In this episode of I Have a Friend You Need to Meet, I introduce you to Stephen Boatman—a financial planner, entrepreneur, and pillar of his local community.

We explore how Stephen's people skills have shaped his business, friendships, and daily life. You’ll hear stories about coaching kids, navigating social fear, building real community, and how to make friends as an adult—without forcing it.

🎯 Episode Highlights:

• [02:50] – Stephen’s journey into financial planning
• [05:20] – How mentorship shaped his character and leadership
• [06:45] – Giving feedback without hurting feelings
• [10:00] – Developing emotional awareness and sensitivity
• [14:45] – The power of listening and asking better questions
• [21:15] – Building friendships through shared spaces
• [25:00] – How to overcome fear of rejection when making friends
• [30:30] – The rewards of being socially generous
• [36:00] – Why community is more valuable than success
• [39:00] – Rapid-fire questions on social skills, favorite books & advice

If you’ve ever struggled with making new friends, being more present in conversation, or building a better community around you—this episode is for you.

👥 Connect with Stephen:
Website: https://flatfee-financial.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/boatman.se

Sawyer “Sawdog” McGraw is a fitness influencer, model, actor, and the founder of his own pre-workout brand. But behind the muscle and camera-ready confidence is a guy who used to run from photos as a kid. In this episode, we dive into his journey of building real social confidence, the power of putting yourself out there, and how developing people skills changed everything in fitness, business, and life.

Whether you're growing your brand, trying to be more confident socially, or just want to connect with people better — this conversation is packed with value, real talk, and actionable gems.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: I Got a Friend You Need to Meet
01:19 – Who is Sawyer “Sawdog” McGraw?
04:09 – Why He Started Putting Himself Out There
07:07 – Social Skills in Fitness, Sales & Modeling
10:11 – Was He Always This Outgoing?
12:00 – Purpose Fuels Social Confidence
14:56 – Mindset Shifts That Changed the Game
18:08 – Handling Rejection in Business & Dating
23:11 – How to Stay Authentic While Networking
26:38 – The #1 Mistake People Make with Social Skills
28:37 – Fastest Way to Improve Your Social Life
29:09 – Becoming Magnetic in Any Room
31:47 – One Habit That Instantly Makes You More Likable
34:07 – The Secret to High-Quality Friendships
40:13 – Where to Find Sawyer Online

🔗 Connect with Sawyer:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawdogfitness/?hl=en
YouTube: Sawdog Fitness

✅ Don’t forget to follow the show, rate it, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.