Author and coach Bobby Shelton sits down with Ken Davenport, entrepreneur, writer, and author of The Stoic Edge, to explore how ancient Stoic wisdom can guide modern leaders toward purpose, discipline, and peace of mind.

Ken shares lessons from The Stoic Edge, The Stoic Transitions, and his upcoming book The Virtue Ethos, revealing how timeless principles from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca can help us regain control in an age of noise and distraction.

Together, Bobby and Ken discuss the Stoic virtues of wisdom, courage, discipline, and justice and how these foundations can help you slow down, act with intention, and live a life that truly matters.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, restless, or unsure of your direction, this conversation will help you reclaim focus, lead yourself well, and find strength in simplicity.

What You’ll Learn:

What Stoicism really is ; and how it applies today

How to control your reactions and stop overthinking

Why purpose isn’t something you find, but something you bring

How consistency beats intensity (and patience builds peace)

The connection between virtue, authenticity, and meaning

Key Quotes:

“You can’t control what happens to you—but you can control your reaction to it.” – Ken Davenport

“Purpose isn’t something you find in your 9-to-5; it’s something you bring to it.” – Bobby Shelton

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

The Stoic Edge - Ken Davenport

The Stoic Transitions - Ken Davenport

The Virtue Ethos - Ken Davenport, coming soon

Atomic Habits - James Clear

Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

Easy Hard vs Hard Hard - Bobby Shelton

Connect with the Guests:

Ken Davenport: www.kendavenport.net | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgdavenport/

Bobby Shelton: www.easyhardvshardhard.com | www.battlecatcoaching.com

| Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b

Stoicism, Ken Davenport, Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard, Bobby Shelton, self-leadership, purpose, personal growth, modern Stoicism, Atomic Habits, mindfulness, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, discipline, courage, wisdom, virtue, Battlecat Coaching, leadership, motivation, authenticity

What are you going to do with this information?

We spend our lives collecting knowledge by reading books, listening to podcasts, and talking with mentors. If these efforts never turn into action, it only fills our heads, not our lives. In this episode, In this episode, Bobby challenges you to stop hoarding insights and start applying them.

You’ll hear how emotions and overthinking can sabotage your progress, and why real change happens only when you do something with what you’ve learned. From corporate leaders to creative risk-takers, Bobby shares stories of those who took their information and built something meaningful.

It’s time to move from knowing to doing. Start where you are, grow where you’re planted, and keep chasing your Hard Hard; the work that truly matters.

You’ve done the thinking. You’ve made the plans. But none of it matters until you take the first step.

In this episode, Bobby explores what separates the Easy Hard from the Hard Hard: action. You’ll learn how to move from intention to momentum, why starting small matters, and how consistency and accountability fuel transformation.

“In twenty years, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” — Mark Twain

Start where you are. Take one action today. Then repeat.

Welcome back to the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast, a show dedicated to helping you find and do the work that actually matters.

In this solo episode, Bobby Shelton explores Chapter 6 of his book , Self-monitoring, and why this simple but powerful habit separates those who drift into Easy Hard from those who stay on the road to their Hard Hard.

Fresh from attending at the CEO Summit at Liberty University, Bobby shares lessons on leadership, awareness, and the importance of gentle course correction. Drawing from his own 180-pound weight-loss journey and coaching experience, he reveals how self-monitoring helps you stay aligned without falling into the trap of over-measurement or self-criticism.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why self-monitoring is about awareness, not anxiety.

• The key difference between evaluation and monitoring.

• How to spot patterns before they become problems.

• Why early metrics can discourage progress.

• The power of small, daily “micro check-ins.”

• How being gentle with yourself builds momentum.

Favorite Quotes:

“Self-monitoring is your compass — you’re just checking the map to make sure you’re still heading in the right direction.”

“All change is self-driven. Only you can make the change.”

“Be gentle with yourself. The harder you are on yourself, the harder it is to recover.”

Referenced in This Episode:

• Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard — by Bobby Shelton

• Atomic Habits — by James Clear

Episode Highlights:

• Why metrics can sometimes lie to you early in the journey.

• How awareness creates consistency, and consistency builds trust.

• The difference between gentle self-awareness and micromanaging yourself.

• When to bring in accountability partners ; and when not to.

• How simple self-monitoring transforms reflection into forward momentum.

Key Reminder:

Don’t over-engineer your growth. Just check in, adjust course, and keep moving. You’re not looking for perfection ; you’re building presence and progress.

Join the Movement:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s chasing their Hard Hard. Every listener who learns to self-lead contributes to a world that’s more focused, fulfilled, and free from distraction.

#self-leadership #self-monitoring #easyhardvshardhard

The Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard podcast celebrates Episode 20 with author and publisher Ben Gioia, creator of Influence With a Heart®. Together they explore how to write your book with purpose. Ben shares how coaches and leaders can finish a meaningful book in just weeks, overcome fear, use dictation to find their voice, and market it before it’s even published. If you’ve ever said “someday I’ll write a book,” this episode will help you start today.

Connect with Ben:

www.influenecewithaheart.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia/

Connect with Bobby:

www.easyhardvshardhard.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b

Buy a copy of Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard at https://a.co/d/cDKpKcM

After a recording mishap, Bobby takes the mic solo to share what he learned from his backyard trees and how their rhythm of growth and rest can help us avoid burnout.

He unpacks the concept of masting, the natural cycle where trees go all-in for one season, then pause to recover.

The message?

Even purpose-driven people need to recharge.

Also in this episode:

Updates on the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard book launch

Why rest isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom

A moving story about compassion from an unexpected stranger

If you’re feeling drained, this episode will remind you that rest is part of the work.

Listen. Reflect. Restore.

#SelfLeadership #EasyHard #HardHard #Mindfulness #PurposeDrivenLife #MeaningfulWork #Resilience #LeadershipPodcast

Bobby’s book, Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard, is now available on Amazon Kindle, with the print version coming soon.

This book consolidates the ideas explored on the podcast—helping readers recognize the difference between the “Easy Hard” (the comfortable grind that leads nowhere) and the “Hard Hard” (the meaningful work that fulfills).

Get your copy: https://a.co/d/4EbWLrz

If your interested in the program offered by Ben Gioia, please find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia/ or visit his website: https://www.influencewithaheart.com

In this episode of the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast, Bobby Shelton explores the critical distinction between self-evaluation and self-assessment and why both are essential for chasing the work that truly matters.

You’ll learn:

How self-evaluation helps you look back at past actions with honesty, kindness, and clarity.

Why self-assessment is about looking forward, setting small, achievable goals, and taking consistent action.

The importance of honesty, avoiding overthinking, and embracing baby steps on the path to meaningful change.

Practical questions to guide your reflection and assessment process.

Bobby shares personal insights, actionable strategies, and encouragement to stop chasing “Easy Hard” tasks and instead commit to your “Hard Hard”...the work that brings purpose, progress, and fulfillment.

Whether you’re journaling, redefining your habits, or simply seeking clarity on your next steps, this conversation will help you take stock, take action, and move forward with consistency.

If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who might need it and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update.

Follow Bobby Shelton and the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard journey across all platforms to keep chasing the work that matters most.

Self-discipline isn’t about punishment or willpower it’s about aligning with the work that truly matters. In this episode, Bobby Shelton breaks down common myths about discipline, explains why chasing someone else’s goals never works, and shows how consistency, accountability, and purpose create lasting self-leadership. Tune in and discover how to build discipline that actually sticks.

In this heartfelt episode, Bobby Shelton steps away from the planned topic of self-discipline to address something deeper: the role of love versus hate in our lives. Sparked by recent conversations with friends and neighbors, and a tragic event in the news, Bobby explores how easy it is to let hate creep in and how essential it is to intentionally root ourselves in love.

You’ll hear:

Why hate is the ultimate Easy Hard. Fueled by fear, insecurity, and borrowed anxieties.

How focusing on what we observe in our daily lives, rather than what we’re told, changes our perspective.

Practical ways to cultivate love: gratitude journaling, identifying what you truly love, and simple daily acts of kindness.

Bobby’s personal reflections on depression, healing, and how love reshaped his mindset.

This episode is a call to action: to lead with love, reject distractions fueled by hate, and find the work that actually matters.

If this resonates with you, share it with someone who could use more love and encouragement in their life.

Coach Matt Lovitt has logged over 20,000 hours of coaching CEOs, pro athletes, and everyday people looking to transform their health. In this episode, Matt shares how fitness became his path to safety and confidence, why walking may be the most underrated fat-burning tool, and how accountability and consistency matter more than perfection.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why environment and mindset keep so many people stuck

- How a 30-minute workout system can transform your energy and focus

- Why rest, recovery, and walking are the real keys to lasting results

Subscribe to the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don’t miss future episodes.

#FitnessTransformation #MorningWorkout #EasyHardVsHardHard #MattLovitt #SelfLeadership #30MinuteWorkout #HealthAndPerformance #ConsistencyOverMotivation #VirtualTraining #BobbySheltonPodcast