Explore every episode of the podcast Path for Growth

If you’re doing the right actions with the wrong mindset, you’ll ultimately get the wrong result. In this episode, Alex continues our series on developing a healthy mind by taking a close look at three common barriers to health: Underthinking, overthinking, and negative thinking. He also leads us through some exercises to help us identify our natural patterns and take steps to move toward health. Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the series’ next installment!  Episode Recap: Impact-driven leaders need a healthy mind to lead well (1:00) Today we’ll dig into 3 barriers to a healthy mind (3:09) 1. Underthinking: Are you giving decisions sufficient thought? (5:14) What causes underthinking? (9:25)  Identify a time when you underthought a decision. Why did that happen? (19:06) 2. Overthinking: Are your thoughts useful and productive? (21:33) Worry, anxiety, and stress almost always stem from fear (25:43) Remember these realities about overthinking (33:26) Identify a time when you overthought a decision. What would have helped? (39:01) 3. Negative thinking: Are you viewing circumstances with realistic optimism? (40:17) Cultivating and sustaining a healthy mind requires intentional effort (44:30)  Resources: Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify  Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

If you want to lead well in the workplace, you also need to lead well at home. In this episode, Alex talks with Randy Gravitt about his new book “Winning Begins at Home.” Randy is an author, speaker, executive coach, and Chief Encouragement Officer at Lead Every Day. He explains why he’s so passionate about helping leaders transform their home lives and shares words of wisdom for anyone who’s struggling to manage competing priorities. Randy also discusses some of the routines, rhythms, and boundaries that can help families build stronger relationships.  Episode Recap: Today we’re talking with Randy Gravitt about his book, “Winning Begins at Home” (1:07)  Why is focusing on the home so important to you? (1:55) Who did you write this book for? (3:50) What would you say to someone who’s struggling with priorities? (8:28) What can a healthy home life look like for leaders? (14:43) Why is mentorship so powerful in this area? (18:33) What does it look like to become a leader at home? (27:57) Are there specific rhythms or boundaries that you’ve seen make a difference? (34:38) What patterns do you see among effective leaders at work and home? (43:20) What to expect from “Winning Begins at Home” (48:16) Can you share some final words of encouragement for listeners? (50:13) Resources: “Winning Begins at Home” by Randy Gravitt Lead Every Day website Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

Experience is often the best teacher when it comes to leadership, and today, Rusty Fulling is sharing the top 5 lessons he’s learned through his 25 years of business ownership. Rusty is the founder and CEO of Fulling Management and Accounting, a company helping business owners access financial clarity and peace of mind. He talks with Alex about five key insights for leaders and explains what each of them has looked like in practice in his business. You won’t want to miss this one!  Today Rusty Fulling is sharing 5 lessons he’s learned in 25 years of business (0:45) How did you get started as a business owner? (3:09) 1. Be intentional: Take the time to define who you are and what you believe (6:56) What does it look like to find your leadership voice? (12:45) 2. Be patient: Consistent deposits will start to earn interest (17:07) What advice can you share for someone who struggles with patience? (21:25) 3. Be a difference maker: It’s not just about the balance sheet (22:45) Why are service projects important for your team? (28:09) How have you developed a healthy pace? (30:27) 4. Be a lifelong learner: Significance matters more than success (35:05) What are you learning right now? (42:53) 5. Be still: Listen and seek clarity and counsel (44:40) How do you help leaders steward their businesses’ resources? (49:41)   Helpful Links and Resources Global Leadership Podcast The Way I Heard it Podcast “Scarcity Brain” by Michael Easter “Hidden Potential” by Adam Grant Fulling Management and Accounting Rusty Fulling website Connect with Rusty on LinkedIn Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

As the leader of Christ Fellowship Church, Pastor Todd Mullins has built healthy growth into the fabric of the church. And you can feel it when you visit the church, from the enthusiasm of the volunteers to the friendliness of the congregation. In this episode, Pastor Todd explains why a healthy ministry always starts with a healthy soul, and he shares some of his best tips for taking care of your own health as a leader. He also gives some practical examples of how he teaches core values and other important ideas to his team, and he offers advice for leaders who are transitioning out of or into a role.  Can you explain why a healthy ministry always comes from a healthy soul? (4:04) Why do so many of us neglect our own health? (7:28) How do you know if you’re healthy, and what habits make the biggest difference? (9:54) How have you created a culture where you prioritize your team’s health? (15:23) What does success look like for your weekly meetings? (21:09) Can you explain what you mean by “creating environments that are full of it?” (25:48) How do you effectively teach key values and messages? (34:13) Who are your communication role models? (40:13) How did your dad prepare for you to succeed him as pastor? (45:17) What advice can you give about bringing your faith into the workplace? (56:28) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Christ Fellowship Church Join Christ Fellowship Church online Nexus Leadership Podcast Made for Mondays Sermon Series Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

If you want to win the game, you have to eventually stop playing defense and get on offense. In this episode, Alex shares five reasons why it’s important for leaders to get on offense in their businesses and relationships. He also breaks down three actions you can implement today to start playing offense instead of only reacting to circumstances after they happen.  You can delay losing on defense, but winning requires you to get on offense (0:47) Responsible leaders strategically moderate between recklessness and risk avoidance (3:40) There are five reasons why it’s wise for a leader to get on offense (8:49) 1. Opportunity: Understand why your business exists (9:20) 2. Risk: The risk of not moving at all is greater than the risk of moving forward (10:54) 3. Struggle: When you push yourself, you can uncover meaning (11:56) 4. Creativity: Constraints are the breeding ground for creativity (14:37) 5. Faith: Your greatest testimony often overlaps with your greatest challenge (17:51) Instill a routine that stewards the things you can control (19:48)  Pay attention (22:38)  Make and test predictions (25:28) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Herb Sargent is someone who truly exemplifies what it means to be an impact-driven leader. As the President and CEO of Sargent Corporation, he’s dedicated his career to not just building great infrastructure, but also building people. In this episode, Herb shares the incredible story of re-acquiring his family’s business 17 years after it had been sold to a larger company. He explains what he learned from growing up working at the family business and then working for other corporations, and he offers encouragement to leaders who feel like they’re stuck in survival mode. Herb also shares practical insight about preparing for a recession, making creativity and caring a part of your culture, and involving your team in strategy and vision casting.  Can you tell us about your grandfather and the business he built? (2:08) What was it like to work your way up from the bottom in a family business? (10:28) What did you learn from working for another company and then starting your own? (14:04) How did you end up acquiring the former family business? (24:46) What is your mindset toward risk, and has that changed throughout your career? (28:28) Is there anything you wish you’d done sooner to get out of survival mode? (33:15) What did survival mode feel like for you? (35:32) How did you prepare for the 2008 recession so that you were able to grow? (41:30) Who on your team do you make sure to involve in strategic conversations? (46:43) How have you made creativity a core part of your culture? (52:44) How have you created and sustained an “undercurrent of caring?”(1:05:35) What are you most excited about right now? (1:17:58) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Sargent Corporation Website Sargent: On Track Podcast Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

The health of your relationships will often determine the health of your business. In this episode, Alex explains how you can identify the key relationships that are especially vital for your business’ overall health. He then walks through 7 practices you can implement to help ensure those relationships stay healthy, and to better equip each other to practice healthy growth in your own lives and leadership.  As goes certain key relationships, so goes the business (0:49) 1. Codify Common Ground: Why do we exist, what do we stand for, where are we going? (7:28) 2. Clarify Roles: What are the top areas where each of us need to win? (9:55) 3. Create a Cadence of Communication: Set aside time each week (12:33) 4. Call Out When It’s Weird: Get to the bottom of it and then move forward (16:42) 5. Compliment: Say nice things that are also real (22:52) 6. Commit to Ownership: Be ruthlessly responsible for the things you can control (28:56) 7. Cast Vision for Each Other: Let people borrow your belief in them (31:34) How to put these practices into action (34:56) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

If you want your business to succeed, you need to continually find ways to solve the problems that your customers are experiencing. In this episode, Nick Carrier returns to the podcast to discuss this idea and several other lessons he’s been learning about personal growth, leadership, and building a scalable business. He also talks about the importance of each one of the six human needs and explains how that framework impacts both his business and his personal growth. Nick is the founder and owner of Best You and leader of the 10 Week Transformation program, where he teaches people how to form healthy habits that transform your body and your life.  Rapid-fire questions: Get to know Nick Carrier (1:58) How can people break the habit of hitting “Snooze?” (5:34) What are you most excited about within your business right now? (9:53)  What does it look like to solve the problems your business creates? (13:28)  How have you changed your mindset to focus on scalability? (25:15) What are the 3 components of self-identity, and why are they important for growth? (28:48) Why is it important to work toward something and away from something else? (42:39) How have you built a business that fulfills the six human needs? (54:52)  How does the six needs framework impact your personal growth? (1:03:30) What have you been learning about order and chaos? (1:10:04) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Best You 10-Week Transformation The Best You Podcast Follow Nick on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube 6 Human Needs Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Just because someone is great doesn’t mean they’re the right person for your organization. To find the right people, you need to look beyond your hiring process and make sure you’re actively working to attract people who fit into your business’ mission, vision, and values. In this episode, Alex breaks down 7 different strategies you can use to prioritize attracting the right people. He also shares practical advice for leaders about making the most of LinkedIn, improving your employee benefits, and more.  Attracting the right people is especially important in a recession or downturn (1:00) Employees have leverage right now, so A players have options (2:36) The quality of your business will never exceed the quality of its people (4:48) Hiring should look for culture fit, competency, character, and chemistry (6:51) Just because someone’s great doesn’t mean they’re right for your organization (8:27) 1. Be clear about who you are and what you offer, distinctively and specifically (10:28) 2. Talk about who you are, what you’re looking for, and what you offer incessantly (15:06) 3. Amplify what works (19:23) 4. Incentivize referrals (23:03) 5. Market your workplace (26:31) 6. Leverage LinkedIn by creating, commenting, and connecting (30:12) 7. Bolster your benefits (36:15) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

If you want to learn something new, try pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and seeing what you learn along the way. In this episode, Alex shares seven more lessons he’s learned from endurance racing and explains how they apply to leadership and personal growth. He also shares some examples of how experiential learning has made an impact in his own life and in the lives of others.  New experiences lead to new insights (0:50) If there’s a pattern, there’s a principle (3:06) Strong principles can help you communicate and teach more effectively (12:42) Compounded strain creates strength (15:14) Real rest demands intentionality (22:01) Experiential learning is irreplaceable (27:50) Voluntary struggle is part of healthy growth (36:22) Shared struggle creates community (38:55) Patience pays (42:15) Remembering the reason is hard but necessary (49:59) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Lately, change seems to happen by the day. Navigating this uncertainty as leaders is a process that constantly calls us to lead with strength, truth, and adaptability. In this episode, Jeremy Stalnecker discusses the key principles he learned from his experience serving as a Marine in Baghdad and how they apply to his everyday life today. Jeremy also examines how these lessons influence his leadership as CEO of The Mighty Oaks Foundation, incorporating his perspective as a former pastor to see how our faith guides our leadership and helps us step into the leadership that God designed us for. Where did your experience with leadership start? (2:25)  The biggest battles happen when you least expect them. (7:04) Success in any area of life is directly related to how well you handle change (10:31) Let God be God and do what you can do (15:25) Your decision to move impacts you AND others around you (16:23) The power of testimony (20:42) What does proper and appropriate vulnerability and transparency look like? (26:50) How do we prepare for the future in our personal lives and our organizations? (31:50) What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from organizational communication to many different perspectives and locations? (34:19) How do you go about properly setting expectations for your team? (36:04) How do you and your organization decide which issues to stand on and which to move on? (39:51) What is the value of drawing your lines before you need to enforce them? (46:20) How do you navigate culturally sensitive social issues such as sexuality and gender identity? (48:41) What is the gospel-centered opportunity for leaders in this season? (53:04) How do you guard against arrogance and humility? (55:23) What are some important principles to understand about trauma? (58:53) The Four Be's (1:03:33) Where do we draw a line between caring for those on our team experiencing trauma and making sure we don't allow chronic underperformance? (1:05:10) What's something that you're learning or excited about right now from a personal or leadership experience? (1:11:57) How can people stay connected to you? (1:13:36) What challenge or thought would you give to someone that feels stagnated? (1:14:25) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Leadership By Design by Jeremy Stalnecker The Mighty Oaks Foundation Website The Mighty Oaks Foundation Linktree The Might Oaks Foundation Instagram Jeremy Stalnecker's Website

Episode Description: When you go further than you thought you could go, you learn lessons you never knew you could learn. In this episode, Alex shares seven of the biggest lessons he’s learned from endurance racing that are also applicable for any business owner or leader. Whether you’re feeling burnt out and aren’t sure if you can keep moving forward, or you’re struggling to see the results you want in your business and don’t know why, this conversation has something for you!  Episode Recap: When you go further than you thought you could go, you learn lessons you never knew you could learn (0:50) There’s no substitute for experiential learning (4:15) Endurance is an exercise in expectation setting (6:14)  Those who endure plan for their plan to fail (11:01) Effort never sustainably exceeds belief (17:07) The results everyone wants come from the routine nobody sees (21:53) Coaching makes effort efficient (25:44) Detachment is a difference maker (29:23) Resources: Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email “Awareness” by Anthony DeMello Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Good leaders respond to a crisis, but great leaders prepare for it. In this episode, we continue our conversation about preparing for a recession by talking through 5 more actions you can take to prepare yourself and your business for periods of recession. We also discuss three things to avoid in order to stay agile, and then close out the conversation with a reminder of what it means to renew your mind and fill yourself up with truth.  In today’s episode we’ll discuss the final five actions leaders can take to prepare for recession (0:51) 6. Position yourself and your business to be agile (3:22) Bureaucracy is an enemy of agility (4:32) Improper expectations within your team will slow you down in times of turbulence (6:54) Fear is not inherently bad, as long as it doesn’t lead to paranoia or rage (12:30) 7. Test assumptions quickly, aggressively, and often (19:05) 8. Remember what matters and double down on that (26:37) 9. Prepare to get on offense (32:08) 10. Renew your mind daily (35:16) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Listen to “Preparing for a Recession Part 1” Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Don’t let yourself get so caught up in running your business that you forget about the foundations of good leadership. In this episode, Alex takes us back to the basics by answering three important questions: Who is a leader? What is leadership? And what makes a good leader? He explains why these foundational questions are so important to examine and shares insights that will apply to any leader, no matter what role you’re in or how many people are depending on you.  It’s easy to get distracted by complexity, but don’t forget the basics (1:03) Who is a leader? If someone depends on you, then you are a leader (2:52) What is leadership? Leadership is taking people from here to there (7:07) You can’t just look at where you’re going, you have to define where you are (10:11) Leadership is catching, casting, and coaching a vision (16:57) What makes a leader good? Leadership is defined by our why, where, and way (22:19) Resources: Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

Any time we choose to pay attention to something, there’s naturally a cost. And if we’re not intentional about where we’re placing our focus, we’re probably wasting time. In this episode, Thatcher Wine shares some of the key principles from his book, “The 12 Monotasks.” Thatcher explains why multitasking is not worthwhile and shares practical steps for leaders and entrepreneurs about improving your sleep, listening better, appreciating the value of silence, and creating a work culture that prioritizes monotasking.  Why are you so passionate about the topic of monotasks? (2:10) Why is monotasking especially important when you think you don’t have time? (6:34) What are the key principles about attention that you wish everyone knew? (12:49)  How can monotasking uniquely benefit entrepreneurs? (15:45) Why are you focused on sleep right now, and what does that look like for you? (21:12) Can you share some tips for parents about creating a great evening routine? (27:40) How do you “close the loop” when you’re tempted to shift your attention? (30:59) How do you track your sleep? (35:34) Why is treating listening as a monotask so valuable for leaders? (40:47) How have you built a culture that incentivizes and promotes monotasking? (46:49) What does thinking look like as a monotask, and why is that so important? (51:09) How have you found a form of structure that works for you? (57:47) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email The 12 Monotasks Thatcher Wine’s Website Juniper Books Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Since recessions are a natural part of the economy’s ups and downs, the question isn’t if we’ll go into a recession; it’s when. And while there’s no way to fully “recession-proof” your business, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare as a business and as a leader. In part one of this conversation, we begin to talk through three principles and ten actions that will help you better prepare your team and yourself for periods of recession.  It’s not always possible to “recession-proof your business,” but you can prepare (0:43) Good leaders respond to crisis, great leaders prepare for it (4:46) Luck is when preparation meets opportunity (7:29) You can’t be strategic if you’re just trying to survive (9:05) There are ten actions that you can focus on to prepare for recession (13:27) 1. Get your house in order (13:58) 2. Reinforce, amplify, and publicize culture (20:42) 3. Understand and minimize risk (26:35) 4. Consistently assess the landscape of reality (31:37) 5. Play the role of narrator (36:14) Check back for part 2 where we’ll discuss the final five actions (41:41) Lead from a spirit of love, power, and self-control, not fear (42:25) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

One of the most important decisions a leader can make is finding the next right person to join their leadership team. In this episode, Alex talks with Path for Growth Coaching Manager Olivia Graham about the lessons she’s learned in the first 6 months of her role. Olivia shares several principles she’s discovered while working to operationalize Path for Growth’s coaching program to better develop and support effective coaches. She and Alex also discuss the lessons they’ve learned about setting expectations around the overlap of friendship and business.  Get to know Path for Growth Coaching Manager Olivia Graham (2:55) Can you tell us about your transition from contractor to coaching manager? (10:06) What did you learn from interviewing with people you already knew? (16:20) What are some principles you’ve learned in your time at Path for Growth? (22:30) 1. Leaders should balance creating systems with paying attention to individuals (23:01)  Why is it so important to catalog best practices? (32:40) 2. Context and trust are the most important thing in your first 30 days (34:10) What tactics have you learned for becoming a better listener? (38:18) How have we learned to set expectations around business and friendship? (41:48) 3. Start with the end in mind. Have a clear idea of what winning looks like (54:06) What do you say to leaders who think they can’t communicate their vision (1:01:40) 4. Set your standard for the season you’re in (1:07:25) 5. Freedom is not something you earn, it’s something you experience (1:18:09) What are you most excited about right now? (1:21:24) 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

The strategies that help an organization grow to 300 people will not be effective in getting it to 1,000 people. In this episode, we continue our conversation about the four biggest things leaders of 300+ person teams should focus on: communication rhythms, leadership development, executive reinvention, and a culture of decentralized improvement. We also discuss the traits a leadership team needs in order to pursue reinvention, and the different relationship buckets every leader should try to fill. When any team hits 300 people, the same things tend to happen (0:44) There are four things that leaders of 300+ person teams should focus on (3:27) Leaders of large organizations need to commit to executive reinvention (6:31) If you’re unwilling to look like a fool, you’ll never become a master (10:10)  Teams leading large organizations need four things to pursue reinvention (12:54) 1. Stability: While pursuing reinvention, you need a level of stability elsewhere (13:25) 2. Humility: When you see yourself accurately, you can grow (16:36) 3. Courage: Reinvention requires you to wade into the unknown (18:26) 4. Relationships: There are several relationship buckets leaders should try to fill (20:17) Find people who will challenge you (21:06) Seek out people who can encourage you (22:47) Look for people who model leadership for you (24:12) Spend time with people who inspire you (25:35) Build relationships that develop you (27:07) Find people who will just be with you (28:50) 3 questions you can ask yourself to spur the reinvention process (31:18) Large organizations need a culture of decentralized improvement (35:44) Operationalization is the key (41:31) "4 Responsibilities for Leading 300+ Person Teams" Part 1 Episode “It’s Time to Operationalize Your Business” Episode Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Uncertainty is not something we can avoid, but there are steps we can take to better prepare ourselves and our businesses for the unknown. In this episode, Mike Valiton shares his insight into leading a business during seasons of uncertainty, as well as preparing for and navigating storms in our personal lives. Mike unpacks the routine that helps him stay grounded no matter what’s going on in the world around him, and he offers advice to leaders on managing finance, communicating honestly with team members, hiring in periods of growth, and much more.  How do you maintain a strong foundation when things around you feel uncertain? (5:23) What are the routines and habits that help you stay centered? (9:22) Why is it so important to define success based on the season you’re in? (18:14) Can you explain how you pay attention to the news without being immersed in it? (21:40) How do you hold your plans with a loose grip? (24:31) What should people do now to make sure they’re financially healthy and secure? (34:15) What advice do you have for leaders at large organizations? (39:59) How can leaders best communicate with their teams in uncertain times? (46:49) What does it practically look like for leaders to plan instead of worrying? (56:28)  Where have you seen constraints lead to creativity? (1:06:02)  How can leaders live their testimonies during this time? (1:14:23) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

As businesses grow, the things that once worked well for them will inevitably stop working — especially once an organization grows to 300 people or more. For our 100th episode of the Path for Growth podcast, we talk through the most common mistakes leaders make when they hit the 300-person mark. We also discuss 7 communication rhythms that can help your business navigate growth more smoothly and explain why it’s so important to develop leaders who lead leaders instead of followers.  Reflecting on 100 episodes of Path for Growth (0:27) Anytime your team hits a multiple of 3 or 10, everything breaks (6:38) Leaders with 300 or more people tend to make the same 3 mistakes (11:15) 1. They’re still operating the same way they did with 100 people (11:23) 2. They aren’t aware that the change they’re seeing is normal (11:54) 3. They don’t have what it takes to make it to 1,000 (13:10) Our brains respond differently when we engage with struggle voluntarily (14:34) Not preparing for the shift leads to burnout, division, disorganization, and waste (16:02) There are 7 important communication rhythms for large organizations (23:22) 1. One-on-one relationship communication (26:07) 2. One-on-one accountability (28:39) 3. Team unity (30:33) 4. Departmental work-related communication (37:05) 5. Strategic planning (38:20) 6. Strategic accountability (39:32) 7. Development (40:22) Focus on developing leaders who lead leaders (42:45) Sargent: On-Track Podcast Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

No matter how strong your business’ processes and systems seem, there is always room for refinement. In this episode, Ron Pereira unpacks the 10 Commandments of Continuous Improvement that can help leaders increase productivity while also caring for their people. Ron has extensive experience in manufacturing, supply chain, and process engineering, and he’s also committed to training other leaders and organizations as a co-founder of Gemba Academy. He explains why lean engineering is so important and shares some valuable real-world examples of how he’s seen companies transformed by these principles.  How can continuous improvement transform a business? (2:15) Why are you so passionate about processes and systems? (5:05) How do these concepts help leaders increase both productivity and humanity? (7:20)  Why are lean processes important even if your business is going well? (9:19) What is the problem that you help customers solve, and what does that look like in a large organization? (17:24) Can you tell us about the 10 commandments of never-ending improvement? (25:03)  1. Open your mind to change (26:29) 2. Think “yes we can if _” (34:19) 3. Always attack processes, not people (42:37) 4. Seek simple solutions (50:57) 5. If it’s broken, stop and fix it (54:49) 6. Use creativity, not capital (1:03:07) 7. Problems are opportunities in disguise (1:05:56) 8. Fix the root cause (1:11:03) 9. The wisdom of many is better than the knowledge of one (1:13:33) 10. There is no final destination on the improvement journey (1:15:27) Gemba Academy Website Connect with Ron Pereira on LinkedIn Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

One of the best ways to grow as a leader is to surround yourself with other great leaders and pay attention to what they’re doing differently. In this episode, we talk through five fundamental lessons I’ve learned from the strongest leaders in my life. We also discuss the importance of taking time to evaluate and reflect in order to get the most out of our experiences. To get value from an experience, we have to evaluate and reflect (0:47) Today we’ll talk through 5 lessons about what it means to be an effective leader (3:01) 1. Don’t let your mood dictate your effort (4:39) 2. Be yourself. People can smell a fake from a mile away (7:21) 3. It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing (15:15) 4. Take the risk of truly caring (24:17) 5. Good leaders hold people accountable to the standard of others; great leaders hold people accountable to the standard of their potential (28:11) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Many people assume that starting a business will require them to hustle relentlessly for 3-5 years, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Through operationalization, leaders can delegate and continue to grow without sacrificing quality or increasing their stress levels. In this episode, we walk through the 4 foundational things you need to have in place in order to start operationalizing, as well as the four-step process for operationalization.  Operationalizing helps impact-driven leaders grow without burning out (0:47) What are the highest return responsibilities of a leader? (6:17) How do you simultaneously increase productivity and humanity? (7:04) There are 4 prerequisites you need to have before you start operationalizing (11:01) 1. An aspirational mission (11:31) 2. Immoveable core values (13:27) 3. A compelling, documented vision (14:02) 4. A predictable revenue model (15:25) Stress will increase at the rate your business grows, unless you operationalize (18:20) Operationalizing helps you delegate, practice healthy growth, and make a sustainable impact (19:29) Operationalized processes are measurable, accessible, repeatable, and iterable (22:13) There are four key elements of operationalizing (23:14) 1. Standardize: Clarify what success looks like (25:18)  2. Document: Outline benchmarks for success and the process to achieve them (30:19) 3. Evaluate: Establish a system for ongoing evaluation (33:57) 4. Improve: Create a culture where the best practice can always be made better (38:40) Start with one specific area of your business (41:50) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Listen to “Building in Public #2: Alex Judd (CEO) and Zack Estes (COO)” Trainual Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

One of the keys to practicing healthy growth is the ability to focus on and prioritize the things that matter most. The Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York exemplifies this, and in this episode, we talk through seven lessons that Alex has learned while working with members of that community. Alex also shares some practical ways that we can all add more community, ritual, and generosity to our daily lives.  When something resonates with people, take time to think about why it’s working (3:28) There are 7 key lessons we can take away from the Orthodox Jewish Community (6:18) 1. Rest requires discipline (7:27) 2. Generosity can be cultural (13:13) 3. Connection is crucial (17:12) 4. Don’t avoid differences, embrace them (19:40) 5. Humility is a prerequisite for growth (22:52) 6. Community is king (26:08) 7. Ritual is essential (31:10) Alex’s LinkedIn Post Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

The process you follow in a new hire’s first 30 days can have a dramatic impact on their success as an employee and a leader. This belief inspired Anchor Investments COO Josh Etress to develop 100x Leadership, a framework he uses for intentional onboarding. In this episode, Josh shares his 5 foundations for developing managers and talks through the process he uses with each new employee. He also explains why the first week and the first 30 days are so important and offers insights that will apply to any industry. If you haven’t already, make sure to listen to part 1 of Alex’s conversation with Josh about all things LinkedIn!  Today we’re continuing our conversation with Josh Etress about 100x leadership (0:58) What is 100x leadership, and why does it matter? (1:44) How do you teach new hires what to expect from your company? (4:23) Make sure even the most obvious expectations are spoken (8:57) Start small, then expand the box (12:57) How has your ministry experience impacted your leadership? (17:11)  5 foundations for developing managers (18:37) How did you narrow in on the 5 foundations? (21:46) Helpful Links and Resources Follow Josh on LinkedIn Mission Hotels Anchor Investments Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

The best leaders aren’t always the people who excel from the start, but rather those who stay committed to always growing. Clay Steves, owner and CEO of Habakkuk Health, is someone who exemplifies this as a leader and communicator. In this episode, Clay describes how he built a successful business without prior leadership experience, including some of the challenges he faced and the steps he took to build a healthier culture. Clay also talks about the importance of rest for leaders and their families, and he discusses the ways he’s worked to ensure that feedback and healthy conflict are welcome at his company.  Get to know Clay with rapid-fire questions (2:46) Why do you take issue with the term “servant leadership?” (6:18) What motivated you to start Habakkuk Health? (7:55) What was the tipping point that turned your idea into action? (11:40) How do you view failure as a business owner? (13:45) What podcasts, books, and leaders had the biggest impact on your business? (17:56) How did you develop your vision and commit to growth as a first-time leader? (20:56) What were the symptoms and the source of your early leadership challenges? (25:06) Why is a healthy home life vital for leaders? (31:17) How do you set boundaries to prioritize family rest and Sabbath? (39:49) How have you learned to stay present? (49:03) What do you do when you find your mind racing? (51:04) How can leaders create an environment where feedback is encouraged? (53:42) Why is it a leader’s job to mine for conflict, and how do you create a culture where people care deeply? (59:47) What are you most excited about? (1:04:32) How to connect with Clay (1:06:14) How can leaders stay excited about their businesses and keep moving forward? (1:06:54) “Convos with Clay” Podcast Habakkuk Health Website “Managing Leadership Anxiety” by Steve Cuss Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Effective leaders don’t just help others grow, they’re also committed to continual growth in their own lives. In this episode, we unpack five practices that help leaders grow, as well as three principles that explain why personal growth is a vital part of leadership. We also discuss the importance of consistency for growth-minded leaders and provide practical examples of what each practice can look like. There’s a difference between self-improvement and selfish improvement (1:10) If you aren’t personally growing, you’re not effectively leading (4:08) If you want to put your business in order, start by putting yourself in order (9:11) These five daily practices will help you experience growth (11:27) 1. Identification: Get specific about what successful growth looks like (14:28) 2. Information: Learn the principles and tactics for achieving your goal (19:58) 3. Representation: Find someone who embodies the quality you want to cultivate (22:46) 4. Application: The greatest learning is experiential (29:54) 5. Evaluation: Identify the principles you learned (33:33) Our job as leaders is to grow stronger so we can serve better (36:44) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth It Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

When running a creative business, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day operations and lose the opportunity to spend time creating. While expanding the BibleProject, Jon Collins realized he didn’t want to make this mistake, so he intentionally set out to delegate leadership and operations. In this episode, Jon shares some of the lessons he’s learned while building a successful non-profit platform, including the importance of delegation, how to define your business narrative, and what it’s like to work with a business partner. He also shares insight into the process of crafting and revising effective messages that distill complex information into digestible content.  What were you doing before you started BibleProject? (3:02) Where did you get the skillset of distilling the complex into the simple? (7:21)  How do you preserve curiosity and humility after doing this job for years? (12:23) Why is writing an important skill for becoming a better thinker? (15:21) How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a message? (19:40) Do you have trouble accepting feedback on something you care deeply about?? (22:34) How do you balance listening to feedback with trusting your intuition? (25:25) Why did you decide to create BibleProject with a non-profit model? (28:18) What made you want to work with Tim, and what have you learned about having a business partner? (29:57) What was your business narrative, and why was that so important to you? (33:39) How do you explain your early success with BibleProject? (37:10) How have you relinquished control of operations so you could focus on the creative? (41:50) Why is explaining so powerful, and how does that show up in the Bible? (47:24) How to connect with Jon (52:32) BibleProject Website Connect with Jon on Twitter Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

People often say that perfectionism is unproductive, but it’s also toxic, dangerous, and prideful. In this episode, we explore how perfectionism gets in the way of pursuing excellence and leading well, and we walk through three scenarios where perfectionism often shows up for leaders. We also talk about the importance of vulnerability and explain how you can start to shift your focus from being perfect to being committed.  If you struggle with perfectionism, know that there’s a better path (0:46) Perfectionism is toxic, dangerous, and prideful (2:59) If you don’t set a standard, someone else will (8:15) Perfectionism in decision making: It hurts to sit on a fence (10:51) When setting your standard, act as though grace is real and you need it (17:15) Perfectionism in work relationships: Avoid “Superman Syndrome” (19:14) Admit when you don’t know, aren’t good at something, feel afraid, or need help (25:33) Vulnerability is not a manipulation tactic or a therapy session (32:42) Perfectionism in meetings: Let great people do what great people do (35:54) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Most leaders know how to delegate, but they often struggle to do it effectively. In this episode, we break down six internal enemies that keep the impact-driven leader from becoming a great delegator. We also discuss some key strategies and mindset shifts that will help you name, own, and conquer the enemies of delegation that you struggle with the most.  Your ability to create opportunity exceeds your ability to delegate it (0:41) Without delegation, impact-driven leaders will keep taking on more and more (4:27) A leader practicing healthy growth is keenly aware of their finite capacity (5:36)  A leader practicing healthy growth is keenly aware of others’ remarkable ability (7:02) A leader practicing healthy growth is keenly aware of delegation as a developmental opportunity (8:36) There are 6 internal enemies that keep you from becoming an effective delegator (11:00) 1. The insecurity of a leader (14:44) 2. The pride of a leader (18:01) 3. The aimlessness of a leader (23:51) 4. The distrust of a leader (28:24) 5. The impatience of a leader (32:05) 6. The perfectionism of a leader (39:07) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Operationalization helps you create clarity about what success looks like and properly equip each person on your team to reach it. In this episode, Alex talks with Path for Growth’s COO, Zack Estes about the four-step process they’ve used to operationalize the business. They also discuss the importance of finding partners who agree with your definition of excellence and explain how responsibility can lead to greater freedom in work and life.  What is operationalization, and why are you passionate about it? (2:42) Why was operationalization the logical next step for Path for Growth? (6:27)  How do you define excellence? (11:42)  By operationalizing, you can succeed at the details without stressing over them (22:11)  Operationalization is a four-step process (25:19) 1. Standardize your processes and outcomes (25:58) 2. Document your standards (31:22) 3. Evaluate work by consistently comparing it to the standards (38:28) When does it make sense to abandon standards? (43:37) 4. Improve the standards over time (48:25) How can someone get started with operationalization? (49:20) What does maintenance mean to you in this phase of life? (52:45) Why is responsibility a vital part of freedom? (1:03:20) What are you most excited about? (1:11:23) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

If you want your organization to exhibit healthy growth, you as a leader must first get clear about why the business exists, what you stand for, and where you’re going. In this episode, we walk through the process of answering each of those three vital questions. We also talk about the importance of communicating your mission and values over and over and letting them guide you as you build your vision.  There are 3 key questions that leaders must answer (0:41) Language creates culture (2:48) Leaders have a responsibility to create a life-giving culture for their businesses (6:03) You and your team should consistently be able to answer these questions (7:55) 1. Why do we exist? That’s your mission statement (9:20) Mission statements connect the mundane to the meaningful (13:06) Mission statements lift people’s eyes above the horizon (19:28) Mission statements provide inarguable common ground (21:42) Once you have your mission statement, communicate it over and over (24:02) 2. What do we stand for? Those are your core values (25:00) Core values create boundaries within which people can feel free to act (27:24) How to evaluate a potential core value (34:16) To build an organization that stands for something, become a leader who stands for something (40:07)  3. Where are we going? That’s your vision. (42:06) It’s reckless to chase an audacious vision without a mission and core values (45:23) Resources: Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

How do you define success for yourself, and how does that definition impact your life and work? For Tim Schurrer, success is less about being in the spotlight and more about building a humble confidence. Tim is the former COO for StoryBrand and the author of “The Secret Society of Success,” a new book that highlights stories of people who made a major impact whether or not the spotlight was on them. In this episode, Tim shares some of the biggest lessons he’s learned about pursuing healthy growth, rejecting the spotlight mindset, and right-sizing your impact as a leader.  What did the moon landing teach you about success? (2:17) Why did you write “The Secret Society of Success?” (5:30) What is the spotlight mindset, and how does it harm us? (8:34) How do you find contentment without sacrificing ambition? (14:20)  What does it mean to right size your impact? (20:56) What is your process for intentionally choosing people to learn from? (24:53) How can leaders create a culture of healthy growth? (34:22)  Why does building an abundance mindset lead to helping others win? (38:18)  How does our definition of success shape our lives? (40:50) Pre-Order “The Secret Society of Success” Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

We can’t stop ourselves from ever getting into a funk, but we can take control and move forward when we find ourselves in one. In today’s episode, we talk about four practical actions to help us get out of a funk and recommit to pursuing healthy growth. We also discuss the importance of labeling your emotions in order to take away some of their power, as well as advice for finding the right people to confide in.  We often use language to hide the truth of where we’re at (3:01)  Today we’ll discuss four actions that can help us get out of a funk (6:40) 1. Own it: You will never fix what you refuse to see (7:15) 2. Talk about it: Another person can introduce rationality (13:01) Find someone you trust to be solution-oriented and give good advice (17:34) 3. Jolt your way out of it: If you want different results, start doing different things (23:46) When you disrupt yourself, you reorient your mind, body, and emotions instead of escaping (34:18) 4. Practice healthy growth: Create change that’s sustainable (36:32) Your effectiveness as a leader is not measured by your ability to be perfect (41:27) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

After years of prioritizing his career, Trey Sheneman is excited to direct new levels of focus toward his family and his health. Trey is chief marketing officer at The ASK Method Company, and in this episode, he shares his story of learning to show up as his authentic self in the workplace. Trey also discusses the importance of acceptance instead of agreement when interacting with people who believe different things than you, and he offers advice to other leaders who feel compelled to keep climbing rather than pausing to think about what matters most to them.  What is marketing, and why are you so passionate about it? (1:58) What was the mindset change that allowed you to change career paths? (11:50) How do you become a peacemaker as a leader? (18:16) What has helped you overcome the desire to be liked? (22:40) How do you make sure your image is aligned with how you’re actually feeling? (26:53) What changed inside of you that equipped you to leave a job you love? (36:35) How have you embraced authenticity while working in marketing? (46:16) What is the difference between acceptance and agreement? (54:01) What advice would you offer to someone who feels stuck trying to climb the mountain? (1:03:13) The ASK Method Company Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Have you ever considered how LinkedIn can elevate your impact? In this episode, Alex talks with Josh Etress, COO of Anchor Investments and a leader who’s excelled at sharing quality, insightful content on LinkedIn. Josh shares his top advice for staying consistent on LinkedIn, using frameworks to make posting more efficient, and building habits and boundaries around your relationship with the platform. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss part 2 of the conversation with Josh!  Today we’re talking with Josh Etress, COO of Anchor Investments and LinkedIn aficionado (1:05) When and why did you start engaging with LinkedIn? (5:25) The value of LinkedIn: Wisdom, growth, talent attraction, reach (11:37) How do you stay consistent on LinkedIn? (15:47) When should a leader be on LinkedIn? (20:52)  What rhythm will help create results on LinkedIn? (26:46) Can you share an example of a LinkedIn framework? (33:47) What habits help you manage messages and comments? (43:21) What pitfalls should leaders avoid? (48:41) Where to learn more from Josh (55:44) Helpful Links and Resources “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon LinkedIn “Exchange” Post  Follow Josh on LinkedIn LinkedIn Accounts Josh Recommends:  Dan Go  Katelyn Bourgoin Dale Dupree Justin Welsh Dickie Bush Sahil Bloom Mission Hotels Anchor Investments Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

Great leaders are great coaches, and great coaches use principles to distill truth. In this episode, we close out our series on the five characteristics of effective coaching with a conversation about four tactics for principle-based coaching. We talk through some practical examples of patterns we’ve turned into principles at Path for Growth. We also wrap up our conversation on coaching with a reminder that wisdom and nuance are essential characteristics for all leaders and coaches.   Great coaches are relational, curious, assertive, directional, and principle-based (0:53) Principles simplify, solve, scale, and separate (1:57)  Principle-based coaching involves 4 tactics (7:48)  1. Notice the pattern (10:43) Experience is not authority (13:56) The more evidence you gather about a pattern, the more assertive you can be (14:40) 2. Identify the principle (21:14) Don’t sacrifice truth just to make your principles sound catchy or clever (28:36) 3. Collaborate to make the principle practical (35:52) 4. Understand that reality isn’t perfect (40:32) Effective coaching requires nuance (48:49) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Great leaders are great coaches, and great coaches operate out of principle-based thinking. In this episode, we start to wrap up our series about the five principles of effective coaching. We break down the definition of principles and discuss 4 practical ways that principle-based thinking can help you become a better leader and coach. Great leaders are coaches who unleash the best in others (0:43) Effective coaching is principle-based, and this is a skill you can learn (4:49) If you want to be better at principle-based coaching, you have to be better at principle-based thinking (9:07) What is a principle? (10:16) Why do principles matter? (14:10) Principle-based thinking can greatly benefit leaders in 4 key ways (19:00)  1. Principle-based thinking simplifies. (19:48) 2. Principle-based thinking solves. (27:20) 3. Principle-based thinking scales. (29:05) 4. Principle-based thinking separates. (34:34) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

When Casey Graham successfully sold his first business, he started feeling stuck and without purpose. After working to redefine his goals and motivations, Casey became the founder and CEO of Gravy, a company that both helps with failed payment recovery and intentionally develops people and leaders. In this episode, Casey shares his story of climbing out of a difficult place to find both success and fulfillment. He also shares practical advice for other business owners about building trust-filled relationships, learning to delegate, creating an owner’s intent, and focusing on leadership development.  What happened when you sold your first business? (2:06) Why is it important to know the motivation behind your business? (10:50) How did your brokenness lead you to find your support system? (15:42) How can confession help when someone is feeling stuck? (18:23) How have you intentionally built trust-filled relationships? (22:11) Where do friendships fit into your leadership development at Gravy? (28:58) Why did you decide to prioritize people's development? (31:05) How do you distinguish between preferences and core issues when delegating? (34:20) What is an owner's intent, and how do you create it? (42:46) How do you reorder and reinvent yourself when you need to? (49:51) Follow Casey on LinkedIn Subscribe to Casey’s Newsletter The No BS Small Business Book Gravy Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Great leaders are great coaches, and great coaches help people figure out where they are and where they are headed. In this episode, we discuss the fourth of five coaching characteristics: Effective coaching is directional. We talk through the three planes where someone can excel at directional coaching, along with four common fears that keep people from seeing the path ahead of them.  The highest calling of a leader is to unleash the best in others (0:58) To be a directional coach, you both have to agree on where you are and where you’re headed (2:22)  Directional coaching happens on three planes, and you have to excel on the first to move on to the next (6:14) 1. The conversational plane: Where is this conversation going? (8:27) 2. The situational plane: Where am I going in this situation? (11:40) 3. The existential plane: Where is my life going? (13:05) When people have directional alignment on all three planes, it leads to outrageous harmony (16:18) Your ability as a coach to see the path is nice but irrelevant: the goal is for them to see the path (17:21) When people are lacking direction, err on the side of intentional curiosity (19:37) Lack of direction is almost always related to fear (22:08) There are four main fears that we can help people overcome to find direction (23:38) 1. Fear of the unknown (25:20) 2. Fear of failure (32:54) 3. Fear of incorrect aim (37:46) 4. Fear of impossibility (42:35) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

For JP Krueger, establishing core values is not a once-and-done exercise. In fact, when he noticed that he and his team at Five Stone Tax Advisers were too focused on growth and profitability, JP took time to slow down and work with his team to choose five core values that would drive every part of their business going forward. In this episode, JP describes that process, shares his perspective on what it means to run a faith-based organization, and discusses his reluctance to plan too far into the future. He also explains how he’s built generosity into his business model. Why did you start Five Stone? (2:35) What was challenging about the transition out of the early stages of business? (5:16) How did planning too far into the future end up hurting your business? (8:15) How have you redefined your goals and values? (11:11) What changed when you stopped recruiting? (19:49) What does being a faith-based organization mean to you? (25:20) Can you walk us through your process of choosing core values? (27:37) How do you evaluate someone against your core values during the interview process? (29:30) What’s the difference between commitment and lack of balance? (38:17) How do you strive for effectiveness without micromanaging? (44:04) Why is generosity so central to your business? (45:41) How has generosity blessed your business? (51:33) Five Stone Tax Advisers Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Great leaders are great coaches, and great coaches know when to be assertive. In this episode, we continue our conversation about the five principles of effective coaching and discuss the importance of making healthy, helpful, and productive assertions. We also unpack four characteristics of a healthy assertion that can help you bring out the best in the people you’re leading and coaching.   To be an effective coach and leader, there are five key qualities to practice (0:51) Sometimes great coaching involves drawing answers out of someone, but other times it requires you to be assertive (5:16) There’s a fine line between healthy and unhealthy assertions (9:35) “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (11:15) Healthy assertions have four characteristics (19:01) 1. Healthy assertions are rare (19:35) 2. Healthy assertions are trustworthy (24:18) 3. Healthy assertions are humble (34:38) 4. Healthy assertions are principle-based (41:54) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Pete Roberts started Origin U.S.A. because he wanted to take a stand in saving American manufacturing. And in the process of building his company, he found an even deeper purpose through the leadership he could provide for employees who needed a cause to fight for. In this episode, Pete shares why Origin’s mission is so important, and he explains how he’s held onto his vision while also needing to think about revenue. We also talk about the way our businesses can change when we stop thinking in the short-term and start focusing on building something that can outlive us.  Why are you so passionate about American manufacturing? (1:45) What will be required to keep manufacturing in America? (10:53) Why did you decide to take a stand and do something about this issue? (15:39) How have you united people around this cause? (21:21) Why have employees stuck around even during the pandemic? (27:50) What does it look like to cast a vision while still thinking about revenue? (33:27) How does having a long-term mindset for your business shape the way you make decisions today? (41:22) How do you maximize your time with advisors? (46:15) What motivates you to turn down opportunities that don’t align with your long-term goals? (53:33) How do you discern between wise counsel and naysayers? (57:53) What is an entrepreneurial seizure, and how do you combat it? (1:10:00) How have you evolved to become the leader Origin needs? (1:14:40) Product is a manifestation of the mindset (1:24:28)   Origin USA Follow Pete and Origin on Instagram Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

Great leaders are great coaches, and great coaches are curious. In this episode, we continue our conversation about the five principles of effective coaching and talk about three areas you can focus on in order to become more curious. We also walk through a framework for asking better questions about where a person is and where they are going. Leadership is about unleashing the best in others (0:46) When trying to influence and lead, motive matters (3:47) Good coaches give answers to people, but great coaches extract answers from people (6:31) To convey curiosity, focus on the tone you use, the questions you ask, and the way you listen (9:54) Your tone can convey interest and invite people to share more (10:27) Asking questions is key to curiosity (21:14) We think asking questions is difficult and abnormal (22:13) We don’t ask questions because we believe the gap between failure and success is information (25:23) We avoid questions because we assume we understand (28:32) Ask about where they’ve been, where they are, where they’re going, and what the path looks like (32:24) The passive coach hears concepts, but the active coach listens to language (43:50) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

So many people set out to read the Bible regularly but quickly let it fall by the wayside. In this episode, I continue my conversation with Dr. Michael Easley, who shares practical advice for anyone who wants to make a habit of reading the Bible but doesn’t know where to start. He also explains his process for approaching a passage of Scripture and shares specific passages for people to read based on their current struggles. If you missed part one of this conversation, be sure to check it out for more great insight.  What mistakes do people tend to make when they start trying to study the Bible? (2:18) What is an achievable goal for someone who wants to get started? (4:41) How do you select the right translation based on your level of familiarity? (9:23) Where in the Bible should you start reading? (14:26) Observe, interpret, and apply (22:32) What readings do you recommend for someone struggling to stay emotionally engaged and present? (36:11) What readings do you recommend for someone working on their marriage?(40:27) What readings do you recommend for someone who’s feeling unfulfilled? (46:17) What readings do you recommend for someone who wants to rediscover their passions? (48:50) What resources do you recommend to supplement Bible reading? (53:07) How would you challenge a listener who thinks they don’t have time to read? (56:25)   Constable’s Notes Talk Thru the Bible Bible.org FaithLife Study Bible and Logos Answers in Genesis Institute for Creation Research Ron Rhodes The Big Book Series Michael Easley in Context Podcast Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

There’s a major difference between believing the Bible is truth and actually spending time with it. In this episode, I have the honor of talking with Dr. Michael Easley, the former president of Moody Bible Institute and pastor at Stonebridge Bible Church. He shares some fundamental truths about the Bible and explains how reading it regularly can lead to transformation. This is part one of a two-part conversation with Dr. Easley, so be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode!  Why do so many people avoid the Bible? (5:01)  How has your relationship with the Bible evolved throughout your life? (6:51) What has to change for someone to start falling in love with the Bible? (12:46) At the most fundamental level, what is the Bible? (18:21) Why is the Bible worth reckoning with, whether you believe in it or not? (24:48) How can routinely reading the Bible change us? (32:04) Why is it important for leaders to read the Bible? (36:19) How to connect with Michael (42:39) Michael Easley in Context Podcast Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

If you want your business to achieve different results, you need to take different actions. In this episode, Alex breaks down 6 of the most common deficits that keep businesses from growing beyond their current level. He also shares actionable steps you can take to overcome this deficit, so you can experience healthy growth and see your impact increase.  What got you here won’t get you there (0:40) Today we’ll look at 6 common deficits that kill business growth (1:44) 1. Vision Deficit: Make it clear, compelling, comprehensive, and communicated (2:41) 2. Accountability Deficit: Develop role-based, results-oriented, and rhythmic accountability (9:55) 3. Leadership Team Deficit: Think strategically about the leaders you choose (18:08) 4. Distinguishing Factor Deficit: Know what makes you different from the rest (22:23) 5. Courage Deficit: True growth always requires courage (24:56) 6. Humility Deficit: Invite others into the process of creating lasting impact (28:44) Resources: Try Path for Growth 1on1 Coaching Free for 14 Days Download the Free Reading Guide Connect with our Founder Alex Judd on LinkedIn and Instagram

As you set goals for the new year, it’s important to make sure that you’re not only prioritizing growth and sacrificing your health in the process. In today’s episode, we talk through eight truths and lessons that can help you pursue healthy growth this year as you seek to leave a lasting impact with your business and your relationships.  The new year represents an incredible opportunity to think about growth (0:39) There are 8 truths that can help your pursue growth without sacrificing your health (4:36) 1. Health and growth are not the same thing (5:44) 2. Growth for the sake of growth is dead (7:32) 3. Fulfillment is an inside job (10:16) 4. Contentment and growth can coexist (12:53) 5. My work is not who I am, my work is where I serve (16:22) 6. My standard is commitment, not perfection (20:38) 7. God’s promises are not found outside God’s boundaries (23:52) 8. I am not going to see this finished (28:03) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

To be a great leader, you have to learn how to coach, and to be a great coach, you have to be relational. In this episode, we break down six principles of relational coaching, which will help you build trust and provide more value to the people you’re investing in. We also discuss the importance of listening well and unpack seven simple strategies you can use to listen more effectively.  To lead well, you sometimes need to be a coach (0:42) Effective coaches share five key qualities (3:51) People don’t care that you know until they know that you care (5:30) Effective coaching requires vulnerability, but you have to build a relationship first (6:57) Live like a person that people can trust, and be consistent (11:18) Don’t teach principles that you don’t live out (14:34) A great relational coach has 6 characteristics (15:46) 1. Relational coaching is holistic (16:50) 2. Relational coaching is context sensitive (19:04) 3. Relational coaching is intentional (26:15) 4. Relational coaching is characterized by a commitment to listening with non-verbal affirmation, verbal affirmation, specific questions, paraphrasing, mirroring, and labeling (30:38) 5. Relational coaching is empathetic (43:30) 6. Relational coaching is fun (45:21) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook

What is a leader’s job? It seems like a simple question, but often we look at leadership through the lens of other people’s expectations, or we don’t take the time to think about our responsibility to the people around us. In this episode, we explore the idea that the primary responsibility of a leader is to unleash the best in others. To help with that, we also introduce five principles of effective coaches, which we’ll continue to explore in the coming weeks. What do leaders do? (0:49) Leaders unleash the best in others (2:11) As a leader, you must live in the tension of wanting to see certain outcomes but accepting that you can’t control everything (4:12) Leaders believe that your best is in you (9:51) Leaders believe the best is possible (13:21) Leaders believe the best needs to be unleashed (18:22) The best leaders wear many hats, not just the vision casting hat (19:52) Great leaders need to wear the hat of coach (21:35) Effective coaches have five key qualities (26:18) 1. Effective coaches are relational (27:57) 2. Effective coaches are curious (29:28) 3. Effective coaches are assertive (30:32) 4. Effective coaching is directional (32:57) 5. Effective coaching is principle based (33:51) Path for Growth Membership Path for Growth One-on-One Coaching Sign up for the Worth it Wednesday Email Join Path for Growth on Instagram and Facebook