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  • What are your emotions really trying to tell and how can you use them to teach you?

    In part two of this two-part episode of Potent, Steven is joined once more by Andy Hickman, founder of hēl, as they explore personal growth through emotional insight and sensory engagement, emphasizing the significance of addressing physical sensations and emotions rooted in early experiences for breakthroughs. They emphasize the necessity of a balanced integration of intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects, presenting methodologies for fostering such harmony, as well as sharing practical exercises for recalling positive memories are introduced, aimed at facilitating personal transformation and growth.

    About Today's Guest

    Andy is the head coach and founder of hēl, a high-touch coaching practice that helps creators cultivate their spirituality through the reorganization of their physical senses. Interviewed by the David Allen Company® for his ground breaking research on the connections between medieval philosophy and modern project management, he's been invited to speak for members of the U.S. congress, Business leaders at organizations like FOCUS and Ernst & Young, and numerous popular podcasts.

    Show Notes

    00:00 - Introduction

    00:02:22 - Exploring Positive and Negative Stories

    00:05:58 - The Importance of Observing vs. Examining

    00:10:52 - The Detective Analogy for Thought Processes

    00:12:40 - The Hierarchy of Meaning

    00:17:08 - The Personal Nature of Change

    00:22:09 - The Challenge of Teaching vs. Coaching

    00:29:10 - Identifying Personal Preferences and Understanding Personal Patterns

    34:01 - Exploring the Connection Between Time and Personal Value

    37:12 - The Challenge of Articulating Complex Ideas

    41:04 - Overview of hēl's Four Behaviors

    46:09 - Clarifying: Making Sense of What You Recognize

    48:14 - Reviewing: Realigning Reason, Intuition, and Lists

    How to Learn More About hēl:

    If these conversations with Andy Hickman are resonating strongly with you, you will want to read his Landmark Letters, which are a free and thoughtful distillation of the what and why of hēl. In this series of 13 letters you will:

    Hear audio clips of practitioners experiencing healing Learn the personal story of Andy's neurotic breakdown at age 17, which planted the seed for the creation of hēlRediscover the nature of organizationUnderstand how to make choosing in life easy

    To read Andy's Landmark Letters for free, go to www.hel.co and click the "hēl your creativity" button". 

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Does completing ten menial tasks compare to completing one meaningful task?

    On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven explores the process of how to best prioritize essential tasks by zooming out on life goals and reducing unnecessary actions, as well as challenging the notion that doing and being are mutually exclusive, advocating for a harmonious relationship between external productivity and internal fulfillment. By focusing on time leadership over time management, creating outer order to facilitate inner peace, and using priorities as guiding principles, he explains how we can navigate a more intentional and meaningful life while providing practical advice on setting generative, objective, operative, and desirable (GOOD) goals, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing self-reflection and growth through journaling, reading, and supportive relationships.

    About Today's Guest

    Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives.  Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children.  

    Show Notes

    00:00 - Introduction to Being and Doing

    05:30 - Misconceptions about Being and Doing

    10:50 - Practical Steps for Integrating Being and Doing

    19:26 - Importance of Priorities Over To-Do Lists

    25:34 - Shift from SMART Goals to Focusing on the Good

    31:55 - Starting the Journey Towards Fullness of Being

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

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  • Making Sense (Part 1) | Andy Hickman

    What are your emotions really trying to tell and how can you use them to teach you?

    On part one of this two-part episode of Potent, Steven is joined once again by Andy Hickman, founder of hēl, as they explore self-awareness and personal growth through a live therapy workshop, highlighting the mapping of experiences and excavating deep emotions through storytelling, sensing, and clarifying exercises. The two also discuss the transformative power of reflection, the importance of authentic living, and turning negative experiences into productive energy.

    About Today's Guest

    Andy is the head coach and founder of hēl, a high-touch coaching practice that helps creators cultivate their spirituality through the reorganization of their physical senses. Interviewed by the David Allen Company® for his ground-breaking research on the connections between medieval philosophy and modern project management, he's been invited to speak for members of the U.S. Congress, business leaders at organizations like FOCUS and Ernst & Young, and numerous popular podcasts.

    Show Notes

    00:00 Intro

    02:06 Live Workshop with Andy*

    12:38 The Concept of Self-Discipline

    15:12 Understanding Willpower and Desire

    20:05 Navigating Inner and Outer Worlds

    26:49 The Process of Sense Making

    54:40 Mapping Emotions and Stories

    01:06:55 Slowing Down the Story

    01:16:26 Breathing Through the Story

    01:25:44 Reflecting on the Process

    01:36:40 Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps

    How to Learn More About hēl:

    If these conversations with Andy Hickman are resonating strongly with you, you will want to read his Landmark Letters, which are a free and thoughtful distillation of the what and why of hēl. In this series of 13 letters you will:

    Hear audio clips of practitioners experiencing healing Learn the personal story of Andy's neurotic breakdown at age 17, which planted the seed for the creation of hēlRediscover the nature of organizationUnderstand how to make choosing in life easy

    To read Andy's Landmark Letters for free, go to www.hel.co and click the "hēl your creativity" button". 

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • TITLE: What's the Purpose of Your Money | YNAB Founder Jesse Mecham

    Do you have trouble in your relationship with the money you earn?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by personal finance expert and founder of YNAB, Jesse Mecham, to discuss the philosophy and principles of YNAB (You Need a Budget), an app designed to help users align their spending with their personal values and goals. Jesse shares his journey of using money intentionally and the benefits of giving every dollar a job and covers four key habits promoted by YNAB: assigning every dollar a job, embracing true expenses, rolling with the punches, and aging one's money. 

    About Today's Guest

    Jesse Mecham is a personal finance expert and founder of YNAB, an app with a simple set of habits to help people change the way they think about money. Jesse hosts the top-rated financial podcast You Need A Budget (8 million downloads), as well as the business owners’ guide to managing cash flow, the Beginning Balance Podcast. He is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of, You Need A Budget and is regularly quoted in the media as a money management expert – Forbes, New York Times, CNBC, and Business Insider have featured him – to name a few!

    Jesse started YNAB in 2004, and back then, it was just a lil' bitty spreadsheet that helped him (a self-proclaimed cash-strapped, newly married college student) cover the cost of his textbooks without going into debt. Nearly two decades later, The TODAY Show described YNAB as a “cult-favorite,” and the YNABverse continues to expand – amassing passionate fan communities on every corner of the internet (that combined are larger than the population of Charleston). Every day they share stories of demolishing debt, paying for cars in cash, or quadrupling their net worth. 

    YNAB the company is home to a fast-growing team living and working all around the world, and has built a thriving remote culture that earned recognition as Fortune’s #1 best small company to work for. (YNAB was doing remote work before it was cool!). 

    When not teaching the YNAB Method – four habits to help people spend, save and give without guilt or second-guessing –Jesse loves gardening, woodworking, marksmanship, and travel. He also spends a good bit of time with his wife and their seven children – yes, seven! To learn more, visit www.ynab.com. 

    Show Notes

    0:00 Intro + Story and Philosophy of "You Need A Budget"

    04:59 YNAB's Four Habits

    14:06 First Steps to Giving Your Money A Job

    19:33 Scarcity Is Clarity

    26:53 Dealing with Debt: Pace and Prevention

    31:46 Taking Inventory, Making Decisions

    37:33 Rapid Fire Questions

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com

  • What’s holding you back from reaching your fullest capability for creativity?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Syracuse University’s Professor Elizabeth Wimer to discuss a range of topics from providing practical advice for avoiding burnout, to understanding the Pareto principle to identify impactful relationships, fostering creativity through thoughtful practices, and leveraging weak ties for idea generation. 

    The two also touch on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and get into Professor Wimer’s personal reflections on teaching and balancing professional life with genuine care for her students. 

    About Today's Guest

    Elizabeth Wimer is equally passionate about coffee and entrepreneurship – a combination that serves her well as a caffeinated educator for conferences, consulting, and as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. 

    Her experience in entrepreneurial ventures and her passion for marketing translates into courses, consulting, and speaking engagements in entrepreneurship, ideation, marketing, creative problem solving, personal selling, management, and customer service.

    Her consulting work has taken her throughout the United States and also to the United Arab Emirates, Asia, Africa, and the U.K. and her passion for education has led her to South Sudan to volunteer to teach at an understaffed school in rural Ariang. She is currently running an annual signature immersion experience for Syracuse University students to consult on-site with entrepreneurs, refugee artisans and underserved rural schools in Nairobi & Nakuru, Kenya.

    Although she resides in Syracuse, New York with her husband, sons and new puppy she remains an avid Boston sports fan – particularly for the Boston Bruins and especially when they win against the Habs or Rangers.

    Show Notes

    0:00 Intro

    02:21 Applying the Pareto Principle to Life

    07:16 Elizabeth's Journey Toward Teaching

    10:54 How to Find Your Purpose

    14:52 How to Reframe Problems and Generate Ideas

    18:13 The Problem with Brainstorming

    23:05 Are People Born Creative?

    28:13 Idea Generation with Steve: Who is Your Audience?

    34:30 The Intersection of Generosity, Curiosity and Creativity

    41:20 Processes & Practices

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Do you know the real cause of why you procrastinate?

    On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven tackles the concept of procrastination, and how while many may view it as a lack of discipline, in reality it’s more rooted as a fear response. Through his experience with the Monk Manual and coaching entrepreneurs over the years, Steven identifies patterns and consequences of procrastination he’s observed, such as feelings of shame and lost potential, while detailing practical strategies like setting clear goals, sitting with discomfort, finding inspiration, and building a supportive community to better help confront and navigate procrastination effectively. 

    About Today's Guest

    Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives.  Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children.  

    Show Notes

    00:00 Intro, Procrastination, Potential, and Malaise

    03:52 Procrastination is not about discipline, but fear and discomfort

    11:10 The Mechanics of Procrastination: Decision - Avoidance

    13:36 Confronting Procrastination: Strategies for Moving Forward

    17:38 Procrastination Beyond Actions: The Impact on Being

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Does placing too much importance on personal individualism separate us from each other more than we realize?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Joe Rutten, Director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute at Mount Marty University, to discuss the importance and impact of communal monasticism based on the principles of St. Benedict. Joe outlines his role, which involves integrating the Benedictine way of life into the university's curriculum and fostering a community-based approach to personal and professional development, as well as highlighting the essential elements of a strong community: honesty, transparency, peacemaking, and accountability.

    About Today's Guest

    Joe Rutten is from Sioux Falls, SD where he lives with his wife Laura and their four boys. He is a passionate visionary, respected for his work in Catholic education, faith and business integration, and professional leadership development. In over two decades of work in Catholic education at the parish, high school, and university level, Joe has found his calling in helping people of all ages discover a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to their lives and helping university students navigate the peaks and values of life as they seek to impact the world personally and professionally. 

    Beyond the classroom, he has been actively involved in the work of faith and business integration. His passion for helping men connect to their catholic faith through their work in business inspired him to create the Catholic Men’s Business Fraternity in Sioux Falls, SD in 2012. In 2015, Joe started an annual Faith & Business Conference in Sioux Falls for men and women of all faiths to help them take Sunday into Monday by integrating faith principles into business practices.  

    He is currently the Director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute and professor of Theology at Mount Marty University in Yankton, SD, where he builds the next generation of leaders through the Benedictine way of life. 

    Show Notes

    0:00 Intro

    01:10 Benedictines and the origin of the Benedictine Leadership Institute at Mount Marty University

    05:12 Integrating Benedictine Principles into Education and Leadership

    11:26 The Importance of Community

    14:58 What Vows Do To Relationships

    22:51 Four Types of Monks according to Benedict

    27:47 Navigating Community in Our Tech Age

    29:57 The University Bubble: A Microcosm for Community Building

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The Monk Manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Are you holding yourself back from knowing the real you?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Leslie McDaniel to discuss her lifelong journey of self-awareness through personality typology and core gifts, as well as how her curiosity has shaped her life. Through emphasizing body awareness and presence, the two highlight some of the most common pitfalls in self-awareness pursuits and offer practical advice for living a more potent life. 

    About Today's Guest

    Leslie is a self-discovery coach, podcast host, and curious human whose quest for self-understanding leads her to see the positive ripple effects of self-love. With her open heart, intuitive questions, and deep wisdom, she guides clients to have insight into all that is transpiring in their lives. Leslie's clients gain clarity on their life's path with tools such as personality typology and the Core Gift Discovery Process so that they can have an authentic impact on the things that matter most.

    https://hellopersonality.com/

    Show Notes

    02:24 The Role of Self-Awareness in Personal Growth

    09:32 Overview of Personality Models: MBTI, Enneagram, and Core Gifting

    14:14 The Scientific Debate: Validity of Personality Models

    28:46 Personal Growth and the Pitfalls of Personality Typing

    37:35 The Role of Myers-Briggs in Self-Awareness

    40:34 The Journey of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery

    44:56 The Core Gift Discovery Process

    50:32 The Impact of Core Gifts on Personal Development

    01:01:31 Expanding Self-Awareness Through New Experiences

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The Monk Manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Where is the unrest in your life truly coming from and what can be done about it?

    On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven describes his personal journey with the Monk Manual and shares lessons he’s learned about honesty, dealing with unrest, embracing change, and focusing on serving others to achieve personal growth and reach one's full potential. 

    About Today's Guest

    Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives.  Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children.  

    Show Notes

    00:00 Intro

    01:46 Steven’s Journey with Monk Manual

    03:46 Lesson 1: By Definition, Visionaries Will Be or Feel Misunderstood

    05:27 Lesson 2: Success Doesn't Look The Same For Everyone

    10:12 Lesson 3: Unrest is a Messenger

    14:22 Lesson 4: Internal change is the important, neglected work

    20:02 Lesson 5: Shifting Focus from Self to Service

    26:18 Ending Questions for Reflection Toward Personal Growth

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • What’s stopping you from returning to the truest version of yourself?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Kelly Wendorf, founder and CEO of EQUUS, as they talk about rewilding, authenticity, and integrating nature-based experiences for personal and professional development, along with the challenges of finding belonging beyond societal labels, specifically presence, and self-awareness. Throughout the episode, the two also discuss embracing wisdom traditions, opening up to new perspectives, and optimizing personal growth through connection with oneself and nature.

    About Today's Guest

    Kelly Wendorf, Founding CEO of EQUUS, a leadership development firm, is an author, a socially responsible entrepreneur, disruptor, and expert in the art form of taking people through transformative change and onto meaningful levels of success, purpose, and profound fulfillment. She has been assisting her clients to navigate transformation for over 30 years, and in so doing has extensively researched this question: what conditions need to be created to allow people to live a life of deep authenticity, freedom, and joy? Having also experienced numerous tectonic shifts in her own life, she intimately knows the landscape of metamorphosis and transformative change. She has been called a corporate shaman and a CEO whisperer. Her work has been featured in Forbes, VOGUE, Huffington Post, and The New York Times. Her latest book Flying Lead Change – 56 Million Years of Wisdom for Leading and Living published by Sounds True, invites us to look to the evolutionary intelligence of nature, and nature-based wisdom to meet the challenges we face today. She works inside a spectrum of clientele – from Amazon to Microsoft to some of the most underserved communities. She serves her clients from all over the world remotely and also in person, alongside her talented co-facilitators––a herd of eight equines––on her small ranch just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

    ***Save 50% off Kelly's book "Flying Lead Change" by entering MONKMANUAL50 at checkout.

    https://kellywendorf.com/

    https://www.equusinspired.com/

    Instagram: @EQUUSinspired

    LinkedIn @ Kelly Wendorf or @EQUUS

    Facebook: @EQUUSinspired

    Show Notes

    00:00 Intro

    02:52 What is Rewilding?

    11:28 From Corporate to Coaching with Horses

    27:28 Navigating Spirituality and Business

    38:12 The Essence of Presence and Overcoming Categorization

    44:00 The Power of Presence

    54:43 The Essence of Presence in Equine Principles

    01:06:21 Practical Tips for Cultivating Presence

    01:09:22 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Advice

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • Why isn't your life making sense, and how do you fix it?

    On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Andy Hickman, founder of hēl, as they discuss the coaching practice’s core principles for achieving wholeness and alignment by reconnecting with physical senses and innate sensibilities. The two emphasize the importance of moving beyond abstract thought to nurture mental, emotional, and action-oriented aspects collectively, along with highlighting the significance of reflection, writing, and surrounding oneself with an inspiring community for personal growth and creativity.

    About Today's Guest

    Andy is the head coach and founder of hēl, a high-touch coaching practice that helps creators cultivate their spirituality through the reorganization of their physical senses. Interviewed by the David Allen Company® for his groundbreaking research on the connections between medieval philosophy and modern project management, he's been invited to speak for members of the U.S. Congress, Business leaders at organizations like FOCUS and Ernst & Young, and numerous popular podcasts.

    https://hel.co/

    Show Notes

    01:55 Intro

    02:22 What is hēl?

    05:23 Experience of mental breakdown that led to hēl?

    08:11 What's the way out of stress?

    12:35 Productivity- not an isolated problem

    15:53 We think of thinking as abstract

    20:57 Ruminating takes energy

    25:22 Practical advice to get moving?

    33:53 The problem you think, probably isn't

    38:32 Importance of pausing

    44:59 "Rhythm" instead of schedule

    53:05 1-year program

    How to Learn More About hēl:

    If these conversations with Andy Hickman are resonating strongly with you, you will want to read his Landmark Letters, which are a free and thoughtful distillation of the what and why of hēl. In this series of 13 letters you will:

    Hear audio clips of practitioners experiencing healing Learn the personal story of Andy's neurotic breakdown at age 17, which planted the seed for the creation of hēlRediscover the nature of organizationUnderstand how to make choosing in life easy

    To read Andy's Landmark Letters for free, go to www.hel.co and click the "hēl your creativity" button". 

    _

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

  • How can you make discomfort work for, rather than against you?

    On today's episode of Potent, Steven Lawson and Shannon Huffman Polson, founder of The Grit Institute, explore the transformational power of grit, and how you can build grit in your own life to live into a deeper potential through moving towards rather than away from discomfort, change, and difficulty.  Uncover how discomfort, service, and challenging experiences pave the way for transformation and a more purposeful existence.

    About Today's Guest

    Shannon Huffman Polson is the author of The Grit Factor: Courage,Resilience and Leadership in the Most Male Dominated Organization in the World, as well as the memoir North of Hope. She is the founder of The Grit Institute, a leadership institute committed to whole leader development, and host of The Grit Factor podcast. Polson also teaches on the faculty of the Tuck School's Leadership and Strategic Initiative Executive Education Program.

    As one of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter in the U.S. Army, leading line units on three continents, Polson combines her passion and firsthand experience in and study of leadership, grit, purpose and story to address the needs of her clients in the face of challenge and change with world-class keynotes and executive education.

    After serving for a decade in the armed services, Polson earned her MBA at the Tuck School at Dartmouth, and later her MFA. She went on to lead outstanding teams in the corporate world in the medical device industry and at

    Microsoft. As a community leader, Polson successfully envisioned, founded and led the completion of a $6.5M new library and civic center.

    Polson has a decade of experience speaking to companies and organizations around the world, and is consistently the highest rated speaker at her events. Polson lives with her husband and two children in Washington State.

    https://shannonpolson.com/

    https://www.thegritinstitute.com/podcasts/

    Show Notes

    02:00 The Grit Factor

    03:20 Why grit?

    04:16 The double crucible

    05:50 What to do when the cards are against you?

    10:19 Encounters with death

    13:23 Courageously engaging death/life

    16:52 Danger to be consumed with purpose

    18:32 Trusting oneself

    19:42 Connect with inner compass

    22:36 A holistic approach

    24:29 Raising kids with grit 

    27:55 Belonging and significance

    29:55 Doomsday news

    32:32 Can't make friends?

    33:54 Comfortable with uncomfortable

    38:13 Outgrowing the box analogy

    39:13 how you navigate growing

    42:24 What does great look like

    46:14 Trust the process/love the work

    47:50 Mary Poppins

    50:27 Gratitude changes you

    52:36 Look for ways to serve

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com. 

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. Design by Kristin Bural of Soulbeam Studios.

  • How Can You Redesign Your Internal Programming a Live a Full(er) Life?

    On today's episode of Potent, Steven Lawson and master coach and podcast host Chris Yonker dive into overcoming trauma, the power of spirituality and self-awareness, the impact of mentorship, and the journey toward self-acceptance and deeper connections.

    About Today's Guest

    Chris is a Certified Family Business Advisor accredited through The Family Firm Institute. Chris helps to consciously navigate the challenges of succession, leadership transitions and family conflict, while creating long-term strategies for business continuity. Dubbed a “Life Journey Sherpa,” Chris’ holistic approach allows each individual in the family to be seen as an integral piece to the work. He uses his experience as a Neuro- Linguistic practitioner, a student of Philosophy and Psychology, and a thought leader on Personal Performance and Transformation to create a one-of-a-kind methodology that fuses heart and soul — helping families achieve extraordinary results that become permanent ways of being. Drawing upon more than 25 years of driving change and leading sales with 3M, and over a decade in Family Business and Executive consulting, Chris has built a process that has become his special sort of alchemy. His strategy helps clients move beyond the obstacles family organizations face that often prevent them from leading deeply fulfilling lives, both individually as well as collectively. Many of Chris’s clients say the process of working with him leads to profound healing within their families, bringing a sense of deep peace, better relationships and higher levels of happiness alongside a thriving organization. As a sought-after speaker, Chris has been a special guest of Camden Family Wealth, The Institute for Family-Owned Business, and The Center for Family Enterprise, and has been a featured contributor to Forbes. Education Chris is a Certified Family Business Advisor accredited through The Family Firm Institute. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business and a Minor in Communication from Western Michigan University. He was personally mentored by Tony Robbins’ original trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Personal Chris is a seventh-degree black belt in an Okinawan style of karate and a student of yoga and meditation. He enjoys fishing, travel, cooking and spending time with his wife of 28 years and their daughter

    www.chrisyonker.com

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-thoughts-of-ceos-podcast/id1543246164

    Show Notes

    01:02 Chris early life

    02:03 Connecting with God

    03:24 Martial arts, validation

    04:37 Mentorship

    06:00 What is God teaching me?

    08:04 Developing a practice of connection

    09:04 Coaching thru end of life

    13:56 Immersion

    18:43 Developing personal presence

    22:28 Fear of loneliness

    26:43 Emotions, awareness, and karate

    28:53 The elevator from heart to head

    31:20 Potent presence; it's a soul massage

    33:04 Healing our bodies

    35:49 Parenting, upbringing, self-parenting

    36:54 Being/doing, Values alignment

    39:29 Community affiliation, fear of lone wolf, searching out your people

    41:26 Trusting the process

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com. 

    The Potent Podcast is...

  • What does a more Potent you look like?

    On today's episode of Potent, Steven Lawson is joined by producer Justin Sinclair to discuss the roots behind the Potent Podcast and how exactly we plan to serve.

    About Today's Guest

    Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives.  Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children. 

    Show Notes

    0:00 Intro

    02:27 Starting Point

    02:43 Why Potent?

    07:05 Create good, fulfill potential

    07:28 Potent ideas change behaviors

    09:21 Potential - realizing, not just achieving

    13:47 Sprout - Oak - Potential

    14:41 Deathbed, meaning

    17:25 Two Pathways to meaning

    18:29 Play, creativity

    24:54 Tips & Tricks vs. transformative ideas

    26:21 Walls vs. foundation

    30:27 Journeying together

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com. 

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. Design by Kristin Bural of Soulbeam Studios.

  • Scaling your life and business

    On today's episode of Potent, Steven Lawson and Brendan McGurgan discuss behaviors for success in life and business, the importance of mindset, finding purpose in one’s work, and what it takes to scale your life.

    About Today's Guest

    Brendan is a global business leader who builds profitable, scalable businesses delivering on his strong personal belief that if you have a wonderful product or service then you have an obligation to bring this to the world. 

    Over seventeen years, twelve as CEO of CDE Group, he helped the company achieve 25x revenue growth and become an industry leader. During his time as CEO the company delivered almost £500 million ($750 million) cumulative revenue and £50 million ($75 million) cumulative profit, scaled from 15 to almost 700 employees spanning 6 continents and exported to more than 100 countries. 

    Driven by his own purpose to Inspire, Connect and Enable ambitious leaders of SMEs to scale with purpose, in 2020 he co-founded Simple Scaling with Claire Colvin with whom he co-authored the Amazon Best-Seller, Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x your business cited by Kirkus as comprehensive concrete counsel for business leaders. Through Simple Scaling he co-hosts the successful ScaleX Accelerator business scaling programme.

    He is host of the acclaimed podcast ScaleX™ Insider now ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally.

    Brendan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director. In 2016, he was awarded the Institute of Directors, UK Young Director of the Year and Overall, UK Director of the Year. Brendan is also a coach and mentor to scaling CEOs, a regular keynote speaker, and graduated in 2021 as a Wim Hof Method Instructor.  

    Outside of his professional work he has a love of all sports. He holds a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a sport he has practiced for 25 years and has previously competed in triathlon (completing Mallorca 70.3 Iron Man in 2019). In 2021 Brendan graduated as a Wim Hof Method Instructor which he now integrates in his ScaleX Accelerator Scaling programme.  

    Simple Scaling https://simplescaling.com/

    Personal LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-mcgurgan-11854a13/

    Links to social media and website: https://linktr.ee/simplescaling 

    Show Notes

    0:00 Intro

    05:34 Why do you care about helping businesses?

    06:51 Becoming CEO - scaling to 700

    08:03 Finding why

    11:25 marga hoick "business for good is good for business"

    12:43 Growth for growth’s sake

    13:48 Anchoring in purpose 

    15:18 Positive ripple effects

    18:06 Entrepreneurs in community

    19:47 People are usually stuck

    21:35 How can I make selling rugs purposeful?

    21:49 purpose 1

    22:27 purpose 2

    23:14 purpose 3 (Patagonia summary of 3 purposes)

    24:59 Different starting points

    26:18 Build people, not businesses

    29:09 Use the Three C's

    32:23 Hermit crab analogy

    34:28 Four personas

    39:48 Theater brain state - what were you told?

    43:35 Get into a 'scaling club'

    49:20 Community to scale your life

    52:14 Summit scale Everest

    54:07 The Scale X Framework

    01:01:03 Gratitude

    01:05:14 S.E.N.S.E

    01:08:18 Not about too busy, it's choice

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more...

  • How might narrative psychology change your life?

    On today's episode of Potent, Steven Lawson and Dr. Julie Helmrich dive into how shifting one's internal narratives could provide a hidden opportunity to 'unstuck' oneself and live a more potent life.

    About Today's Guest

    Dr Julie Helmrich is a psychologist with over 40 years of helping high achieving individuals, committed couples and small business owners shift narratives so that they can get unstuck around health issues, relationship concerns, and wealth creation.  She uses an 8-step framework that puts narrative shifting FIRST so that the TACTICAL efforts at a behavior level will work.

    She has worked in every sector (government, corporate, not-for-profits, and has taught psychology and leadership in higher ed since 1981.

    Dr. Helmrich has received multiple awards and accolades for her work, but her favorite one is being named as one of Milwaukee’s Most Creative People for a program that she created and delivers called “Shrink n Drink” that thousands of people have attended.

    Dr Helmrich is accessible through her online programs for the public, couples, and small business owners at www.juliehelmrich.com

    Her SIGNATURE program is called StoryFORMULA.

    Show Notes

    00:32 Intro -

    03:52 Why Narrative Psychology?

    05:15 Julie's Story

    09:08 Genesis of Narrative Psychology

    11:31 The Strategy: providing resources to fix problems

    16:19 Iterations; Small Step Growth

    18:46 A Profound Life

    19:23 Self-care / Self-sufficiency

    19:27 Inner Authority

    21:22 Uncle Joe's Story

    24:46 Quick win

    27:33 Why do people do what doesn't work?

    28:53 Analogies (poison)

    30:51 Old Story -> Experience the impact

    32:57 You only can do it for you

    34:58 Fear of judgment

    38:14 Shame (vs. guilt)

    41:04 The role of community

    46:33 Bad narratives in relationships 

    50:20 Argument Skills: Observation, Recovery convo, skilled dependency

    54:06 Taller children, practicing skillful dependence

    58:32 Practical next steps

    The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. Design by Kristin Bural of Soulbeam Studios.

  • Welcome to Potent, the podcast where we explore transformative ideas and practices to help you live into your unique potential and build a more potent life. I'm your host, Steven Lawson, a whole-person productivity coach and the founder of Monk Manual. 

    This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.