Processing Purpose: Recent Episodes
Luc Stokes & Gavin Johnson
From entrepreneurship to relationships. From hobbies to house projects. Nothing is off limits as we process being the best version of ourselves in business and life.
In this edition of 'Step-by-Step Startup,' we reflect on the projects we've launched this past quarter, sharing insights on what worked, what didn't, and the surprises we faced. We discuss the reality of putting projects on hold to address urgent issues and the importance of seizing new opportunities as they arise. Sometimes, getting all your ducks in a row isn't realistic, and you have to move forward as the path unfolds. Join us for an insightful discussion on managing fires, adapting to change, and navigating the continuous learning process of entrepreneurship.
In this episode, we dive into the complexities of the political landscape and its rhetoric. We discuss the role of government, the hidden influences behind elected officials, and the different lenses through which we view the Constitution. We explore why civil political discourse is so challenging, what it takes to truly hear different perspectives, and why people hold the political leanings they do. Additionally, we reflect on how we want our children to approach politics, propose changes to improve the system, and consider the qualities needed to run for president. Join us for a broad and insightful conversation that unpacks the many facets of politics today.
In this episode, we delve into the challenge of making decisions when the path ahead is unclear. Sometimes, there isn't a definitive right choice—just a decision that we need to commit to and make work. We discuss how to navigate uncertainty, find clarity in a hazy vision, and take the next right step even without a clear roadmap. As entrepreneurs, we must adapt and evolve, figuring things out along the way. Join us as we share strategies for making good decisions in uncertain times and discuss how to grow into the person required to achieve your vision.
In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked but crucial strength found in emotional openness among men. Discussing the rarity and power of male vulnerability, we explore how leading with this trait can transform relationships with friends, spouses, and children. We reflect on whether this was modeled for us growing up and its significant impact on our personal lives. Join us as we share insights on cultivating emotional vulnerability, breaking down societal barriers, and fostering this essential trait in our own lives and the lives of those around us.
In this special Mother's Day episode, we celebrate the amazing women who raised us and discuss how we make them feel special. We also dive into the role of fathers today, sharing our philosophies on being dads, what our kids need from us, and how we show them love. Reflecting on our own dads' influence, both positive and negative, we explore how they've shaped the fathers we are today. With insights from the Five Love Languages, we honor our wives, discussing how we celebrate them for Mother's Day and the ways we express love. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about the pivotal roles of moms and dads in shaping our lives and families.
Join us as we delve into the often-unseen narratives that shape our identities and influence our actions. This episode challenges you to confront the limiting beliefs and self-deceptive stories you've been telling yourself. We explore how these hidden narratives can hold us back from achieving our full potential and discuss practical strategies for identifying, questioning, and ultimately rewriting these stories. Through candid discussions and personal insights, we aim to empower you to break free from the constraints of your own mind, paving the way for genuine self-discovery and personal transformation. Tune in to learn how to stop lying to yourself and start living a life aligned with your true aspirations.
Join us in this transformative episode about reframing failure in life and leadership. We explore the essential role that failing plays in the journey to success, aiming to strip away the stigma and negative emotions often associated with it. Failure isn't just inevitable; it's a vital part of growing, learning, and succeeding. We'll discuss how maintaining enthusiasm through successive failures can propel us forward and how this mindset isn’t just crucial for entrepreneurs but for anyone looking to lead effectively—including how we raise our children. Learn how to lead discussions about failure at home and work, and help the next generation develop a healthy, resilient perspective on setbacks. This episode is about transforming failure from a feared obstacle to an embraced stepping stone.
Dive into the entrepreneurial process like never before. This episode isn't just a guide; it's an invitation to join us on a live journey of turning a concept into a potential business success. Follow along as we take the critical first steps of validating a business idea, offering a transparent look at the challenges and triumphs of real-time decision-making. From identifying key metrics to engaging with potential customers, we'll cover the essential strategies for ensuring your idea has the legs to stand on in the competitive market. Whether you're seeking inspiration to embark on your own venture or looking for actionable insights to refine your current project, this episode provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the entrepreneurial journey, equipping you with the confidence and knowledge to move forward.
In this episode, we delve into the heart of achieving emotional stability, even as we face the constant ebb and flow of life's challenges and joys. Emotional stability isn't about suppressing our feelings or letting them wildly steer our course; it's about acknowledging our full range of emotions and learning how to navigate them with awareness and grace. Whether it's the depths of sorrow or the heights of happiness, we discuss how to truly feel each moment without being wiped out by the intensity. Join us as we share insights and strategies for keeping your emotional ship steady, enabling you to glide through life's varied emotional currents with resilience and poise.
In this episode, we explore the turbulent waters of what is often labeled as a mid-life crisis. Yet, this experience transcends simple definitions, embodying a deep, introspective questioning of life's path when the stakes, comforts, and costs of change loom larger than ever. We discuss the disorienting feeling of facing significant life changes when you've already built a fulfilling life. Is the pursuit of an even better existence worth the discomfort and uncertainty? How do we navigate the foggy terrain of potential pivots, weighing the benefits against the discomforts of uprooting the familiar? Join us as we delve into the personal reflections and crucial questions that accompany the decision to embrace change or maintain the status quo in life's midway journey.
In this episode, we explore the ever-evolving journey of work/life balance, acknowledging that life comes in seasons—some demanding more from us, while others allowing for natural harmony. We delve into the concept of energy awareness, highlighting how our focus can either drain us or invigorate us, depending on where we choose to invest it. By understanding the rhythms of our lives and recognizing what truly replenishes our energy, we can learn to navigate these seasons more gracefully. Join us as we discuss strategies for achieving a healthier balance, moving towards activities that energize us, and finding the harmony within our personal and professional lives.
Today, we dive deep into the human quest for validation and its profound impact on our personal and professional lives. From the desire for approval in new business ventures to the need for affirmation from family and colleagues, we explore how validation shapes our actions, decisions, and self-perception. We discuss the dual nature of seeking approval: how it can both motivate and hinder us, and why giving validation to others is a key component of building healthy relationships and nurturing a positive work environment. Join us as we uncover the ways in which validation fuels our growth, boosts our confidence, and grants us the permission to expand beyond our perceived limits.
In this episode, we tackle the unpredictable nature of adversity, both at work and in personal life. We discuss how quickly challenges can arise and the importance of being prepared to handle them with patience and decisive action. From sudden shifts in our professional world to personal detours, we explore strategies for navigating these tough situations. We delve into real-life experiences and practical advice, emphasizing that sometimes patience is all you need for the winds to shift and be in your favor again. Tune in for an engaging conversation that offers insights and tools to help you face life's storms with resilience and poise.
In this episode, we delve into the reality of facing hard tasks and the resilience needed to overcome them. We explore why doing hard things is essential for building anything of value and how that process often feels challenging. Drawing inspiration from the adage, 'Building anything of value is hard,' we discuss why it's crucial not to give up when faced with difficulties. Join us as we share insights and strategies on navigating through tough times, understanding how 'hard' feels, and why enduring these moments sets you apart. This episode is a tribute to the grit it takes to keep going, especially when the going gets tough.
In this episode of 'Routine to Ritual,' we dive into the power of routines in shaping lifelong habits. We explore the critical elements of habit formation: the when, where, how, and the all-important trigger. Join us as we process practical strategies to turn your daily routines into effective rituals, creating habits that last a lifetime.
Join us in this episode as we rethink New Year's resolutions unpacking traditional goal-setting and explore meaningful alternatives for personal and professional growth. We'll share our journey of redefining these yearly practices to align them more closely with our true aspirations. Tune in for an engaging discussion filled with personal insights and practical advice for approaching the New Year with intention and purpose.
The holiday season is often filled with lights, music, gifts, and laughter. But for some, the holidays bring a lot of pain as they are forced to face the reality of loss, broken relationships, and family dysfunction. In this episode, we tackle the good and the tough of the holidays as a reminder to live with grace and gratitude.
Everyone talks about overcoming self-doubt. But what if that's not the point? What if self-doubt was a strength, not a weakness? What if comparison is really the issue and not understanding the role that luck plays is compounding that problem? In this epsiode, we take a totally different spin on these topics as we unpack the endless pursuit of overcoming self-doubt.
FEAR! DANGER! WARNING! THE SKY IS FALLING! There is so much input we receive in this life that is intentionally designed to distract and keep us in fear and overwhelm. If you allow it to, it will keep you from the things you desire most. In this episode, we talk about how to not let the scary things of this world paralyze you and keep you from your dreams.
Have you heard it said?! You're supposed to enjoy the journey! It's not about the trophy it's about the process... blah, blah, blah! If you're anything like us, finding joy in the process of becoming is excruciating at times. So what do you do if you're not finding fulfillment in the journey? Come join us as we attempt to work through the elusiveness of "enjoying the process".
The more life you live the less control you realize you have. If you are constantly fighting for control and the lack of control stresses you out, this episode is for you. We must find a way to surrender the outcomes because so much is out of our control. Instead, focus on the effort.
Nobody likes to be criticized. And yet we all do it on some level. Whether it's our boss, our neighbor, or our family, it's so easy to point out where others are coming up short. In this episode, we talk about what to do when others throw shade and how to help the people you love see their blind spots.
No one likes a know-it-all. No one likes a person who is self-absorbed or projects a big game in all situations. Come along with us as we unpack pride, humility, identity, and how you show up to those around you.
Culture, talent, hiring, and educating our youth... seems like a random mashup of ideas, but if you look closer you will find a common thread that connects all these ideas. How do you build culture at the office? What about building culture at home? (Wait, you've never thought about it like that?) What's the most common success characteristic that I find successful people have, that dictates how much you can earn in life, and should be taught to our kids? Come along with us as we unpack all this and more.
Why is it that when we are young our parents told us, "Be careful who you hang around or you'll be just like them!" Heck, you may have even said something like that to your kids. But then as we get older we seem to think that this no longer applies to us. Are you investing your time with people who build you up, cheer you on, and root for your success as much as you do? In this episode, we discuss the power of association and how to improve yours.
You want to begin a new venture with the end in mind. In today's episode, we suggest that you build your business so that you can sell it, even if you don't intend to exit it. There is a MASSIVE upside in this approach when building regardless of your long-term intentions. Listen in and find out why and how to position your business to run without you.
Are you intentionally making decisions today based on where you want to be in 10 years? Today's decisions will determine the outcome. What if you could predict what kind of life you will be living in a decade? Would you make different choices? Let's unpack Life Design in today's episode.
Being a dad is one of the coolest jobs we get as men... and one of the most challenging. Being consistent. Staying present. Making yourself available. Remaining faithful to our responsibilities. It can be a lot and is often overwhelming. Come along with us as we process how to be a great dad in the midst of this wild world we live in.
Have you ever paid attention to the way you talk to yourself? If you're like most of us, we are the most critical and harshest with ourselves- saying things we'd never say to a friend. In this episode, we challenge you to become present and aware of the words you use- both internally and to others. The words you say have power... choose them wisely.
Why do you do what you do? Have you ever thought about it or do you go through life doing the things you do because you've always done them that way? Why determines nearly everything in our life, and if you can't answer with clarity, then you're not living on purpose but by accident. In this episode, we break down one of the most powerful words we have in English.
It happens to most of us- we reach a point in which shifting things in our professional lives is no longer something we are threatening to do but must do. These pivots can be scary as there is so much uncertainty involved. But, at the same time can bring so much new juice and enthusiasm if you allow it. Join us as we process a career change as it's happening.
Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less. However, does leading change as you lead your family vs your company? What about leading a team? In this episode, we invite a special guest and brother-in-law (yes another) on the show to discuss how leadership changes when the context changes. We talk about motivating our kids, coaching athletes, and helping our employees find their superpowers. If you're in a position of leadership, this is an episode not to miss.
We all ask ourselves some form of this question, "Am I focusing on the right things?" The moments when you find yourself asking these questions can vary but if you allow it to, can provide an excellent backstop and internal check to make sure you are in alignment. We don't really have answers here but come along with us as we process one of the more nagging questions we have as entrepreneurs.
Disruption and distraction happen to us all, and without exception are unavoidable. Sometimes these are little annoyances like a sick kid, and sometimes these are live-altering changes like the passing of a loved one. Obviously getting derailed by these disruptions is relative to the magnitude of the interruption, but in today's episode, we discuss how to handle them and minimize their effect.
When we start a new project, business, or commitment of any kind we intellectually know that there will be a cost involved. Time, money, peace of mind, etc. There will be a sacrifice, but how much? In this episode, we discuss how to view that cost through the lens of entrepreneurship.
You were equipped with a specific set of skills and gifts that no one else has. How do you identify them and how do you deploy them? You may have heard someone speak like this before, "I was called to be a preacher!" But is everyone called to do something specific? What if you don't feel a specific calling on your life? What does it even mean to be called? We attempt to unpack this and all the rabbit trails it takes us down.
Is it essential to have a hobby? Could it possibly make you more effective in your professional life? In this episode, we explore our hobbies a little bit. What hobbies do we enjoy, why we chose them, and how do we fit them into a busy family?
It happens to all of us. We find ourselves in a funk and struggle to find our way out of it. Unfortunately, if we aren't intentional with what we do next we can find ourselves spending more time in this wasteland than necessary.
In today's episode, we talk about what contributes to funky days, how to recognize it, and how to get back in the flow of feeling like yourself and being productive again.
Whether it's the beginning of a new year or just the begging of a new you, planting your flag and setting new priorities is the only way to truly create change. In this episode we explore priorities, how to set them, and how to accomplish them without beating yourself up along the way.
A mediocre idea and great execution will beat a great idea with poor execution. Every. Single. Time.
And yet, people get so romantic about their ideas. The secret is not in the quality of your idea. The secret is in the speed of your execution. How do you even know if it will work? Execute the right things and you'll find out.
But what are the "right" things? Where do you even start? Are there things I shouldn't be doing in the beginning? We cover all this and more.
What makes a good entrepreneur? Are entrepreneurs born or are they made?
There's always an element of self-doubt when it comes to this topic. Today we attempt to address this idea of "Can I be an entrepreneur?"
Seems today that everyone has an idea they'd like to turn into a business. But is having a great idea enough? How do you know if your idea is any good? What's the first step you should take? We discuss this and more in our very first episode.