Extraordinary Joes: Recent Episodes
Bryan Hendley
A podcast for the Ordinary Joe. Podcasts with celebrities, princes, models, and the greatest minds of our time are great. But sometimes, maybe you'd like to hear from someone that you can actually relate to. The Extraordinary Joes podcast will sit down with ordinary folks: small business owners, yoga instructors, coffee shop managers, cancer survivors, life coaches, ultra marathoners, comedians, authors, and more. These are the types of people that might be your neighbor, friend, or someone you might admire in your community. Hopefully, you'll learn that extraordinary isn't too far out of reach, after hearing from ordinary folks, just like you and me.
Sometimes it's worth a pause to ask ourselves, "What's this going to cost, and am I willing to pay it?"
If not, no sweat, move on with the understanding that you recognized what it was going to take, and weren't willing to pay the cost for it right now.
If so, move on with the understanding that you knew what you were getting into, and decided that you were willing to pay the cost.
Either way, I'm pulling for you.
-Bryan
Let go of needing to know exactly how you'll get there when you are dreaming, or wanting to know which action will finally lead to the big breakthrough you've been hoping for. Just keep pecking away. Commit to your actions and keep a focus on the big picture. You never know...
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
A great question to gain clarity, let go of things we can't change, and take accountability.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in finding just the right place to put the bar, that we do nothing at all, other than spend time searching for the perfect spot. Sometimes, we just need to set the bar and get going. We can always adjust it later.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
No matter what you are doing, I encourage you to make sure you honor the commitment. As a service provider, coach, trainer, consultant, etc., we have a responsibility to honor the commitment.
I'm pulling for you.
It's easy to get caught up in wanting everything, to check off every box on our wish list, or have everything just so. What often happens, is because we can't have everything, we don't take any action, and we end up with nothing.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
How do you define authenticity? My encouragement is that it is based on living out your values and beliefs, and being consistent in our speech, behavior, and posture, regardless of the circumstances. It is about internal influence over external influence.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Encouraging you (and me) to lead through character. It's the best policy.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Mondays don't have to be treated with such disdain. They don't have to stink.
What if you decided to look at Mondays differently?
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Sometimes, our tendency is to try and work our way out of the muck, to do more, be more, strive more, and "fix" what's wrong.
But sometimes, it might help to step back. To put down the pencil and pick up the eraser.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
If you find yourself in a trying phase, worn out, exhausted, stressed, and having a hard time seeing the way out, don't let it whup ya'.
If you have to make a sacrifice, and you likely will, don't let it be something that matters most to you.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
It's okay to say, "This might not be for you". It's also okay to say, "This might not be for me"
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Forgiveness is tough, and can be tricky.
Here is a little encouragement.
I'm Pulling For You,
Bryan
Caring can become difficult, or at least, easier to neglect, when we grow, or get busy, or scale.
Whether it's with your business, your family, your friends, or some other organization you are a part of, Don't Forget To Care.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
We can't be (a) ______ if we only do it when we feel like it.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
The grass may not always be greener, as they saying goes, but it's also okay to want different grass. In other words, just because someone says, "you know, the grass isn't always greener" doesn't mean that pursuing what's new or different is bad. Both can be true. The grass may not be greener, BUT, you may just be ready for some new grass.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Sometimes, the friction we feel comes from the fact that something is "off", but we aren't quite sure what it is, what to call it, or how to name it.
Maybe this will help.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Today's encouragement: focus FIRST on the important things in your "yard". Take a look at your 3 foot circle of influence, and make that a priority over the outside noise, things that feel immediate, and all of the other things begging for your attention. First, Guard Your Yard.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
We won't always be at our best. The conditions won't always be optimal. We'll be sore, tired, or outmatched from time to time.
In these instances, we can't make the "music", meaning, we won't be performing as well, as beautifully, or in the optimal state of flow that we might desire.
But, we can still let them know we are there. We can still show up and be counted. We can still make some noise.
I'm pulling for you,
Bryan
Asking yourself a few challenging questions may help you get to what really matters. What's really on your mind? What's really in the way? What's the real problem that needs to be solved?
I'm pulling for you.
...we fill in the gaps.
Pay attention to this on both sides.
1) Know that you are likely filling in some gaps or making some assumptions, when dealing with others, when you don't have all of the facts.
- The best way to get the facts, is to ask. Pay attention to when you are assuming the truth.
2) Know when you are leaving gaps in your own communication with others. Whenever possible, fill in those blanks so the other party doesn't have to.
The quote comes from Ben Zander, and goes on to say..."not because you have done a measurable amount of good, but because it is the story we choose to tell"
Remember, we can control the narrative, we can choose our thoughts, and we can live into the person we desire to become.
I'm pulling for you!
Sometimes, we can begin with the end in mind.
Other times, the end may feel too far away, too hard to see, or too uncertain. Maybe we don't even know what we want the end to look like.
In that case, we can move forward from positive situations. Find the good stuff and go from there.
Being positive doesn't mean you have to lie, or create a false reality.
But you can choose to control the narrative, you can choose your thoughts (even if it takes a couple of tries), and you can choose to find some good in the adjacent.
I'm pulling for you!
A great word, and some great encouragement.
The art of abiding with things exactly as they are.
Listen in as I sit down for a chat with LaGrange College Women's Basketball Coach, Jasen Jonus.
Jasen is the husband of a former player of mine, and coaching the same program that I was once fortunate to be a part of, so it was a real treat to talk with him.
Topics include the underrated career of Spud Webb, the importance of personal balance and routine, how to manage our perspectives while trying to make an impact, and how we can better serve our players, students, and young people in today's environment.
Thanks for listening!
Tune in to today's chat with my man Sam Feeney. Sam is a former educator with experience in career counseling. After moving out of his role in the traditional field of education, Sam has worked as a coach, consultant, author, and all around go-getter. I always enjoy chatting with Sam because he's not afraid to dream big, and he's not afraid to do the work required to pursue those dreams.
Dana Carroll is an educator, wife, mother, and all around awesome lady with one heckuva pageant wave.
She is easily one of my favorite people, and a quiet hero from my childhood.
The perfect example of The Extraordinary Joe.
Tune in to hear about the joys and challenges of teaching, how small acts can make a difference, and about my past dreams of being the King of Pie.
Jimmy Gunderman has walked an extraordinary path thus far. His life has included work as a firefighter, mission work in India, small business ownership, non-profit work, and student ministry.
He also does not believe in man purses.
Listen in as we kick off Season 3 of Extraordinary Joes and hear how Jimmy has navigated life's twists and turns, and the encouragement he has for us all as we seek to be secretly awesome on our own personal journeys.
Be careful letting your dreams get too far away from you. The further away they get, the less likely we are to do anything with them.
Keep them close in thought, word, and deed.
Today's Encouragement: Expect The Expected
Don't be surprised by things that are part of the deal that you signed up for.
Your baby wakes up in the middle of the night crying, of course.
Your players don't always play as hard as you want them too, of course.
Your business or industry has certain innate challenges or problems, of course.
Don't be surprised by things that we can expect. And then respond accordingly.
Today's Encouragement: If you don't want to be that guy, don't be.
Make your decisions that line up with the guy you want to be.
I'm pulling for you.
Today's Encouragement: You Might Have To Stink
It takes time to become good. The key is sticking through the stink until that happens.
I'm pulling for you.
Today's Encouragement: We have a choice. Argue for things that matter. I'm pulling for you.
Today's Encouragement inspired by the book, "It's Not About The Shark" by David Niven.
We can choose to focus on the solutions.
Place the blame, point the finger, make the complaint, find the fault.
In yourself.
Radical Accountability
We all struggle to show up at our best from time to time.
Sometimes we are embarrassed to show up fully based on who might be watching.
Sometimes we might be tired, or we don't know if what we are doing has any impact on the group we are serving.
What do we do then?
We show up for one person. We serve one person. We focus on one person.
We show up for an Audience of One.
I was talking to a my dear friend, Josh, years back about Navy Seals training. At some point in the conversation I said something lousy like, "I could never do that." Josh, whose spirit and perspective I love and respect deeply, said, "I believe I could do it, because it's been done."
That was an anchor moment for me. I dropped one there and I'll always remember that mindset. I'm still working on it for myself, but I'll always remember that moment.
Our anchors are reminders of times we've succeeded, or times we tried in the face of adversity, or lessons we've learned. I'll bet it doesn't take you more than a few seconds to recall memories that might have you scratching your head as to why you remember those things out of all of the things you could possibly remember. You have anchors that you can reflect on when the going gets tough, to help remind you of what you've done before, and encourage you to the fact that you could do it again. Thanks for listening!
Some encouragement today on keeping your cool in all situations.
When we make the moment bigger than it needs to be, it clouds our judgment and can lead to decisions that are unhealthy and unhelpful for everyone involved.
Tune in to hear how narrowly avoided being held in a Florida jail, and how you can do the same.
Don't hide behind this lie we tell ourselves.
If only I knew what to do, or how to do it, THEN I'd go for it.
Tune in for the encouragement.
If you'd like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee here.
Don't let "should" run your life.
For coaching, think tanking, or collaboration, you can reach me at bryan@bryanhendley.com
Want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee here.
How can modeling help you move forward?
Interested in working with me? Contact me at bryan@bryanhendley.com
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Sometimes, the declaration that we'd like to make things better is met with resistance because people assume it means they aren't doing things well.
Think about it...
Try telling your spouse you'd like to make your marriage/relationship better or stronger. It's actually an admirable desire, but a conversation that should be had very carefully.
The same thing goes for just about any time you want to challenge someone else's idea, way of doing things, or approach.
Why do we allow the past to inform our present and direct our future?
How can we build our way forward when past evidence suggests we can't?
Encouragement from Hal Elrod, Design Your Life by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett and Lindsay Helm of Stand Strong Training.
Fresh idea on a new role for school systems. The Director of Teacher Happiness. Can you take this idea and make it better?
Today's encouragement focuses on what to do with your buts.
Don't worry, it's safe for work, children, and animals.
Today's encouragement comes inspired by Upstream, by Dan Heath.
In the book, Heath focuses on solving problems Upstream (before they happen) rather than Downstream (after the fact).
Listen in to hear how you can apply this to your relationships with your students, co-workers, spouse, children and your career.
Problem blindness can cause us to ignore things that need our attention, particularly in our relationships.
I'm pulling for you.
Are you facing a gravity problem?
What can you do about it?
What if it's not a gravity problem?
Today's encouragement inspired by Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
Listen in as I chat with one of the most unique, authentic guys I know, and a darn good friend.
My time with Harmon dates back a long time, including sharing the pinnacle of our athletic careers when we won the Georgia Parks and Recreation Baseball State Championship.
Harmon is currently being extraordinary by helping others as a counselor, sharing his musical gifts, and being an all around good human.
We chat about music, whitey tighties, helping young people grow, and doing things that matter.
Seriously, Harmon has some great insight into how to connect, how to help others grow, how we can take other's issues seriously, and the importance of the narrative we choose in our lives.
Thanks for tuning in.
Listen in to my chat with today's Extraordinary Joe, Josh White.
Josh is an educator, with numerous recognitions for his teaching and commitment to his students and their families. During the challenges of distance learning, Josh created a leadership course for his students, focused on helping them grow in areas that will impact their lives far beyond the walls of their classrooms.
In a previous life, Josh was a famous (?) pro wrestler who missed a huge chance to have a great back story.
Today, we discuss education, the challenges of teaching and teaching in the time of covid, leadership development, and missed opportunities.
Thank you for listening.
Ahhh... Jenn's grace and faith are easy to feel across the radio waves in this episode. I hope you'll appreciate listening as much as I did.
Jenn Stockman is the Author of The War on Your Voice: Break through lids that silence the sound of who and Whose you are. She is a mother, a wife, and a leads the First Year Program at Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry.
She joined the show to share about the process of writing her book, and more importantly about the process we can all take to remove the lids that get in the way of us sharing our God-given voice.
Grab a seat and listen in to the extraordinary story of Jenn Stockman.
Stuart is an amazing man who as earned my deepest admiration for the way he uses his gifts to invest in and influence others. Stuart serves as Director of Student Leadership for Orange (whatisorange.com), provides vision and leadership for INFLUNSR...
I had a blast speaking with Ella Herlihy about parenting. Specifically, how we can raise unentitled, healthy children, that grow into strong adults. Ella Herlihy (Her-li-hee) is a wife to Steve and a mom to five children ages 12-20. She loves to help...
What a timely session with Drew. In retrospect, there is so much more I wish I would have asked, based on what has transpired in our community and in our country since we recorded this. Drew has a heart for reconciliation. He believes that we can be and...
Listen in to hear from one of the all-time great basketball coaches in the state of Georgia. Gene Durden is currently the head women's basketball coach at Buford High School in Georgia. He is the winner of 8 state championships during his career, and...
Antoine Maddox is a former member of The Washington Generals, the lovable losers and longtime foe of the Harlem Globetrotters. Antoine fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a professional basketball player that he worked towards from the time he was...
Listen in as I chat with Karissa Cross, thesandingblonde on Instagram, and hear how she created her successful woodworking business from scratch. After a tough divorce, Karissa was determined to continue her life as a stay at home mom, and through that...
For most things in life, I feel that I can relate to others, have some understanding of what they are going through, or put myself in their shoes. For families who have battled cancer, I can't. Sure, it's a "challenge", it's a time to "have faith", it...
Clair McCarter is an author, podcaster, and friendship enthusiast. As a military spouse, Claire moves every two years, and is faced with the challenge of not only building new friendships in each location, but also continuing to nurture friendships...
Episode 10!!!Episode 10 featuring Rogelio Quintanar. Rogelio is the founder of the Quintanar Running Company, providing private coaching, event management and consultation, course design, and USATF certification. One of the things that makes Rogelio an...
Small business owner encourages you to eat ham, watch Dave Matthews, and take small steps towards success.