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199. Heart Work, Not Hard Work with Shaun Murphy
If you’re having difficulty finding what you’re looking for in life, have you thought about looking in a completely different place? One that might require walking away from what you have?
Of course you can say that’s a lot easier said than done, especially if it feels like there’s not a whole lot out there for you.
For Shaun Murphy, known internationally as Mister Motivation, the idea of staying in place, settling, and subsisting never really worked for him. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and at every step of the way, standing still has never been “fine” for him.
His father was murdered when he was six years old. His mother, an immigrant from Barbados, was poverty-stricken yet resourceful and would go through walls to make sure the family had enough – not much, for sure, but enough – with about $100 per month to spare. And yet, if she was down to her last $20 and met a starving stranger on the street, she’d buy them a good meal. So showing up, working hard without complaining, staying grounded in service, and helping other people – these were the core values the experience imprinted on Shaun.
After high school, he briefly went to college then dropped out to serve in the military for eight years. But when he got out, he discovered three unpleasant truths.
One, there is not nearly enough support for military servicepeople transitioning to civilian life. Two, after eight years of active duty and living well, all of a sudden he was back to not knowing for sure where his next meal would come from. And third, he found that as a man in his community, a man just couldn’t talk about it when things aren’t fine. Even if his buddies gave him an understanding ear in the moment, they might embarrass him over it a few weeks down the road. And women would see him as soft.
Shaun’s next job was working in the mailroom at NYU, where he learned a priceless lesson I’ll let him tell you about. Next it was off to Iraq, working as a combat civilian working the postal mission. And then he was introduced to Teach for America and realized this was his calling. By now, he had a good-paying steady job and career prospects. “Impact over income”, Shaun tells us – so he got the degree he needed and took a huge pay cut for the opportunity to spread wealth into the lives of others.
Fast-forward a bit, and Shaun found himself a former college dropout who had become a college professor teaching college students how to succeed in college.
There’s so much more to this story, as I’m going to let Shaun tell you in his own words. Now, he’s an accomplished motivational speaker, musician, author – and sports team owner. I can’t wait to share.
Shaun’s hype song is "The Bunker" by Mister Motivation.
Resources:
- Shaun Murphy’s website: https://mister-motivation.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0n
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492
- Claim your copy of Shaun Murphy's book, Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of Resilience.
Invitation from Lori:
This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.
Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.
Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.
But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.
That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!
If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.
Because when people feel heard, they engage.
When they engage, they perform.
And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
Now that we’ve talked a little business, let’s bring Shaun Murphy onto the stage. Get ready to tap into an area of your brain where childlike states of enthusiasm meet adult aspirations to greatness!
View all episodes
By Lori Saitz
5
2929 ratings
If you’re having difficulty finding what you’re looking for in life, have you thought about looking in a completely different place? One that might require walking away from what you have?
Of course you can say that’s a lot easier said than done, especially if it feels like there’s not a whole lot out there for you.
For Shaun Murphy, known internationally as Mister Motivation, the idea of staying in place, settling, and subsisting never really worked for him. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and at every step of the way, standing still has never been “fine” for him.
His father was murdered when he was six years old. His mother, an immigrant from Barbados, was poverty-stricken yet resourceful and would go through walls to make sure the family had enough – not much, for sure, but enough – with about $100 per month to spare. And yet, if she was down to her last $20 and met a starving stranger on the street, she’d buy them a good meal. So showing up, working hard without complaining, staying grounded in service, and helping other people – these were the core values the experience imprinted on Shaun.
After high school, he briefly went to college then dropped out to serve in the military for eight years. But when he got out, he discovered three unpleasant truths.
One, there is not nearly enough support for military servicepeople transitioning to civilian life. Two, after eight years of active duty and living well, all of a sudden he was back to not knowing for sure where his next meal would come from. And third, he found that as a man in his community, a man just couldn’t talk about it when things aren’t fine. Even if his buddies gave him an understanding ear in the moment, they might embarrass him over it a few weeks down the road. And women would see him as soft.
Shaun’s next job was working in the mailroom at NYU, where he learned a priceless lesson I’ll let him tell you about. Next it was off to Iraq, working as a combat civilian working the postal mission. And then he was introduced to Teach for America and realized this was his calling. By now, he had a good-paying steady job and career prospects. “Impact over income”, Shaun tells us – so he got the degree he needed and took a huge pay cut for the opportunity to spread wealth into the lives of others.
Fast-forward a bit, and Shaun found himself a former college dropout who had become a college professor teaching college students how to succeed in college.
There’s so much more to this story, as I’m going to let Shaun tell you in his own words. Now, he’s an accomplished motivational speaker, musician, author – and sports team owner. I can’t wait to share.
Shaun’s hype song is "The Bunker" by Mister Motivation.
Resources:
- Shaun Murphy’s website: https://mister-motivation.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0n
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492
- Claim your copy of Shaun Murphy's book, Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of Resilience.
Invitation from Lori:
This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.
Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.
Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.
But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.
That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!
If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.
Because when people feel heard, they engage.
When they engage, they perform.
And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
Now that we’ve talked a little business, let’s bring Shaun Murphy onto the stage. Get ready to tap into an area of your brain where childlike states of enthusiasm meet adult aspirations to greatness!