Clarity Fam,

This past week has been one of the most personally challenging weeks I can remember. Often, the Clarity Compressed Podcast reflects what I’m working on in my own life and this week’s episode is certainly no different.

There is so much more to being a “good listener” than meets the eye. In fact, to reach the actual goal of listening, which is ‘to hear’, takes maturity, experience, and real work. I’m still thinking through this, but I’m guessing that one of the primary distinguishing factors of truly great leaders is their ability to HEAR and not merely listen.

I share three levels of listening that apply to just about everyone.

Keep listening, keep hearing, and keep PURSING CLARITY.

Paul
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Clarity Fam,

I got some fresh perspective this last week after wrapping up five high-octane days at the National Auto Dealers Association Conference in LasVegas Nevada. We ran 15+ hour days…every day. Then…the last leg of my trip left me sitting in BWI Airport for hours. 

I just wanted to be home, but I also knew I got to choose how I invested my time there. So this week you have a very worn out road warrior deciding what to do. 

Keep deciding. Keep pursuing clarity.

Paul

PS: If you want to see all the crazy things we were up to last week, check out the social feeds for Automotive State of the Union on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok
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Clarity Fam,

It's probably no secret to you that I’m doing A LOT in my life. I'm deep in the throes of three businesses, a full service agency, Congruent, a small consultancy, Contagious Auto, an up and coming media publisher, ASOTU. On top of that I'm redeveloping a new production studio, Tipp Hill Studios in Syracuse NY annnnd I have a family of seven to keep led, fed, loved, and inspired.

So what gives and when?

Today I talk about the answer I received from my coach David Meltzer when I asked him the question, “How do I know what to STOP doing?”

The answer might surprise you like it did me.

Pursue that CLARITY!

Paul

P.S.:  I'll be in LasVegas later this week for the NADA Show where 30,000 Auto Industry professionals will converge.

My media company, ASOTU, will be pumping out livestreams and fun content in real time. Follow #asotu on any social platform or sign up for one of the best daily emails on the inter webs here to be a part of the troublemaking.
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Clarity Fam,

I learned two important lessons this past week from my trip to Waco, Texas to visit the Magnolia Empire:

1. The power of brand connection is alive and well.

2. It is A LOT different (but worth it) navigating an airport with a family including a 2 year old and a mother-in-law than it is my myself.

I had a speaking engagement in Dallas last week and since our family are fans of Fixer Upper and the Magnolia brand, I decided to bring everyone with me so we could spend a few days in Waco, Texas. We had a blast and the Magnolia team delivered in a MAJOR way!

Waco has had its challenges over the years and is still, in many ways, fighting through them. However, what one brand has done for that town is staggering. People now travel from all over the country (and world) to visit just a couple of square blocks on one Texas town.

I get into some of the impressive elements and show off some of the things I experienced in the video.

Keep reaching for more.

Keep your family with you.

Keep Pursing Clarity.

Paul
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Clarity Fam,

Like many of you, I stayed up later than usual to watch the nail biting end of Super Bowl LVI. We had two teams who were full of finely tuned athletes and coaches who had trained for the majority of their lives to be in this position. It came down to the final seconds and one team was victorious, while one team was the loser. 

After the excitement died down, the game had me thinking about the razor thin margin of separation between the winners and losers of that game and how those two terms might be contextualized for those of us playing the infinite game of life.

Keep winning, losing, and pursuing CLARITY,

Paul
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Clarity Fam,

Like many of you, I stayed up later than usual to watch the nail biting end of Super Bowl LVI. We had two teams who were full of finely tuned athletes and coaches who had trained for the majority of their lives to be in this position. It came down to the final seconds and one team was victorious, while one team was the loser. 

After the excitement died down, the game had me thinking about the razor thin margin of separation between the winners and losers of that game and how those two terms might be contextualized for those of us playing the infinite game of life.

Keep winning, losing, and pursuing CLARITY,

Paul
. . .
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Clarity Fam,

Four years ago I released Episode One of the Clarity Compressed Podcast. Actually in the early days, it was called “Dealers Compressed” and it was a fully produced spot. The intention was to release 10 Episodes of series created around a book called “Like I See It” by my (now) good friend, Dale Pollak.

I’ve had the honor to interview so many amazing people. Entrepreneurs, New York Times Best Sellers, Navy Seals, Influencers with millions of followers, Millionaires, Billionaires, and even my therapist. 

All of these episodes in pursuit of what I call CLARITY. The perspective of knowing where I am on the map, so I can better plot the course to where I want to go. 

It’s just appropriate that I didn’t even realize that this week was the four year anniversary until I remembered I needed to record the episode for this week as I was shoveling the entrance to my office building…alone. 

That is what growth is like. It seems like its just plodding along and then all of a sudden, it’s four years later and you realize how much you’ve changed, hopefully for the better. 

SO many good things have come into my life. So many of those are because I decided to start a podcast. 

I don’t now how many weeks I’ll do this podcast for, but I know I’ll release one THIS week. 

What I DO know, is that I’m grateful to be on the journey WITH you. Thank you. 

Let’s keep pursuing CLARITY together, 

Paul

PS: I’ve just started another company and we have a killer daily email…you can check it out by subscribing at www.asotu.com. We also have a fun and easy referral game where you win swag I co-designed by sharing the email. I hope to see you over there!
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Clarity Fam,

Lately, I've been thinking about the velocity of highly opinionated content coming my way that is masquerading as fact. The truth is that any article that is titled "How to think about ________" should cause us major pause.

Thinking for ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we've been given and is the bedrock principle of progress that allows us to take care of one another. There should be challenges to one another's thinking and we should both cultivate and celebrate diversity of thought in its truest sense.

This week I offer three suggestions on how we can be more thoughtful about how we think and hopefully reject the notion that we need someone else to tell us how to.

Keep thinking and keep pursuing that clarity!

Paul

PS: I'm very excited to let you know about launching a daily email I publish with my partners at ASOTU.com . It covers automotive, culture, marketing, and a really fun section on what the kids are up to these days. I think you'll enjoy it. You can sign up here. Also, we're launching an awesome referral program in the next couple of weeks that will get you all swagged out for sharing it with your friends!

Let's be real, I just wanted another reason to buy more black flat brims 🙂
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Clarity Fam,

This week I tell the story of how my wife and I were invited to hang out with Grammy Award Winning recording artist, Leon Bridges. It started at baggage claim in Orlando and ended on opening night for the newest, state-of-the-art symphony hall in the country.

The moral of the story is, have the awareness and do the work to make the most of every opportunity. Often times it is the little things that move you the furthest along...but only if you are paying attention.

Pursue that Clarity!

Paul
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Clarity Fam,

There are very few times where you get to speak with a real hero. Even if you were times you get to speak with a real hero, who is also one of your personal heroes. Today was that day for me as I had the opportunity to sit with retired Navy SEAL and legendary entrepreneur Jocko Willink.

Jocko has shaped many of my mindsets through his books, podcasts, and my observations of his life. He reminds me that there are no excuses, only the ones that I allow myself to make. He reminds me that the American spirit is alive and well, and at its best, contributes to much flourishing. But at its worst, has the potential to be destructive.

We talk about creating, entrepreneurship, expectations of leader ship, and I even get in a slew of rapid fire questions in the end that were a whole lot of fun.

So if you’re curious about what drives this driven man… And also, what this driven man drives, literally, this one is for you!

And you should definitely check out The Jocko Podcast, clothing company, Origin, and his new book “Final Spin” at your soonest opportunity.

Pursue clarity my friends,

Paul

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