Just Say It

I want to share something new with you today—something I've been wanting to do for a long time. Most people never get to see personal development in action. It usually happens behind closed doors—between a coach and a client, or inside someone's private struggles. There's rarely a chance to witness it and learn.

Until today.

A few months ago, I quietly invited folks from our community to reach out if they wanted help. Jeff Currey was one of the first to raise his hand.

Jeff and I worked together years ago, and until recently, we hadn't spoken in 5 or 6 years. When he reached out, we picked up right where we left off. He showed up with rare openness, and together we worked to connect the dots on things he'd already been wrestling with.

We filmed the session, but honestly—it might land better if you just pop your phone in your pocket, head outside, and take a walk in the fresh Spring air while you listen.

And if anyone out there is feeling as brave as Jeff—if you'd like to get coached live on a call with me (for free!)—just reach out.

I'd love to hear what you take from it.

Thanks for listening,

Jonathan

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Let's face it—most people are terrible at setting boundaries. It's not about intelligence, success, or how much you've accomplished. It's about the ability to say no, to speak your truth, and to stop yourself (and others) from staying stuck in the same old patterns.

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In today's episode, we're going to talk about why boundaries aren't just important—they're essential. Not the rigid, punitive kind, but the kind that creates space for real growth in your relationships. When you avoid boundaries, you're not being kind; you're holding people back from becoming who they're meant to be.

This isn't the easy stuff. It's uncomfortable. It's messy. But it's also the kind of love that actually makes a difference.

Stay until the end of the video to find out:

• Why avoiding boundaries is doing more harm than good.
• How to call out the people you care about—without pushing them away.
• Why saying no isn't just about protecting yourself; it's about empowering others.

If you've been holding back, afraid to speak up, this is your invitation to do it differently. It's time to stop running from the tough conversations and start leaning into them.

Let me know how it goes.

Jonathan

In today's episode, Jonathan introduces a transformative way to approach the new year by rethinking the traditional idea of setting external goals. Instead of focusing on resolutions like losing weight, saving money, or changing jobs, he explores how creating productive internal conflicts can drive lasting change and deeper fulfillment.

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Jonathan explains that true growth comes not from aiming for binary success or failure with external achievements but from fostering tension between the version of yourself who made past choices and the future version of you who lives differently. This inner dialogue becomes the foundation for meaningful progress, offering clarity and motivation to bridge that gap over time.

In the conversation, Jonathan provides practical examples of how to apply this principle across various aspects of life—work, relationships, health, and finances. Whether it's improving your job satisfaction, standing up for yourself in a relationship, or making healthier choices, the key is to embrace the discomfort of this internal conflict rather than avoiding it. He emphasizes that sustainable change isn't about quick fixes or drastic actions but about building awareness and resilience day by day.

Jonathan also underscores the importance of seeking support from trusted friends, family, or colleagues who can help you stay grounded and accountable. Sharing your intentions and progress with others who align with your values can make all the difference in your journey.

This episode is a fresh take on personal growth—one that encourages you to ditch the quick resolutions and instead embrace the tension between who you are today and who you want to become. By doing so, you set the stage for a year that feels truly different and aligned with your authentic self.

Thanks for listening.

In today's episode, Jonathan challenges the familiar advice to "just be yourself," questioning what it really means to live authentically. He explores why this idea often feels unhelpful or even confusing, especially when we think of the self as a fixed identity. Instead, Jonathan reframes authenticity as a process of unwinding—a journey of peeling back the layers of conditioning, beliefs, and emotional structures that obscure your true nature.

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Rather than adding something new to become "authentic," Jonathan explains how uncovering your true self is about letting go of what was never you to begin with. He contrasts the commonly held view of the self as a noun—static and definable—with a deeper understanding of the self as a verb: a fluid state of being, free from conflict and resistance.

Jonathan delves into how this process requires confronting the emotional structures built in childhood, which often go unnoticed but quietly shape our lives. He warns against spiritual bypassing and the temptation to dismiss reality in favor of abstract truths, reminding us that real growth happens when we engage fully with our lives—not avoid them.

This episode is a call to embrace the messy, nonlinear work of self-discovery. Jonathan emphasizes that the path to authenticity is a lifelong journey, one that demands patience, self-awareness, and a willingness to face the unresolved parts of ourselves. It's not about achieving a fixed sense of self or meeting external expectations; it's about unwinding what holds you back and moving toward a deeper flow with life.

If you've ever wondered what it truly means to "be yourself" beyond superficial advice, this episode offers a fresh perspective and a practical framework for the path ahead.

Thanks for being here.

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On today's episode, Jonathan reflects on a camping trip where he observed his family embracing quiet, mindful moments, contrasting with the constant noise and information of modern life. He discusses the paradox of wellness content, which focuses on actions rather than the essential "zero moments" of quiet introspection. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, especially with the advancement of AI, and the challenge of conveying authentic, internal experiences through media. As you listen, consider how you can embody your true self, free from external conditioning and distractions.

This is an invitation for you as we head into 2025 to do something truly different. Instead of making a resolution, try leaning into the feeling of being unresolved.

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On today's episode of Good Authority, Jonathan sits down with Wendy Smith, the renowned author of Both/And Thinking, to delve into the traps of either-or thinking that affect our decision-making, relationships, and even political discourse. Wendy shares insights from her journey as a self-proclaimed "uncertain academic," exploring how embracing ambiguity and conflicting forces can become powerful tools in both personal and professional contexts. Together, they discuss why a "both/and" mindset is crucial for fostering understanding and avoiding the polarization that often stems from black-and-white thinking. Wendy explains how our natural comfort with certainty and simplicity can often limit our creativity, while a more expansive approach can help us see opposing ideas as interconnected rather than mutually exclusive. Throughout the episode, Jonathan and Wendy also examine how this mindset can aid leaders in guiding teams through complex challenges by balancing diverse perspectives, allowing them to navigate seemingly contradictory goals more effectively.

Key takeaways from this episode are the value of embracing ambiguity to foster growth and creativity, practical methods for moving beyond polarizing perspectives, and strategies for leaders to guide teams through complex, contradictory challenges.

Wendy Smith earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, and is currently a professor of management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics and Co-director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware.

Wendy's research focuses on strategic paradoxes – how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory agendas. She studies how organizations and their leaders simultaneously explore new possibilities while exploiting existing competencies, and how social enterprises simultaneously attend to social missions and financial goals. Her research has been published in journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, Organization Science and Management Science. In 2018, she won the University of Delaware's first Mid-Career Excellence in Scholarship Award. In 2015, she won the Lerner College Outstanding Scholar Award.

Wendy teaches leadership, organizational behavior and business ethics. She has taught MBAs and undergraduates at University of Delaware, Harvard and University of Pennsylvania – Wharton. Wendy was awarded the University of Delaware MBA Teaching Award in 2016. Wendy has also taught executive and senior leadership teams how to manage interpersonal dynamics, emotional intelligence, high performing teams, organizational change and innovation, managing in times of crisis, and managing strategic paradoxes.

Connect with Wendy: https://bothandthinking.net/

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In this episode, Jonathan Raymond sits down with Rand Fishkin, founder of Moz and Sparktoro, for a deep and candid conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Rand opens up about his journey from scaling Moz, dealing with the pressures of venture capital, to his new ventures in audience research and indie game development. They discuss mental health, the challenges of being a young tech founder, and how childhood experiences shape leadership styles. Rand shares the hard lessons learned from his battle with depression, stepping back from Moz, and the importance of emotional maturity and vulnerability in business. This episode is packed with insights on navigating the highs and lows of startup life, building a more diverse and inclusive team, and balancing personal well-being with the demands of entrepreneurship. Whether you're a founder, leader, or simply interested in personal development, this conversation offers powerful lessons on growth, healing, and finding success in your own way.

About Rand:

Rand Fishkin is cofounder and CEO of SparkToro, makers of fine audience research software, and indie game developer Snackbar Studio. He's dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through his writing, videos, speaking, and his book, Lost and Founder. When Rand's not working, he's usually cooking a fancy meal for the love of his life, author Geraldine DeRuiter. ⁠⁠⁠

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

https://x.com/randfish

https://sparktoro.com/

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In today's episode of Good Authority, Jonathan sits down with Matt Dixon, a renowned sales researcher and author, for a deep dive into modern sales strategies. They explore how sales is not just a profession but a way of showing up authentically in life, whether you're a business leader, coach, or parent. Matt shares insights from his extensive research, debunking outdated sales tactics and emphasizing the importance of authenticity, trust, and empathy in today's sales environment. This episode is a masterclass in how to approach sales conversations with integrity and make meaningful connections. Whether you're in sales or simply interested in improving your communication skills, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons.

About Matt Dixon:

Known for his ground-breaking research, he is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and is the author of some of the most important business books of the past decade.  He is a founding partner of DCM Insights, a boutique consultancy focused on using data and research-backed frameworks to help companies attract, retain and grow their customers.

His first book, The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation (Portfolio/Penguin 2011), was a #1 Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestseller and has sold nearly a million copies worldwide and has been translated into a dozen languages.  The Challenger Sale has won acclaim as "the most important advance in selling for many years" (SPIN Selling author Neil Rackham) and "the beginning of a wave that will take over a lot of selling organizations in the next decade." (Business Insider).  He is also the author of The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty (Portfolio/Penguin 2013), which introduced the concept of customer effort reduction and the Customer Effort Score to companies around the world, as well as The Challenger Customer: Selling to the Hidden Influencer Who Can Multiply Your Results (Portfolio/Penguin  2015), the celebrated sequel to The Challenger Sale.  His newest book, The JOLT Effect: How High Performers Overcome Customer Indecision, was released by Penguin in September 2022.

 Matt's work has been published in the print and online editions of Harvard Business Review on more than twenty occasions.  Among his noteworthy HBR articles are "Dismantling the Sales Machine" (November 2013) and "The End of Solution Sales" (July-August 2012), both of which appear in HBR's 10 Must-Reads on Sales.  He is also the author of some of the most widely cited HBR articles on customer experience and customer service, including "Reinventing Customer Service" (November-December 2018), "Kick-Ass Customer Service" (January-February 2017), and "Stop Trying to Delight Your Customers" (July-August 2010). 

In addition to his research and writing, Matt is a seasoned practitioner having held executive leadership roles in strategy, new product development, product management, research and innovation for companies like Tethr, Korn Ferry Hay Group and CEB (now Gartner).

He is a sought-after speaker and advisor to management teams around world, having presented his findings at a wide range of industry conferences as well as to hundreds of senior executive teams around the world, including those of many Fortune 500 companies.

 Matt holds a Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh as well as a B.A. in International Studies from Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  He currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and four children. 

Connect with Matt:

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

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In today's episode of Good Authority, Jonathan and Ruben Harris sat down to talk about their shared experiences as business owners, founders, and CEOs navigating the tech space amidst the massive disruption brought on by AI. They explored topics like childhood, music, and the ways we relate to our minds and hearts. Ruben detailed his journey from musician to co-founder and CEO of Career Karma, highlighting his transition from music to investment banking and the founding and growth of Career Karma.

Jonathan and Ruben discussed the evolving landscape of careers, the future of AI, and its impact on job markets. They touched on the potential of AI to enhance human capabilities and the importance of maintaining balance between the mind and heart. They shared personal stories, including Ruben's long-standing passion for the cello and Jonathan's reflections on his daughter's piano lessons and their family music sessions.

As you listen, reflect on the significance of embracing emotions, the potential of AI to enhance human capabilities if we manage it correctly, and the enduring value of relationships and community in achieving true happiness.

About Ruben Harris:

Ruben Harris is a Bay Area transplant from Atlanta, Georgia where he served as an Advisor for Forge and organized Atlanta's first Healthcare Hackathon.

Over the past couple of years, Ruben has worked with academics, organizers, politicians, and union leaders at Hustle, Honor and AltSchool focused on improving their personalized outreach, healthcare and education.

Ruben began his technology career working in Partnerships and Sales after writing a viral blog post called Breaking Into Startups about how he moved to San Francisco without a job and landed a position 3 weeks later.

After receiving thousands of e-mails asking how to break into tech, Ruben Co-Founded the Breaking Into Startups Podcast to demystify the process, resulting in a social media reach of ~3 million people, 200,000+ downloads, 10,000+ website visits per month, over 100+ reviews on iTunes, a Facebook Community of 10,000+ people, and invitations to be a Contributor for TechCrunch and Black Enterprise.

Prior to working in tech, Ruben worked as an Investment Banker focused on Food, Consumer, and Retail companies in Chicago and Atlanta. As a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, he recruited others to focus on issues related to food security, climate change, and agriculture.

In 2010, Ruben worked on operational improvements for Senior Living Communities after completing a double major in Business Administration and Music.

During college, Ruben organized 50+ events for non-profits, athletes, and celebrities including Tyrese, Kim Kardashian, and Jay-Z.

Ruben has been playing the cello for ~25 years, taught music, performed in venues all over the world - including Carnegie Hall, and landed placements from Def Jam.

He is also an active member of the NAACP.

Connect with Ruben:

https://x.com/rubenharris

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

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In this week's episode of Good Authority, Jonathan dives deep into the ethics and morality of AI, urging non-technical founders and executives to engage with this powerful technology responsibly. He discusses the rapid pace at which AI is transforming our world and the importance of having strong moral and philosophical foundations guiding its development and use. Jonathan reflects on the impact of previous technological advances, such as social media and smartphones, and emphasizes the need for a different approach to AI. He shares his journey as a non-technical founder embracing AI and explores how it can scale human-centric coaching and leadership, aiming to foster better communication and understanding in a divided society. After today's conversation, you'll have clear insights into why it's crucial to be involved in shaping AI's future and how it can potentially create positive change if we shape it correctly.

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