The Purpose Mastermind Podcast with Mark Delaney: Recent Episodes

Mark Delaney

The Purpose Mastermind Podcast is all about winning at life and leaving a legacy. Hear from purpose and family expert, Mark Delaney, as well as experienced guests as we discuss developing a proper perspective on life, marriage, parenting, and more. This isn’t a podcast about unfounded theories or empty, shallow “make you feel good” talk. It’s about real purpose for your real life. You will leave encouraged and empowered to win at life and leave a legacy.

Paul Wizikowski joined Mark for a conversation about how relationships open doors of opportunity. Below is his Bio:

I’m a strategic communicator, creative director, and storyteller focused on bringing complex ideas and historic moments to life through compelling human narratives.

"My career has centered on the intersection of space exploration, brand strategy, and live broadcast storytelling. As a senior video production advisor to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, I helped shape the Artemis brand, led the transformation of NASA Television, and served as Executive Producer and Creative Director for the launch broadcasts of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 and Crew-1 missions and the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover launch.
I later served as Executive Producer for Axiom Space’s Ax-1 through Ax-4 private astronaut missions, leading mission coverage designed to bring audiences closer to the people behind the exploration. From crafting astronaut narratives and writing live broadcast copy to directing teams producing live coverage from Kennedy Space Center and the International Space Station, my focus was always the same: make the extraordinary deeply human.

My films and campaigns—including NASA’s “WE GO” campaign and the Artemis Team reveal—have reached tens of millions of people worldwide. My work on NASA’s commercial crew missions earned me two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals.

Before entering the world of human spaceflight, I founded and led a production company that created national advertising campaigns for agencies and brands across the United States.

Today, I help organizations define their message, build powerful brands, and tell stories that inspire action."

Here is a link to the podcast Vyal Sines: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vytal-sines/id1895656938

Our free community is open. Join the free conversations on zoom. Our next round begins July 13th. Here is the link to join: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Mark and his friend Layle talk about how their lives were on parallel tracks for a season of their lives. Both men worked at the same school and put their identity in their work. Layle was fired, but Mark quit. Both men went on a journey of discovery who they really were.

If you would like help clarifying your purpose, here is a link to our community: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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In this episode Mark sits down with Aaron Walker. Aaron is a leader of men and business owner. He shares the key to living a life of success and significance. You can read more by purchasing his book, "A View from the Top."

Here is a link to check out Aaron's community: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/

If you want to get clear on your purpose, join us here for free conversations: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Most people don't wake up in the morning and decide to be fake. Yet many of us spend years hiding parts of ourselves, performing for others, and trying to become who we think we're supposed to be.

In this episode Mark has a conversation with Greg Sutmiller. He is a therapist and the founder of Evolution Mental Health Services. http://evolutionmhs.com

In this episode, we explore what it means to live authentically and why so many people struggle to do it. We discuss the fear of judgment, the pressure to prove ourselves, and the freedom that comes when we stop pretending.

Authenticity is not about having no flaws or sharing every detail of your life. It's about becoming honest about who you are, where you are, and what matters most.

When we stop performing and start living honestly, we create deeper relationships, experience greater freedom, and become more effective in every area of life.

If you've ever felt the pressure to be someone else, this conversation will encourage you to embrace the person you were made to be.

Our free purpose community: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Many of us live as though our personal life and professional life are competing for our time, energy, and attention. We work hard to succeed in our careers while hoping our relationships somehow survive the process.

What if we've been thinking about it the wrong way?

In this episode, Mark and Jeff Mills explore the powerful connection between our personal and professional lives. They discuss how healthy relationships can fuel professional success, how meaningful work can serve the people we love, and why the goal isn't balance as much as integration.

Through personal stories, practical insights, and honest conversation, they challenge the idea that work and life exist in separate worlds. Instead, they reveal how purpose can create a symbiotic relationship between the two.

If you've ever felt pulled between career success and the people you care about most, this conversation will help you think differently about what it means to build a meaningful life.

If you are interested in learning more about the property tax work that Jeff does, look here: https://www.property-tax-partners.com/

If you are interested in our free purpose community, here is the link: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Ifeanyi Bellamy is a pastor and leader of people. In this episode Mark and Ifeanyi ask a simple question that becomes a great way for leaders to open up and get straight to the point about something they are wrestling with.

"What is one question that you want to have answered right now?" This question is a great way to start a conversation with a friend about life.

If you are interested in being a part of our next purpose journey, check out our free community here: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Joe Dillon is a divorce mediator. He has sat with thousands of couples who are ending their marriage so he offers perspective on how to help people build a great marriage by navigating through the conflict that arises. If you are interested in his power up method, check it out here: https://powerupmethod.com/

Mark also mentioned the free purpose community. Part One of The Purpose Mastermind begins in a couple of weeks. If you want to join in this free journey, here is the link to sign up:

https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Mark and Aaron Goodman talk about conflict resolution. Aaron is a lawyer and also volunteers as a mediator. He shares his wisdom on how to approach conflict.

If you are interested in discovering your purpose, check out our free purpose community. Every month we begin Part One of the Purpose Mastermind and it's completely free. Learn more here: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Mike Courtney is the founder of a counseling agency called Branches. They help thousands of people a year. But in this episode you will hear the rest of the story. Mike used to be a pastor, but multiple affairs brought him and his family to a place of crisis. This story speaks of the pathway to freedom and redemption that we all need.

To learn more about Mike and listen to his podcast: https://www.branches.org/

We have began a Purpose Mastermind Community and we would like to invite you to join. It's free to join.

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In this episode Mark has a conversation with Johnie Hampton about how to balance success in your professional life while also raising a family. Johnie and his wife Krystal have several businesses they lead, but they have prioritized other things in their life as being more important.

Johnie also talks about how he helps to instill purpose in the workplace with the people he works with.

Here is the link to check out our free purpose mastermind community: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Mark sits down with Trai and Keege Elliott. In their story you will hear stories of redemption. They both found freedom and now they help others walk that same journey.

Trai and Keege are young leaders for their generation and they both have a clear powerful message to proclaim.

Here are ways to find them on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/iam.traielliott?igsh=eTRmZzF0c2hyMWtj&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/itskeegeelliott?igsh=MTBud2M4dmdzdmRsNQ==

https://www.instagram.com/twelveelevenministries?igsh=d2U2YzdlaG81bGVj

https://www.iamtraielliott.com/

If you are interested in joining our free purpose community, simply go to this link: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Most people don’t realize they’re living in survival mode.

You wake up, get through the day, handle what’s in front of you… and repeat.
But deep down, you know you were made for more than just getting by.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Heng Lim, who experienced survival in a way most of us can’t imagine—escaping the Cambodian Killing Fields as a child.

His story brings a powerful question to the surface:

Are you just surviving… or are you building something with your life?

We talk about:

What survival mode actually looks like (and how it hides in everyday life)
The shift from reacting to life → creating a life
How purpose is formed through adversity
Why your past doesn’t disqualify you—it can actually shape your future

This conversation will challenge the way you think about your life and give you a new lens for what’s possible.

Because the goal isn’t just to survive.

It’s to build a life that matters.

Here is a link to our free Purpose Mastermind Community: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Some stories change the way you see everything.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Heng Lim to hear the story of his family’s escape from the Cambodian Killing Fields—a time when life was reduced to survival, and every decision carried unimaginable weight.

But this conversation isn’t just about what he went through.
It’s about what he learned.

What does a person discover about life when everything is stripped away?
What does survival teach us about purpose, family, and faith?
And how do you build a meaningful life after experiencing so much loss?

Dr. Lim shares his journey from surviving one of history’s darkest moments to building a life of impact, service, and connection. His story is a powerful reminder that our circumstances do not define us—and that even in the most broken places, there is a pathway forward.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story still has meaning…
or whether it’s too late to build the life you were made for…

This conversation will give you perspective—and hope.

Check out our free Purpose Mastermind Community: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Why problems in your marriage and parenting are part of the process—not the end of the story.Life doesn’t fall apart because of problems.
It’s shaped by how we walk through them.
In this episode, we sit down together after one of the most meaningful weekends of our lives—our daughter’s wedding. Moments like that remind us why we give our lives to relationships… and why it’s all worth it.
But what happens when your family doesn’t feel like that?
What happens when your marriage feels strained… your kids feel distant… or the mess feels overwhelming?
We talk about the truth most people miss:
The goal of life isn’t to avoid problems. That’s not an option.
Instead, the life you’re made for is built through the problems.
We share:* Why problems in your family are normal (even when they feel scary) * How to shift from trying to “fix everything” to actually leading through it * Why the mess in your relationships may be the pathway to something better * How to respond in a way that builds connection instead of fear

If you’re in a season where things feel messy, frustrating, or uncertain—this conversation is meant to give you hope.
Because the truth is:
Your problems aren’t stopping your life.
They may be the very thing leading you to it.

If you are interested in our parenting on purpose coaching program, send us an email: mark@markdelaney.me or adena@markdelaney.me

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Most of us spend years learning how to succeed at work… but almost no time learning how to succeed at home.

What works in a professional environment doesn’t automatically work in your family. You may be direct, decisive, and effective at work—but at home, those same approaches can create frustration, disconnection, and tension.

In this episode, we talk about why high-performing people often feel stuck or unsuccessful as parents. Just like in the workplace, dysfunction in the home often starts with leadership—and Mom and Dad are the leaders. When they’re not aligned, kids feel it.

But here’s the shift: parenting frustrations aren’t failures—they’re opportunities.

Your job isn’t to raise kids who have no problems. It’s to help them learn how to respond to the problems they face. Every child is navigating life for the first time… and so are you as a parent.

You’re not a bad parent—but you might be unprepared. And the good news is, you don’t have to wing it.

If you’ve been successful in your career but feel lost or frustrated at home, this episode will help you begin parenting with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Mark and Adena mentioned their 5 week parenting coaching course called "Parenting on Purpose." If you are interested in that, reach out to either Mark or Adena.

Mark@markdelaney.me or Adena@markdelaney.me

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People do not struggle with purpose because purpose is unattainable. They struggle because the thought of purpose can feel uncertain, overwhelming, and just out of reach.

In this episode, I sit down with Ingo Rauth for a deep conversation about why so many people long for meaning but never take the first step. We talk about how what feels lacking in your life may actually reveal what you are looking for, why changing jobs or relationships does not always solve the deeper issue, and why purpose is not just something to think about but something to experience.

We also talk about fear, midlife tension, internal alignment, soul searching, and the powerful shift that happens when you realize purpose may not be “out there” somewhere. It may already be showing up in the way you live, serve, and help people every day.

If you have ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure whether purpose is still possible for you, this conversation is for you.

Here is Ingo's Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingorauth/

If you would like more help from Adena and I, you can check out our free opportunities on our skool platform: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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Most people want deeper relationships—but they’re not willing to be open.

In this episode, we talk about why so many people struggle to open up, how living closed off quietly damages your relationships, and what it actually looks like to become an open person.

Because the truth is simple: The quality of your relationships will never exceed your level of openness.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected in your marriage, distant from your kids, or surface-level in your friendships, this episode will help you understand why...and what to do about it.

You’ll learn:

Why people naturally stay closed off (fear, shame, and habit)
How being closed impacts your relationships at home and in leadership
Practical ways to begin opening up without feeling exposed or overwhelmed
How openness connects directly to living with purpose

You don’t need to become someone else.
You just need to stop hiding and start being known.

👉 Want help discovering your purpose and living it out with people?
Join our community on skool: https://www.skool.com/purpose-mastermind/about

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In this episode, I sit down with Marty Hoffman, host of the Kill Complacency podcast, for a real and organic conversation about purpose, intentionality, and why so many people drift through life.

We talk about why living on purpose is not a one-time decision, but a daily choice. We also explore why people often stay stuck in problems like complacency, addiction, discouragement, and unhealthy habits—not because they are weak, but because they don’t yet have something greater to live for.

In this conversation, we discuss:

why purpose gives people strength to face their problems
how complacency quietly steals marriages, health, and momentum
the difference between focusing on your problem and focusing on your purpose
why accountability works best when it points you toward purpose
how community helps people stay intentional
practical ways to stop drifting and start living with meaning

Marty also shares about his life, family, routines, and the message behind his podcast and upcoming book, Kill Complacency.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, tired, distracted, or ready to stop drifting and start living with greater purpose.

Here are links to connect with Marty:

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-complacency-how-to-start-living-the-life-god/id1734861612?i=1000753680066&l=ru

Website: https://www.killcomplacency.com/

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Friendship is often misunderstood among men. Many of us were raised to believe that strong men don’t need close friendships—that independence is strength and vulnerability is weakness. But the truth is, isolation slowly wears a man down.

In this episode, I talk about the importance of friendship for men and why real connection matters more than most of us realize. Friendship doesn’t happen through performance or pretending to have everything together. It happens when we are willing to be ourselves and allow others to get close enough to truly know us.

When we stop hiding and start living honestly with other people, something powerful happens. Trust grows. Encouragement grows. Real friendship begins to form.

If you’ve ever felt like you have to carry life alone, this conversation is for you.

In this episode Mark and Ken mentioned a book called "One Step to Freedom." This book is a quick read, and it's highly actionable. Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Freedom-Leaving-Habit/dp/168573023X

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What happens when the dream you’ve chased your whole life suddenly ends?

In this episode, I sit down with a former Major League Baseball pitcher to talk about the transition from professional sports to everyday life. For years, his identity was built around the game—training, competing, and performing on the biggest stage in baseball. But like every athlete, there eventually came a day when the game was over.

We talk honestly about what that transition is like.

For many boys, sports are a central part of growing up. Practices, games, teammates, and competition shape their identity for years. But when the season of sports ends, many men are left asking an important question:

Now who am I?

In our conversation, we explore:

What it’s really like to play professional baseball
The emotional and identity challenges athletes face when their careers end
Why so many men struggle with purpose after sports

Whether you played sports growing up or simply understand what it’s like when a major chapter of life closes, this conversation offers a powerful look at identity, transition, and discovering purpose in the next season of life.

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Discouragement is one of the most common reasons people stop pursuing the life they truly want. When problems pile up, it’s easy to focus so much on what’s wrong that we lose sight of where we’re going.

In this episode, we talk about how discouragement works and how to overcome it. Instead of letting problems consume your focus, there is a better path forward: reconnecting with purpose and continuing to build the life your heart is longing for.

You’ll learn why discouragement happens, why focusing on problems can keep us stuck, and how shifting your focus toward purpose can help you regain clarity, motivation, and direction.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired, or tempted to quit, this conversation will help you take the next step forward.

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Instinctually we all want to live in a comfort zone. But it holds us back from our potential.

In this episode, we talk about why growth never happens inside your comfort zone, the hidden cost of playing it safe, and practical ways to step into something bigger.

If you feel stuck, restless, or capable of more, this conversation is for you.

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Mark and Gary Stephens have a conversation about personal growth.

Books and seminars bring some value, but conversations with real people can bring transformation.

Gary has been creating physical goals for himself over the last couple of years. You can check out his youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIF0sSqi8_jWDImYAwHCEBg

If you start a physical challenge, and want to share about it on the podcast with Mark, send him an email at mark@markdelaney.me

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Mark has a conversation in his office with a young father and husband about how to build a family that serves his entire life. They use football to talk about the husband wife relationship.

Here is the link to the free marriage assessment Mark mentioned: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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In the episode Mark has a conversation with Aaron Goodman about how human beings change. In Aaron's words, "Vulnerability is the tipping point of change."

Change is hard. We oftentimes try to change by doing something impressive, or powerful. But we actually change through the pathway of being vulnerable.

In this episode Mark talked about The Purpose Challenge. If you would like to be a part of this free opportunity simply text the word purpose to 918-401-9608.

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What if failure wasn't fatal... but your compass?

You've tried. You've failed. You've wondered if hope even matters anymore.A Failure's Guide to SUCCESS is a raw, honest roadmap for anyone who's ever hit a wall, lost their spark, or questioned their purpose. It's not another hype-filled self-help book about winning or grinding harder. It's a practical guide to rebuilding from the inside out - learning to turn setbacks into strength and failure into fuel.

Because success isn't about never falling.
It's about what you do after you hit the ground.Through powerful storytelling, grounded reflection, and faith-rooted wisdom, Paul S. Germo - known as the Chief Failure Analyst(TM) - helps you see that failure doesn't define you. It refines you. Each chapter shows you how to stop quitting halfway, rediscover the dream you left behind, and rebuild a life that fits who you really are.

Here is a link to Paul's book: https://www.amazon.com/Failures-Guide-SUCCESS-Failure-Final/dp/B0FXBHNJ1P

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In this episode Mark brings back a previous guest. Daniel Dolan is a leader of men, a family man, and a godly man.

You often hear people say, "I have an addictive personality." Daniel and Mark give their thoughts on this comment and talk about how men can live out a passionate life.

If you live in the Tulsa area, Daniel's group takes place on Sunday mornings at 6:00am in Owasso. Send me an email for more details: mark@markdelaney.me

In this episode we mentioned our book, "In the Game." Here is a link if you would like to purchase that book. https://markdelaney.com/game/

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How does a man lead in his own home? I think it’s fair to say that most of us men start a family without any concept of what it means to lead in the home. It does not take long before a man’s lack of confidence as a leader begins to show up.

Leading outside of the home has challenges for sure, but the dynamics of leading in the home are different. It is easier to be an effective leader in the board room than it is in the living room.

Here are principles for how to effectively lead in the home.

Realize that great leadership is servant leadership. Instead of seeing yourself as being the one with all of the answers, be the man who keeps your eyes on the needs of your family.
Realize that servant leadership is not weak or passive. You serve your wife’s heart, but you do not cower to her insecurities.

Servant leadership is not weak leadership.

Servant leadership is not about being weak or gentle.

It’s not about cowering to the insecurities of those you lead.
It’s not about cowering to the fears of those you lead.
It’s not about cowering to the selfishness of those you lead.

Don’t be offended at weaknesses you see in your wife and kids. You get to be like a football coach who sees things that can threaten our ability to win. This is a conflict. You want to just serve, but you have to help people see the adversity.

If you ignore the tension that you feel about…you will cause conflict to grow. You will cause distance between you and your spouse in how you believe. This causes you to grow apart.

Examples:

spending too much on vacation and straining the budget.
Kids sleeping in the bed too long into life.
Lack of discipline, or too much discipline.
Concerns over extended family.

If you don’t learn to share your thoughts….your wife will not know how to respond to you when you do share your thoughts. She may think you are disconnected, or just not interested. She will think she needs to take charge more. (Don’t put your wife in the position of trying to solve you. Share your heart.)

If you are interested in the course, The Confident Father, here is the link for that:

https://courses.markdelaney.com/the-confident-father

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In this episode Adena has a conversation with Robin Goad. Robin Goad spent most of her life building a successful career while compartmentalizing her pain in her personal life. After decades of surviving, she took a very courageous step to share her story, which was the catalyst for her transformed life. By facing what was holding her back, she found new life through vulnerability, authenticity, and surrender. She is launching her book, Girl by Birth, Woman by Fire, in January 2026, which shares her story of relationships, corporate success, and personal health. In this podcast, we introduce you to Robin, and she shares a gem from her book about how to discover your personal Super Power.

Here is a link to her book along with a description: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1967587442?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_83464890TK656EXYGTMR&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_83464890TK656EXYGTMR&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_83464890TK656EXYGTMR&bestFormat=true

Too many women are running on empty, trying to hold everything together while quietly wondering where they slowly disappeared in the process.

We get so busy meeting everyone else’s expectations and needs that we forget to ask what we really want, who we truly are, and what sets our souls on fire.

Robin Goad knows what it’s like to lose yourself in the noise and the pressure. Through honest stories, hard-won lessons, and raw reflection, she helps you strip away the “shoulds” and reconnect with the woman underneath, the one who is strong, wise, and ready to rise.

Ask yourself:

Do you ever feel like you’ve forgotten who you are?
Are you tired of pretending everything’s fine when it isn’t?
Have you been waiting for permission to finally put yourself first?
Do you want to feel more confident, grounded, and free?

If you answered YES, Girl by Birth, Woman by Fire is the missing piece you’ve been looking for.

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Chris Avery is a Faith-First Performance Coach and founder of Run with Christ Blueprint, helping men move from fear to mission with emotional resilience and grounded faith. He’s run over 1,400 consecutive days, coached more than 1,000 men, and averages 17 miles every day. In 2027, he and his family will tackle Chris Runs America, a full year running a marathon-plus daily around the entire perimeter of the United States, making purpose and obedience a family legacy on the move.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/chris.avery.9083/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisaverycoaching/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-avery-coaching/

https://chrisrunsamerica.com/

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Mark sits down for a conversation with Carter Anderson. Carter discussed his desire to live a proactive life in spite of the fact that life is unpredictable. Carter believes the predictable life does not exist. Those who try to make their life predictable will find it to be empty.

If you would like to sign up for Carter's email simply click the link below.

https://subscribepage.io/5O2Yxu

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Mark and Adena sit down to discuss how to examine your life, or marriage by doing a S.W.O.T. analysis.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

If you are interested in partnering with us, you can donate here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Mark and Adena made this short episode to give parents a hands on idea to teach to their kids. The pine cone demonstrates a fascinating principle about life.

People who are open can both give and gift and receive the gift of others. But people who are closed will block of the opportunities they could have with people.

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Does Christmas bring you opportunities, or obligations? Or both?

What gift should I bring? What dish should I make? What outfit should I wear? How do I set the timer for the Christmas lights?

The holiday season can put a lot of pressure on us. This pressure keeps us from fully experiencing joy and meaning. This year, what if you turn down the pressure and turn up the purpose? This can happen if you approach the season intentionally. Here are a few simple ways to do that:

Choose a plan that fits your budget

There are countless meaningful ways to celebrate Christmas. Look at your budget and let your heart dream within it.

We often think more money will fix everything, but imagination creates far more than money can buy. Last Friday my wife and I picked up friends and helped someone decorate their home. The only cost was time, but the meaning and fun was very high.

Choose experiences

December is filled with opportunities: light displays, concerts, gatherings, car rides with Christmas tunes.

Instead of asking, "What can I buy?" ask, "What can we do together?"

Most years, I make ornaments on a lathe in my garage and invite friends to join me. It's simple, fun, and relational.

Choose small things

Big gifts look amazing in commercials, but most people don't need them, and many can't afford them.

Instead of one big gift, scatter small acts of kindness throughout the month. Deliver a special coffee. Drop off baked goods. Invite someone to watch a game.

A friend of ours runs a cookie business. Every year we volunteer a couple hours to help box orders. It's small, but fun and meaningful.

Choose confidence and communicate

When you set an intentional plan, communicate it. You might relieve others of pressure they've been carrying silently.

At Thanksgiving, I shared our plan: "If you need anything during December, a cup of coffee, cocoa, anything, just send a text." Sharing this opened up conversation and set a tone for the entire family.

Choose to lead

If you have kids, they need to be taught how to celebrate Christmas.

Instead of feeling pressured to spoil them, show them what it means to give. Let them experience the joy of serving others. These are the memories that shape them for life.

This season, choose purpose over pressure.

You don't have to keep up with culture's pace.

You get to choose what matters, and then live it.

If you would like to donate to help with the inmates in prison, or with the students in school, here is the link: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Dr. Daniel Tataje is the Leader of Mercy Dental Group, an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company and multi-award-winning "Best Place to Work" organization. He helps leaders and families globally through his humanity-focused leadership approach centered on the 7 Marks of Leadership: Integrity, Respect, Positivity, Empathy, Team Work, Service, and Humility.

Daniel's journey began as an immigrant dentist from Peru, facing licensing challenges and financial struggles while working as a dental assistant. The pivotal transformation occurred during rapid business expansion when he realized he couldn't be present among all his staff anymore, prompting him to develop the 7 Marks of Leadership—a framework inspired by Jesus Christ's leadership example that he discovered during a week-long retreat.

Here is a link to his website: https://www.danieltataje.com/

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Rick Sponhaltz was 70 years old and weighed 388 pounds. Fast forward to today and he weighs 198 pounds. On this episode Mark asks Rick to share his story. You will hear about the great resilience and strong spirit that he as about life.

You will hear Rick mention Alan Thomas of "Rethink Dieting." This is the same man who greatly impacted Mark about 7 years ago. Alan's website is below:

https://transformmyfuture.com/

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On this episode Mark had a conversation with Chris Grainger from The Lion Within Us. Chris is a man on a mission. He developed an organization that supports the leadership development among Christian men.

Chris Grainger is an example of how a common man can take on a big mission. His organization provides several ways for men to engage fully in their life.

To learn more about The Lion Within Us, go here: https://thelionwithin.us/

To purchase his book: https://www.amazon.com/Unleashing-Lion-Within-Reflections-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0FR2GL7GL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SD83U25AK3HG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0ecKCU1owBp0enrRL3jThjHatmkszk565FtJx5OEBNkjZuBhmhb_lWaoXP3pmaJGhN6GoO3iA29CjmyOPKOdc45jZ8OkRQMXqPJScPUP4IAHfk4ka5YqozcPh7ZFYS3ZFe78M5BD0Ho2_dYmEc_uYfx2mj_gYPm17OtPOC56ukcXyvE0mvszTe8IdM9fJbcp5s3HyIX3NoY-xBQPWvha-iMcCXLgZJ8zyKW1jCaiD3g.9_MpMzC1uNhkZTa0HtUP0tE-v51qCxnj2CN2rdNlpxU&dib_tag=se&keywords=chris+grainger&qid=1763330100&sprefix=chris+grainger%2Caps%2C561&sr=8-1

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Dan Oller recently published a book called "Forged." Mark sat down with him to discuss why he wrote this book.

They also discussed the struggle of prioritizing life and how to determine what things are just distractions. Dan is on a quest to build a fruitful life. Below are four questions that he recommends people use for evaluating.

What is the fruit of this activity?
What is the consequence of this activity?
Are my kids or spouse going to have a negative consequence of what I am doing?
Am I involved in anything that is hindering my walk with God?

Dan is also one of the men who contributed to the book "In the Game."

Here is a link to Dan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Becoming-Man-God-Designed/dp/B0FJQNP5SS

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People were created by God to do life together in highly meaningful ways. But since the beginning, mankind has been more afraid of what happens between us than we are excited about what can happen between us.

Mark shares about his experience in Junior High and High School where he felt disconnected from people, and meaning, and identity.

We can create meaningful lives by doing simple things consistently.

small meaningful things
small fun things
small invitations to connect together

Small things we do with others will lead to bigger things we can do with others.

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Nate Stotler just released a book about his story. It's called "Success Through the Eyes of an Addict." In this episode you will hear his thoughts on the root cause of addiction and the pathway to finding freedom.

Here is a link to his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXTDFYWM

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Quawntay Adams, also known as Bosco, is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, and movie director. He also spent over 16 years in prison.

After leaving prison in 2020 he produced a movie called "Bosco." This movie shares the story of a shocking escape he made from prison. During prison he also wrote a book called "Chasin Freedum."

In this episode you will hear Bosco talk about where he learned about freedom and how he lives fearlessly.

Here is the link to his book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chasin+freedum&crid=2WHJBWXMWX8O2&sprefix=chasin+freedum%2Caps%2C254&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

His movie can be found on several platforms.

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In this episode Mark has a conversation with Jay Toral. Jay is a life long entrepreneur. Here about his many adventures, but you will also enjoy his theory that we can all see ourselves as business owners.

Check out Jay's work here: https://croedu.com/

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Scott Linebrink is a former major league baseball player. Scott played several years of pro ball. He now helps other athletes prepare for life after sports.

Scott has a podcast called "Get in the Game" where he interviews former athletes. Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-spectrums-get-in-the-game/id1558521851

Scott also works with Pro Athletes Outreach. https://pao.org/

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Why is it so hard for men to open up and share what’s really on their hearts? In this episode, Mark unpacks the struggle men face with vulnerability and introduces a powerful metaphor that makes it easier to understand—and easier to talk. If you’ve ever felt the tension between being strong and being real, this conversation will help you see that opening up isn’t weakness, it’s strength.

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In this episode you will sit in on a conversation with Mark and Wave Carter about how to respond to the crisis of wondering about the deep things of life.

"How do I experience the purpose of my heart in my real life?"

This is a battle for everyone. How do we embody the passion of our heart?

To purchase a copy of our newest book "In the Game": https://www.amazon.com/Game-Playbook-Overcoming-Rebuilding-Confidence/dp/B0F1D7K2P6

To donate to our work in the prison: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Jeremy Slayden found himself on the doorsteps of Major League Baseball. Ryan Howard, a former star with the Philadelphia Phillies once told him, "You're about to make a lot of money." In this episode you will hear about his experiences in life after the game ended for him.

Many men struggle to find an adventurous life with teammates as an adult. You will hear what adventure and teammates look like for Jeremy now.

If you are interested in this topic, you can order a copy of Mark's book "In the Game." Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Playbook-Overcoming-Rebuilding-Confidence/dp/B0F1D7K2P6

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Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo started a movement called One Extraordinary Marriage. They are authors, speakers, and marriage coaches. In this podcast you will hear about the struggles they faced in their own marriage and how facing those struggles forged the foundation of their ministry.

Below is their website where you can see more about what they offer.

https://oneextraordinarymarriage.com/

Here is a link to their podcast. They have almost 900 episodes!

https://oneextraordinarymarriage.com/one-extraordinary-marriage-show/

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This episode is unique because it's a conversation between Mark and a man he met in the park while playing disc golf. About 90 minutes before this recording Mark ran into a man named Kameron in the park. They ended up playing disc golf together and talking about life.

In this episode Kameron talks about what it was like when he stopped playing football after college and how hard it was to find his way as a man.

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Mark invited James Kruse to sit down in his office for a conversation. James was a highly successful athlete throughout childhood and then he played Division One basketball at Oral Roberts University.

How did you feel when you were on the court?
What was it like when your career ended?
What was significant about the teammates you had?
What has it been like to find teammates as an adult?

To purchase a copy of "In the Game" you can go here: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Playbook-Overcoming-Rebuilding-Confidence/dp/B0F1D7K2P6

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Fear can cause parents to try to control their kids instead of empowering their kids. In this episode Mark talks about how he released his adult kids in order to let them grow.

Starting from a young age, parents must let their kids go. This letting go enables the child to grow and develop.

If you are interested in going through our parenting course you can email, Adena@markdelaney.me

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Judgmental looks are devastating to those we share them with. In this episode Mark will talk about how we become judgmental.

If we put down our need to be right, we are more likely to live in truth.
Humility gives us the ability to see life from a fuller perspectives than just our limited eyesight.

If you are interested, here is a marriage assessment we have made. It's free and the results are immediate.

https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

To support our work in prisons and schools, go here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark sits down with a friend to discuss the lyrics to a song. The song is called Medicate by a group called Theory of a deadman.

The lyrics are raw and real, but describe the wrestling that people face in their heart for fulfillment.

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Rabbi Daniel Cohen is the author of "What will they say about you when you are gone?" He has a passion to leave a legacy and help others to do the same.

In this episode he shares how we can all live a life that makes an impact and leave a legacy. You will enjoy his stories.

Below is a link to see his other book and checkout his legacy community.

https://www.rabbidanielcohen.com/

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Christian marriages fail at a similar rate as many people. But why? Christians have unique ways of struggling in our marriages. In this episode Mark and Adena sit down with a couple of friends to discuss the issue.

Mark mentions a free marriage assessment that couples can take to gauge the overall health of their relationship. Here is the link: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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It's common that people are judged for having an affair, but rarely do we understand why the affair happened.

Why do people have affairs?

The emptiness of our lives

These people seemed to be wealthy and successful…but wealth and success does not satisfy the greater needs of our hearts and minds.
If anything, success and wealth can make it more difficult to experience true fulfillment.

The dullness of our marriages

Nobody taught us how to be married. Like starting a business, we are all more likely to fail than do well.
We don’t know how to change our dull, lifeless marriage, and it’s embarrassing to admit the need for change.

We created a marriage assessment tool to help you evaluate the state of your marriage. Here is the link for the free assessment: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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Mark sat down with Bob Meyer to discuss a man's journey to find his identity. Bob is a man is relentless about living out the man God made him to be. He is also relentless in helping other men to understand their identity.

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Adena sits down with Helen DeBell, who wrote the book, Joe Gross is dead, which is a story about her struggle with identity and self worth, which led to an attempted suicide. Years later, she had a conversation with a young lady who had attempted suicide and was wrestling with her own worth as a human. After that conversation, she knew she had to share her story.

This conversation is for those who have a quiet pain that they haven’t shared, are wrestling with identity or self-worth, or if you want to connect with someone who is.

You can order her book here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Helen-DeBell/author/B00JHZLI5K?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

To support our work in prisons and schools: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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For this episode Mark interviewed Matt Dobschuetz about his life and work. Matt is the author of a book called Porn Free and the creator of a podcast called "Porn Free Radio."

Mark and Matt talk about freedom, and a dose of identity.

Visit this link to access his content: https://recoveredman.com/

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In this episode Mark sits down with a new friend named Ty Patrick. Ty shares some of his story and shares that everything he has been through is worth it to be able to now help others.

To support our non-profit work, go to https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode, Mark gives a personal update on his life. He also offers men a quick checkup to evaluate how they are doing at life.

Maximize your mission in order to minimize your mess.
Admit your struggles…
Share your story.
Show up for the team.
Don’t forget to have fun!

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In this episode Mark sits down for a conversation with two of his friends. Mark was spending the morning with Jerry Ramsey and Jeff Jenkins. After a round of disc golf and lunch, they decided to record a conversation for men.

Why is it so hard for men to talk about weakness?

It feels like nobody cares.
It's hard to put words to how you feel.
It seems that people will see you as your problem...not see you for who you are.

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In this episode Mark asked Adena to respond to three things he used to fear about her. Mark shares about three fears he had with Adena in the early years of marriage.

Mark feared that Adena would judge him for his weaknesses.
Mark feared that Adena would put the kids in front of him.
Mark feared that Adena would stop being interested in sex.

To support our work in schools, prisons, and families in need, go here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Lee Martin and Brian Jobe are two lifelong friends who have walked through several seasons of life together. The experiences of their lives together have lead to a non-profit movement called "Mountain Men."

In this conversation you will hear about two life changing questions that men answer with each other as a part of the Mountain Men journey.

How did you get here?
Where are you going?

To see more about Mountain Men, go here: https://www.mountain.men/

Purpose Mastermind update: This week we will be helping 350 high school students know their purpose. We are also walking 28 inmates through The Purpose Mastermind.

If you would like to participate by supporting us, donate here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

Our new book, In the Game, can be purchased here: https://markdelaney.com/game/

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In this episode Mark sits down with Rob Williams. Earlier in the day Rob had surprised Mark and Adena by showing up at the "In the Game" book launch party. Rob lives in the state of Washington, but chose to fly in for the event.

This recording will talk about that surprise, but they will also talk about the highest level of human relationship.

Having so much trust with each other that there are no expectations.
Fully knowing the flaws in each other, but still fully believing in each other.
Showing up with each other to help with our purpose.

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In this episode Mark sits down with Ryan Wimpey of Tip Top K9 to discuss his principles of leadership in his dog training company. You will hear how he builds up his employees.

See more about this company: https://tiptopk9.com/

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In this episode you will hear from Larry Delay. He came to Mark's office for a conversation. Larry played and sang 3 of the songs that had written.

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In this episode Mark is interviewing C. Natasha Richburg. She is the author of a book called, "People ask...what is the secret of our 36 year marriage?"

She believes that our wrong expectations about marriage is the main reason we struggle to be happily married. She talked about how we fail to allow for people's humanness.

You will love her spirit and her vulnerability to speak about life with such ease.

To learn more about her visit here: https://www.cnatashaproductions.com/

To support our nonprofit work: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode you will hear a number of stories. Mark sits down to talk to his neighbor Aaron Anderson. They will share about experiences at a recent mens retreat. You will be surprised to hear about an adventure that Aaron took during a time where he felt like he was living fake.

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In this episode Mark sits down in his office with his friend Sawyer. Earlier in the day Sawyer had told Mark that he needed to talk through something. They decided to record their conversation for others to hear.

You will hear about Sawyer's job situation and a big decision he made that day.

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Matthew Delaney, Mark's son joins the conversation for this episode. Matthew asks about the release of the new book, "In the Game."

In this book are the stories of 37 men. The common thread is that a man needs to surrender in order to get into the game.

Surrender is not about surrendering "from something bad." Surrender is about surrendering "for something greater."

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The following episode is the audio of a youtube video Mark recently produced.

What we believe about life will always be challenged by what we fear about life. What your faith draws you to, your fear will try to back you down from.

Here are four things I fear as a man:

I fear that I am not enough for my role.
I fear that I may fall short in a brother's life.
I fear that we will shrink back.
I fear doing life alone.
I fear life alone for my brother.

Here is what I want I want with my fellow brothers:

By faith…we will step together. (Or we will not step at all)
By faith…we will show up and see what happens. (Or nothing will happen)
By faith…we will choose to believe in each other and point each other toward the life God designed for us to live.

There is a residual effect of a lack of brotherhood in our lives. There is also a residual effect in having a brotherhood.

The league is about providing a space for men to

have conversations that bring clarity to our lives
make connections that further their personal and professional life.
Have relationships that produce organic accountability

If you are interested in being a part of The League, send an email to mark@markdelaney.me

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In this episode Mark sits down with Alex Muravski. Alex is a growing leader who is in college at High Point University. They connected for a conversation while they are home from college. In this conversation they talked about leadership styles.

Are you a compelling leader or a controlling leader?

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In this episode, Mark and Adena talk about a topic that a listener asked about. Here is the question they received:

"My friend told me about the problems they are having with their spouse. They think their spouse is the problem, but they do not see how they are also part of the problem. I want to talk to them about this, but I am afraid they will not listen to me and they might cut me off."

This is a very common scenario. Mark and Adena will share their thoughts on how to handle this situation.

We created a marriage assessment for people who would like to intentionallly work on their marriage. It's free, and the results are immediate. Check it out here: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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Mark sits down with his friend, Jason Crowe, for an organic conversation about why it's hard to get personal help. Here are the main thoughts covered:

It's hard to ask.
It's hard to know who to trust.
It's hard to know what type of help we actually need.

Feel free to reach out to mark@markdelaney.me or adena@markdelaney.me if you need a conversation.

If you would like to support our work: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark introduces you to Jacob Turner. He is a former Major League Baseball player. He offers perspective to parents who are raising kids who enjoy sports.

1) Play Multiple Sports

2) Gauge Interest

3) Praise the Effort

4) Ignore the Propaganda Machine

5) Focus on the Known

Learn more about Jacob here: https://www.momentprivatewealth.com/jacob-turner

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Being vulnerable is not easy for anyone. In this episode Mark and Adena sit down together and discuss how a man can share his heart with his wife.

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Mark sat down with a 26 year old former athlete to discuss what it was like when he stopped playing sports.

Landon Wolf played football at Oklahoma State University. In this episode you will hear about why he was prepared for the end of his football career.

In his story, you will hear about how a unique experience as a young teenager helped him to think about his life differently.

If you are in the area, and would like to have a heart to heart conversation with Mark, reach out here: mark@markdelaney.me

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In this episode Mark has an organic conversation with a former football player. Mark Means played football in high school, and then played semi-pro ball before coaching high school football for 20 years.

You will hear the story of how it all ended, the struggled within himself, and how he found a new identity.

If you were an athelete, and faced struggles when it ended, we would love to hear your story. Reach out through email: mark@markdelaney.me

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Mark sat down with a good friend for an unplanned conversation. This conversation is centers around how to face personal weakness and live free. Everyone has weakness and problems. How do we live with a sense of freedom when our problems make us feel so messy?

Many people attempt to hide their problems behind successes. We hide out of fear of what people will say or do with us when they know the real us. We might hide while judging others for the problems they have.

We all need relationships with people who see the real us, yet believe in us.

If you would like to join Mark in a conversation in his office sometime, reach out at mark@markdelaney.me

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Mark sat down with a young man who had a question about how to find friendship. Listen in as Mark gives Mason, a 23 year old, some thoughts on where to find friendship.

Here are three keys to finding friends:

Think about the kind of people you like. Where do they meet?
Think about the activities you might like participating in and then find out where these activities are taking place.
When you get an offer to do something with people, be ready to step out.

If you would like to learn more about our work, go to https://markdelaney.com/

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In this episode Mark sat down with a friend for a conversation. As soon as the conversation started, Mark thought it would be worth recording. Mark and Adam Oglesbee talk with each other about parenting. They invite you to listen in.

Here are some thoughts from the conversation:

As parents when can overreact when we see things in our kids that remind us of our own struggles.
We must avoid the instinct to "parent ourselves out of our kids." Instead, we need to parent the me out of me.
The fatal tunnel occurs when we hyper-focus on a problem and miss the surrounding issues that we are responsible for.

Mark mentioned his book, "One Step to Freedom." Click here to purchase:
https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Freedom-Leaving-Habit/dp/168573023X

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How do we make the most of our life?

Leave the Smeagol mindset!
1. There is nothing but futility and frustration. Never enough money, never enough fame, never enough success
2. We were not made to be containers who live our lives to consume.
Realize that our life is a gift to be given
1. We were made to be conduits through which love and gifts flow.
2. God gives gifts to the sower. We are sowers. All you have is a seed to be planted.
If you want to find your life….lose it!
1. Give your time
2. Give your love
3. Give you money
4. Give your talents
5. Give your things
6. Give the real you!!!!!

To contact us, email: mark@markdelaney.me, adena@markdelaney.me

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In this episode, Mark and Adena let the listener experience a conversation about Mark's birthday thoughts.

I’m done sitting at “the kiddie table.” Here is what I mean. At family gatherings the kiddie table is obviously for the kids. It’s not a bad table, but it’s not where the decision makers sit. Speaking metaphorically, sometimes I feel like I live at the kiddie table and wait for an adult to authorize me to make decisions. This mindset makes me live small. This mindset makes me look for someone who has authority to give me permission to do something.
I am done trying to sit at “the adult table.” Here is what I mean. Let’s face it. We all like the kiddie table better than the adult table. Kids are free. As adults it’s easy to be fake. At the adult table we have accumulated grudges against some people, and agendas with other people. The real stuff is easier to find at the kiddie table. The innocence of children leads to more laughter and unguarded love. The adult table can be full of insecurities and posturing.
I am done thinking about what table I am sitting at. I feel like I have spent so much of my life trying to find my spot at a table. As a kid in school I used to look around the cafeteria and wonder if I belonged anywhere. I wondered how everyone else seemed to have friends. I wondered why I didn’t. Ultimately, I’m done trying to fit in. It’s the wrong goal.
I want to spend my life serving the tables. A life full of service is a life full of opportunity. There is nobody to impress…ever. There are only people to lovingly serve.
I want to spend my life with the people who are serving the tables. Culture pressures us to get the best seat, at the best table, and get the best steak. I don’t judge those who fall into that trap, because we all have. But I want to spend my life around people who have exchanged that exhausting pursuit with the fulfillment of a life of serving

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This is a scary question to ask oneself. How do I make the most of my life?
In this episode, Mark shares three thougths.

See you life redemptively
Make the most of the people in your life
Know your purpose

If you would like to support our work, you can go here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

If you have a question that you would like to discuss with Mark or Adena, you can reach out to mark at mark@markdelaney.me

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Politics and parenting have some things in common:

Politicians have a belief in how our country should be led.
Parents have a belief in how our children should be raised.

Politicians can fight against their opponent at the expense of doing what is best for the people.
Parents can fight against their spouse at the expense of doing what is best for the children.

Here are a couple of resources for you:
https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict
https://courses.markdelaney.com/disciplining-your-children-with-confidence

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Mark and Adena finish their discussion about partnership.
In a partnership both people have to be able to give communication, and receive communication. Consider a customer service desk at a store. Without a customer service desk the store would not be able to exist.

Here is the link to the video course Mark mentioned called "How to be the Hero During Conflict." https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict

Here is the link to the free marriage assessment. Simply answer the questions and receive a quick response to see how you are doing. https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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Mark and Adena discuss partnership in this episode. They use stories from pickleball experiences.

They also provide a behind the scenes update on their nonprofit work.

If you would like to partner with our work, here is a link to donate: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Mark has a converation with an 18 year old about how he is figuring out what to do with his life.

To donate to our work, click here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark sits down for an authentic conversation with Cody Reed. Cody is a member of The League. This is a group of men who meet twice a month in order to stir each other on to take bold action in our lives.

In this conversation Cody shares his story and also talks about the struggle to live in freedom daily.

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Mark has a conversation with Devan Gonzalez. He is the owner/founder of a gym called Strive 11. He also hosts a podcast on mindset called Mindset Cafe.

Here is a link to his podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-cafe/id1650827999

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Mark sits down with Alex Muravski to continue the conversation on how to make the most of your life.

Realize you do not control the results.
Realize that you are a farmer planting seeds.
Realize that you can live your best life even while you have problems.
Realize that life is not about you.
Know your purpose.
Step into the opportunities that are right in front of you.
Take seriously the people in your life.

Visit https://markdelaney.com/ to learn more about our work.

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Mark sits down to talk to his two sons about how to make the most of your life. They talked about three principles:
1. Realize you do not control the results of your life.
2. Realize you are a farmer planting seeds.
3. Realize you can live your best life even while you have problems.

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In this episode Mark interviews Jeremy Jacobi about his story of life change.

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Purpose always involves others. Being connected to people helps us be connected with, and live out, our purpose.

In this episode Mark is going to ask you an important question, and give you an important challenge. "What are you dreaming about?"

Mark's challenge is for you to share your dream with someone else and ask them to share their dream with you.

If you would like to support our work, simply click here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Substance abuse comes in many forms.

All people struggle with substance abuse at some level.
It is critical that we don't judge one person for their substance abuse while we are blind to our own substance abuse.
Behind substance abuse is often a life that is lacking in real substance.

If you would like to support this movement, click here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark interviews a psychotherapist on how he helps people overcome mental health issues.

Dr. Dan Franz hosts a podcast called The Meaning Project. You can check that out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-meaning-project/id1514806584?i=1000665858311

You can visit his website here: https://danielafranz.com/

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Maybe the greatest gift of marriage is that it helps us to grow as a person. If we do not mature we can live our life stuck in our pride, selfishness, and our blind spots.

If we allow marriage to mature us we will reap great benefit. We become better for everyone.

Two requirements for a functioning relationship with your spouse:
1. Offer them a customer service desk and allow them to voice their concerns.
2. Go to the customer service and voice your concerns.

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In this episode Mark and Adena talk about cookies, addiction, and freedom.
When people are dealing with addiction it causes fear for everyone involved. The instinctual response makes the problem worse.

In this episode Mark and Adena share a different perspective on how to help people find freedom.

Freedom is not just the stopping of a bad behavior. Freedom is a whole different life.

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In this episode Mark interviews a six year old. In this unscripted conversation Richard, a six year old, gives a profound answer to a big question. "What does the sad heart need?"

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In this episode Mark and Adena talk about a conversation that happened on a road trip. Many people are afraid of deep honesty...even with their spouse. But deep honesty can lead to real freedom.

On the road trip Mark told Adena "It's not you, it's just me." Adena shared what she meant by this statement.

Instead of being honest about yourself, it's much easier to blame someone else.
Honesty is powerful. You feel so loved when you are honest and they want to love you, even when you are weak or messy. That creates a bold connection.
Being honest that "it’s just me" can be hard, but both of you understand that it is because you love them. If you have a safe place to be real, you both benefit from it.
If we’re OK with the truth that "it’s just me" it brings a freedom in the relationship that you can’t have without it.

If you would like to be a part of helping others, here is a link to donate: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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Mark and Adena continue their conversation about toxic relationships. Many people are using terms like "toxic" and "abusive." But do we know how to have a great relationship?

Toxic behaviors can be invisible, like a gas. Here are 4 examples of behaviors that seem good, but are actually harmful.

Living in fear. It can look like protection.
Being judgmental. It can look like trying to help someone behave better.
Being controlling. It can look like you’re just trying to be helpful.
Communicating truth in a way that hurts the other person.

Talk to unbiased helpers instead of biased hurt people. It's easy to find someone who will have sympathy with your relationship problem. But it's hard to find someone who will help you build the relationship that will serve your life.

Reach out to Mark here: mark@markdelaney.me
Reach out to Adena here: adena@markdelaney.me

Take our free marriage assessment: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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Everyone does toxic things at times.

We have to be careful labeling someone as toxic.

Labels that we put on people can prevent us from moving forward effectively.

Something that is toxic is like a gas that nobody can see.
Most people are not toxic, but their choices are toxic.

Levels of toxicity. They need to be dealt with differently.

Great people can do toxic things.
People who care can do toxic things.
But we also have people who don’t care at all that make toxic choices.
We can’t put them all in the same box. If you love your family and you’re trying to do things that help, you don’t want someone to write you off because you made a toxic choice.
Have a grace mask for your spouses gas problems! Not a lighter of judgment!

**Deal with low level toxins! Get help with gas build up.

Here is the link to our marriage assessment:** https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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In this episode Mark sits down for a conversation with Leland Hall. Leland is a man who spent several years in prison, but he has been out for less than a year. He shares part of his story and how he has gotten back on the path of purpose.

If you would like to support our work: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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What do you think about conflict?
What do you do during conflict?
What do you say during conflict?

Mark mentioned his video course in the episode. Here is the link to "How to be the Hero During Conflict." https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict

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Freedom is a powerful thought that resonates in all of us. But we struggle to have it. Most people avoid the topic because it seems unattainable.

In this episode Mark talks about how freedom feels in his personal life.
1. Nothing to prove....
2. Nothing to hide...
3. No more trying...just being

Here are two resources to help in your journey to freedom:

Mark's book called "One Step to Freedom." https://markdelaney.com/one-step-to-freedom/
Mark's video course called "How to Change." https://courses.markdelaney.com/how-to-change

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Help! My marriage has shipwrecked my life.

This thought arises in every marriage.

The idea of great love in marriage and family can be exhilarating. It still causes people to lay in bed and dream of what life could be with someone they love. Why? The greatest human experience is the giving and receiving of great love.

But…. What if the dream gets shipwrecked? A spouse becomes an addict. Someone has an affair. The person you love crushes your heart.

In every relationship, at some point, the person that made you want to get on board the boat, is the same person that makes you want to overboard. Or push them overboard. In every relationship! These moments will happen.

Can the marriage be fixed? No. But lives can change. The people in the marriage can change and that changes everything.

The sharks are swirling.

Future pain
Financial ruin
Regret
Impact on the kids

The sinking boat represents the life I was made for. The person I was made to be.

Some people use these moments to live like never before. Other people get used by these moments and never really live again.

The question becomes, where is my new boat. It’s not about pulling up the old one. It’s about finding a new one.

It can be a new boat together.
It can be separate boats together. (if you have kids, that is going to be the reality whether you want it or not.) you are going to be together in a contentious way or in a loving way.

Talk to an unbiased person who has wisdom in these matters! There are many people who have experience in the pain of things like this. But no experience in the redemption of things like this. These people will help you walk in their pain. Other people can help you walk in your redemption story.

I would say that our role is to provide a safe place for people to float while they figure out the steps to navigate toward the future they were made for.

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In this episode, Mark and Adena open up the closet of their real relationship over the years. Mark shares about 4 things that Adena did for him that dramatically impacted him for good.

Here are the four things Mark talked about:
1. You understood my need for me to have fun with friends.
2. You were highly sexual toward me.
3. You never judged me for my weakness.
4. You never disrespected me in front of people.

Here is a link to donate to our current anniversary campaign:
https://donorbox.org/embed/32k-for-32-marriages-for-mark-adena-s-32nd-anniversary-july-11-2024?language=en

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Every person wants to be driven by something. The questions becomes, "What are we driven by?"

The purpose driven person has 3 advantages.
1. It aids in building a strong identity.
2. It puts your focus outside of you which is great for mental health.
3. It’s a long range lasting source of motivation.

Thank you to all of you who believe in this mission to help people know their purpose. If you would like to join our team of supporters, here is the link to do that:https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark sits down with Darryl Turner. Mark and Darryl met a week ago at the gym. Even though they were complete strangers, they had a deep and honest conversation at the gym. Mark asked if Darryl would join him to record the conversation for people to hear.

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Identity is spoken of often. People say it's important to create a good identity, and people speak of the dangers of a wrong identity. But, how do we explain what identity is? And how do we create it?

Identity is the desire to know who we are.
For Mark, he describes the impact of identity on his life.
1. "I have nothing to prove to anyboby. I never had anything to prove to anyone."
2. "I know longer have anything to hide."
3. "I can stop trying, and replace it with being."

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Every human being is in a search for our place in this world. We are looking for fulfillment and contentment. For many people, our life becomes a desperate searching.

What if our searching ended...and our giving began?
What if we stopped holding our life hostage?
What if we lived boldly every day?

This episode features Mark's brother Ryan playing the guitar as Mark shares three stories to inspire you for your journey.

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Everyone needs therapy, but there are some concerns to consider in the journey.
1. A danger is that therapy will help you think there is something wrong with you.
2. A danger is that therapy will help you focus more on your problem. This makes the problem bigger.
3. A danger is that therapy will help you focus more on yourself.

Everyone can build powerful therapy in their life by building powerful relationships with people and by engaging in activities that help restore.

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Mark sits down with Cody Reed for an honest conversation about life. Cody said, "I want the freedom to be happy with who I am."

In this conversation they talk about how someone can intentionally create this happy life.

"If we life a happy and content life, the people in our life will get to experience that from us. If we are not happy and content, people will also experience that frustration from us."

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In this episode, Mark has a conversation with Kambi Jecminek. Kambi is a coach who specializes in helping people with mindset. She is also one of The Purpose Mastermind facilitators.

You can visit her website here: https://winningmindcoach.com/

A strong portion of our work is to help families who are shipwrecked by marriage or kids in behavioral crisis. We love to be able to show up boldly and help these familes even if they have no way of paying for the help the receive.
If you want to be a part of this by donating, visit here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/
If you have other interests, reach out at mark@markdelaney.me

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Mark and Adena share in the episode about how Adena faces trauma from the past while she boldly pursues love.

"A person has two powerful forces within...do I protect myself from great pain, or do I pursue great love?"

If you would like to fill out an assessment on your marriage, click this link: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

If you would like to support this work so that hurting families get help, click here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode Mark interviews his mom about her new book called "A Penny for your Thoughts." The highlight of this episode is where Mark's mom talks about a conversation that changed her life.

If you would like to order this book of thoughts, here is the link to order:
https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Your-Thoughts-Karen-Delaney/dp/168573040X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=324DK68PFORVK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xOXI_2uCBdYZ1JzWORVDGbb-3HHl54hV9SDN17ZWsX8.TJn6WErjCKXJ16mbN2Fk5cYJpQEyFwnZzSDvpXXv6iE&dib_tag=se&keywords=karen+delaney+a+penny+for+your+thoughts&qid=1713060319&sprefix=karen+delaney+a+penny+for+your+thoughts%2Caps%2C432&sr=8-1

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Mark interviews Tyron Hall and they have a discussion about an awkward, yet powerful conversation he had with his spouse about physical affirmation.

Here is a marriage assessment that you and your spouse can take. It helps you to have meaningful conversations that will help move your relationship forward.

https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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In this episode Mark talks about why it's important to pay attention to the tension.
The gap between the life we want and the life we want to live can create a tension. This tension can lead to frustration, depression, emptiness, etc. If the tension is not resolved it can lead to behavior problems like excessive drinking, overeating, etc. These behaviors often get the attention, but the tension is the real problem.

One conversation can lead to clarity.

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Trunnis Goggins is an educator, thought leader, and author. He is close to publishing his newest book, The Four P's of you. Check for the release here: https://www.amazon.com/Ps-You-Trunnis-Goggins-II/dp/B0CXL128SM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YBMHU86VGDIO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g8bSIYryCC1kDey9dMB6Ujv92IHnWHjeGyPaY3-CvR8k2FvJQr8uSh8nvxLlHY8L.VpRULX8j-t_WN3IfuvDZYENx7sKz5PnsgqWTpScdhJE&dib_tag=se&keywords=trunnis+goggins&qid=1710550562&sprefix=trunnis+goggins%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1

The four P's are: Purpose, Passion, Planning, and Persistence

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In this short episode Mark will tell two stories and ask one big question.

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In this episode Mark tells a couple of stories about kids who are struggling with mental health problems. Many parents fear the topic of mental health, or stay uninformed about the topic.

Mark gives practical advice on how to look at this topic.

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Every couple will face confusion or conflict while trying to develop a powerful sex life. This episode is part two of a conversation Mark and Adena had about sex between a husband and a wife.

Building a powerful sex life will require these three things:
1. Freedom
2. Boundaries
3. Surrender

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In this episode Mark and Adena have a vulnerable conversation about sex inside of marriage. Many couples struggle to create a powerful sex life together.

Everyone enters marriage with distorted views of themself and distorted views of sex.
There are two main responses to the distortions and confusion about sex. Avoid sex, or live out the distorted passions.

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Mark sat down with a good friend for this episode. Daniel Dolan is a teacher at a school, and a leader of men. He talks about his journey in life from being a young man who was heavily involved in sports to becoming a man who felt unfulfilled.

Daniel mentioned how he used to live to "win at all cost", but now he lives to "love and serve at all cost."

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Mark sits down with his son Matthew to ask 5 questions.
Matthew was not given the questions beforehand, so his answers are off the top of his head.

Here are the questions:
1. Have you ever felt like you were kicked to the sidelines in life?
2. How did you get back into the game?
3. What keeps you in the game?
4. What role do teammates play in your life?
5. What would you say to any man who feels they are not in the game?

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Most people fear conflict. Our response to conflict causes damage.

Fatal pathway of conflict:
1. This is bad
2. Someone is the enemy
3. This is going to cause damage forever

The hero during conflict thinks like this:
1. This is normal
2. I can help
3. This will make us better

Below is the link to the course: "How to be the hero during conflict"
https://courses.markdelaney.com/resolving-conflict

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In this episode, Mark and Adena have a conversation about how to love your spouse even though they have problems. They use the metaphor of a flower in a pot. Your spouse is like the flower. They have weeds. But instead of focusing on their weeds we need to water the flower.

We cannot help someone with their weeds unless we are first of all honest with our own weeds.

We have made a marriage assessment tool. You can fill out your answers here and get an immediate look at the health of your marriage. https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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In this episode Mark has a conversation with Ryan Fairbanks. Ryan is one of the facilitators of The Purpose Mastermind.

Clarifying purpose helped Ryan to become intentional and bold. Now he helps others to do the same.

You can reach out to Ryan at landrunnerinc@gmail.com
Visit this link to sign up to do The Purpose Mastermind with Ryan: https://www.purposemastermind.com/ryan-fairbanks/

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The holidays bring us to times of reflection. The popular movie, "It's a Wonderful Life", will play each year because it demonstrates the reflections that happen in all of our hearts.

Here are four fundamentals to living a wonderful life
1. Realize life is not about you
2. Realize you do not control the results
3. Realize that the Jones's are not happy, so don't try to keep up with them.
4. Realize you don't know what you are doing.

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In this episode Mark sits down with his friend Derick. Derick tells a story about his 12 year old sons journey with playing football this year. This story will resonate with men who have to fight to find their way onto the field in their life.

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In this episode Mark sits down with his friend Jeff. You will hear Jeff's story of how he got off of the sidelines and back into the game of life.

Relationship with others brings:
1. Fun
2. We can use our gifts and talents for each other
3. We get the "idiot revelation"

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In this episode Brian Gough joins Mark for a conversation about manhood. Brian shares about a 10 year struggle that he went through. He wanted to help people, but he found himself caught in a cycle of study without action.

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This episode captures an organic conversation between Mark and a stranger. A friend of Mark's brought a friend to visit. This friend was at a broken place. Mark asked him if he would like to record the conversation. This episode is that conversation.

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In this episode Mark interviewed Zach and Darcy Spafford. They formed a program called "Thriving Beyond Pornography."

They had to face the problem of porn in their own marriage. They found a pathway to overcome and thrive. Now they help other couples walk that same path.

You can find out more about their work here:
https://www.zachspafford.com/?fbclid=IwAR1n5XE2J6Ss3xSohivJEehGrMI0u6Nc5YbRqkJJ7-8UJff-sK6axx24Ujc

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Does life feel exhausting? Do you wonder if it's going to work out?
In this episode Mark lays out a way of thinking about life to help us be more joyful in the journey.

If you would like to join Mark for an episode and ask questions, reach out at mark@markdelaney.me

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Parenting is going to be hard. You can work hard to a great place. Or you can work hard and end up in a place you don’t want to be.

In this episode, Mark talks about the one lesson that you must teach your child.

When your child realizes "Life is not about me" they will be transformed. We can help our child grow in these mindsets by doing the following things.

Have them do chores that serve the family
Say no to them.
Volunteer as a family
Use all of life activities to teach this
- Christmas is a time for them to give to others.
- Vacation time is also about being a blessing to people.
- School is a great place to practice being nice to people.

Here are the video courses Mark mentioned:
https://courses.markdelaney.com/the-confident-father
https://courses.markdelaney.com/disciplining-your-children-with-confidence

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Many people are living in fear when it comes to mental health problems. We are afraid of members of our family falling into depression or anxiety. In this episode mark offers a way for us to be proactive in this battle. Instead of being powerless in regards to mental health issues, we can do common things to become mentally strong.

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In this episode Mark and his son, Matthew, have a conversation about lessons from The Walking Dead tv show. This show demonstrates an intense battle that people are facing during apocalyptic times. In modern society we have many conveniences and comforts that cause us to not realize the intense battle that we are in.

We are in a battle for our freedom, our joy, our love, etc.

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In this episode Mark shares a story about a little boy who goes to volunteer to help other people, but at the same time has to wrestle with his own instincts to take care of himself.

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For this episode Mark invited a friend from San Antonio to join him for a conversation. Mark asked Vik to prepare three questions of his choosing.

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Many people live with the presence of negative relationships and the absence of positive relationships.

The inability to be authentic holds us back from living with the power that can be experienced in relationships.

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Here are Mark's notes for this episode:

People often say that, your spouse is forever, but parenting is just for a few years. That is more true than you can know.
Your marriage is the parenting machine. The two of you together form the leadership and culture of your child’s lives.
Marriage works on you as a person. The better you become as a person, the better you become as a parent.
The best thing you can do for your kids is love their mom well. Love their dad well.

How to prioritize

Prioritizing begins in the heart. Keep feeding that relationship.
Maintain date nights, or date experiences, that keep you connected.
Tell your kids that your spouse comes first.
Never disrespect your spouse in front of your kids. Our kids can be confused about their life already. If they feel like you are on separate teams, you will lead them to confusion.

Signs that you are not prioritizing.

When you come home, you are excited to see your kids, but you’re not excited to see your spouse.
You gladly sacrifice time and money to serve your kids. But you hate doing it for your spouse.
You no longer make love to each other consistently.

Your marriage is at the foundation of your entire life. If you build your marriage. It will support everything to do with your life. If you do not build your marriage, it will threaten everything you do with your life.

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The price of calling.

Rejection
Loneliness
Failure

If you want to live with a sense of calling, do these three things:

know your purpose in one sentence!
find the people that see your gift and encourage you toward it.
*take a step. Small, awkward steps.

If you would like to join our next live online group mastermind simply text the word purpose to 918-401-9608.
Here is a video about this experience that you can share with others.
https://youtu.be/YSjfxuzzN5g?si=qek4xBS6kvzhTw_h

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If you want to leave the "Matrix", three things are required:

You cannot fear the truth (especially the truth about yourself)
You cannot fear people
You must know your purpose and hang out with people who keep you pointed toward that purpose.

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In this episode Mark discusses how to live out your gift in this world.
1. Know your purpose
2. Find your people

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A young man asked Mark, "Why is marriage so frustrating?"
In this episode Mark and Adena compare the partnership in pickleball to the partnership in marriage. When your partner is in the wrong mode, they will struggle. Here are four things to do to help your spouse when they are struggling as your partner.

See the other person's side.
See how you have impacted your partner.
Put aside your frustration and choose to feed their needs.
Talk about your differences of opinion.

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In this episode Mark outlines how to have a meeting with your teenage son or daughter. The goal of this meeting is to:

Open up communication between your and your child.
Establish good boundaries/rules for the remaining years in your home.
Help them to take ownership of their life.

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We all want to live our best bold life. We want to take our lives seriously. We want to our lives to make a difference. We also want things like love, marriage, and family. How do we balance all of that?

Do I have to sacrifice career success in order to have family success?

Here is a bonus video where Mark describes how to prioritize your life for legacy: https://youtu.be/xJ1uJ4KfSn8

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Mark and Adena played pickleball with other couples recently. In this episode they discussed some practical lessons that people can learn about themselves when participating in athletic activities.

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What does spirituality in marriage look like? It's a confusing topic. For people who are faith based, this topic is really important. In this episode Mark and Adena take a bold look at this topic.

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In this episode, Mark sits down with Russ Dyer.
Russ was a man who seemed to have everything, with the exception of one thing. Fulfillment. He felt like he was just going through the motions. He told his wife he was not sure how much longer he could keep being on the course he was on.

One trip changed his life. Specifically, the look he saw on a young boys face changed everything.

If you want to contact Russ, email him at russelldyer87@gmail.com
You can also see some info on this facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064525398955

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Mark and Adena discuss the how to celebrate your husband/father on Father's Day.

Say one thing to them: "I don't say this very often, but....." (Tell them how you feel about them.)
Men crave simple honor, and genuine respect.
If your husband is struggling, you might find it hard to give him respect. If you focus on the behavior problem you will drive him away. Underneath the struggling behavior is a struggling heart.

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In this episode Mark has a conversation with a good friend, Kevin Tromp.
They discuss life as a beach. There are people who live on the beach, while others live in the shallow waters, but some live in the deep waters.

How does someone live in the deep waters?
1. Stay closely connected with others who are living in the deep waters.
2. Keep taking the next awkward steps.

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In this episode Mark talks with Larry Hagner. Larry is the founder of a movement of men that are becoming the leaders in their home. Larry shares about his personal life, but also shares what he has learned from helping thousands of men over the years.

If you are interested in learning more about his work go to https://thedadedge.com/

For information on the conference in St. Louis in September, go to https://thedadedge.com/summit2023/

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In this episode, Mark and his son Matthew discuss how a man can live like he is in the game.

For a man to live in the game he needs to be fulfilled he will need three primary things.

Know your purpose.
Have your teammates
Have a powerful relationship with your spouse.

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It's hard to learn how to bring up problems with out spouse. In this episode Mark and Adena discuss how to become the person that can do this.

Rethink how you see problems
Problems are supposed to exist
The problems you have are normal
Problems are the next opportunity, not the next threat
Refocus
See yourself differently. Be open to see the error within yourself.
See your spouse differently. Have compassion for their problem. It hurts them as well.
Practical tips
Talk to a trusted mentor
Talk during peacetime
Give space in the relationship for discussing problems.
Communicate these words: "I am saying this because I want us to be all that we were made to be."

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In this episode Mark shares 3 confidence. When a person loses confidence it is hard to develop competence.

Your faith
Your associations
Your intentions

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In this episode Mark talks to Darien Gibson. Darien and Mark have been connected in some way ever since Darien was a student in Mark's classroom at a school.

Through their story, one main point is made: "People struggle to take next steps in life when they struggle to take steps with other people in their life."

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Mark has a conversation with Brad Church. Brad is an author of a book called "The Strangers Conflict." Here is a link to his book: https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Conflict-Waging-War-Within-ebook/dp/B073PDM8J4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HOLE7X24K793&keywords=the+strangers+conflict+by+brad+church&qid=1681876006&sprefix=the+strangers+conflict+by+brad+church%2Caps%2C702&sr=8-1

In this conversation Mark and Brad discuss this quote: "97% of people who quit too soon work for the 3% who never gave up."

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In this episode, Mark has a conversation with his nephew Carter Anderson. Carter and his wife Stella are learning to live a bold and free life together. This is an update on their journey.

In the episode we mention Stella's cookies. If you are interested in her work, you can see her here: https://www.facebook.com/sweeterbystella

You can also email her: sweeterbystella@gmail.com

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Where did you begin your marriage?
In this episode Mark and Adena discuss this critical question. The answer to this question will determine our trajectory in marriage.

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What if anxiety is just an alarm system that is alerting us to a necessary change in how we are thinking or living?

Hunger points us to the need for nourishment
Thirst points us to the need for water
Anxiety points us to needs like purpose, meaning, peace, etc.

When an alarm goes off, we don't study the alarm, we allow the alarm to point us to the problem. Anxiety is the alarm, not the problem.

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A couple asked Mark and Adena, "You guys seem to be actually happy. We want to know why."

In this episode Mark and Adena discuss how sex helps to build a marriage.

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Pat Mingarelli is a nature photographer, blogger, and author. In this episode they talk about how Pat finds an outlet for his purpose by using his talent with photography.

Here is his website: https://visualverse.thecreationspeaks.com/

Below is a link to preorder his devotional:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drawing-near-pasquale-mingarelli/1142445729

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Have you ever seen behind the curtains of someone else's life and been disappointed?

Do you have curtains up in your own life?
We must allow someone access to see behind the curtains of our life.
Allowing people to see our weakness keeps us authentic.

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The darkest of human behaviors grow from the seed of distorted thinking. Thankfully, the opposite is also true. There is hope for our big problems.
1. What is anxiety?
2. Who struggles with anxiety?
3. What determines if you win or lose the battle with anxiety?
4. How do you battle it?

If you want to support our work and receive free access to our video courses, go to https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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We all want to live on the road to the life we were made for. But there are ditches on both sides of that road.

The dreamer has an incredible gift to help us see all that life can be.

The threat is that the dreamer will only dream and they will make others live in fear.

The integrator/controller has an incredible gift to help dreams become reality.

The threat is that the integrator will squelch the dream by living in fear.

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Why are married couples struggling to have a great sex life?
Sexual dysfunction is everywhere is society. There are many sexual experiences that bring devastation and long lasting pain. But sex between a husband and a wife can be powerful.

Why are we struggling:
1. We get busy and stop pursuing sex.
2. Sex exposes us and that is scary.
3. From a young age we are conditioned that sex is mostly a bad thing.
4. We live in fear of what could go wrong instead of living in excitement about what we can experience together.

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What do you do when you feel like your life is just one big mess?
Here are some thoughts from this episode:

The existence of a problem is not our issue. Our response to the problem is what leads to our demise.
The worst of all human dysfunction is caused by the simplest of distortions in our thinking.
Focusing on you purpose instead of your problem is the pathway forward.

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In this episode Mark and Adena tell a story about a miscommunication they had recently.

A great marriage is not one that is void of disagreements. To build a strong marriage both people must be able to engage in conflict without putting up walls that shut the person out.

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Mark and Adena have a candid conversation with each other about their relationship. They look back to how they could have destroyed each other in the early years.

To summarize, Adena was threatened to be a person that had to have a perfect life. This could have caused her to reject Mark since he was a very flawed man.

Mark was threatened to be a person that would never admit failure. This could have caused him to bring Adena so much pain as he hid his weaknesses.

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In this episode Mark sits down for an episode with Steve Katsis. They have a conversation about how we as men struggle to feel qualified.

What causes a man to live life with the goal of not being disqualified?
What keeps a man stuck in this mindset?
How does a man get over this mindset.

Every man needs to know his purpose and find his people.

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Living in the perfect will of God sounds like a great target. But it also sounds overwhelming and impossible. In the episode, Mark talks about principles of God's will that can help up live boldly.

God's will has much more to do with who we be than what we do.
God's will is that we live out His ways and His wisdom.

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We build a wall between us and someone else in order to protect ourself from being hurt. But that wall has big implications on our entire life.

That wall impacts many of our relationships.
The wall you put up changes you.
The wall blocks out love from others.
At some point we have to take down that wall by being vulnerable.
Behind that wall, it is critical to see your own faults.
Realize that life without the wall will be messy while you learn to live without it.

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In this episode Mark tells some stories about his most recent visit to a prison.
He asked the inmates this question: "What is the most difficult to overcome? The ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, or the ghost of Christmas future?"

The ghost of Christmas past is overcome through forgiveness.
The ghost of Christmas present is overcome through learning to trust.
The ghost of Christmas future is overcome through surrendering what we cannot control.

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All of us are a gift to others, but it doesn't always feel that way. How do I unwrap the gift of me?

See the gifts of others first. Let them use their gift in your life. Take an opportunity this week to complement someone on a gift that you see in them.
Face your fears. One of the most common fears that we have is the fear of admitting a weakness. But when we hide our weakness, we also hide our gift.
Know your purpose. It is hard to boldly show up in your life when you do not know your purpose.

If you want to work with us email mark here: mark@markdelaney.me, or email Adena here: Adena@markdelaney.me.

You can also visit our website: https://markdelaney.com/

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We learned how to play pickle-ball recently. In joining this group of players we found ourselves noticing the interesting relationship dynamics.

Some teammates cause you to play tense.
Other teammates enable you to play bold and free.

How we interact with people will determine if they want to keep coming back!

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What are the common areas of struggle for a man?
1. Void of Purpose
2. Lack of Camaraderie
3. Frustration in love

How should a man think about his struggles?
1. They are normal
2. His problem is not his identity
3. Problems are opportunities

What can a man do with struggles?
1. Talk openly with a trusted friend
2. Share the pain or confusion of your heart
3. Love someone in spite of your struggle

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There are three areas in a man's life that determine his level of fulfillment.
1. A sense of mission/purpose
2. Strong camaraderie
3. Life giving love

In this episode Mark mentions a marriage assessment. Here is the link: https://app.assessmentgenerator.com/assessment/17360

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This episode is to thank people that have supported us over the last year. You will hear three stories that represent what we do with our non-profit work.

If you would like to support our work, you can donate to the non-profit here: https://markdelaney.com/donate/

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In this episode you will hear an organic conversation and the story of Elaine Mingus. Elaine is a mom of 7 kids, a speaker, and a business owner. Her story will inspire you to face any obstacles that you face in your life.

You can visit her store here: https://www.instagram.com/curbvulture/
You can also go to her website here: http://elainemingus.com/

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Accountability is powerful or it's awkward!

Some types of accountability only make us focus more on the problem and make relationships get awkward.

Great relationships produce organic accountability. The big difference is that the focus is no pointing people toward their purpose, not pointing them toward their problem.

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Mark went to a prison last week and asked a question that you would not expect to hear at a prison.

"Why are you so free?"
Twelve men at a correctional facility are going through The Purpose Mastermind. These men, although they live in a prison, have such a sense of freedom. In response to the question, here is what they said:

"We have lost it all, so we only have something to gain."
"When I lost physical freedom, I realized that freedom is not physical at all."
"I have everything to gain. I gain every day."

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On this episode Mark talks with Wave Carter. Wave lives in San Antonio, but flew up for a weekend visit with in Tulsa. This conversation began in the sauna and ended in front of the podcast microphones.

In this episode you will hear a story of a man with a broken relationship with his daughter.

What happens when someone has a gap between who they are and who they think they are?

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This is part two of a conversation about how to think about the problem of pornography.
Every couple will face adversity in their sex life. Pornography has become a common issue that threatens couples from experiencing great sexual intimacy together.

Sexuality gives us reasons to cover ourselves up and protect ourselves.
Sexuality in a relationship also gives us a chance to overcome the biggest fears and insecurities in our life.

Learn more here: https://markdelaney.com/

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In this episode Mark and Adena begin to tackle a topic that is a dark cloud over many people's lives. Pornography is one of the primary ways that people are being distracted from the life they were meant to live.

People were made to live with their heart being free and unashamed, but it's hard to find that freedom.

Instinctually we free the damaging impact of pornography, but the greater fear is that we will not become the people we were made to be.

For more info go on The Purpose Mastermind, go to https://markdelaney.com/

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In this episode Mark and Adena examine what life could have been like if they had made a different decision when they were engaged.

Email Mark: mark@markdelaney.me
Email Adena: Adena@markdelaney.me
https://markdelaney.com/

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Dave Ebert is the founder of "Well Versed Academy." Well Versed is a troupe of folks that believe in the joy, healing power, and community building power of laughter.

In this episode Dave tells the story of how he wore the facade of humor to cover up the struggle with depression.

"When a man can't use his gift, or he struggles to be effective with it, he can lose site of who he is."

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Let's face it. Being vulnerable with anyone is hard. We can live our whole life without being vulnerable. The longer we go without being vulnerable, the harder it becomes.

Living without vulnerability will undermine the life we really want to live. It will will force us to compensate and hide the weakness instead of facing it and living the life we were made for.

In this episode, Mark and Adena explain how to specifically be vulnerable. And it becomes powerful!

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In this episode Mark interviews Sarah Siegand. Sarah and her husband Jesse began an organization called "Parents Who Fight." They help equip parents to be prepared for how to lead their kids with technology.

The Siegand's have two teenage sons and they have navigated this journey with their own life so they have a gift to help others do the same.

Check them out here: https://www.parentswhofight.com/

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On this episode Mark asks Adena a question concerning a common tension that men share with Mark. Husbands often tell Mark that "My wife is trying to live a buttoned up life."

In this episode Mark and Adena discuss how the adventure spirit in a man and the desire for security in a woman can create a tension.

In the middle of adventure and security is the place where both people can live their best bold life.

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Mark and Adena share stories from their journey over the last several years.

The key thought from this episode:

Purpose is the treasure map that we hold for our journey. Gratitude is the bottle of water that we hold that refreshes us for the journey.

Listen to hear a special recording that Mark made while visiting with his mom and dad.

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The answer to this question is critical. If someone wants to pursue God with their life, they need to have a perspective on what it looks like. Life is similar to a big puzzle. The key to putting the puzzle together is the picture on the front of the box. Without that picture, what chance does someone have to put together the puzzle of their life?

In short, walking with God does not look like behavior and disciplines. It looks like purpose, freedom, and love.

https://markdelaney.com/

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Mark and his son, Matthew, begin an important conversation in this episode. What does it look like to walk with God? Anyone that wants to live on purpose will have to answer this question at some point.

But, if someone does want to walk with God, what does that look like? The answer to this question will determine the target that we aim for.

Mark explains how he used to view walking with God.
1. Church attendance was the measure of his walk with God.
2. Spiritual disciplines was the measure of his walk with God.
3. Behavior was the measure of his walk with God.

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What do you do when your kid wants a cell phone. Having a cell phone in their hand can seem as dangerous as having a car to drive. What does a parent do with this decision?

This decision can be leveraged for many good things.
1. Ask them questions that cause them to think. Kids like to act like dogs. "What do I want?" We need to guide them to think "What should I want?" Ask them if they think they can handle the responsibility.

Leverage this decision to have a broader discussion about life. There are many good things in life that also offer pitfalls. What do you do when good things present dangerous elements?
Leverage this decision by putting the weight of responsibility on their shoulders. As they take ownership it enables them to grow in vision for their life. Ultimately, as parents we cannot protect them from everything. But we can prepare them to be able to have wisdom to make decisions for themselves.

If you would like other resources, we have a couple of video courses I think you would find helpful.

Video courses:
https://courses.markdelaney.com/disciplining-your-children-with-confidence

https://courses.markdelaney.com/the-confident-father

If you would like to speak with us about our parenting coaching course, Parenting on Purpose, please email us at mark@markdelaney.me

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A developed marriage will develop us for everything that we do.
1. Marriages exposes who we really are. Our weaknesses are exposed.
2. Marriage has the capability to weaken everything that we do, or strengthen everything we do.
3. Marriage teaches us how to communicate.
4. Marriage sets us up for long term leadership.
5. Marriage is the parenting machine. Leading our kids teaches us how to lead others.

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In this episode Adena interviews Mark about his mantra.
Over the last season of his life Mark developed this simple mantra that helps him keep living life intentionally.

"Only be strong and courageous"
1. Trust the people under my nose.
2. Take the next step

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In the episode Mark's son, Matthew, joins for a discussion about what happens when a man is disconnected. Here are some excerpts:

90% of life is simply taking the next step. Whether or not we take that next step is largely dependent upon whether or not we have people in our life that compel us to take that next step.
For a man to become strong, he must show up consistently around strong men.

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Chad Bird is an author, speaker, and thought leader. Although he would say he is just a Texan. You will love hearing his perspectives. His journey is from calling to failure and back to a life full of purpose.

When a man feels like he is stuck in life, there are two things that are happening behind the scenes:
1. God is helping us to know ourselves in a real way.
2. God is helping us to know Him in a real way.

He also shares about his recent book, entitled, "Limping with God."

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In this episode Mark's oldest son, Matthew, joins to tell a story about a king that was threatened by his pride.

Humility is the power to overcome one's pride. But humility can only be experienced as we take humble steps.

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Brian Treat was a guest on this podcast. Brian and his wife Jane are the owners of the Chic Fil A in Claremore, OK. In this episode he shares his approach to building his team.

The key concept that he shared is about the bedrock of humility.
Humility is the pathway to learning.
Humility is the foundation of their culture.
Brian also talked about the importance of being excellent in the "first mile" in order to do the "second mile" of influence with people.
The "WHO" model helps them see where they are not setting up people to succeed.
W-whose job is it?
H-how do they know it is their job?
O-Oversight and accountability.

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In this episode, Mark and Adena reminisce about their early years of marriage and starting a family.

We didn't know what we were doing. And that was an advantage.
Life is not about knowing what you are doing. It's about knowing why you do what you do, and it's about who you do life with.
You cannot live your life if you are trying to keep up with everyone else.

For more information on what we do, visit us at https://markdelaney.com/

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Anyone who is contemplating divorce is in very tough situation. This person might feel guilty, but, mostly they feel trapped.

In this episode Mark and Adena help people that are contemplating divorce. Here are some thoughts from the episode:

People often wonder why people get divorced after 15 years. Did something suddenly go wrong? Actually, in most cases things were bad from the very start.
When we get married we do not know how to be married in a powerful way.
When we get married we don't really know who we are. And we don't really know who our spouse is. Each person carries personal issues into the relationship.

There is hope for the troubled marriage. You don't have to feel it, or understand it. But there is a pathway to a different reality. Reach out to us via email: adena@markdelaney.me or mark@markdelaney.me.

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Jamie Gilbert is a soccer coach in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. In this episode Mark asks Jamie about his leadership perspective. Mark heard about Jamie and his unique coaching philosophies from one of his players.

The conversation has an interesting twist at the beginning as Jamie and Mark jump right into the conversation without having ever spoken to each other. Two things will stand out in this episode.

Jamie faced a potential crisis of identity when he was playing college soccer.
You will be surprised to hear Jamie share a cornerstone principle behind his coaching.

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Marriage is a big step. But what do you need to know about marriage before getting into it?
In this episode Mark and Adena discuss a couple of big principles that help couples have a perspective on marriage that enables them to venture into it with clarity and boldness.

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Freedom is one of the greatest desires in the human heart, but it sure seems to be elusive.

How we think about freedom makes it hard to walk in. We often see freedom as just 2 parts.
1. I have a problem.
2. I am free when the problem is gone.

Here is what the process actually looks like:
1. Famine leads people into addictions and problems
2. The problem or bondage gets everyone's attention
3. Freedom to pursue our purpose
4. Training Camp helps us overcome the wrong thinking
5. Life Change

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Dave Wadsworth wrote a book called "Finishing on Fire: Live your legacy of purpose, passion and prosperity."

Dave is a man on a mission. You will enjoy as he talks about decisions he made that enable him to stay on mission.

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In this episode Mark interviews a young man that had the perfect job, yet chose to leave it. His story resonates with anyone that wants to find meaning in their work.

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How can a man live his best bold life.
This is part 2 of this recording with Riley Young.

1. Have something worth fighting for.
2. Have a God-sized dream.
3. Go with others.
Powerful accountability is when people point you toward your purpose, not your problem.
4. Know your purpose.
Without knowing our purpose, we end up drifting. Knowing our purpose gives a man the sense that he is living with a sword in his hand.

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This episode is rated RI...for risky and intense.
How does a man live his best bold life?

Have something worth fighting for.
Behaving is not a fight worth fighting for.
Have a God-sized dream.
A large retirement account is not a dream.

Part 2 of this recording will come out in our next episode.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

In this episode Mark has a conversation with a Rocky Lalvani. Rocky and his wife have raised two kids that are thriving. He shares insights into how he thought about money and education.

Early on, Rocky was concerned because he saw kids that were raised in a wealthy family, but they ended up becoming very entitled adults. These kids grew up and had no initiative of their own. Rocky's wisdom is practical but deep.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

On this episode, Mark interviews Joshua Norman. Joshua was part of a national championship at the University of Oklahoma, and went on to play in the NFL.

Today, he is no longer living out those dreams. Instead he is living out bigger dreams. He shares about how he found real identity and powerful purpose. Clearly, his best days are not behind him. His story will inspire you to live out your story.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

A marriage can feel completely dead. There can seem to be nothing that has enough power to overcome the things that have stolen the life out of it.

Feels like you are trapped. It feels like it is going to hurt the rest of your life. You wonder how it will impact the kids. Do I just have to live like a zombie in this for the rest of my life? What do I do with this part of me that wants to experience great love? Do I just live with frustration and emptiness with this part of my heart?

Wrong solution
1. Focusing on the marriage problems. (money, sex, the past, infedelity, lust, pornography)

Focusing on the past. We think that if we unravel the past, our marriage will change. Seems right. But how far do you need to unravel? What things need to be unraveled? When will we ever have proof that the past is unraveled? It’s an invisible force.

Trying to change a marriage problem by focusing on it is like fighting over the casket you lay in.

Many people try to get their marriage fixed by arguing about their grave clothes.

Solution

Marriages don’t change. People change. And when people change, the marriage changes.

Who needs to change? Me!

My behavior is not what needs to change. My spouses behavior is not what needs to change. How I think is what needs to change. This causes change in behavior.
Before a resurrection there needs to be a death. Death of selfishness, pride, our instinct to protect ourself. Our pride causes us to see the problem in other people but not see how we are helping to cause it. Our selfishness causes us to want what we want but not give to someone else what they need.

The purpose mastermind guides people through 8 simple, fun conversations…simple actions steps….to bring powerful change.

The result

You can stop being afraid of the past. Stop fearing that it is going to jump out from under the bed and get you.

You realize that the problem that was showing up in your marriage was showing up in other areas of your life and holding you back. (kids, occupation) So, you get life change in several areas.

You can start living the life you were made for!

Markdelaney.com

918-401-9608

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There are a couple of hurdles for every man to overcome.
1. Can he be open with people?

Can he be the kind of man that other men can be open with?

A man can live his entire life and not be open to share his thoughts and struggles with others.
In this episode Mark sits down with Stephen Gunn and they tell a story about a conversation they had at the gym.

From their story, there are insights into how a man can connect with other people.

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In this episode Mark sits down with his youngest son, Andrew, and they discuss how one conversation changed a young man. Important conversation often feel awkward before they happen, but as soon as they start they feel much more normal.

The ability to start an awkward conversation is probable a superpower. Notice, the ability to "start" an awkward conversation is a superpower. Conversations often lose the awkwardness once we start them.

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It is very frustrating to have a problem and not know how to fix it. It is especially hard when we think we know the right way, and we try with all our heart, but it doesn't change.

When it comes to marriage, this can happen so much.
Consider this:

Instinct says, "Something is wrong with my marriage and it is threatening me."

But what if the following is actually the truth?

"There is something wrong with me and it is threatening my marriage."

In this episode, Mark tells the story of a couple that was in a bad spot. Their struggle is common, but so is their transformation.

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Mark and Adena sit down for a conversation for people that are facing a time of crisis in their life. Adena draws on her experience of helping young people through the crisis of middle school math class.

Many junior high students felt the common feeling of hating math and feeling like a loser. The response they had was similar to the response that all of us have toward struggle. What if the only change needed was a change in perspective? What if, instead of the problem changing, we change. And when we change...we change the problem?

It can feel like our life is held hostage until the problem changes. But it won't. But when we change...we cause the problem to change. Adena had a simple process for helping students in crisis.
1. She helped people understand where they are. More importantly, she helped them understand that it's ok. Where you are is ok!
2. She helped them take a step in the right direction. The change in mindset caused by the first step enabled the person to begin to take simple steps. Simple steps lead to change.

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In this episode Mark interviews a young man about the movie "Braveheart." Can a man live "in the fight?"

Similar to the great speech about "The Man in the Arena," the movie Braveheart speaks to a man that wants to live for something bigger than himself. Is it possible in this modern world? If so, how can a man do it?

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Where do you feel like you are living your life?

Some people live in the stands. Life feels like we are just spectators of the life that others are living.
Some people live on the sidelines. Life feels like I am always a step away from where I want to be.
Some people live on the field of play. They are in the game. They will win and they will lose, but they are in the game.

This episode is about how to get back into the game.

Have teammates
Play injured
Understand how impact is made
Clarify your purpose

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Leaders can feel the pressure of keeping up with all of the newest resources for leadership development. A constant flood of resources and books are being produced. Most of them are good. But how much study can the human do? At one point do we stop preparing for leadership, and instead, have the boldness to lead.

In this episode Mark talks about three simple shortcuts to growing as a person.
1. Have conversations with key people in your life.
2. Work on your marriage.
3. Face your weakness.

To contact Mark email here: mark@markdelaney.me
You can check out the website here: https://markdelaney.com/

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

People are one conversation away from a dramatically changed life. That is why we love producing content that is simply a conversation. The most challenging of topics can produce the greatest of life change if we are able to navigate talking about it.

In this episode Mark and Adena guide listeners through thinking differently about challenges in sex life. Here are a couple of principles that are discussed:
1. Be honest about unreasonable or unhealthy things that you want.
2. Be honest about insecurities that you have that hold you back.

If you would like to have a discussion with Adena, reach out to her at adena@markdelaney.me
If you would like to have a discussion with Mark, reach out to him at mark@markdelaney.me

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

Struggles in the area of sexuality are intense. Sexuality takes us to our deepest area of pain, but it also connects to our greatest desires.

In this episode, Mark and Adena talk about the redemption that is available to a couple that faces a struggle in this area of life. It can feel so hopeless. But there is a pathway to take people from unbearable pain to unbelievable redemption.

You can email Mark here: mark@markdelaney.me
You can email Adena here: adena@markdelaney.me

Here is the link to The Purpose Mastermind
https://markdelaney.com/purpose-mastermind/

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Marriage can absolutely be fun, and fruitful, and powerful. Faithfulness is important, but that is not the only goal in the relationship. The goal is that a faithful marriage produces a level of awesome!

In this episode, Mark and Adena take you behind the scenes of their relationship into a conversation they recently had. Adena recently said, "Thank you for giving me all of you." Listen as you hear what she meant when she said that.

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When a man lacks confidence he feels like he is walking on a tightrope. When that happens he becomes unsure of himself in all that he does. He feels unstable, and that causes him to act unstable.

In this episode Mark and his son, Matthew, tell stories about umpiring baseball and the lessons that they learned about life.

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A man can feel like the goal of his life is to behave. He can be trapped in a life where he feels like he is being measured by how he conducts himself. A man can judge himself, and feel like everyone else is judging him, by how he is behaving.

But we fail to see how a man is being depleted. And when a man is depleted...he misbehaves. This episode discusses what causes a man to be depleted, and what a man can do to keep the adventure alive.

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Mark and his son Matthew sit down for a conversation about relationships. The enjoyment of someone's life hinges greatly on the quality of our relationships. But they are not easy, and when they go bad, they can get really frustrating.

Here are some quotes from the episode:
1. In a marriage, the wrong things about you trigger the broken things in me.
2. Well-meaning people might say the same things that hurtful people say, but the motive is very different.

In this episode you will hear a perspective that provides encouragement for how to think about relationship struggles.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

In this episode Mark has a conversation with a man that is proclaiming a message of freedom with the world. His public message of freedom had to first happen in him personally.

His story centers on a loss of identity that occurred when his baseball career came to an end. His journey relates to us all and his message is one for all to hear.

Jeremy Slayden's website:
https://jslayusa.com/

For more information on The Purpose Mastermind go here:
https://purposemastermind.com/

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

When marriage problems arise emotions are high and instinct can take over, but our instincts do not necessarily give us a good picture of what is really going on.

Marriage problems are usually personal problems that get exposed by marriage.
We know how much our spouse has hurt us, but we tend to not see how much we have hurt them.
Our marriage problems are not isolated within the walls of our house. Those personal problems that we have are hurting us in several areas of our life.
It feels like marriage problems are the ultimate life failure. Actually it is ok to have a problem in marriage. It's normal.
Honestly facing a struggle in marriage opens up great opportunity.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

Why is it hard for a man to be vulnerable?

If a man thinks that he will never be the "real deal" he will have no choice but to pretend to be the "real deal."
When a man feels that his weakness will disqualify him, he has no choice but to hide that weakness.
When a man fears that other people will disqualify him because of weakness, he has no choice than to hide the weakness.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

Many people are more afraid of what can go wrong sexually, than they are excited about experiencing great intimacy with their spouse.

In this episode Mark discusses if sex has a purpose.
1. Is it just a physical activity?
2. Is it just a fleshly desire?
3. Is it just for making babies?

Sex has great purpose:

It exposes our insecurities. Theses insecurities are holding us back in many areas of our life.
It exposes us to the opportunity to give an receive great love.
Whatever prevents us from having great intimacy with our spouse is also holding us back from fully giving our best self to the world.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

Purpose and freedom belong in the same conversation. We all want purpose and freedom, but the way we look at these two things can prevent us from having them.

The secret ingredient of The Purpose Mastermind is freedom. Without freedom we have a hard time believing that purpose is possible.

Freedom changes how we look at ourself.
Freedom changes how we look at purpose.
Freedom changes how we look at others.

The folks at My Pillow are sponsors for our podcast. You can support us by using the following coupon code when you purchase from them. Coupon code: purpose
Here is the link to their products: https://www.mypillow.com/

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In this episode, Mark has a conversation with Alan Thomas. This is the man that Mark reached out to in April of 2019. Their lives intersected and they have never been the same.

Alan's story and Mark's story are a lot like yours. We hope this conversation brings your encouragement and perspective for your journey.

If you want to know more about how Alan helps people find freedom from weight loss here is the link: https://transformmyfuture.com/

To learn more about Mark and The Purpose Mastermind here is the website:
https://purposemastermind.com/

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

We all want to be successful. But what is success? Sometimes the success we want leads to a destination that we actually do not want. Marriage is about far greater things than success.

Marriage is about purpose. It is a life builder. It makes us better for everything else in life. It teaches us how to love. It compels us to change. It pushes us to necessary growth.
Marriage is about freedom. It reveals hurt from our past so that we can be set free and be healed.
Marriage is about love. We learn how to be a conduit of great love. We learn to become the person that is great at giving love and receiving love.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/mark-delaney-donation)

Human superpowers are all simple. Life is not about talent it's about doing simple things faithfully. In this episode I talk about how to become the person that asks for help.

Show notes:

I used to be a man that had something to prove. I look back and realize I had nothing to give. When I stopped trying to prove myself to people, I had so much more to give.
It is difficult to know where to get help. It is critical that we go to a good resource for help. I learned this: I only go to people that are living the life that represents the life that you want to live.
Asking for help will always feel awkward until we overcome our pride.

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A wife has incredible power. The question becomes this, is her power "over" her husband or "under" her husband?" The answer is that her power is "for" her husband.

A wife has the power to dramatically impact the way her husband lives his life.

Support the show (https://donorbox.org/family-paradigms-donations)

In this episode, Mark and Adena talk about how parenting can be simple and powerful. When parenting is complex it feels impossible. Here are some of the thoughts covered:

Parents do not control the results. Our role is critical, but controlling the results is not part of it. It seems better to think we can control the outcome, but it will fall apart at some point.
Parenting is about effectiveness, not perfection.
The shortcut to effective parenting is honestly facing our own weakness.

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Conflict. Do you fear it or utilize it?

The average person is afraid of conflict. Learning how to walk through conflict gives us a super power.

The normal cycle of conflict is this:
1. This is wrong!
2. I have messed up, or you have messed up!
3. This will be fatal!

But what if we saw conflict this way instead:
1. This is normal.
2. I can help.
3. This will make us better.

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On this episode, Mark interviews David and Stacy Whited. They are on a mission to stir people to "wake up, speak up, and show up!" In this episode, they share a principle about how to do your part in this confusing world.

We highly recommend them as a resource. They help people understand how to understand political and cultural pressures so that you know how to respond. They are not just wise, but they are people that can be trusted.

Find them here:
https://flyoverconservatives.com/
https://rumble.com/FlyoverConservatives

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Possibly, the greatest silent pain is when we feel like our life will never be what it was supposed to be.

In this episode, Mark talks about 3 things that hold people back from living out their life of purpose.

Trying to perfect out life causes us to try to control things that we cannot control. Control sounds like the answer to our ultimate success, but does it work?
Trying to fix our past. There are two ditches that we fall into. One ditch is when we hide our past. This feels like a protection, but it is a trap, because we have to keep hiding. It's exhausting. The other ditch is when we become a student of our past. We lose sight of our purpose and future as we focus on our past.
Trying to fix our problem. It's common to think, "I have to fix my problem before I can live my best, bold life. " This thought seems right, but it traps us in a prison. The truth is, we can live our best bold life as we boldly face our problem.

Here is a link to the course mentioned in the episode:
https://courses.markdelaney.me/how-to-change

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It is pretty scary to be married to someone when you see them developing a habit that you think could threaten everything. Drinking, overeating, gaming, etc.

What does a wife do? This is challenging for sure. The good news is that as a wife you have great power to be of influence. But the power you have may work differently than you think.

Instinct says, "I'll control him and that will change him." But that does not and will not work.
A wife can empower her husband through giving him honor and respect. The empowered man has a strength to face weakness.

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In this episode Mark interviews a former professional athlete. Corey Hilliard. Played eight years in the NFL. Corey talks about his simple childhood, his struggles in college and the dark time he went through after his career ended.

If you are raising a child that is passionate about sports, this episode will help to bring some perspective.

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Every man wants to live the fearless life. Living in the adventure. But, life has a way of leaving a man frustrated and fruitless.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Michael Replogle. Michael is a great family man, but that was not always the case. He talks about overcoming the man he used to be in order to become the man he was made to be.

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Some pain makes sense. It's easy to put your finger on. Easy to explain. The pain of unfulfilled potential can bring people to great despair. In this episode, Mark tells part of his own story, and the stories of others.

There is a very empty pain that people feel when they feel like they have blown the opportunity of their life to make a difference with others.
The people that struggle the most with addiction are sometimes the people that had the biggest heart to help people.

Here is the link to the video course called, "How to Change." https://courses.markdelaney.me/how-to-change

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In this episode, Adena Delaney shares her heart for women who are struggling to have intimacy with their husband because the past keeps bombarding them. Below are some quotes from Adena:

"What happened to you doesn't get to define you."
"If you see your problem differently, you can live your life differently."
"Don't park on the problem of your past. Visit for the purpose of honesty, but don't park on that conversation."
"Take one step toward health. Focus on the love that you have for your husband."

Visit purposemastermind.com to set up a free discovery call to see how we can help you know your purpose and be set free to live it out boldly.

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Mark's son Matthew joins for this episode. They talk about the difference between having landmarks for your journey versus having a north star.

A landmark might be great, but it may not be on the path to where you are actually going.
Comparing our life to a journey, landmarks are nice, but most of the time we are traveling to a destination.
A north star keeps us on track all the time.
If we don't have the north star of purpose, it is very hard to be confident as we travel hundreds of miles down the road to somewhere!

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Vulnerability is a superpower!

Vulnerability is the ability to live our best bold life.
With vulnerability, the only option is to try to avoid mistakes.
Vulnerability turns our problems into our greatest opportunities.

For vulnerability to be powerful, it must be practiced. Nobody outgrows the need for vulnerability.

Visit us at https://purposemastermind.com/

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Crossroads represent opportunity and threat!
Crossroads in a relationship can feel very dangerous. But in these moments there is great opportunity underneath all of the fear.

Here are some excerpts:

Relationships expose our fears and insecurities. That feels like a bad thing, but it is actually an awesome thing.
Close relationships become a mirror that reveal things in us that need to be revealed.
Relationships expose how we need to change. Not just for the good of that relationship, but for the good of everything in our life!

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This conversation today is about how to change.
Maybe there is a goal that you want to achieve, or a habit you want to break.

Human instinct says, "I need to do this!" That sounds right, but the better thought is, "How do I be the person that will do this?"
The information is available to everyone on what they need to "do." But, the secret sauce is in how be "be" the person that is capable of doing what we want to do.
When we "be", the "do" will come as a natural byproduct.

How do you position yourself to change the core of who you are?

Put yourself around vulnerable people.
Put yourself around people who have "been there and done that." Many people would like to help you with something. But someone who has personally found a gold mine, will have a gift to help you "be" the person that can find a gold mine of change.
The secret sauce of change is "becoming" the person that will "do" the steps that transform.

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Our favorite movies are stories of redemption. Because, we all need it at some point in our life. The good news is that redemption is not just for the movies! It's for me and you today.

Drug addiction is rampant. It is worse than we think. It's more harmful than we think. It's a nightmare to people. It destroys families while it destroys the addict.

But there is hope! In this episode Mark discusses the heart behind drug use.

The human that feels useless will do useless things.
When a person has nothing real inside of them that moves them, they will find something artificial outside of them that moves them.

There is hope! A person can find freedom and purpose. When a person discovers purpose they find power. Power to change. Power to pursue their life. When a person has a purpose, they have a reason to not do drugs.

Text Mark at 918-401-9608 if you need help finding freedom or purpose.

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How do you step into your future? How do you get ready for your next step?

Some people look at life with this mentality, "Get ready, get set, and go."
Other people look at life with this mentality, "Go, ready, set."

Most people will never feel ready for their next step. We become ready after we take it. For example, if we wait to have the courage to take a next step, we will probably not step. We get the courage as we are stepping.

Here are three principles from this episode:

You can't see step two until you take step one.
The next step usually feels awkward. It's not impossible, just awkward.
When we take steps, we change. And so does the scenery of our life.

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In this episode, Mark talks about why The Purpose Mastermind is a great investment for couples.

It teaches you how to look at problems differently. Problems are either a huge threat to our ideal future, or they are great opportunities. When a couple stops fearing problems in marriage, they have gained a superpower.
The mastermind is great investment into the future. It is not endless conversations about the past mistakes.
The Purpose Mastermind benefits the entire life. Growth in marriage produces greater fruitfulness in every area of our life.

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A client once told me, "I feel like there is an invisible force trapped inside of me."

In this episode I will tell about a time in my life when I felt like I was an eagle trapped inside of a cage. Below are some key takeaways.

It is normal to hit a season of life where you wonder if you are hitting the target or not. Courageous people simply face those seasons. It is critical to allow other people to support you in that season. Find a mentor type of person to tell them what you are thinking through.
It is instinctual to blame our spouse or our job for a lack of fulfillment. This can be far from the truth. It may cause us to move on from something good in our life in the search for fulfillment.
Often, we need a simple shift in our thinking in order for us to regain a sense of adventure.

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Marriage counseling is not a bad thing. But, it is very difficult to use effectively. There are many great marriage counselors that are doing great work, but there are also many other practices that only know how to talk about marriage problems, not help you overcome them.

Probably the biggest problem with marriage counseling is that it is asking the wrong question from the beginning. Here is the main point that I make in this episode:

Personal problems get revealed in marriage. We can hide and pretend with other people, but in our marriage the junk comes out eventually.
But, here is where the mistake comes into play. We then think that our marriage is the source of our problem. Actually, our problem was just exposed in our marriage. Thus, asking someone to "Fix my marriage" is probably the wrong place to focus.

There is so much good news:

It is a good think that marriage is exposing problems. Chances are, your whole life is being held back by personal problems. If you face the actual problems, your whole life can be improved dramatically.
You don't need months or years of counseling. Start with one conversation.

If you have nobody to talk to, reach out to mark.
Email: mark@markdelaney.me
Phone: 918-401-9608

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The topic of sexuality for parents is a difficult one for sure.

Some parents feel helpless and powerless. We might even just give up on trying, but that doesn't work.
Other parents decide that they will make sure nothing bad happens that takes away from their child's sexual purity. But we simply cannot control everything that could possibly go wrong. Even if we could, how do we control what happens inside of their own imagination?

There is hope for the parent. We can have a powerful impact on our kids in this area of their life. To be the person that impacts our kids in the area of sexuality. We simply must be the people that have honestly faced this area in our own life.

If you are struggling to work through an issue in your marriage, you can know that it is ok that you have a struggle. Realize that inside of that struggle is a great opportunity. If you need help overcoming, that is why we offer The Purpose Mastermind for couples. Go to https://purposemastermind.com/ and set up a call with us.

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Unmet expectations can cause great pain. It's like slowly drinking a poison that erodes away the spirit. We begin a journey thinking, "This will be great!" But it then becomes, "This doesn't feel so great, and when does the great part start?" After a year or two, the thought becomes, "I'm not sure the great part is going to come for me." Finally, at some point we can resort to the empty thought that says, "This is never going to be any better than it is. I not sure where I missed the great part, but it's not going to come my way."

Here are some other thoughts from this episode:

Unmet expectations come from unrealistic expectations.
With a change in thinking, we can stop being disappointed about our life.
Problems do not get to decide our life.

If you would like to have a conversation with Mark about a struggle in your journey, here is the link to his calendly: https://calendly.com/mark_delaney/15min

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Struggles in private areas of our life can be very scary. It's easy to feel helpless. Silently, we can believe that nothing can get better. We are stuck with what we have and the only option is to just deal with it.

This episode will give hope to people that feel like intimacy with their spouse is a problem instead of a source of life. Sex has a purpose in our relationship, and we can experience dynamic sex with our spouse. (Even if we have struggles to work through.)

Sexual struggles in marriage are normal. You are not failing because of the struggle.
Sex exposes us. We must expose ourself in order to engage in sex. We expose our entire being.
our insecurities also get exposed
our past pain gets exposed
our weakness gets exposed

These things that are exposed, are being exposed for our healing.

The thing that prevents us from being a great lover will also prevent us from being the person we were designed to be.

Painful sexual experiences before marriage does not mean we cannot experience dynamic sex during marriage.

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One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was this: "If you ever feel like your whole life is a mess, and you don't know where to start, start with the natural. Go to the gym and workout. Or go for a run." I found that doing something in the natural helped my mind and my spirit as well.

In this episode I talked about 3 differences between people that are stuck and people that are strong. Stuck people are isolated, while strong people have the accountability of community.

Stuck people are isolated, while strong people have the accountability of community.
Stuck people must know the results of their actions before taking action. Strong people understand that they can't know the end result, but they can boldly do their part.
Stuck people are not moving. Strong people simply keep taking their next step.

If you are in need of community, I want you to know about our community option. I'll place the link below, but with this community you have access to all of our video courses as well as a monthly live call on zoom for Q/A with me and other members of the community. https://www.mylifeplatform.com/memberships

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Your child is 16 years old and life has been pretty great. You sleep well. You are excited about who your child is and you dream about who they are becoming. Then you get a phone call that changes everything.

In this episode, I will share some principles to give some perspective and encouragement.

Parenting is not about raising perfect kids. It's about teaching your child how to navigate through human weakness.
Parenting is not about controlling kids. It's about empowering them.
Parenting will bring us face to face with our greatest fears. And that is a good thing!

If you would like to take steps in gaining confidence as a parent, here is a course that we produced: https://www.mylifeplatform.com/disciplining-your-children-with-confidence

If you are interested in our coaching course on Parenting with Purpose, send an email to mark@markdelaney.me

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The feeling of being stuck is frustrating. The longer you feel stuck the frustration only gets worse. In this episode, Mark talks about how we got stuck to begin with and how to get unstuck with just one step.

Here are some thoughts from the episode:

Knowing why we got stuck can help us to realize how quickly we can get unstuck.
Imagine living in a traffic circle. There are four possible turns that can be made. If we don't make a decision we can end up causing a traffic jam in our life.
A good question to ask ourself is this: "What causes me to not be able to make a decision?"
A traffic jam causes problems. The tendency is then to focus on the problems caused by the traffic jam instead of focusing on what caused the traffic jam to begin with.
One step can enable you to leave the traffic jam.
The next step is the most important one. It's not complicated.

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This episode! What do I say about this? If you are married, just listen to this.

The sex life between an husband and wife can be the darkest place of despair or it can be life giving. Here are some show notes:

If a couple can communicate about their sex life, they can do just about anything together.
Anything that threatens our ability to give ourself to our spouse sexually, is also threatening our ability to thrive in other areas of our life.
Sexual intimacy seems like an extra-curricular activity. Take it or leave it. Actually, it is a crucible that exposes us. It reveals things in us that need to be exposed.

Here is a link to the course mentioned in the episode about restoring intimacy in your marriage: https://www.mylifeplatform.com/restoring-intimacy

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The question of purpose will follow us throughout our life. It is relentless. We all want to live with purpose, but it can seem elusive.

Does the question of purpose haunt you? Or is it a whisper that compels you that you can live a purposeful life?

The question of purpose can haunt us for sure!

I have messed up my life! I can't have purpose.
I can't know my purpose. It's impossible to know.
I can't talk about it! I have too much regret.

What if the question of purpose was a wonderful whisper?

You have a purpose! You can know it.
Of course you have failure in your life! The failures can become fuel for your purpose.
If you take the time to clarify your purpose it will bring meaningfulness to everything that you do.

In this episode, Mark will share about how different we can feel when we have answered the question of purpose. We can live authentically, and boldly. We can stop feeling like we are circling a mountain with no chance of reaching the top. We can get rid of the feeling that we are always swinging and missing.

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In this episode, you will hear the story of a young man that finished a successful high school career. After that he spent 5 years stressed, depressed, addicted, and suicidal. Thankfully, we connected through The Purpose Mastermind and his life is very different.

I'll share with you a principle that really helped this young man to stop judging his life. Instead, he started living his life.

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Personal Growth is a great endeavor, but it can cause us to spend our life circling in the information highway. We should be open to personal growth, but nothing replaces taking actual steps in life.

In this episode Mark shares a story from his college days that causes him to live differently today. You will also hear "The Greatest 7 Step Process to Personal Growth Ever!" It's simple, it's not a gimmick and it's true.

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Arrogance has many friends. When a teenager grows in arrogance, it ushers in many frustrations and fears for the parent. In this episode I talk about how a parent can respond to this situation. Here is a summary:

Pride is a natural part of the human condition that we all share in common. Pride always offers us a false answer to our problems. The more arrogant a person is, the more deeply they are hiding their real insecurities.
Sports can cause our kids to grow into a false identity.

Here are three things that you can do:

Let them face adversity. Their arrogance will put them into adversity of their own doing. Let them face it! The impulse will be to swoop in and be their hero. We might think that our relationship will get better if we save them from their trouble. We do want to care, support and guide. But we do certainly do not want to take away a great character builder.
Live your best life! When we focus on the problem that our child has we lose site of our greatest influence that we have. Our greatest impact is in living our best life. They may not want to listen to us very much, but they see, and our life can speak great things to them. The key to living our best life is to face our one junk!
Humility is the best medicine for pride. Humility is not something that you study in order to embrace. Humility comes through experiences. Humility is cultivated by things that we actually see with our eyes and touch with our hands. (Catch the episode to hear what some families have done.)

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Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

In this episode, Mark interviews a young couple about marriage. Devon and Jessi were married at the ages of 20 and 18 respectively. In this conversation they discuss the benefits that they have experienced in marriage. For many young people, marriage seems like a step that will slow them down from effectiveness in life. Here are some principles/quotes from the episode:

“Marriage has moved me 100 steps forward as a man.”
“Marriage has helped me become the person I have always wanted to be, but I struggled to become.”
Marriage forces the yuck in us to be exposed. We can put on a facade for the world, but in our home it is very difficult to hide what we really are.
“Marriage forced me to tell the truth to her. The truth was hard, but it set me free.”
“When he told me the honest truth of what he was struggling with, it was painful, but I also realized that I needed to be honest about who I am.
If a couple is willing to have a difficult conversation that can move to a better place rather quickly. It is far easier to avoid that conversation and pull away from each other.

Here is the resource that we mentioned about restoring intimacy with your spouse. https://www.mylifeplatform.com/restoring-intimacy

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Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

This is part 2 in a short series. Around the Christmas tree this past season, our family discussed the story of Mary and what it is like to be pregnant with a purpose. Here are the last 3 things we discussed:

There is always time between conception and the full revelation. Our life is like that of a farmer. We work the ground, we sow the seed, we water. But, what we do while we wait for the harvest is critical.
Pregnancy is awkward! It's unavoidable. We all want to give birth to something great in life, but our instinct is to avoid anything awkward. There is no pregnancy without the awkward.
Are we willing to live in a stable in order to birth something spectacular? Let's face it, if pregnancy didn't have a time limit, Joseph and Mary may have kept searching until they found the best place to birth the baby. If we aren't careful, we can spend a lifetime looking for the perfect "Inn".

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In this episode Mark and Matthew talk about the conversation that happened around the Christmas Tree this past Christmas. From the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we discussed what it is like to be pregnant with an important purpose.

Lessons on purpose:
1. You don't become pregnant without giving yourself to someone in a vulnerable and surrendered relationship. We experience the amazing with others in this life, but not without experiencing the awkward.

The work of God in us will often happen through the conduit of others. Most people have a desire to help others, but we usually try to perfect ourself in private before we engage with others. We can't perfect ourself for relationships. Relationship with others will work on us.
When someone is pregnant, something awesome is happening within them, but it is very much out of their control.

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Books are great, but real friendships can move our life. In this episode, Mark gives his son advice on the importance of real friendship. As men, we are threatened to be so concerned with our reputation that we fail to develop a vulnerability that opens us up to real connection with others. With these real connections, we can have conversations that move our life forward.

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Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

The passing of our faith to the next generation is of utmost importance to many people. But, we struggle with how to do that. In this episode, Mark and Adena talk about how they raised their kids in the faith. They share simple principles to help guide your parenting journey so that you can have confidence in how you lead your kids spiritually.

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Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

Follow us on Facebook @markdelaney.me

For guided conversations on topics like this, visit www.mylifeplatform.com

Spirituality in marriage can be a divisive topic in marriage. In this episode, Mark and his wife Adena are discussing what spirituality looks like in their marriage. They will share a couple of traps to avoid and then give four simple principles that you can apply to your marriage today.

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When we are confused we make confounding decisions, but when we are confident we make clear decisions. This is why life must be kept simple. Simplicity breeds confidence, while complexity breeds confusion. The area of spirituality is really important to most people, but it is also very complicated for many people. In this episode, we discuss spirituality in practical ways. Spirituality can be simple, and when it is simple it can be a powerful aspect of our lives.

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Knowing God’s will is very important to many people. But how do we know God’s will? Is the will of God specific or general for my life? This podcast challenges us to rethink how we make decisions in our life.

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Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

Follow me on Facebook @markdelaney.me

If you are facing a problem and want to learn a pathway for freedom, check out our 10-day video course called “How to Change.” You can watch the first video for free. https://www.mylifeplatform.com/how-to-change

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More information can be found at https://markdelaney.me/

Can I help people in my family change?

Everyone has problems, but it is really hard to live up close and watch people in your family struggle with a problem. You might know what they need to do to change, but they may not want to listen to what you have to say. Here are a couple of excerpts from the episode:

You cannot change people. The desire to change someone usually causes us to do something that produces the opposite result.
When people feel like we are trying to change them, the relationship begins to break down.
Our relationship with people produces opportunity to impact.
The best way to help others change is to honestly face the change that needs to happen in our own life.

In the episode, I spoke about the video course called, “How to Change.” You can access it here: https://www.mylifeplatform.com/how-to-change

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Follow Mark Delaney on Facebook @markdelaney.me

Learn More at www.MarkDelaney.me
The Purpose Mastermind at www.MarkDelaney.me/thepurposemastermind
More from Matthew Delaney @HebrewBibleInsights
Supported by www.DarienGibsonCreative.com

"The greatest human experience is the giving and receiving of great love."

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Follow Mark Delaney on Facebook @markdelaney.me

Learn More at www.MarkDelaney.me
The Purpose Mastermind at www.MarkDelaney.me/thepurposemastermind
More from Matthew Delaney @HebrewBibleInsights
Supported by www.DarienGibsonCreative.com

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Follow Mark Delaney on Facebook @markdelaney.me

Learn More at www.MarkDelaney.me
The Purpose Mastermind at www.MarkDelaney.me/thepurposemastermind
More from Matthew Delaney @HebrewBibleInsights
Supported by www.DarienGibsonCreative.com

When considering a big decision in life, here are three concepts to consider that act as a litmus test. A litmus test is a way of measuring or proving something. When making big decisions it is important to know the questions to ask.

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Visit www.markdelaney.me for more powerful, purposeful content!

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This episode is all about the slow, silent poison of unmet expectations. They destroy our relationships, but they also cause us to become disappointed in ourselves. Unmet expectations, over the course of time, cause us to give up on our dream or give up on our life. This is a deflating feeling. But, there is a perspective that changes all of that! Listen in to find out how to alleviate the pain of unmet expectations.

Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

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As a parent, we can feel overwhelmed at the thought of how to help our kids develop. We feel like there are many things that they need to learn and many things that they need to change. The encouragement for parents is simply this: If you train your child in character development they will become trained in all things. Humility may be the most powerful mindset for a human being to develop in order to really thrive in life.

Learn more at www.markdelaney.me

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Mark interviews Chad Jeffers - famous for being the guitarist for Carrie Underwood. He shares about his upbringing and the role that his parents filled in preparing him along the journey. In Chad’s story, we find that his parents fostered a learning attitude and a work ethic. These things became the foundation that propelled his talents.

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We are all broken people loving broken people. Life is not “good guys and bad guys” In this episode Mark and Adena each share a personal experience of when they were faced with people treating them outside of proper boundaries. The content here will take the emotion out of difficult situations and give clarity on how it is ok to set boundaries with people.

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Understanding the seasons of our life help us to navigate through seasons that seem very unproductive. Every season is not about success. In those seasons, it is critical that we stay encouraged so that we do not undermine the success that is just around the corner.

THE PURPOSE MASTERMIND
Discover your life's purpose at www.MarkDelaney.Me/thepurposemastermind

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What if my purpose can be clearly known? Our purpose does not need to be complicated in order to be powerful. When our purpose is identified it becomes like a foundation upon which a powerful life can be built. A foundation is simply concrete. It’s not fancy, but it’s powerful. In this episode, Mark and Matthew talk about how to simply see our purpose so that we can boldly approach our life.

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The entrepreneur is praised in our current American culture. The thought of “doing our own thing” seems like the great goal that we should all chase after. Some would even say that working for someone else will hold us back from our greatest potential. In this episode, Mark shares perspectives on work that enable us to find fulfillment at work while building a legacy.

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Instead of fighting over technology with your child, set up a conversation that allows for the real problems to be addressed.

In this episode, Mark shares the story of a mother that is battling with her son about the amount of time he spends playing games on the Xbox. This mom made a decision that allowed her to have a conversation with her son that will never be forgotten.

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It is very common that people marry someone that is their opposite in terms of habits and strengths. The different giftings that we have can become a point of contention if we are not careful. The truth is that the blending of our giftings helps us to reach our highest potential.

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Struggle is something that we all face in life, family, and business. In some areas of our life, we might feel comfortable with it while in other areas the struggle is crippling. We end up avoiding struggle whenever possible and hiding it when we can’t because it is a threat...or is it? In this episode, Mark shares a powerful and simple paradigm shift that will transform your perspective on struggle. He talks about how struggle is actually an opportunity for a better life, family, and business and shows us how that can be true in our lives.

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Life is hard, but it’s simpler than we think. We all go through challenges in life, family, business, and everything else. Often, it seems like an insurmountable mountain to climb that will take years of research, loads of luck, and something else that we might never find. On this podcast, Mark talks about a powerful truth that almost seems too hard to believe: we are just one conversation away from a dramatically changed life. Mark shares multiple stories of people who have been transformed by one great conversation and wisdom for how we can do the same.

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