decisions into the future." "Your goals are something you grow into." Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 4140: Benjamin Hardy explains that indecision, not difficulty, is what keeps most people stuck, because a commitment you never fully make leaves every escape route open. He walks through what changes when a decision is made from a clear, resolved state and then defended over time. The result is a personal development shift where behavior, self-concept and attitude gradually line up behind the choice. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/what-happens-when-you-take-full-responsibility-of-your-life-691a282f0687 Quotes to ponder: "Indecision is potentially your greatest threat." "Where decisions are made in a single moment, commitment is seeing those decisions into the future." "Your goals are something you grow into." Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark Young is the CEO of Ryze Agency, where he helps brands scale through world-class marketing, sharp product positioning, and operational clarity. Mark has built multiple successful businesses and has become a trusted advisor for founders looking to break through plateaus and expand into new markets. He has recently published a series of 5 books titled the Ecommerce Brand Guide to the Galaxy with Benjamin Hardy.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Differences between selling on Amazon and Shopify, focusing on intent-based versus cold traffic marketing.Common misconceptions brands have about marketing metrics, particularly the focus on ROAS.Importance of understanding customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), and average order value (AOV) for sustainable growth.Strategies for increasing average order value through upsells and bundles.The significance of customer experience and retention marketing on Shopify compared to Amazon.The role of storytelling and brand identity in engaging customers on Shopify.Examples of successful and unsuccessful brand strategies in e-commerce.Actionable takeaways for brands looking to scale on Shopify.The impact of brand loyalty and customer relationships on long-term success.Recommendations for influential books and tools in the e-commerce space.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Mark Young, CEO of Ryze Agency, about scaling DTC brands on Shopify. Mark explains the fundamental differences between Amazon's intent-based selling and Shopify's cold traffic environment, emphasizing the need for brand storytelling. He challenges the common obsession with ROAS, introducing the "holy trinity" of metrics: Customer Acquisition Cost, Lifetime Value, and Average Order Value. Mark also highlights the importance of retention marketing and authentic customer relationships, sharing real success and failure stories to illustrate how strategy, not tactics, drives sustainable e-commerce growth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Shift from “conversion” to “connection” Stop treating Shopify like Amazon. Build demand through storytelling, content, and brand experience—optimize for trust and engagement before expecting conversions.Scale with the right metrics (not ROAS) Track and optimize your CAC:LTV:AOV triangle. Aim for a 1:3 CAC:LTV ratio, and be willing to accept lower short-term ROAS to acquire high-value customers.Increase AOV + retention to unlock profit Bundle products, upsell, and improve post-purchase experience. Focus on repeat buyers (email/SMS, loyalty, CX) to maximize LTV and make your paid acquisition sustainable.Timestamps:00:00:38 Introduction to the E-comm Breakthrough PodcastThe announcer introduces the podcast, aimed at helping seven-figure e-commerce business owners unlock their full potential and growth.00:00:52 Host's Introduction and Guest WelcomeHost Josh Hadley introduces himself and the episode's guest, Mark Young, CEO of Ryze Agency and author.00:02:12 The Challenge of Scaling from Amazon to ShopifyMark discusses why brands successful on Amazon often struggle on Shopify, highlighting the fundamental differences between the platforms.00:04:15 Amazon vs. Shopify: Intent vs. Cold TrafficA breakdown of how Amazon is an intent-based platform, while Shopify requires cold traffic marketing and brand storytelling.00:05:57 Common Misconceptions Brands Have with AgenciesMark explains the two types of clients he encounters: startups who think they know everything and brands with agency trauma.00:08:20 The Problem with Over-relying on ROASMark details why Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) is a "fool's metric" and how agencies can manipulate it.00:11:02 The Holy Trinity of E-commerce MetricsMark explains the three core KPIs brands should focus on: Lifetime Value (LTV), Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), and Average Order Value (AOV).00:18:24 The Importance of Average Order Value (AOV)Discussion on why an AOV of at least $50-$100 is crucial for profitability due to shipping costs and consumer psychology.00:21:09 Focusing on Customer Experience and RetentionMark argues that brands focus too much on acquisition and not enough on creating an impressive backend customer experience.00:24:49 The Mindset Shift from Amazon to ShopifyBrands moving from Amazon must learn to focus on customer experience and brand storytelling, which Amazon handles for them.00:28:11 Building a Relational BrandThe importance of creating a personal, relational brand on Shopify, as opposed to Amazon's transactional nature. People buy from people.00:33:19 Be the Guide, Not the HeroUsing the "StoryBrand" framework, Mark explains that brands should act as the guide (Gandalf) for their customer (Frodo).00:35:09 Case Study: A Successful Skincare BrandA brand succeeded by understanding its brand voice, embracing omnichannel marketing, and defining clear goals for its agency partnership.00:38:00 Case Study: A Failed BrandA brand failed due to a reactive CEO, a singular focus on top-line revenue, and training customers to expect constant discounts.00:41:38 Three Actionable TakeawaysJosh Hadley summarizes the key lessons: understand your brand story, focus on LTV over ROAS, and prioritize customer retention.00:44:03 Mark's Most Influential BooksMark shares his favorite and most influential books, including works by Donald Miller, Will Guidara, and Stephen Covey.00:45:12 Leveraging AI in BusinessMark discusses how his agency uses AI, specifically "Claude bots," to imagine a new kind of business, not just automate tasks.00:48:08 Who to Follow in the E-comm SpaceMark recommends following Alex Hormozi and Donald Miller and emphasizes the value of nano and micro-influencers over macro-influencers.00:49:16 How to Connect with Mark YoungMark shares where listeners can find him, his books, and his agency, and discusses his passion for helping entrepreneurs.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites "Ryze Agency": "00:02:01" "Shopify": "00:02:55" "
Would you let a stranger run up a bill in your name for 10 years and say nothing? That's exactly what you've been doing to yourself. The debt collector you've been avoiding is already staring back at you in the mirror. And this morning, 45 minutes before recording this episode, George sat in his car and scrolled YouTube Shorts for 15 minutes. He caught it. He's showing you exactly what he did next. This is a first-of-its-kind format for the show, a step-by-step implementation guide built from a guest interview. George takes Dr. Lester Clowes' concept of promised debt and turns it into an actionable, practical system you can start tonight. One kept promise. One small deposit. That's where it begins. What You'll Learn In This Episode: What promised debt is and why it's a debt problem, not a discipline problem How to identify where you're making withdrawals in your business right now Why big commitments make promised debt worse and what to do instead The embarrassingly small promise system and why it rebuilds trust faster than anything else The Gap vs. the Gain framework from Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy Why gain thinking is the only operating system that makes this whole system actually work The one piece of scripture that ties the entire framework together Key Takeaways: ✔️Promised debt is what happens when you keep making promises to yourself and breaking them, one by one, silently. Most people are years in the negative and wonder why they can't trust themselves. ✔️This is not a discipline problem. It's a debt problem. The imposter feeling, the second-guessing, the burnout, it's almost always promised debt underneath. ✔️When you realize your balance is negative, the instinct is to go big. That's wrong. Bigger commitments make the balance worse when they collapse. The fix is embarrassingly small ones. ✔️If the promise doesn't feel a little embarrassing to write down, it's probably still too big. ✔️One kept promise that small, seven days in a row, rebuilds more self-trust than one heroic effort that collapses on day three. ✔️The Gap measures you against a moving future target. The Gain measures you against where you started. Promise debt only works long-term if you're running it through the Gain. ✔️Motivation comes and goes. The system, the physical ledger, the written promise, the checkmark, is what holds when motivation doesn't. ✔️Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Luke 16:10. Start with the seed. Timestamps & Highlights: [00:00] — The stranger running up a bill in your name and who it actually is [01:31] — What happened 45 minutes before recording: the YouTube Shorts confession [03:30] — What promised debt actually is and Lester's concept of motivation porn [06:00] — What promised debt looks like in your business right now [08:00] — Deposits vs. withdrawals: the ledger that's running whether you track it or not [10:30] — Why big commitments make the balance worse, the Sunday night Tony Robbins spiral [13:00] — The embarrassingly small promise system and the actual mechanism [16:00] — The Gap vs. the Gain, Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy [20:00] — Why gain thinking is the prerequisite for the whole system to work [23:00] — The assignment: one sentence, one promise, tonight [24:30] — Luke 16:10 and why the small seed is the whole game [25:30] — George's legal pad in real time: what his list actually looks like Your Challenge This Week: Tonight, before you go to bed: one sentence. One embarrassingly small promise for tomorrow. Write it on paper. Tomorrow, keep it. Check it off. Do it again. Send George feedback on this new implementation guide format, he wants to know if it's landing. Follow George: @itsgeorgebryant Work with George:The Alliance — Community for entrepreneurs building self-trust one promise at a time. 1:1 Coaching — Limited spots. Apply at mindofgeorge.com/coaching-consulting/ Live Retreats — In-person experiences where the systems get installed, not just introduced.
Robert Cornilles is an executive, author, and educator with a background in business leadership and community engagement. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Game Face, Inc., an executive training firm that has advised over 400 global brands, including more than 200 professional sports franchises. A bestselling author, he published The Sales Game Changer: How to Become the Salesperson People Love and Preparing Tomorrow's Missionaries Today. He also shares his expertise as an adjunct professor teaching MBA candidates at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Rob served as a full-time missionary in Japan and has extensive experience in church leadership, having served in high councils, bishoprics, and various ward council roles. He currently serves as the bishop of the Lake Mountain Single Adult 5th Ward in the Saratoga Springs Utah Stake—a mid-singles unit he has led since it began in May 2023. In this role, he oversees a rapidly growing congregation drawn from multiple stakes, focusing on supporting mid-singles through their unique personal and spiritual journeys. Rob and his wife, Allison, oversaw the training of more than 40,000 volunteers for the 12-week long Saratoga Springs Utah Temple open house and dedication, the longest temple open house in Church history. They are the parents of three sons who have blessed them with three daughters-in-law and three granddaughters. Links Game Face, Inc. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights The conversation focuses on the unique challenges and cultural dynamics faced by mid-singles in the Latter-day Saint community, particularly in Utah, and how leaders can better support this demographic. Key Insights Cultural Dynamics: Mid-singles often feel disconnected in family wards due to the predominance of married members in leadership roles, leading to feelings of exclusion and instability. Out-of-Unit Members: Many mid-singles attend their neighborhood wards while also participating in mid-singles wards, creating a challenge for leaders to maintain engagement and consistency. Family Influence: Family obligations can pull mid-singles away from ward activities, making it difficult for them to build connections within their ward family. Spiritual Focus: Rob emphasizes that the primary role of leaders is to connect members with Christ, rather than solely focusing on helping them get married. Meaningful Activities: Activities should be Christ-centered and relevant to the members’ lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Leadership Applications Encourage Engagement: Leaders should create an environment where mid-singles feel valued and included, recognizing their unique challenges and encouraging them to participate in ward activities. Foster Connections: Leaders can facilitate opportunities for mid-singles to connect with each other and with Christ through intentional, spiritually uplifting activities that focus on attributes of Jesus Christ. Communicate with Families: Leaders should engage with the families of mid-singles to help them understand the importance of allowing their loved ones the space to build their own lives and relationships within the ward community. 00:02:30 – Cultural Dynamics in Mid-Singles Wards 00:04:00 – Understanding the Mid-Singles Experience 00:04:30 – Interview with Bishop Robert Cornilles Begins 00:05:00 – Bishop Cornilles’s Calling Story 00:07:00 – Formation of the New Mid-Singles Ward 00:08:30 – Challenges of Serving a Mid-Singles Ward 00:10:00 – Selecting Counselors for the Bishopric 00:12:00 – Current Responsibilities as a Bishop 00:13:00 – Mid-Singles Bishops Councils in Utah 00:15:00 – The Need for Mid-Singles Wards 00:16:00 – Cultural Challenges for Mid-Singles 00:20:00 – Navigating Family Dynamics and Church Involvement 00:22:00 – The Dilemma of Out-of-Unit Members 00:25:00 – Building a Strong Ward Culture 00:28:00 – Encouraging Engagement in the Ward 00:30:00 – The Importance of Personal Relationships 00:32:00 – Respecting the Needs of Mid-Singles 00:34:00 – Connecting Members with Christ 00:37:00 – Creating Meaningful Activities 00:40:00 – Intentionality in Planning Activities 00:46:00 – Monthly Themes and Attributes of Christ The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Advanced Financial BasicsSuccess is boring. That's not a knock — it's the whole point. The best tennis players in the world don't win with highlight-reel shots; they win by making almost every easy shot and missing almost nothing. Wealth-building works the same way. This week, David Chudyk, CFP®, breaks down BASICS — a six-letter framework covering the unglamorous, "advanced" fundamentals that actually move the needle for people who are already building real wealth.What BASICS Actually Stands ForB — Budget. Not a lecture about canceling subscriptions. The real question isn't "can I afford this," it's "is this appropriate for my current situation." For some listeners — especially those with a solid nest egg — an appropriate spending plan means spending more, not less.A — Allocation. Where should your money actually live — checking, real estate, retirement accounts, an emergency fund, speculative positions? "Should I buy the hot new IPO?" is really an allocation question in disguise, and there's no universal right answer without knowing the full picture.S — Systems. We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. This segment covers the financial habits — recurring money check-ins, subscription audits, auto-pay, systematic investing — that quietly determine whether goals actually happen.I — Insurance. Insurance isn't exciting, and David doesn't pretend otherwise — but its job is simple: it protects your money, nothing more, nothing less. Includes a breakdown of life insurance, liability coverage, and why finding a great local independent insurance agent is real advice, not a throwaway line.C — Caring. Tying back to David's core philosophy — how we handle our money should positively impact our lives and the lives of those around us — this segment covers generosity beyond the tax-deductible check, and a candid look at whether your spending actually reflects what you say you value.S — Support. Borrowing from Dr. Benjamin Hardy's Who Not How, David makes the case that the right question isn't "how do I figure this out myself," it's "who already knows how to do this." Financial advisors, CPAs, attorneys, fractional CFOs, and mastermind groups all make the list.Bonus Content: Allocation, Round TwoStick around after the outro for a bonus deep-dive on allocation: why the goal of investing isn't always the highest possible return, how David solves for the required rate of return needed to hit a goal, and why a 79-year-old getting a lucky 40% return doesn't mean their money was allocated correctly.Resources MentionedFree E-Book: The Rainmaker's Dilemma — for business owners stuck as the primary revenue driver in their own companyBook Referenced: Who Not How by Dr. Benjamin HardyRelated Episode: "The Richest Corpse in the Graveyard" (referenced in the Budget segment)Where Are You Strong? Where Are You Weak?Leave David a voicemail at weeklywealthpodcast.com and tell him which of the six basics you need to work on. Or skip straight to a conversation: Book your free Vision Call.
About the Guest: Kristin Andree, CFP® With 26 years of financial planning and advisory experience, Kristin Andree is a former Fortune 100 managing director who now serves as the founder of My FA Coach and creator of Advisor Edge. She has coached thousands of top advisors and firms across the industry, though she deliberately takes fewer than a dozen private clients and firms per year — typically those north of $1M in revenue. She's known for her signature philosophy: "know your people, find your people, love them hard." The Four Stages of an Advisor's Business Kristin frames every advisory practice as moving through four stages. Emerge covers the beginning, where advisors build momentum and habits. Elevate is where they start to scale and differentiate, pushing to the next level. Elite marks the shift from simply being an advisor to building real enterprise value, and Exit involves retiring, selling, or transitioning the practice to a successor. Along the way, predictable plateaus appear: the first typically hits around $250K–$350K of revenue, where advisors are working hard but not smart, and the next around $600K, where small tweaks are usually enough to get them past $1M. The Two Biggest Mistakes Advisors Make The first mistake is information overload — ideas are everywhere, but without help sorting through what actually fits your practice, market, and style, execution stalls. The second is trying to be all things to all people, failing to define a niche narrowly enough to stand out from the "sea of sameness." The fix, Kristin argues, isn't more information — it's accountability, implementation, and someone to help you eliminate everything below your minimum acceptable floor. Niche & Differentiation Most advisors can't clearly define who they serve, and "business owner" is far too broad to count. Narrow messaging is what makes an ideal client stumble onto you and think "that's me." The fear of narrowing is real, but when you go hard in your market, the other clients still show up through referrals. This matters more than ever because AI and search are changing discovery — prospects now search by their specific situation, so your messaging has to match to be found. AI in the Modern Practice Kristin uses AI daily for research and industry trend digests, and she built "Pocket Kristin," an AI coaching concierge trained on her frameworks, videos, and coaching, so Advisor Edge members can get answers between sessions. It's deliberately limited — handling practice management and languaging only, never planning, tax, or compliance topics. The real opportunity is time: AI note-takers alone can save advisors roughly 10 hours a week to redeploy toward clients. She sees a great divide in the industry, with some advisors embracing AI while others stay frozen — but as she puts it, it's a "when," not an "if." What AI Will Never Replace What technology can't touch is the human, relationship, and emotional side of advice, including the work of managing fear and greed that's hardwired into our biology. Kristin points to being present for clients in the moments that matter — recalling sitting with her aunt after a loss, where the paperwork took seconds but the human part was everything. AI can surface the strategy, but the advisor still owns implementation, accountability, and trust. The Race to Success Connection Coaching and practice management map directly to OIP's Business Throttle piston. The four growth levers — people, systems, marketing, and technology — all matter, but messaging comes before marketing. The biggest inflection is the seven-figure shift: moving from "best advisor" to business owner and CEO, building something that outlasts you. It all comes back to "slow down to speed up" — growth comes from doing the right, often hardest, things, not simply doing more. **This is the Optimized Advisor Podcast, where we focus on optimizing the wellbeing and best practices of insurance and financial professionals. Our objective is to help you optimize your life, optimize your profession, and learn from other optimized advisors. If you have questions or would like to be a featured guest, email us at optimizedadvisor@optimizedins.com Optimized Insurance Planning
Blake Erickson went from selling door to door with Aptive in 2020 to recruiting 40 reps his second summer and making $1 million his third. Then he walked away, called Dr. Benjamin Hardy on an impression, and eventually helped build Scaling.com.In this episode, we break down what actually creates exponential growth.Blake explains why he believes great talent is found, not created, how to build a vision big enough to attract A-players, why most leaders let ego become the bottleneck, and how partnerships can become one of the highest-leverage moves in business.We also get into vision vs. mission, structuring equity for high-level leaders, why activity doesn't equal achievement, and the research showing how little of the average business owner's time is actually spent creating scale.If you're a salesperson making the jump to leadership, building a sales organization, or trying to scale something beyond yourself, this one is worth studying.Grab The Science of Scaling free: scaling.com/freedownloadFollow Blake: @theblakeerickson & @nicknsalesChapters0:00 From door-to-door to $1M3:05 The impression to call Benjamin Hardy6:22 The free book strategy behind Scaling.com7:12 The biggest mistake new sales leaders make9:05 Three foundations for building a sales organization10:15 Looking good vs. actually being good12:39 What if you didn't have to be "the guy"?16:45 Why you can't skip the price19:38 Talent is a power law21:21 How to identify an A-player23:07 Great talent is found, not created24:09 Vision vs. mission27:08 Structuring equity for high-level leaders28:54 Why partnerships create exponential leverage30:36 What Messi teaches us about focus33:00 Finding your highest-leverage activity35:48 Focus is saying no to 1,000 things
Mark A. Beck earned a BA in Business and Japanese Language from Pacific University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Over his three-decade corporate career, he served in executive leadership at Corning Incorporated, as Executive Vice President at Danaher Corporation, and as President and CEO of JELD-WEN, guiding the company through its IPO. Today, Mark owns three manufacturing companies, co-chairs KDC/ONE, and serves as board chair for Accendra Health (formerly Owens & Minor) and IDEX Corporation. Passionate about servant leadership, he serves as faculty for the Adler Fellowship Program and has taught strategic leadership of innovation as a Visiting Professor of Practice at Cornell University. Adrienne and Mark have been married for 38 years. They reside in Matthews, North Carolina, and are the parents of five children and two grandchildren. Together, they navigated unique life blessings, including caring for their youngest son, Wesley, who was born with a rare health condition and expected to live only a few months. Wesley lived for 20 years through many miracles and Adrienne's devoted caregiving. Following his passing, Adrienne resumed her educational goals and is on track to earn her bachelor's degree later this year. Deeply committed to faith, family, and community, both Mark and Adrienne have spent years serving in Church leadership—Mark previously served as a stake president, and Adrienne as a stake Young Women president and two-time ward Primary president. Today, the couple serve side-by-side as branch president and YSA advisor for the Hemby Young Single Adult Branch in the greater Charlotte area. Beyond hosting regular home dinners and monthly “Friday Night Hangouts,” they pioneered a stake-wide mentorship program that connects young adults with community members to provide life guidance, career coaching, trade school support, and spiritual growth for the rising generation. Links Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Mark and Adrienne Beck discuss their experiences as leaders of the Hemby Young Single Adult (YSA) branch in North Carolina. They share innovative approaches to building community and mentorship within their branch, emphasizing the importance of connection and support for young adults. Key Insights Community Building: The Becks highlight the significance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for YSA members, focusing on fostering a culture of acceptance and belonging. Mentorship Program: They implemented a mentorship initiative that pairs YSA members with older, experienced Latter-day Saints from the stake, providing guidance and support tailored to individual needs. Cultural Shift: The branch has cultivated a culture where members feel safe to share their struggles openly, leading to authentic testimony meetings that encourage vulnerability and connection. Diversity and Inclusion: The branch serves a diverse group of young adults, addressing various socioeconomic backgrounds and personal challenges, which enriches the community experience. Flexible Leadership: The Becks emphasize the importance of adapting leadership styles to meet the unique needs of their members, allowing for a more personalized approach to support and guidance. Leadership Applications Encouraging Mentorship: Latter-day Saint leaders can consider establishing mentorship programs within their congregations, pairing experienced members with those seeking guidance, which can alleviate the burden on leaders and provide essential support to individuals. Creating Safe Spaces: Leaders should foster environments where members feel comfortable sharing their experiences and challenges, promoting open dialogue and community support. Emphasizing Connection: By organizing regular social gatherings and informal meetings, leaders can strengthen relationships among members, enhancing the sense of belonging and community within the ward or branch. 00:03:32 – Background of the Hemby YSA Branch 00:04:07 – Establishing the YSA Branch 00:06:23 – Initial Concerns and Faith in the Process 00:08:02 – Personal Challenges and Extended Service 00:09:07 – The Calling Experience 00:10:00 – Passion for Serving Young Single Adults 00:10:44 – Building the Branch Council 00:12:06 – Creating a Positive Culture 00:14:04 – Strategies for Inclusion and Connection 00:15:41 – Unique Practices in the Branch 00:18:23 – Emphasizing Community and Togetherness 00:20:35 – Authentic Testimonies and Sharing 00:22:28 – Diversity and Its Impact on Leadership 00:23:30 – The Burden of Leadership 00:26:51 – Establishing a Mentoring Program 00:29:11 – Typical Scenarios for Mentorship 00:30:04 – Examples of Mentorship Success 00:31:27 – Adjusting the Mentorship Approach 00:32:50 – The Role of Stake Leadership 00:34:02 – Flexibility in Mentorship Pairings 00:36:10 – Navigating Challenges and Support 00:39:34 – The Impact of Community Support 00:40:54 – Encouragement for Other Leaders The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
This is a recording of the monthly Zion Lab Live where Kurt Francom explores various topics discussed in the Zion Lab online community. Links Join the conversation in Zion Lab Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights 00:01:12 – Adjusting the Schedule 00:02:06 – Importance of Participation 00:03:29 – Changes in Zion Lab Experience 00:04:12 – Membership Options and Sponsorship 00:06:51 – Involving Core Members in Primary and Young Men’s 00:10:58 – Communication Strategies for Inclusion 00:12:57 – Ideas for Unity in Wards 00:17:05 – New Sunday Format Training 00:19:17 – Challenges with Training Resources 00:24:02 – Dating and Marriage Challenges for Young Adults 00:30:07 – Balancing Acceptance and Gospel Principles 00:32:14 – Ideas for Building Unity 00:35:05 – Successful Come Follow Me Groups 00:40:00 – Experiences of Empty Nesters 00:42:53 – Global Perspectives on Dating Issues Key Insights Involving Primary & Young Men Leaders: Leaders often struggle with keeping Elders Quorum and Relief Society members connected when they serve in youth or children’s organizations. Solutions include rotating members out briefly to lead discussions, utilizing dedicated group messaging apps, and holding casual home gatherings. Navigating the New Sunday Schedule: The transition to shortened 25-minute class periods brings anxiety, but leaders emphasize using official Church materials and maintaining realistic expectations while finding a new operational rhythm. Evolving YSA Dating Dynamics: Modern single adults face significant challenges in finding marriage partners due to shifting cultural values, delayed timelines, and differing personal or political priorities. Power of Informal Gatherings: Organic, non-assigned home study groups (e.g., Come, Follow Me or General Conference review groups) build deeper ward unity, psychological safety, and ministering opportunities than structured Sunday classes alone. Building Ward Culture: Leadership is fundamentally about culture-building. Leaders must proactively address secular cultural influences and create intentional spaces for gospel-centered connection. Leadership Applications Organize Organic Home Gatherings: Encourage members or leaders to host low-pressure home study groups (such as an empty-nester Come, Follow Me night) with snacks and informal discussion to strengthen local relationships. Rotate Out-of-Room Teachers: Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidencies can arrange substitutes for primary teachers once a quarter to allow them to attend adult classes or lead a discussion. Streamline Group Communication: Implement digital communication tools (e.g., GroupMe or Discord) to share ward event links and keep members serving in auxiliary callings informed on adult quorum activities. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Our playbook to $100K a month is free, and it comes with an AI tool that builds a plan for you: ► The $100K Playbook: https://capitalism.com/100K Dr. Benjamin Hardy is the co-author of the books, "10x Is Easier Than 2x" and "Who Not How" with Dan Sullivan. I read his new one, "The Science of Scaling," and then I couldn't sleep. Step one is to set a goal so big you don't believe you can hit it, and I got stuck there, so instead of interviewing Ben about his framework I asked him to run it on me live. He pulled my own goal three years forward and made me say out loud what would have to go, which is when it clicked: the goal is not a prediction, it's a tool for deciding what you cut. Mentioned on the podcast: ► The $100K Playbook: https://capitalism.com/100K ► Bootcamp waitlist: https://capitalism.com/bootcamp ► The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy ► 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy ► Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy (0:00) Very talented entrepreneurs could be getting 100X the results they are (0:38) Step one of the book: set an impossible goal (1:02) My challenge to you before we start, and the number I want you to aim at (2:21) "I have a bone to pick with you." The book that cost me a night of sleep (3:10) How Ben made his money, and the coaching company he sold (4:15) Why he walked away from social media, masterminds, and his old business (6:27) Most people think scale means doing twice as many things (8:03) High-rep, low-rep, and Joseph Nguyen's "no-rep" learning (9:59) Five pathways that were all decent, and not one of them powerful (11:09) I got stuck on chapter one with seven goals that all seemed related (14:20) Using time as a tool: shorten the window, filter out the seven-figure decisions (15:53) "How blunt do you want me to be?" Ben moves my 2030 goal to 2027 (16:53) The first thing that falls apart is a role we manage instead of hire well (18:29) Acquire bigger brands, or install better operators (19:20) The honest answer for why I never just changed the timeline (20:44) Nobody is monitoring your goal, which is exactly what makes it a tool (23:30) Your impossible goal does not have to be a billion dollars (24:46) What happens after $100 million, and why a billion feels unclear (26:05) My seven goals out loud, and the four I had already forgotten (27:20) The Cleveland Guardians, and the goal I stopped believing in (30:34) Your goal and the company's goal are two different goals (32:20) The Bain Capital founder who could not answer "how do you choose the right goal?" (33:39) "Just choose" versus optimizing for the wrong thing (36:02) The purpose of the goal is whatever it forces you to face (37:58) Physician's Choice cut profitable SKUs to build a $100 million company (39:55) Why every event and every scroll hands you four more goals (41:47) Alicia Alt went from 10 customers to 8,000 in one week (43:20) The power law, and why a great one is worth 10,000 average ones (45:20) Margin for error: what a superstar does for everyone else on the floor (46:03) "The who often comes with the pathway" (48:15) Tom Brady and Odell Beckham Jr. had the same game and different goals (52:43) José Ramírez took $100 million below market to be the greatest Cleveland player ever (53:37) How many goals Ben actually has (54:48) The Logan Paul problem, and what Musk is really optimizing for (57:41) You are not sacrificing the other six goals, you are sacrificing them for now (1:00:37) Raising the floor is the conscious choice to let things go (1:04:07) "I'm not capable of that." Why belief is not required at the start (1:08:44) Hidden commitments: the $31 million founder avoiding his father's collapse (1:12:45) Big visions and a life you actually enjoy DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this Podcast Channel and the resources available for download/viewing through this Podcast Channel are for educational and informational purposes only.
Dan Sullivan used to write books the hard way: long, lonely hours at the keyboard. In this episode, he explains the small‑book production system he created in 2014—focused ideas, a repeatable structure, and an editorial team that lets him produce a new book every quarter—and shows how entrepreneurs can adopt the same approach. Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode:What first got Dan writing books over 30 years ago.The commitment he made at 70 to write a different kind of book every quarter.Why his new book project stalled just four weeks in.Who the books are for and how they're meant to be used.How Dan selects each quarter's book topic. Show Notes: You can choose to write only about ideas your clients have already paid you for and that are proven in the marketplace. Long-term creative goals, like a book every quarter for 25 years, keep you active, productive, and future-focused. Advertising taught Dan to write succinctly by getting a complete message across in just a few seconds or inches of space. Strategic Coach® books are written specifically for Program members and for their associates who may want to join. Every quarterly book follows the same structure, with eight chapters, an introduction, a conclusion, and a consistent layout. Short, focused books can reveal which ideas deserve to become bigger, mass market books. Writing a book entirely on your own is often slow, lonely work that doesn't suit most entrepreneurs. If you maintain your health, you can keep doing meaningful creative work for your entire lifetime. When a company pays you to advise its people, your recommendations can be constrained by the organization's agenda. Most entrepreneurs get better results by collaborating with an interviewer or editor who can draw out their ideas. When you're stuck on a project, asking a capable team member to take over the “How” can instantly create momentum. Resources:The 21st Century Agent by Dan Sullivan The Entrepreneur's Guide To Time Management Wanting What You Want by Dan SullivanThe Impact Filter® Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4112: Benjamin Hardy argues that fast personal growth does not come from an easy road. Using the image of a truck that only gets traction once it is loaded down, he explains why responsibility and opposition are what actually move you forward, and why the way you respond matters more than the conditions you are handed. It is a bracing piece of personal development for anyone waiting for things to get lighter before they start. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bettermarketing.pub/the-harsh-truth-of-rapid-personal-growth-411db1934fd8 Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Marianne Downing has a master's degree in Education (counseling) and began her career as a therapist before combining it with various roles within the nonprofit sector. She has been an entrepreneur since 2002. Since becoming a Latter-day Saint, Marianne served in the New Zealand Auckland mission, and as Relief Society president, counselor in her stake Primary presidency, stake Relief Society president, early morning Seminary teacher, and Young Women president. While living in Paris, France, she was called as part of a committee by the European Area Presidency to establish LDS Family Services in the French-speaking areas of France, Switzerland, and Belgium. She currently serves as a ward missionary. Alan Downing has a bachelor's degree in music from the Hartt School of Music. He sang professionally for ten years, including in synagogues and churches, while also working as an IT administrator with IBM, Verizon, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He left the corporate world to become a life coach and has created several men's retreats and trainings. He has led or staffed well over 100 experiential retreats in the United States, Europe, and South and Central America. After his conversion as a Latter-day Saint, he served in the France Toulouse Mission, and has served in callings including as a member of his stake high council, elders quorum counselor, Sunday School teacher, ward finance clerk, ward and stake executive secretary, and many positions related to music. He currently serves as a ward music chairperson. Alan and Marianne are co-founders of the nonprofit organization, Discover Identity, and are both identity coaches. Alan is also on the board of the Utah Valley Interfaith Association and Marianne is a founding member of the Utah Valley Women Leadership Collaborative (now the Bolder Way Forward of Utah Valley). Alan and Marianne are the parents of a blended family of six children and 11—soon to be 12—grandchildren between the United States and New Zealand. Links Your Mission Aligned, nonprofit coaching services Discover Identity, nonprofit retreats Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Alan and Marianne Downing discuss the concept of identity and its significance in personal development and leadership within the Latter-day Saint community. They emphasize the importance of understanding one’s identity beyond roles and societal expectations, particularly during life transitions. Key Insights Identity Exploration: The fundamental question of “Who am I?” is central to personal growth. Identity is not static; it evolves through life experiences and transitions, such as changes in church callings or family dynamics. Deeper Understanding: True identity goes beyond titles like “mother” or “bishop.” It involves understanding personal values, beliefs, and what makes each individual unique. Belonging vs. Fitting In: There is a distinction between belonging (sharing core beliefs) and fitting in (conforming to external expectations). Leaders should encourage individuality within the community to enhance unity. Risk and Growth: Personal growth often requires taking risks and stepping outside comfort zones. Experiences, such as retreats, can facilitate deeper understanding and wisdom. Mature vs. Immature Identity: Immature identity relies on external validation, while mature identity is anchored in self-awareness and allows for flexibility and growth. Leadership Applications Encourage Individuality: Leaders can foster an environment where members feel safe to express their unique identities, which can enhance community strength and diversity. Facilitate Experiences: Organizing smaller group discussions or experiential learning opportunities can help members explore their identities and support each other through personal challenges. Model Vulnerability: Leaders should be open about their own identity journeys, demonstrating that it is acceptable to question and explore one’s faith and personal growth, thereby creating a culture of openness and support. 00:05:07 – The Concept of Identity 00:06:40 – Exploring Identity Beyond Roles 00:08:07 – The Depth of Identity in the Gospel 00:09:32 – The Paradox of Identity and Individuality 00:10:29 – Navigating Group Identity vs. Individual Identity 00:12:28 – Personal Experiences with Identity 00:15:00 – The Downings’ Journey into Identity Work 00:18:01 – The Importance of Self-Discovery 00:20:40 – The Role of Experience in Identity Formation 00:24:40 – The Balance of Self and God's Expectations 00:26:41 – Mature vs. Immature Identity 00:30:12 – The Role of Risk in Growth 00:32:15 – Experiential Learning and Retreats 00:34:22 – The Need for Community in Personal Growth 00:36:47 – The Importance of Anchors in Identity 00:39:14 – Embracing the Journey of Identity The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4112: Benjamin Hardy argues that fast personal growth does not come from an easy road. Using the image of a truck that only gets traction once it is loaded down, he explains why responsibility and opposition are what actually move you forward, and why the way you respond matters more than the conditions you are handed. It is a bracing piece of personal development for anyone waiting for things to get lighter before they start. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bettermarketing.pub/the-harsh-truth-of-rapid-personal-growth-411db1934fd8 Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4112: Benjamin Hardy argues that fast personal growth does not come from an easy road. Using the image of a truck that only gets traction once it is loaded down, he explains why responsibility and opposition are what actually move you forward, and why the way you respond matters more than the conditions you are handed. It is a bracing piece of personal development for anyone waiting for things to get lighter before they start. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bettermarketing.pub/the-harsh-truth-of-rapid-personal-growth-411db1934fd8 Optimal Living Daily is a daily personal development and self-improvement podcast where we narrate the best self-help articles on minimalism, productivity, and intentional living, read to you by a professional narrator so you can live your best life a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You know you need to make a change. You can feel it. And somehow — despite wanting it, despite knowing it matters — nothing happens. Here's what I need you to hear: that's not a willpower problem. That's your brain doing exactly what it was designed to do. And once you understand it, you cannot unsee it. What You'll Learn in This Episode ✨ Why your brain is literally wired to resist change — and why that's not a character flaw ✨ The status quo bias: why familiar misery feels safer than uncertain growth, and what to do about it ✨ How to stop personalizing setbacks and start treating every "failure" as data that moves you forward ✨ Why nervous system regulation isn't optional — it's the foundation for building any new habit ✨ The Future Self identity shift (from Benjamin Hardy) that changes the way you make decisions ✨ A simple habit stacking formula from James Clear you can put into practice today The Big Takeaway Failure is not a verdict. It's information. When you lost that account, when the pitch didn't land, when you hit snooze for the seventh time — that was data, not a definition of who you are. The resilient mindset doesn't pretend setbacks don't sting. It mines them for what's actually useful and keeps moving with more information than before. This one is all about R — Resilient Mindset. It's the foundation of the RISE Method, and this episode goes deep. Ready to go deeper? Join the weekly RISE Report at www.michellebourquecoaching.com/risereport Timestamps 00:00 — Intro + Michelle's real-life change story (mid-move chaos from NY to FL) 02:30 — The Motivational Triad: the three drives your brain runs on 24/7 06:00 — Status quo bias and why familiar misery beats uncertain growth in your brain 09:00 — Reframing failure as data — the Edison mindset shift 13:00 — Nervous system capacity: why you can't just "push through" into new habits 17:00 — Future Self identity and the decisions she's already made 21:00 — Habit stacking: the one small action to take before this week is over
Elder Scott N. Taylor is a professor of Organizational Behavior holding the Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership at Babson College, having previously taught at Boston University and the University of New Mexico. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Brigham Young University as well as an MBA and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University. An award-winning educator and researcher whose work centers on leader assessment, executive coaching, and emotional competence, Scott has authored numerous scholarly publications and consulted internationally with dozens of major companies and government entities. Elder Taylor has served as an Area Seventy since 2022. His Church service includes callings as a missionary in the Spain Bilbao Mission, young single adult branch president, bishop, high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and stake president. Scott married Ashley Anne Boyter and they are the parents of four children and reside in Franklin, Massachusetts. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Scott discusses the intersection of organizational behavior and church leadership. He shares insights on effective leadership qualities, the importance of creating a positive environment, and the balance between achieving goals and fostering relationships within church communities. Key Insights Outward Focus: Effective leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of others, creating a connection that fosters trust and engagement. Positive Environment: Leaders should cultivate a supportive and uplifting atmosphere, which enhances motivation and collaboration among members. Relational Leadership: Leadership is fundamentally relational; outstanding leaders are not necessarily the most technically skilled but excel in building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging. Cognitive Dynamics: The brain’s analytical and empathetic networks are antagonistic; leaders must be aware of emotional climates to encourage creativity and openness rather than stress and defensiveness. Charisma vs. Competence: Charismatic leaders can inspire hope, but relying solely on charisma can lead to overlooking effective leadership qualities that are not immediately visible. Leadership Applications Storytelling: Latter-day Saint leaders can use personal stories to illustrate the impact of ministering, helping members connect emotionally and understand the importance of their roles in the community. Cultural Focus: By emphasizing a culture of belonging and support, leaders can motivate members to engage in ministering efforts naturally, rather than through pressure or performance metrics. Awareness of Bias: Leaders should recognize their biases when selecting individuals for leadership roles, ensuring that they look beyond charisma and traditional expectations to identify those who truly embody the principles of effective leadership. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
JeaNette Smith is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who authored Side by Side: Supporting a Spouse in Church Service to help couples keep their relationships strong and connected amidst demanding Church callings or busy careers. Her inspiration for the book came early in her career while her husband, Bret, was serving as a bishop, leading her to study how couples can actively grow closer rather than drift apart during intense seasons of service. Over their years together, JeaNette and Bret have put these principles into practice across numerous callings, including three bishoprics, a branch presidency, a stake presidency, and as mission leaders in the Dominican Republic. JeaNette is a frequent contributor to Meridian Magazine and the author of two books on adolescent romance. JeaNette and Bret are the parents of four children and the grandparents of fifteen. They continue to work side by side in their family life and with their grandchildren. Links Side by Side: Supporting a Spouse in Church Service Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights JeaNette explores how couples can navigate demanding Church callings without straining their relationship. Drawing on her personal background supporting her husband across various leadership roles and her professional expertise, JeaNette emphasizes that Church callings should be treated as shared, couple-centered opportunities that strengthen marriages rather than burden them. Key Insights Viewing Callings as a Team Effort: Demanding leadership positions run much smoother and foster deeper connection when couples view the assignment as a joint effort, with the leader using their spouse as a trusted sounding board and counselor. Navigating Confidentiality Wisely: Leaders should refrain from complete emotional isolation; while specific names and details must remain private, sharing emotional burdens, general concerns, and spiritual joys keeps the couple connected and avoids emotional drift. Emotional Availability Matters Most: Marital tension rarely stems from physical absence alone; it arises when leaders become emotionally disengaged and fail to share their inner thoughts and feelings with their spouse. Prioritizing Intentional Connection: Daily practices—such as morning companionship scripture study, short check-ins, or casual dates—help maintain alignment and ensure open channels of communication. Maintaining Appropriate Motives and Boundaries: Spouses must approach confidential insights with pure motives aimed at lifting burdens rather than satisfying curiosity, while leaders must genuinely value their spouse’s wisdom as an equal partner. Prioritizing Personal Self-Care: Spouses and leaders alike must prioritize self-care and personal well-being to avoid resentment and build the capacity needed to serve others effectively. Leadership Applications Integrate Daily Companionship Study: Leaders can establish a daily routine with their spouse to study scriptures, pray, and discuss upcoming ward or stake needs together to invite shared revelation. Share the Emotional Weight Without Oversharing: Leaders can share their personal feelings, fatigue, or spiritual insights with their spouse to process stress safely without revealing confidential names or specific details. Involve Your Spouse in Leadership Activities: Where appropriate, leaders can invite their spouses to attend youth activities, missionary setting-aparts, or stake events together to make service a fun, shared experience. 00:02:00 – Jeanette’s Background Jeanette shares her personal experiences as a bishop’s wife and her professional background as a marriage and family therapist. 00:04:30 – Navigating Marriage and Church Callings Discussion on how church callings can strain relationships and the importance of turning these challenges into opportunities for growth. 00:07:00 – The Importance of Communication Exploration of the need for open communication between spouses regarding church responsibilities and the emotional burdens they carry. 00:09:30 – Confidentiality and Trust Jeanette emphasizes the balance between confidentiality in church leadership and the necessity of sharing feelings and experiences with one's spouse. 00:12:00 – Shared Experiences in Leadership The significance of couples working together in church callings and how it strengthens their relationship. 00:15:00 – Companionship Study Jeanette discusses the practice of companionship study and its benefits for couples in leadership roles. 00:18:00 – Advice for Newly Called Couples Tips for couples newly called to leadership positions on how to navigate their responsibilities together. 00:21:00 – Maintaining Trustworthiness The importance of being a trustworthy spouse and the need to keep confidences regarding ward matters. 00:23:30 – Friendship Dynamics Discussion on the shift in relationships for bishop’s wives and the importance of maintaining friendships outside of church. 00:26:00 – Self-Care for Spouses Jeanette highlights the necessity of self-care for spouses in leadership to better support their partners. 00:29:00 – Emotional Availability Exploration of the difference between physical presence and emotional availability in a marriage. 00:32:00 – Navigating Different Experiences The challenges of reconnecting after church meetings and the importance of sharing spiritual experiences with one another. 00:35:00 – Handling Difficult Situations Jeanette shares a personal story about navigating sensitive situations while maintaining a strong marriage. 00:38:00 – Date Night and Connection The role of date nights in fostering connection and communication between spouses. 00:40:00 – Pure Motives in Communication The importance of having pure motives when discussing church matters and supporting each other. 00:43:00 – Seeking Help and Humility Encouragement for leaders to seek help when needed and to be humble about their struggles. 00:45:00 – Avoiding Judgment The need for spouses to refrain from forming judgments about others in the ward and the importance of compassion. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
I'm a fan of mind games, because I feel most all of what we experience is just that, a mind game. But I've always helped myself by considering different angles to stories. And today I bring you one I've benefited myself with. You've probably heard of the concept of “10X,” as in 10 Xing your goal. But I want to be clear, today I look at this as a practice or exercise and am not presenting it as what you or I should do. This then is a conversation I'm revisiting with renowned organizational psychologist and author, Dr Benjamin Hardy. I perceive Ben as having great insight into human transformation and a knack for creating clear, contrasting, and innovative messages around concepts we've long grappled with. Along with celebrated business coach, Dan Sullivan they wrote a book titled, 10x is easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More By Doing Less. I've altered some of my views on this concept since this talk, but I feel this is a wonderful exercise for anyone to do in order to divest themselves of a lot of clutter we let get in our way and get to what is important for a destination or achievement we desire. You could almost compare it to asking what you would take from your home if you only had 30 minutes till you must evacuate for a flood or fire. This concept can get us super focused and realize what is truly necessary. Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to another episode of Quantum Growth for Financial Advisors! In this solo "quick hit" episode, Jon Kuttin explores one of the most powerful frameworks for cutting through distraction and creating meaningful business growth: Signal vs. Noise. Drawing from the work of Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Jon explains why high performers consistently identify and focus The post Signal or Noise? Why High Performers See What Everyone Else Misses with Jon Kuttin appeared first on Kuttin Consulting Group.
(Original Run Date: 7/02/2026) Dr. Tom Curran discusses the journey that led him to moments of conviction and commitment to walk the Camino de Santiago. Tom addresses the pressures of raising a family and testifies to discerning God's 10X vision for his life, pursuing a gracious disruption and overcoming obstacles.Referenced Book/ Podcast10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn't strategy, talent, or money... but the timeline you've accepted? In this episode, Brandon and I unpack one of the most impactful business books we've read recently, The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. We explore how using time as a tool forces better thinking, exposes bottlenecks, and helps leaders stop chasing incremental growth in favor of transformational change. We also discuss simplifying your business, identifying the few levers that truly matter, and why the companies that scale the fastest often do less, not more. If you're building a restoration, construction, or home service business, this conversation will challenge the way you think about growth forever. Enjoy the show - Chris Key Takeaways: [00:00:50] Time as a Tool - Compress timelines to unlock transformational thinking. [00:04:47] Think Bigger - Use constraints to clarify what actually matters. [00:06:46] Simplify to Scale - Focus on the 2-3 levers that drive the biggest results. [00:08:01] Build the Life You Want - Scale without sacrificing health, family, or relationships. [00:10:26] Get Out of Autopilot - Slow down to ask better questions before taking action. [00:13:10] Stop Incremental Thinking - More of the same rarely creates breakthrough growth. [00:15:08] Find What Breaks at Scale - Identify bottlenecks before they become problems. [00:20:53] Change the Strategy - Sometimes scaling requires an entirely different business model. [00:24:02] The One or Two Levers - Focus on what makes everything else easier. [00:28:36] Raise the Floor - Eliminate what no longer fits the business you're building. [00:34:08] Parkinson's Principle - Work expands to fill the time you give it. About the Show Head, Heart, & Boots is for the men and women who build things for a living. Restoration, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, and every blue collar trade in between. Hosts Brandon Reece and Chris Nordyke built and scaled real companies in the restoration industry, and they have carried those hard-won lessons into every blue collar trade they work with today. Every week they dig into the head (strategy), the heart (culture and people), and the boots (execution) of running a business worth owning. This show is the front door to Floodlight Consulting Group, where Brandon, Chris, and the team help trades businesses find the money already sitting inside them and build companies worth far more than the day they started. Same people, same mission, whether you are listening or working with us directly. Ready to see what that looks like in your business? Start Here! Owning a business in the trades can be the loneliest job there is. Head, Heart, & Boots exists to change that, because the best leaders don't go it alone, and neither should you.
Welcome to The Achievers Podcast. I'm your host, Amber Deibert, Performance Coach. I help enterprise sellers unlock their full potential by aligning their work with how they workout and cleaning up mindset trash, so they can sell more, stress less, and take back control of their time and success. A low-energy day hits, and before you can even rest, a voice shows up asking what's wrong with you and why you're not working harder. When your energy dips, you assume the problem is you. In this episode, I walk you through exactly what I do on a low-energy day (I used it two days ago while fighting a virus): how I rest without guilt, get the most important things done anyway, and come back stronger. The low energy was never the problem. The spiral is.
Tesiah “Tess” Frame is a Latter-day Saint digital content creator, author, and podcaster based in Southern California. Focusing on motherhood, practical scripture study, and active discipleship, she aims to bring optimism, authenticity, and joy to the online conversation surrounding Latter-day Saint women. Alongside Becky Squire, she co-hosts the Certain Women Podcast, a Come, Follow Me scripture study program specifically geared toward women, and is the co-owner of the children’s faith brand Happy Sacrament. Outside of her media work, Tessis a mother of three boys and a resilient survivor of a highly traumatic medical crisis during late pregnancy, during which she was placed in a temporary medical coma to safely deliver her youngest son. Utilizing her platforms and personal experiences, she actively encourages Church members to lean into personal initiative, love the gospel, and fearlessly minister on a local scale. Links TesiahFrame.com Certain Women Podcast @certainwomenpodcast HappySacrament.com Instagram @tesiahframe Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Tess Frame talks about the female experience in the Church and the proactive role of covenant discipleship. The conversation centers on navigating local leadership dynamics, finding purpose outside of official callings, and historical and scriptural frameworks for the Relief Society. 00:04:08 – Tess Frame’s Journey and Unique Birth Experience 00:07:00 – Finding Purpose and Taking Initiative in the Church 00:10:01 – The Libertarian Approach to Church Programs 00:12:34 – Women's Experience in Church Leadership 00:14:18 – Advice for Relief Society Leaders 00:16:33 – Empowering Women Beyond Official Roles 00:17:30 – Lessons from Women in the Scriptures 00:19:07 – Studying Women in the Scriptures 00:25:25 – Continuity Among Women in the Scriptures 00:27:56 – The Role of Women in the Relief Society 00:30:01 – Navigating Social Media as a Woman 00:35:46 – Understanding the Addictive Nature of Social Media 00:39:42 – The Historical Context of the Relief Society 00:44:29 – The Essential Role of Women in God's Kingdom Key Insights Proactive Discipleship: Members should not wait for system-wide institutional changes or official permissions to address local ward needs; recognizing a need is often a spiritual prompting to act. Avoiding Local Hierarchies: Over-regulation by local leadership can accidentally create organizational barriers that prevent auxiliary leaders from fully acting within their stewardships. The Spirit of Relief Society: The true, foundational purpose of the Relief Society is providing local, practical relief and ministering rather than just organizing social activities. Scriptural Continuity: Studying scriptural women—such as Ruth, Rahab, Sarah, and Hannah—reveals flawed but profoundly faithful individuals whose inter-generational commitments parallel modern sisterhood. Mindful Social Media Use: Platforms use algorithms designed to trigger primitive emotional responses like anger and comparison; creators and consumers must intentionally cultivate self-awareness to remain peacemakers online. Supporting Male Experiences: Ward groups must also remain attentive to the emotional, mental health, and connection needs of men, as structural shifts and heavy callings can leave them feeling disconnected. Leadership Applications Encourage Autonomous Ministering: Bishops can empower Relief Society presidencies by explicitly clarifying which matters require priesthood approval and which allow them to act independently to provide immediate community relief. Foster Local Adjustments: Ward leaders can prioritize home-centered gatherings or small-group rotations to break down ward cliques without requiring formal budgets or institutional approval. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
I cut my own grass every week. I don't mind it — it's mindless, it's outside, I like the hour. Plenty of people I know, just as busy and just as capable, pay someone else to do theirs. Neither one of us is wrong. We just decided differently about where we want to spend that hour.Turns out we all make that same call, constantly, in every part of our lives — we just never name it out loud. This episode names it: the DIYer, the Partner, and the Delegator, and the honest question of which one you actually are when it comes to your money."My job was never to know something you couldn't Google. My job is to make sure the right thing happens even on the day you don't feel like doing it."What You'll LearnThis episode breaks down the DIYer / Partner / Delegator framework and applies it directly to your money — using ideas borrowed from Bill Bachrach's values-based financial planning and the "Who Not How" mindset from Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.Episode Timestamps00:00 — Cold open: the lawn story and the three types02:30 — Segment 1: DIYer, Partner, Delegator, defined across everyday life07:00 — Segment 2: Information is free. Your time isn't.10:00 — The Bachrach question: what would you do with the time back?11:00 — From "How" to "Who": the Who Not How mindset shift13:30 — Segment 3: Implementation is the whole game17:00 — Segment 4: The cost of small mistakes (the beneficiary story)20:30 — Close: the honest question to ask yourselfThe Question Worth Sitting WithIf you no longer spent your evenings and weekends researching stocks, reading up on IRA rules, or checking your portfolio — what would you actually do with that time? Coach your kid's team without half your brain on the market? Sleep through the night instead of running numbers at 1am? Whatever you just pictured — that's the actual return on delegating. Not a better return than the S&P. Your life back."The DIYer instinct is to ask 'how do I do this.' The Delegator instinct is to ask 'who can do this for me.' Neither question is wrong — but only one of them gives you your evenings back."The Mistake Nobody Talks AboutIt's rarely a market crash that quietly costs a family everything. It's a beneficiary form filled out once, years ago, and never updated through a marriage, a divorce, or a new kid. That account doesn't care what your will says — it pays out exactly according to the form. That's not a knowledge gap. That's an implementation gap, and it's exactly the kind of thing accountability is built to catch.Not sure which one you are with your money? Book a free 20-minute Vision Call: weeklywealthpodcast.com/visionKnow a Delegator who's still white-knuckling their own portfolio out of guilt? Send them this episode — it might be the permission they've been waiting for.Resources MentionedWho Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin HardyBill Bachrach's values-based financial planning approachBook a Vision Call
In this episode of the #DoorGrowShow, Jason Hull sits down with entrepreneur, author, and business strategist Leigh Angman to explore the principles behind building sustainable, profitable businesses. Leigh introduces the SPRUCTIS framework, a system focused on profitability, systems, communication, technology, integrity, and sales. Jason and Leigh discuss why so many business owners operate without knowing their true financial health, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who elevate your business, and how documenting processes protects long-term growth. They also dive into the mindset behind entrepreneurial success, including the power of "delusional optimism," making decisions through the Pleasure Utility Determinant (PUD), and why success often comes down to consistently making slightly more right decisions than wrong ones. You'll Learn [00:00] Introduction to Leigh Angman and the SPRUCTIS Framework [01:29] Leigh's First Entrepreneurial Lesson at Six Years Old [05:07] Why Every Business Owner Should Know Their Profitability [06:22]] Breaking Down the SPRUCTIS Business Framework [15:02 Delusional Optimism and Thinking Beyond Realistic Goals [21:13] The Pleasure Utility Determinant (PUD) Explained [24:13] Better Decision-Making Through Value and Mindset Quotables "You cannot make intelligent decisions about your business if you don't know what your financial health is." — Leigh Angman " "The only way that I've been able to find success... is to surround myself with people that are smarter than I am." — Leigh Angman ""If you think you can or you cannot, you're absolutely correct." — Leigh Angman Resources DoorGrow and Scale Mastermind DoorGrow Academy DoorGrow on YouTube DoorGrowClub DoorGrowLive Transcript Jason Hull (00:00) All right, I'm Jason Hull, the owner and founder of DoorGrow, the world's leading and most comprehensive coaching and consulting firm for long-term residential property management entrepreneurs. For over a decade and a half, we have brought innovative strategies and optimization to the property management industry. At DoorGrow, we are on a mission to transform property management business owners and their businesses. We want to transform the industry, eliminate the BS, build awareness, change perception, expand the market, and help the best property management entrepreneurs win. Now let's get into the show. In today's episode, here on the DoorGrow Show, we have Lee Angman, serial entrepreneur, business strategist, author of Spruptus from Insight to Action with over 20 years of experience founding and scaling companies across hospitality, tech, and real estate. Lee is going to be sharing his practical framework for small to medium-sized business success. And we're going to talk dive into a bunch of topics like mindset, delusional optimism, and the pleasure utility determinant PUD for redef redefining success and the best free technology tools entrepreneurs can leverage to scale smarter. Lee, welcome to the DoorGrow Show. Leigh Angman (01:12) Thank you so much, Jason. ⁓ it's a pleasure to be here. Jason Hull (01:15) Great, so where I'd love to start is why don't we dig into your background? I want people to get a feel for who you are and how you sort of arrived where you are right now in life in your entrepreneurial journey. How did your entrepreneurial journey sort of start? Leigh Angman (01:29) ⁓ I I like to talk about the first taste of entrepreneurialism that I got. I was six years old and I was at a a rodeo in the the north of British Columbia, province of British Columbia. I'm Canadian up here. And I was sitting with my family and watching this is this was, you know, 40 something years ago, ⁓ and watching rodeo events. And my father just kind of leaned over to me and he said, Hey, take a look around, what do you see? And I saw, of course, a bunch of ⁓ recyclable bottles that the friendly patrons of this rodeo had been consuming during the day. And he said, you know, if you round those up, because they're just at people's feet and you take them back to the point of purchase, they'll give you you know, for X number of bottles that you out, they'll they'll give you a quarter. And I said, You kidding me? He said, No, go ahead. So I started and I excuse me, could I could I get that? Could I get that? Remember, I was only six years old at the time. So it was very interesting. And I, and I certainly recall thinking about that beautiful sunny day many times, you know, 12, 15 years later when I was working at a at a you know, a fast food restaurant or a gas station. It was in those days, no matter how hard I worked, I got paid the same. And I much, much preferred that original story of being back and being able to work harder or work smarter. and it and it took several years after working in in restaurants to get into the entrepreneur world. But it's been over 25 years now since I have have been kind of owning and operating businesses. And Jason Hull (02:36) Yeah. Leigh Angman (02:59) I like to say that the the worst possible definition of hell that I can imagine is being at a desk on Monday morning at nine o'clock simply because Mr. Johnson tells me that I have to be there. Jason Hull (03:09) Alright, well let's see if we can all win against Mr. Johnson. So all right, so ⁓ cool. Well let's let's get into the topic topics at hand. where should we start? ⁓ y we could start with the spructus or we could start with ⁓ you know, some of your mindset things, what w we Leigh Angman (03:26) Sure. They all they all flow from the book. I took two years and launched last November, two years to write a book. I found myself ⁓ evolving processes that have been applied to various businesses that I have owned and operated, been a part of. and most recently we I I've owned I've owned restaurants and pubs in Vancouver for twenty-three years now, give or take. and What I like to say, and when I'm speaking to other entrepreneurs and business owners about this, is do you know what your profitability is every two weeks? And if they say yes, then there's not much I could do to help them. But there's you'd be surprised how many entrepreneurs that operate small to medium businesses, and I define that as something that does up to about $15 million in annual revenue. you'd be surprised how many of those people don't know what their profitability is. Until you know a couple of weeks after their chartered accountant delivers them their financials at the end of the year. And it's a terribly frightening concept for me to absorb that you cannot make intelligent decisions about your business if you don't know what your financial health is. So Spructus, which is the name of the book that I wrote, which stands for systems, processes, redundancy, urgency, communication, technology, integrity, and sales. Is really a framework that covers a lot of those things that are defined by the individual letters of the word. But but one of the very most important parts of it in there, it clearly defines a framework that has been refined over the last 15 or 20 years that allows us complete insight into the business. ⁓ we know what our profitability is to the penny every eight to fourteen days. And if there's anything that someone takes from that book, it's a very clear roadmap to exactly how to do that with any kind of a ⁓ you know, a self-owned business. So that's the core foundation for the book. Jason Hull (05:07) Mm-hmm. Yeah. You know, I love I love the idea of focusing on profit. I've had Mike McAllowicz on the show and he has booked Profit First. So I don't know if you have any way to connect this to that in any way, positively or negatively, if how you feel about that. But I know that just even a business setting aside a certain amount for profit so that they actually have some profit is a great s like really large baby step that they need to take. So Leigh Angman (05:27) Okay. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I I think and one of the things I say to my partners all the time when I deliver them news about you know where we where you sit financially, there's you you don't turn a profit every single period or every single month. We operate on four week periods for various reasons, but just knowing where you are, even if you're in a loss, it's just knowing that that position in which you sit. that allows you to make those intelligent decisions about how to support the growth and sustaining of your business. Jason Hull (06:16) Got it. Yeah. Love it. Alright, so ⁓ should we go through the framework? Or Leigh Angman (06:22) Yeah, quickly I'll go through them. redundancy is not in the way that that people are made redundant and made irrelevant, but it's all always about not siloing your brilliance and being able to ensure that there's not one really smart person in the business that only knows how to do a particular amount of things ⁓ that that nobody else knows. So if they are lost for any particular reason, the business is in in dire need of ⁓ Jason Hull (06:41) Yeah. Leigh Angman (06:49) Or in in big trouble. one sidebar on that is, you know, I I always say the only way that I've been able to find success in the last 25 years of owning and operating businesses is to surround myself with people that are smarter than I am. and it's not difficult to do. ⁓ but you know, really, I am not aware of any entrepreneur, and maybe AI is changing this, but to date, I'm not aware of any entrepreneur that has created a massively successful business exclusively on their own. So Jason Hull (07:15) Yeah. Leigh Angman (07:15) That idea that there's some very smart people in your business is critical for its success so that they can do things that you're not talented at. Obviously, each person in that equation has to bring something to the table. and they can specialize it. but they should absolutely share and document the items that they specialize in that could allow someone else to take over. Urgency also factors its way into lots of other things. There's lots of examples where urgency is is very, very critical. And I spoke about how these topics intertwine with each other, urgency in communication, urgency in systems and processes that you you know, that you under that you were involved with, urgency in your sales. So you could see how all of these kind of things start to cross-reference each other in a bit of a matrix. technology is is an incredibly important part to any business. I've watched it change. and we're obviously in a time where communication is 24-7. Your ability to get information from the internet is 24-7. ⁓ but leaning into that kind of technology, AI is a perfect example of the modern version of of you know the latest and greatest advance in technology. ⁓ you have to lean into these new technologies or else they're not going to be. Jason Hull (08:27) Yeah. Leigh Angman (08:31) you're you're not you're just not going to gonna be able to sustain your business. my experience has found that has led me to believe that without integrity, your success is not long lived. Jason Hull (08:34) Right. Leigh Angman (08:42) It's short-lived and it's and it's ⁓ a lack of integrity absolutely can lead you to finding short-term success. But ⁓ my in my life I have certainly you know shot for a lot deeper than that. ⁓ it's hard to sell things, it's hard to operate a business, it's hard to start a business if you have integrity. ⁓ I have found anyways that a long-term more sustainable sense of success has been achieved. And then of course doesn't matter whether you're a a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker, as long if you can't sell your product, you're you know, it's the it's that exchange of of of of monetary documents for your goods or services that lead to your ability to sustain that business. that. Jason Hull (09:25) I love it. I I really resonate with that. I you know, just going through it, some of the things that popped out to me, you know, we you were talking about having smarter people and yeah, if it it if you don't have systems, processes, and redundancy, you're vulnerable. And y you can be in a really dangerous spot. And we have a client that he had like three hundred doors in his property management business. Leigh Angman (09:42) Absolutely. Jason Hull (09:50) And he lost one key team member and then his entire team fell apart and he realized that person was carrying everybody. And so he laid everybody else off. And so he had total team turnover twice in like a really short time period, in like months. And so his hair was on fire. He was so strong. And so we had to help him build a hiring system, but and then make sure we get good people. But a lot of companies build teams, but they don't realize and they think they need processes. I call it the process myth, but what I find is usually they just need better people. Better pe people that have integrity, people that share their values. And when that's off, they're always spending way too much money on people. So Leigh Angman (10:19) Fair. Yeah, absolutely. on that exact note, I was ⁓ a recruiter in New York and Vancouver in the very late nineties and early two thousands. And very quickly early in my career, I found that there were two types of hiring managers. One when when we brought them what we called a rock star, was a a super high-end ⁓ candidate for a position. When we brought a rock star to the table, one type, Which was, of course, the very successful type was the one that embraced them and was excited about bringing this wildly intelligent person into the fold of their business. and it always led to sustainable long-term growth and that kind of result. Whereas you had the other type of hiring manager that was paranoid that this new amazing person was going to steal their job, was going to make them look bad. and and it's a it's just awful. I just did not. like to work with that type of hiring manager at all. So you're very right. You know, the idea that surrounding yourself with those right people, it is the kind of decision that one makes that allows you to build those systems and processes in place. But finding the right people is is key to the success in any business. Absolutely, I found. Jason Hull (11:34) Yeah, very true. It's a it's it's really interesting. We see that even with clients, that if they're positive active versus be versus being negative active, meaning they're actively trying to figure out how to make things work, how this could work, they're looking through a positive lens versus actively finding flaw or fault or sabotaging the they they prove themselves right either way in in our own programs. And so the positive active clients are the ones we filter and look for, right? you mentioned urgency. I'm like I had a problem with sales for a bit and it was I had tons of stuff in our pipeline. We were having lots of great conversations. Everybody loved what our offer was, yet nobody was closing. And it was simply because we lacked questions around urgency. And so just adding in the element of urgency really ramped up sales. It was just questions like, Why would it matter for you to do this now? Or does it even matter at all? And letting them figure out and find the reason there might be some urgency. So that made a massive difference. communication, I love that. speaking with people rather than talking to. Yeah, if you're not having a conversation, then you're not learning and you're not listening. And and the last thing you want to be as a as a CEO or a boss or an owner of a business is the Emperor with No Clothes, where everybody just says yes to everything that you say and everybody comes to you and asks you to do all the thinking for them. And this is where business owners build a team and they don't they're it they do it blindly or unknowingly initially, but they don't understand why won't my team just think for themselves? Well you designed it that way. Leigh Angman (13:00) Yeah, you have not empowered them to do so. Jason Hull (13:02) Right. And so, yeah, because the safest thing in the world is to have them have you do the thinking for them. Then they can't get fired for doing what you told them to do, you know. But yeah, empowering them to do it and motivating them to do it. And then you mentioned technology. Lots of people are leaning in into AI now. Yeah, integrity I think is paramount because there's nothing ⁓ greater than character to elevate somebody. If somebody has great character, they rise up in any organization Any system they're in, any friend group that they're in, integrity, like character, people recognize that this is a person that they can rely on, that gets things done, that has their life together. in any situation that my wife and I are in, we tend to always rise to the top. And I believe the secret is just care good character. And ⁓ the shortcut is a shortcut in life. ⁓ I'm really inspired by one of my mentors, ⁓ Sharon Shrivatsa. He was the CEO of Real. Leigh Angman (13:49) It's yes. Jason Hull (13:58) He's now the CEO of the Alex and Layla Hermosis Companies, Company Umacquisition.com. But I was in a little mastermind with him, and he was just, he's this gentleman that came to the US from India, had like got r got robbed right as he entered the US. He convinced the person mugging him, taking his money, to give him a little bit back so he could book a a r ⁓ a ride somewhere. and ⁓ get a tr a train or a bus or something. And ⁓ and even when he was in school he was like dumpster diving to get food out and now he's a billionaire, right? And so he always found ways to be the best. And he always has operated with integrity at the core of that. And who he was is what really elevated him, I believe, to where he's at now. He's also a brilliant thinker, but I think it's a sign of intelligence. To live with integrity. So yeah. So and then sales. Leigh Angman (14:53) Amen. Jason Hull (14:55) really, really great stuff. So I I love mindset. Let's get into this mindset of delusional optimism. What tell me about this? Leigh Angman (15:02) Okay. ⁓ I love the expression. I tell my 15 year old son this all the time. If you think you can or you cannot, you're absolutely correct, right? How you set yourself up for success and I talk about the idea also, it's it's not just about how you think, but it's how you prepare to think. Are you set? Are you established? Are you you know, ready to take on the next challenges that as an entrepreneur come to you all the time? A way that I always like to describe. I can't remember who said this, but I I I've latched on to this quote. It's being an entrepreneur entrepreneur is like waking up every morning and getting hit in the face with a baseball bat. And having the occasional pieces of positive reinforcement to remind you to keep going. Okay. So this concept that that ⁓ those that have not owned and operated their own businesses tend to not see as deeply as fellow entrepreneurs is that there's always going to be another fire to put out. And it's not, I believe in the law of attraction as well. So it's not like you're attracting these things, but you have to understand that it's they're gonna come to you. No matter what you do, there's going to be a challenge. There's no safety net in running your own business. You are the one that is responsible for making the decisions to push things forward. And when we talk about delusional optimism, it's really setting your mindset in a proper way to establish that you are going to do that thing. some people call it manifestation. there's other words for it. So I was saying, you know, in all the things that I've read, I'm not reinventing these things. I am just saying, look, these are this is a collection of ideas that have that I have cobbled together and learned about over the last several, you know, decades to that that have just given me blatant positive feedback that what I am doing is at least the right, you know, decision. And making that right decision 51% of the time is what you have to do to find that success, right? That shouldn't be the goal, but That's the the bare minimum. in terms of this delusional optimism, it comes down to the car that you're going to get, the relationship that you want, the the you know, the the the house that you want. And it's not all material things by any stretch of the imagination, but the body that you've wanted, you know, all of these kinds of things. you know, when it comes to a sales topic or a sales call. I know statistically, there's zero way, zero percent chance that I am closing all of the deals that I go into. But I can promise you the little pep talk that I give myself prior to going into any sales call is you've closed this. It's done. I'm not looking past the process that needs to occur to get there, but I am absolutely seeing that sale closed. It, you know, it you you could apply this to so many elements of your life. Jason Hull (17:51) ja Leigh Angman (17:56) Doesn't matter what it is, if you want it, the only thing from stopping you from getting there is you. despite all odds believing that you're going to achieve exactly what you want to achieve. Make sense? Jason Hull (18:08) Yeah, totally I think it ties back into what I had mentioned about being positive active. we yeah, you have to be optimistic. You have to believe it before you can achieve it. And you know, it's it's I feel like it's as simple as turning on a light switch. If you don't believe the light switch works, you're not even gonna try turning it on. And it's not hard to turn on a light switch. Leigh Angman (18:17) Yes, love that one. Jason Hull (18:28) But you won't even attempt it if you're like, yeah, I don't think there's power in this building. Yeah. And so it's it doesn't necessarily have to have to be hard. There is a place certainly for hard work, but it just being optimistic certainly makes everything less hard. Because we're creating our own limitation, our own barriers. We're not trying things that could work or could be. And I've seen, you know, business owners that were delusionally optimistic. Like I had a client who decided. Leigh Angman (18:30) Absolutely. Jason Hull (18:55) He felt it was hard getting to his first 100 doors. And so he decided, I want to be at a thousand by the end of this year. And he and he did it. He went and walked into property management businesses, met met them, met the business owner, shook hands and said, Hey, would love to buy your company. And he found a 900-door owner that was willing to sell. And he was at a thousand doors by the end of that year. And so, but if he didn't have that level of optimism, Leigh Angman (19:01) Amazing. Jason Hull (19:19) And that sort of impossible goal, if you will, he wouldn't have tried that. He would have done what everybody else does. Well, I'm gonna see if I can be realistic and get a hundred doors this year. I've I'm a really big fan of Ben Hardy, Dr. Benjamin Hardy. He's in a master men. And ⁓ he shared with us down in Mexico this his newest book, which is The Science of Scaling. And he talks about in this these different sort of goals, and I kind of built my own mental model around this, these three levels of goal setting. But the basic idea is level one is their survival goals. These are where it's terrible to live, right? We make bad decisions usually from this place. It's like I need to get money in. And the next level goals are realistic goals. That's level two. And so this is where we focus on something, but this is where our brain kind of caps our thinking because we already know how to do it. It's just work harder. And so we're not a visionary at that point. But when we shift into a impossible goals The goal becomes a tool to change our thinking, he talks about in his book. And so he says we either use time by collapsing time down to something that makes the goal impossible, or we make the goal so much bigger, like 10x bigger, to make it impossible. But either way, it changes the path and it changes our level of thinking, and then we become a visionary. And when we hold space for these goals that others would say are impossible. Because if we focus on just what's realistic, then the challenge is we cap our own thinking because our brain already knows how to do Leigh Angman (20:40) Absolutely. Jason Hull (20:40) And it's like right. And so, so this really ties into that. I I love that, I love that so much. And I've seen people when they shift into having a big enough goal, they become optimistic. If they can just hold space for a big enough goal that is currently impossible to their current realistic negative brain, it forces them to shift into into what I call a playground where we're playing with ideas. Whereas when we're realistic, realistic goals are like a yardstick by which we beat ourselves up with. 'Cause we rarely rarely hit them. It's always a linear, difficult path of a lot of hard work and multiple steps, if that makes sense. So yeah, I love this. Love this so much. So tell me what is a pleasure utility determinant? Leigh Angman (21:13) Mm-hmm. Absolutely. the amount of effort or energy or dollars that you spend to achieve a particular thing for one or two or three choices, up to an infinite number of choices, it it if you think about things in that frame, right? It allows you to more easily make decisions about what to do. And I speak all the time that life is just a series of wagers. Every single day you're making choices whether to go A or B in terms of a different direction. And we need things to help us make choices in this world. It's just one, like I said, started as an amusing thing, but factored into business decisions. It's not always about getting the thing for the cheapest. It's about deriving the most amount of pleasure or success from the decision that you've made based on a number of parameters. Make sense? Jason Hull (22:12) Yeah, I love it. When people get too hyperfixated on one currency, and and one of my mentors talked about, you dropped a few of them right here. t s his name's Alex Sharfin and he talks about the five currencies of time, energy, focus, cash, and effort. And these things we have to invest in life and in our own business. And ⁓ yeah, and a lot of business owners I've noticed will continually invest. And focus on the business, but not on taking care of themselves. How they initially build their teams. This is always the solopreneur transitioning to having a team. I call this the team sand trap after they get past the solopreneur sand trap. But in this team sand trap, they always build a team around the way they thought as an on as a solopreneur. And that the and so they always end up with the wrong team because they s they're building this entire team around themselves, but they are showing up as the wrong puzzle piece at the center. And because they're not focused on what they want. They're not focused on what they need. They're just continually giving the business what it needs. And then the business becomes almost like their master. It's like a high chair tyrant flinging food in their face. You know, if anybody has kids listening, you should not be just giving this thing everything that it always asked for or needs or wants. To the exclusion or the detriment of yourself. You gotta be taking care of yourself. That's the other lens. And so I like this idea of figuring out, all right, how do I figure out the pleasure utility determinant related to this thing I'm making a decision about? How is this going to benefit or serve me? And is this giving me more of what I call the four reasons for starting a business: of more fulfillment, more freedom, more contribution, and more support? If it's not giving us more of those four things, then we're losing those. And it's very easy to make more and more money and have less freedom, have less fulfillment, have less contribution and have less support. And then we end up very miserable, even though we're in control of it all. So we just made a tactical bad mistake. We designed the business the wrong way. And it's our choice how we design it. Leigh Angman (24:13) if you seek value, whether it's in people, whether it's in your business, whether it's in something that you acquire, whether it's an experience that you are that you were having, ⁓ and and again, it's not value for money, it's value for those other currencies that you just explained, right? Your time, your energy, your focus, these kinds of things. ⁓ it's a it's a almost a comical concept, but if you apply it in a serious manner and you you just allow yourself, it's just a tiny little tool. Jason Hull (24:31) Yeah. Leigh Angman (24:41) To allow yourself to become ⁓ in a positive mindset framework. It's again, I taught I mentioned this very early on in our chat here today. It's not about just thinking, it's about how you prepare to think. It's just yet another one of these little tools that helps you prepare to think about how you're going to solve the series of wagers that are put in front of you every single day. As an entrepreneur or as a as a life partner with, you know, your wife or your. you know, your spouse, whatever it happens to be, ⁓ or as a parent, all of these things come down to making decisions. And we need to factor in various tools to help us make the right ones. Jason Hull (25:20) Yeah, got it. So I mean just even asking ourselves, you know, what this business decision that I'm looking at making, or this life decision, would this bring me more joy or would it take way? Cause if we look through the wrong lens, like what if we're always like, what would be cost less? Or what would be cheapest? And we're focused on the wrong thing. And I don't think the goal is to save a bunch of money and be miserable. Leigh Angman (25:36) Right. It's dangerous. That's right. Yeah. Yes. It's it's a very simple concept, but like everything else in the world, the idea that you pull one lever down and you know, there's a hundred levers on the wall. There's a there's a lot of you know, discussion in the current political climate of the world where people are led to believe that there is simply two lever there are simply two levers. Pull one down and it's gonna pull the other one up and it's gonna solve it. Clearly not the case in business, in life, in politics, in anything else. But this idea that you allow yourself tools to help make the series of choices every day that will lead you to a greater likelihood of success. I will embrace all of those. Another thing I like to say all the time is you don't know what you don't know. There's there's a million brilliant people out there, millions, millions, surely, of brilliant people out there that that I could learn from. I love to hear these types of you know, Jason Hull (26:30) Yeah. Leigh Angman (26:36) tools that they have acquired in their lives to help them make the right decisions. Again, this is but one of many. Jason Hull (26:42) Yeah, yeah. you know, a lot of times we think something else is gonna make us feel a certain way. And we think, if I had this amount of money, I would feel the certain way. If I had this car, I would feel a certain way. Usually boils down to a feeling. And ⁓ and then the question is eventually we maybe figure out as we mature, hey, can I just choose to feel a certain way rather than trying to fill this hole constantly, right? Can I just share what's keeping me from feeling that way. What do you feel would be for those listening that really want to have better financial health, what would you feel are maybe the best tools or resources, books for them to kind of get start figuring this out? Leigh Angman (27:21) I mean, I'm gonna pump mon spructus' tires a little bit, you know. If if you go to Amazon and check out Spructus, S P R U C T I S, you can see the book and it'll give you a taste of of exactly what this framework is. And ⁓ you know, we are the easiest people in the world to get a hold of ⁓ at spructus.com. I could be found on LinkedIn at Lee L E I G H A N G A N, which is Angman. Jason Hull (27:25) Yeah. Leigh Angman (27:43) And I I would love to tell people about this because it's it's it's if you have the capacity to operate a spreadsheet, we can show you how to do that. continue to growth, keep an open mind, learn from people, have a thirst for education and and just continue to try to grow your career. I like to I like to believe I'm gonna be able to do that until the day I drop dead. Jason Hull (28:02) Yeah, me too. Lee, ⁓ pleasure having you on. plug some of your your URLs etcetera. How can people get in touch or learn about you and and all your different stuff? ⁓ go ahead and you've given us some URLs, but go ahead and do that again here. Leigh Angman (28:17) Yeah, I'll summarize. ⁓ I would for the property, obviously we spoke a lot. I've I've listened to a couple of your episodes on property management. there's a tremendous of amount of ⁓ fantastic resources there, and clearly this is what you're focusing on. If people want to learn about the the offerings that we have on the property management software side of things, you can check out Mondofi, O N D O F I dot com. you can learn about the book. on Amazon or at sprukeddis.com, S P R U C T I S dot com and reach out on LinkedIn. I'm the easiest guy in the world to get a hold of. It's Lee Angman, L E I G H A N G A N. Would love to learn from some of the brilliant oper entrepreneurs that you sp I would love to meet this guy you that that created his big hairy audacious goal to get a thousand doors. Like that's the kind of guy that jacks me up that that that I love to hang around with that's like we're gonna do this crazy thing. That everybody has told me no, I can't do. I want that kind of positive energy in my life. And I've worked very hard to surround myself with that kind of person. Jason Hull (29:18) Well, I if for those that are listening, if you're a property management entrepreneur and you're listening and you felt stuck or stagnant and you want to take your property management business to the next level, this is the type of room we curate here at DoorGrow in our mastermind. So reach out to us at DoorGrow.com. And if you'd like a free training on how to get unlimited leads for free, text the word leads to five one two six four eight four six zero eight. Also, you can join our free community by going to doorgrow club.com. And if you want tips, tricks, or ideas, and to learn about DoorGrow's offers and what we're up to, subscribe to our newsletter by going to doorgrow.com slash subscribe. And if you found this episode even a little bit helpful, which I hope you did, because this was really great stuff. Thank you, Lee. then don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review on whatever channel you saw this on, we'd really appreciate it. And until next time, remember the slowest path to growth is to do it alone. So let's grow together. Bye everyone. Leigh Angman (30:14) Thanks so much.
As mom, leader, and business owner you wear many hats. Add high achiever to that, and you increase the risk of anxiety. But that doesn't have to hold you back from success. Anxiety is a constant companion for many individuals, particularly those balancing leadership roles and personal responsibilities. Realization of anxiety Anxiety isn't always a familiar concept for everyone. For some, the realization comes later in life after experiencing it for years. Facing the Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship Being an entrepreneur and building a business isn't all sunshine and unicorns. Balancing Family and Business Managing a business while raising a family introduces a unique experience with anxiety and stress. Navigating Anxiety and using it as a motivational force Anxiety often serves as a hidden driver for many leaders and entrepreneurially-minded moms in leadership roles. Learning and Growth: Tools for Navigating Anxiety Navigating anxiety involves personal growth and adopting effective management strategies. Embracing Community and Connection Building a supportive community is crucial for women in leadership. Reimagining living with anxiety For many, anxiety plays an integral, if complex, role in life. It prompts continuous evaluation of needs and desires, both personal and professional. Website for Sarah Cornwell Jewelry Additional Resources The Gap and The Gain by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan How Gratitude Reduces Anxiety Strategies You Need to Alleviate Burnout Links for You' Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Read the full show notes and access all links.
For over thirty years, Shawn D. Moon has worked with global clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government organizations. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Zerorez. Previously, Shawn was an Executive Vice President at FranklinCovey, a former principal at Mellon Financial Corporation, and was named a 2024 finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. A Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Shawn has published books in multiple languages and frequently speaks to senior leadership audiences globally. His most current book is Roots, Relationships, and Results. He serves on multiple boards, is actively engaged in his community, and currently serves as a married adult stake president in Provo, Utah. Shawn and his wife, Michele, reside in Lindon, Utah, and have four children and 11 grandchildren. Links Roots, Relationships, and Results What the Scriptures Say About Leadership | An Interview with Shawn Moon Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights This discussion covers foundational leadership attributes compiled from over one hundred interviews with global leaders across various industries. The conversation focuses on intentional personal development, effective relational dynamics, and achieving meaningful outcomes in family and church callings. 00:03:12 – Sean’s Leadership Background 00:05:00 – Unique Stake Presidency Experience 00:05:57 – Genesis of the New Book 00:08:06 – The Concept of the Last Leadership Lecture 00:12:49 – Interviewing Leaders for Insights 00:14:40 – Themes Emerging from Interviews 00:16:14 – The Importance of Personal Leadership 00:19:05 – Leading Without a Formal Title 00:21:19 – The Power of Gratitude in Leadership 00:29:15 – Practicing Gratitude as a Skill 00:32:05 – The Work That Matters 00:35:10 – Trusting Leadership: Extending Trust 00:40:59 – The Impact of Believing in Others 00:43:24 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts Key Insights The Leadership Arc: True leadership functions across three integrated categories: establishing internal roots of personal leadership, building deep relational trust, and executing to achieve sustainable results. Leading Without a Title: Formal authority is not a prerequisite for impact; some of the most profound leadership occurs when individuals step forward to influence and lift others without holding an official calling or position. Emotional Regulation: Effective leaders act as thermostats rather than thermometers. They actively set the emotional temperature and bring stability to a room during high-stress situations instead of merely reacting to the environment. Gratitude as a Multiplier: Practicing deliberate gratitude serves as a cognitive interrupter that shifts a leader's mindset from defensive, reactionary conflict to collaborative, executive problem-solving. Extending Trust: While being trustworthy is a basic requirement, exceptional leadership requires actively extending trust to others, which fosters their potential and builds long-term confidence. Intentional Time Investment: Human life consists of a finite number of seconds. Leaders must prioritize their weekly focus around essential tasks and specific individuals to build deep, lasting connections. Leadership Applications Implementing the 5×4 Method: Latter-day Saint leaders can organize their weekly schedules by identifying five critical objectives and four specific people to intentionally reach out to and lift up. Expressing Written Appreciation: Ward and stake leaders can cultivate a supportive culture by sending regular, handwritten notes of gratitude to members, validating their voluntary service and building deep organizational trust. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Tonya Cornileus explores how revisiting and rethinking the stories we tell ourselves can lead to personal growth and freedom. She shares personal insights on how old conclusions shape our lives and offers practical questions to challenge those narratives.Keywordsself-awareness, personal growth, storytelling, mental models, revisiting beliefs, self-improvement, emotional intelligence, life lessonsKey topicsThe impact of stories and beliefs on personal identityThe difference between self-esteem and insecurityRevisiting and revising old conclusionsThe importance of precise self-understandingPractical questions to challenge your narrativesChapters00:00 Introduction: The Power of Stories We Tell Ourselves01:20 Personal Examples: Coconut Water and Brussels Sprouts03:32 The Role of Stories in Shaping Our Lives05:00 The Story of My Parents' Divorce and Its Impact07:50 Distinguishing Between Self-Esteem and Insecurity10:16 The Importance of Precise Self-Understanding12:12 The Value of Revisiting and Rethinking Stories13:34 Examples of Common Self-Limiting Labels17:25 Redefining Leadership and Other Labels19:19 The Impact of Rethinking Old Conclusions21:38 The Power of Revisiting Personal Narratives23:00 The Labels We Attach to Ourselves24:22 Personality is Malleable and Changeable25:50 Questions to Rethink Your Stories27:09 Closing: The Invitation to Revisit Your Beliefs27:53 Your Aha Life Podcast Outro.wavResourcesPersonality Isn't Permanent by Dr. Benjamin Hardy - https://www.amazon.com/Personality-Isnt-Permanent-Dr-Benjamin-Hardy/dp/0593192294Thanks for listening. If you enjoy listening to Your Aha! Life: The Podcast, please take a moment to leave a review, comment, and share it with your friends. I appreciate you helping Your Aha! Life to grow. XO, Tonya
In this “Zion Lab Live” episode, Kurt Francom facilitates a live community discussion analyzing recent topics in Zion Lab. The conversation focuses on improving the Sunday meeting experience, addressing the unique cultural and social needs of men in the church, and managing the mental capacity of local leaders. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Key Insights US Constitution Fifth Sunday Lessons: Community feedback regarding the church-mandated Fifth Sunday lessons was generally positive, highlighting a respectful, non-political tone and a spiritual framing of the topic. However, participants noted areas for logistical improvement, such as better structured small-group discussions for youth. The Masculine Experience in Church: There is a perceived gap in curated institutional resources and dedicated advisory councils on the church level specifically tailored to adult men, unlike other church demographics. Fostering Connection for Men: Men naturally connect “shoulder-to-shoulder” through shared physical activities, service, and adventure rather than traditional face-to-face chat formats. Utilizing creative layouts, interactive exercises, or specific musical numbers can drastically improve engagement. Impact of Local Leadership: While institutional resources are helpful, local leadership ultimately has the greatest impact on an individual’s everyday church experience and ward culture. Mental Capacity and Burnout: Serving in high-demand callings creates a significant emotional and mental load. Leaders often mistakenly take on individual responsibilities that belong to others, which risks burning out active members and themselves. Leadership Applications Adapt the Second Hour: Elders Quorum presidencies can pivot away from dry lectures by arranging room seating dynamically (e.g., pulling out tables, utilizing outdoor spaces, or splitting into smaller circles) to prompt natural connection. Establish Call Limits: Bishops and Relief Society presidents can manage emotional fatigue by implementing clear structural boundaries—such as processing welfare and check requests only on Sundays—instead of allowing everyday crises to overlap into family time. Empower Through Accountability: Rather than acting as a “black hole of need” by driving around to manage every logistical demand for struggling members, leaders should focus on helping individuals build personal testimonies so they find motivation to step up independently. 00:04:10 – Leaked Meetinghouse Blueprints and the Chapel Lectern 00:05:42 – Reviewing Fifth Sunday Lessons on the US Constitution 00:07:54 – Examining Men’s Institutional Resources and the Advisory Council Gap 00:12:35 – Cultural Dynamics and How Men Build Peer Connections 00:24:14 – Practical Tips for Building Better Elders Quorum Lessons 00:28:54 – Reimaging Second-Hour Formats, Small Groups, and Music 00:39:43 – Managing the Mental Load and Burnout in Local Ward Leadership 00:43:32 – Handling Inner-City Ward Welfare Dynamics and Establishing Boundaries The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
What if you could achieve your 10-year goals in just 3 years? In this episode of The Magellan Network Show, Coach Joe Lukacs breaks down the science of compressing time - a framework inspired by Benjamin Hardy's The Science of Scaling - and how he applies it to help financial advisors radically grow their businesses. Joe walks through why 10-year thinking breeds complacency, incremental habits, and what he calls "tomorrow-itis." Through a candid case study of a 30-year advisor stuck at $450K in production, Joe reveals the real reason most advisors can't scale: it's not a business problem - it's an identity problem. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why compressing your goals into a 3-year window stress-tests your real commitment • The "Big Three" metrics every advisor should be measuring • How to build a Super COI strategy that multiplies referrals • Why being busy after your first 3 years is actually holding you back • The one word Coach Joe would tattoo on every advisor's forehead: leverage • Whether you're at $250K trying to hit $500K, or a million-dollar producer aiming for $3M - the game changes at every level, and so must you.
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4078: Benjamin Hardy explains how to turn personal growth into a game by using mentors, time-based challenges, and teaching others what you learn to accelerate progress. He also shows why embracing major life changes is essential for continued growth and how intentional challenges can make life more meaningful, exciting, and rewarding. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Growth is optional and is often avoided. However the research is clear we are happiest when we are improving." "Mentorship is essential to growth and development." "If you don't make big changes every once in a while, your life will get static and sterile." Episode references: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250773012/endersgame Self-Determination Theory: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/the-theory/ Science Journal: https://www.science.org/journal/science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4078: Benjamin Hardy explains how to turn personal growth into a game by using mentors, time-based challenges, and teaching others what you learn to accelerate progress. He also shows why embracing major life changes is essential for continued growth and how intentional challenges can make life more meaningful, exciting, and rewarding. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Growth is optional and is often avoided. However the research is clear we are happiest when we are improving." "Mentorship is essential to growth and development." "If you don't make big changes every once in a while, your life will get static and sterile." Episode references: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250773012/endersgame Self-Determination Theory: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/the-theory/ Science Journal: https://www.science.org/journal/science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4078: Benjamin Hardy explains how to turn personal growth into a game by using mentors, time-based challenges, and teaching others what you learn to accelerate progress. He also shows why embracing major life changes is essential for continued growth and how intentional challenges can make life more meaningful, exciting, and rewarding. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Growth is optional and is often avoided. However the research is clear we are happiest when we are improving." "Mentorship is essential to growth and development." "If you don't make big changes every once in a while, your life will get static and sterile." Episode references: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250773012/endersgame Self-Determination Theory: https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/the-theory/ Science Journal: https://www.science.org/journal/science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4077: Benjamin Hardy explains how treating life like a game can accelerate growth by intentionally seeking bigger challenges and learning from people far ahead of you. Drawing on examples from elite performers and organizational psychology, he shows why collaboration and competing against your own potential lead to faster progress and more meaningful achievements. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Life doesn't have to suck. Growth doesn't have to be slow. Your life can become like a game where you pursue greater obstacles, learn new skills, and have thrilling experiences." "Unsuccessful people make decisions based on current circumstances while successful people make decisions based on where they desire to be." "It's not who you know; it's who you help." Episode references: Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright: https://www.amazon.com/Tribal-Leadership-Leveraging-Thriving-Organization/dp/0061251321 The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4077: Benjamin Hardy explains how treating life like a game can accelerate growth by intentionally seeking bigger challenges and learning from people far ahead of you. Drawing on examples from elite performers and organizational psychology, he shows why collaboration and competing against your own potential lead to faster progress and more meaningful achievements. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Life doesn't have to suck. Growth doesn't have to be slow. Your life can become like a game where you pursue greater obstacles, learn new skills, and have thrilling experiences." "Unsuccessful people make decisions based on current circumstances while successful people make decisions based on where they desire to be." "It's not who you know; it's who you help." Episode references: Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright: https://www.amazon.com/Tribal-Leadership-Leveraging-Thriving-Organization/dp/0061251321 The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) — Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4077: Benjamin Hardy explains how treating life like a game can accelerate growth by intentionally seeking bigger challenges and learning from people far ahead of you. Drawing on examples from elite performers and organizational psychology, he shows why collaboration and competing against your own potential lead to faster progress and more meaningful achievements. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@benjaminhardy/how-to-gamify-your-life-to-quickly-accomplish-big-goals-b81721299912 Quotes to ponder: "Life doesn't have to suck. Growth doesn't have to be slow. Your life can become like a game where you pursue greater obstacles, learn new skills, and have thrilling experiences." "Unsuccessful people make decisions based on current circumstances while successful people make decisions based on where they desire to be." "It's not who you know; it's who you help." Episode references: Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright: https://www.amazon.com/Tribal-Leadership-Leveraging-Thriving-Organization/dp/0061251321 The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aaron Hale is an educational leader and entrepreneur originally from Arizona, where he raised his family before transitioning to his current role as the president of Southern Virginia University (SVU). He holds an MBA and co-founded Legacy Traditional School, growing it from a single campus of 400 children to a massive organization spanning 30 campuses serving nearly 30,000 students, alongside a back-office support network assisting hundreds of other charter schools nationwide. Aaron has served as a bishop and a counselor in a stake presidency. Drawing on his deep background in both corporate education and ecclesiastical council settings, Aaron brings a collaborative, vision-driven leadership style to SVU, where he has championed innovative academic initiatives like the Knight’s Crest experiential learning program. Links Southern Virginia University’s Knight’s Crest Program Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights In this podcast, Aaron discusses leadership principles alongside the unique offerings and mission of SVU, highlighting their commitment to Latter-day Saint values while providing a personalized educational experience. Key Insights SVU’s Mission: Southern Virginia University aims to provide a high-quality education aligned with Latter-day Saint values, fostering an environment where students can discern truth and choose Christ. Knight’s Crest Program: This innovative program awards college credit to return missionaries for their service, recognizing the leadership and skills developed during their missions, which can significantly reduce the time and cost of obtaining a degree. Personalized Education: With a smaller student body, SVU offers intimate class sizes and strong relationships between students and professors, enhancing academic support and graduate school placement rates. Community and Faith: Approximately 85% of SVU’s students are members of the Church, creating a faith-based community that encourages spiritual growth alongside academic pursuits. Leadership Philosophy: Aaron emphasizes the importance of clarity in organizational mission and the need for open dialogue in leadership meetings to foster collaboration and innovation. Leadership Applications Establishing a Clear Mission: Latter-day Saint leaders can benefit from defining a clear mission for their organizations or wards, ensuring that all activities align with this guiding principle. Encouraging Open Dialogue: Leaders should create an environment where all voices are heard, encouraging discussion and debate to draw out diverse perspectives and ideas, which can lead to better decision-making. Recognizing Contributions: By acknowledging the unique experiences and skills of individuals, such as returned missionaries, leaders can create programs that leverage these strengths, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their organizations. 00:04:08 – Aaron’s Background and Move to Virginia 00:04:57 – Transition from Bonnie Cordon to Aaron Hale 00:05:07 – How the Opportunity Arose 00:08:11 – Overview of Southern Virginia University (SVU) 00:10:18 – SVU vs. BYU: Key Differences 00:12:02 – Personalized Education Experience at SVU 00:14:07 – Religious Education at SVU 00:15:07 – Diversity in Student Body 00:17:18 – Unique Position of SVU in Higher Education 00:18:28 – Aaron’s Leadership Experience 00:19:18 – Transitioning into the Role of College President 00:20:35 – Establishing a Clear Mission for SVU 00:22:21 – Creating a Collaborative Council Environment 00:23:38 – Encouraging Open Discussion in Meetings 00:25:07 – Effective Meeting Strategies 00:26:36 – Transformational Meetings vs. Routine Meetings 00:29:29 – The Knights Crest Program The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Dr. Tom Curran discusses the journey that led him to moments of conviction and commitment to walk the Camino de Santiago. Tom addresses the pressures of raising a family and testifies to discerning God's 10X vision for his life, pursuing a gracious disruption and overcoming obstacles.Referenced Book/ Podcast10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast host Troy Trewin interviews Heather Gibson, founder of Big Heart Breeders, shares how a family's love for pets evolved into a thriving business generating over $700,000 annually with a team of 10. She discusses her journey from solopreneur to business owner, the challenges of hiring and delegation, and the importance of building the right team. Heather also reveals how Google marketing, SEO, and AI tools have fueled her growth. The conversation explores lessons in leadership, work-life balance, and creating a meaningful impact through pet breeding, nutrition, and education. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Heather Gibson shares that the hardest part of growing a small business is staying consistent and having the grit to keep going when results are not immediate. She explains that while some businesses appear to achieve overnight success, most growth comes from years of steady effort and learning. Heather believes that persistence, the right mindset, and showing up every day are what ultimately create opportunities for breakthrough growth. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Heather Gibson shares that the business book that has helped her the most is Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy. She explains that the book transformed her mindset around hiring and delegation, teaching her that business success comes from finding the right people to help achieve goals rather than trying to do everything yourself. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Heather Gibson shares that she enjoys learning from a variety of podcasts and online resources that focus on business growth, mindset, and practical implementation. She specifically mentions the Grow A Small Business podcast as a valuable resource and emphasizes the importance of continuously learning from experienced entrepreneurs, coaches, and industry experts to stay ahead in a rapidly changing business environment. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Heather Gibson recommends AI as one of the most powerful tools available to small business owners today. She highlights tools like Claude for copywriting, Gemini for image creation, and ChatGPT for a wide range of business tasks. Heather believes AI can dramatically improve productivity, provide valuable business insights, and help small businesses compete more effectively while saving both time and money. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Heather Gibson shares that if she could give advice to herself on day one, she would say, "Buckle in and get ready for a wild ride." She never imagined her business would grow to its current size and emphasizes that entrepreneurship comes with both difficult and rewarding seasons. Her advice is to stay resilient during the tough times, enjoy the successful moments, and always plan ahead for future challenges. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: My hires don't have to do things exactly the way I do—if they can do it 80% as well, that's a great hire — Heather Gibson Success isn't about the numbers; it's about the value you create and the lives you impact — Heather Gibson The biggest breakthroughs in business come from consistent effort, continuous learning, and the courage to keep going — Heather Gibson
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
Marty Hofman built a multi-million dollar real estate operation from a single $5,000 duplex, but what he's really known for isn't the portfolio. He's the founder of OKC REIA, the host of the Kill Complacency podcast with over 180,000 downloads, and the author of "Complacency Kills: Stop Drifting and Start Living the Life God Designed You For." He's also a husband of 24 years to his wife Ginger, a father of six, and a man who has built his entire life around one relentless idea: complacency is always at the door. In this conversation, Marty and Larry get into the Seven F's framework, why "I want to be more intentional" is meaningless without specifics, how your environment will eventually defeat your willpower, and what it actually looks like to fight for your marriage and your kids at the same time. If you've ever felt like you're living on autopilot and you can't quite put your finger on why, this episode was made for you. Marty is a husband, father of six, real estate investor, podcast host, and author who has given his life to helping men kill complacency before it kills everything they care about. This is Episode 1496 of the Dad Edge. Marty's book just dropped in May and this conversation is everything you'd hope for from a man who doesn't just talk about living with intention, he's built an entire framework to help you do it every single day. Timeline Summary [1:02] Marty joins the show and Larry kicks things off with a quote that anchors the whole episode: "The enemy of intention is complacency" [2:18] Why complacency isn't a one-time enemy you defeat — it keeps knocking, every single day, like Oreos on the kitchen counter [5:22] "Your environment will eventually trump your willpower" — Marty and Larry debate where willpower ends and environment takes over [8:46] Why saying "I want to be more intentional" is not enough — and what it actually takes to turn that into a real behavior change [10:43] The difference between a vague goal and a measurable one: phone away at the door, greet your wife by name, make it specific [12:34] Todd Herman's insight on the first 45 seconds of any interaction and why Marty puts it to work every time he walks through the front door [14:04] Larry introduces Marty's full background — the $5,000 duplex, the Kill Complacency podcast, the Seven F's framework, 24 years of marriage to Ginger [30:27] How intentional actions become identity over time — and why date night stops being a discipline and starts being just who you are [32:16] Why putting your marriage on the front burner is the best thing you can do for your kids, not despite them [36:50] Faith as a daily decision — how Marty grew up in a Christian home of 10 kids, went to Bible college at 18, and met Ginger there [43:16] Six kids, ages 9 to 22 — how Marty stays intentional across the board by protecting Friday family night like a funeral-level commitment [51:33] Parenting adult kids and the part nobody talks about — Marty tells the story of his son Ezekiel, video game addiction, homelessness, and what it means to show up when your kid can't have a conversation [57:54] Why we have to let our kids fail — and why praying for your child to hit rock bottom is one of the hardest, most loving things a parent can do [1:00:29] Where Ezekiel is now — working construction, up at 5am to read his Bible, completely transformed [1:02:04] Where to find Marty, the Kill Complacency assessment, and the book that just came out May 12th Five Key Takeaways Complacency is not something you defeat once. It comes back every day, in every area of your life, which is exactly why intentionality has to be a daily practice, not a one-time decision. "I want to be more intentional" means nothing without specifics. Put your phone in the car on date night, greet your wife by name when you walk in the door, and schedule one-on-ones with each of your kids. Vague goals produce vague results. Your environment will eventually beat your willpower. If you want to change a behavior, change what you're surrounded by first, whether that's removing the cookies from the counter or getting away from friends who make the habit harder to break. Prioritizing your marriage over your kids is not selfish, it's the most important thing you can do for them. When your kids feel the security of a strong, affectionate marriage, they feel safe. When that foundation cracks, they feel it at 9 and still feel it at 39. You have to let your kids fail. As painful as it is to watch, failure is where they learn best and sometimes the most loving thing a dad can do is stay in relationship, keep showing up, and pray for them to hit the bottom they need to hit to climb back up. Links & Resources Kill Complacency (book and website) — https://www.killcomplacency.com Kill Complacency Podcast — search "Kill Complacency" on your podcast app Complacency Assessment — available at killcomplacency.com Follow Marty Hofman on social media — @MartyHofman (1 F, 2 N's) Willpower Doesn't Work by Benjamin Hardy — available wherever books are sold The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman — available wherever books are sold Dad Edge Episode 1496 Show Notes — https://www.thedadedge.com/1496 Join the Dad Edge Community — https://www.thedadedge.com/join Kid Questions Resource — https://www.thedadedge.com/kidquestions Closing Marty spent years watching complacency chip away at men who had everything going for them and he built an entire life and a framework to fight back against it. Whether it was the moment he described greeting Ginger by name when he walked through the door, the Friday night family tradition his kids now look forward to, or the raw honesty of watching his son Ezekiel hit rock bottom and praying for it to happen so he could finally come back, this conversation was a reminder that intentional living isn't a personality type. It's a daily decision. Share this one with a man in your life who you know is drifting. He needs to hear it. And if this episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and help other dads find the show. Go out and live legendary.
10X Is Easier Than 2X: Dr. Benjamin Hardy on the Science of Scaling
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4048: Benjamin Hardy explores how repeated practice and intentional overtraining can turn a learned behavior into an automatic part of your identity. Drawing on psychology and expert performance, he explains how increasing difficulty, pressure, and distraction can help you move beyond simple competence toward creativity, flexibility, and lasting personal growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://betterhumans.pub/the-science-of-automating-and-perfecting-any-skill-ea89f55b5f3e Quotes to ponder: "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." "Achieving “automaticity” is about making a newly learned skill a part of who you are, as opposed to just a thing you can do." "Overtraining is about continuously practicing something you've already learned inside and out. Once you've over-learned a skill, you no longer need a script but can perform or even teach that skill in different ways and in different contexts." Episode references: Relentless: https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Unstoppable-Athletes-Greatness-That-ebook/dp/B00FUZQYBO The Art of Learning: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is a follow-up conversation. Listen to the first episode here. Jeff Strong worked nearly 30 years in the consumer products industry as a senior executive at Procter & Gamble and global president and chief customer officer at Johnson & Johnson. He then taught in the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and worked as an advisor to the Church before serving as a mission leader in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission. Jeff has since spent several years doing research on why people are leaving the Church. He recently published the book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them. Jeff lives in Midway, Utah, and stays busy with a little lavender farm, some business consulting, and enjoying family. Links Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them Part 1: What Leaders Can Learn From the People Who Are Leaving the Church | An Interview with Jeff Strong What to Say When Loved Ones Leave the Church | An Interview with Jeff Strong and Joseph Grenny The Data Behind Church Culture | An Interview with Jeff Strong TornByJeffStrong.com Instagram: @tornbyjeffstrong Facebook Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights In this follow-up episode, Kurt and Jeff discuss the complexities of faith transitions. The conversation focuses on the four stages individuals typically experience when questioning their faith and the cultural imbalances that can affect their sense of belonging. 00:02:18 – Understanding Faith Transitions 00:05:23 – Four Stages of Faith Transition 00:09:01 – Intensive Seeking Phase 00:10:19 – Relational Breaking Stage 00:12:47 – Importance of Conversations in Faith Transitions 00:13:35 – Embracing Different Perspectives 00:18:00 – Role Play: Navigating Faith Questions 00:20:10 – The Need for New Thinking 00:24:29 – Cultural Imbalances in the Church 00:30:34 – Hard and Unyielding Soil 00:39:51 – Shallow Stony Soil: Growth vs. Sanctuary 00:44:08 – Balancing Sanctuary and Transformation Key Insights Four Stages of Faith Transition: Individuals often go through integrity disruption, permission to question, intensive seeking, and relational breaking. Each stage reflects a different aspect of their journey as they navigate doubts and seek understanding. Cultural Imbalances: Jeff identifies four cultural imbalances in the Latter-day Saint community, including hard and unyielding soil versus acceptance, and sanctuary versus transformation. These imbalances can alienate individuals who feel their beliefs or experiences do not align with community expectations. Importance of Acceptance: Acknowledging and validating the experiences of those questioning their faith is crucial. Leaders should create an environment where individuals feel safe to express doubts without fear of judgment or ostracism. Nourishment vs. Protection: The conversation emphasizes the need for a balance between the protective aspects of church culture and the nourishing elements that foster growth and transformation. Leaders should focus on providing spiritual nourishment to help individuals thrive. Role of Conversations: Open and supportive conversations can significantly impact whether individuals choose to stay within the faith community. Leaders should approach discussions with empathy and understanding, recognizing the importance of relational dynamics. Leadership Applications Foster Open Dialogue: Encourage open discussions about faith and doubts within congregations. Create safe spaces where members can share their experiences without fear of being labeled or judged. Balance Protection and Nourishment: Strive to create a culture that values both adherence to standards and the acceptance of diverse beliefs and experiences. This balance can help retain members who may feel marginalized. Supportive Leadership: Leaders should model vulnerability by sharing their own faith journeys and struggles. This approach can help normalize the questioning process and foster a sense of community and belonging among members. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.
Every first Friday of the month, Kurt Francom hosts Zion Lab Live, where we review the latest happenings and conversations taking place in Zion Lab and across our online community. Kurt highlights key posts, trending discussions, and new podcast episodes—offering insights, context, and opportunities for deeper engagement. Jump into Zion Lab: https://app.leadingsaints.org/ In this episode, Kurt and livestream guests discuss the challenges faced by young married adults in the Church, particularly their faith and social dynamics. The conversation also touches on Mother’s Day experiences and the importance of intellectual engagement in church settings. Links & Resources
Orlando R. Kelm is a retired professor from the University of Texas at Austin. He served in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the McCombs School of Business for over 37 years, teaching courses in Portuguese and Spanish language and linguistics. His research and publications focused on the cultural aspects of cross-cultural communication and the creative use of technology in language learning. Orlando was born in Calgary, Alberta, raised in Taylorsville, Utah, and educated at Brigham Young University and the University of California at Berkeley. He served in the São Paulo Norte Brazil mission, and his three favorite hobbies are studying foreign languages, acoustic guitar, and astrophotography and nature photography. Orlando recently published the book It's a Patriarchal Blessing!. Links It’s a Patriarchal Blessing Email Before a Patriarchal Blessing (Microsoft Word format) Email Before a Patriarchal Blessing (PDF format) Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Highlights Orlando discusses his experiences as a patriarch and the significance of patriarchal blessings. He emphasizes the importance of viewing these blessings as affirmations of identity and divine potential rather than as mere checklists or warnings. 00:02:28 – Orlando’s Calling as a Patriarch 00:03:52 – Challenges of Starting as a Patriarch 00:04:48 – Training and Preparation for Patriarchs 00:05:41 – The Pressure of Giving a Blessing 00:06:29 – Communicating First-Time Blessings 00:07:06 – Orlando’s Role as the Only Patriarch 00:07:55 – Impact on Gospel Study and Preparation 00:08:34 – Revelation and Inspiration in Preparation 00:09:40 – The Importance of Compassion 00:10:37 – Note-Taking for Blessings 00:12:00 – Reviewing and Editing Blessings 00:13:27 – The Nature of Patriarchal Blessings 00:14:35 – Preparing Candidates for Blessings 00:17:30 – Helping Candidates Feel Comfortable 00:19:06 – The Role of Patriarchs in the Church 00:20:10 – The Blessing Aspect of Patriarchal Blessings 00:21:09 – Avoiding a Checklist Mentality 00:22:32 – The Role of Personal Agency 00:23:36 – Orlando’s List of Recommended Talks 00:24:45 – Reducing Anxiety for Candidates 00:26:07 – The Experience of Giving Blessings 00:27:30 – The Importance of Seeing Potential 00:28:59 – Understanding Lineage in Blessings 00:30:33 – The Significance of Covenant and Gathering 00:31:47 – Contributions of Different Tribes 00:33:44 – The Role of Personal Revelation 00:35:58 – Flexibility in Interpreting Blessings 00:37:09 – The Lifelong Relevance of Blessings Key Insights The Nature of Patriarchal Blessings: These blessings should be viewed fundamentally as a positive source of love and divine identity. Orlando emphasizes that they are not patriarchal warnings, admonitions, or “chewing outs,” but rather tools to help individuals understand their divine worth. Preparation as a Patriarch: The process involves intense, ongoing spiritual preparation. Orlando explains that he often feels like a “faucet that cannot be turned off” in the days leading up to a blessing, as he studies scriptures and topics prompted by the Holy Ghost to prepare his mind to receive impressions. Mortal Delivery of Revelation: Patriarchs receive inspiration, but they must articulate it using their own mortal capacity, vocabulary, and understanding. Consequently, a patriarchal blessing is a collaboration between the Spirit and the patriarch’s mortal expression. The Fallacy of the “Checklist”: Recipients should avoid viewing their blessings as a list of required events (e.g., marriage, missions, children) to be checked off. Instead, they should see the blessing as a resource to be applied to all of life’s decisions, challenges, and experiences. Understanding Lineage: The declaration of lineage is not a DNA test but an invitation to participate in the Abrahamic covenant and the gathering of Israel. Each tribe's unique description provides a different “skill set” for how an individual can contribute to the Lord’s work. Leadership Applications Alleviate Anxiety: Leaders can help reduce the nervousness people feel about visiting a patriarch by fostering opportunities for the patriarch to interact with ward members (e.g., firesides, sacrament meetings, or activities) beforehand, making him a familiar figure rather than a stranger. Foster a Broad Interpretation: Bishops and leaders should encourage members to interpret their patriarchal blessings with flexibility. When members feel confused by their blessing, leaders can help them understand that the meanings may evolve and deepen as they face different stages and challenges in life. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.