What if your business, team, or even your personal work rhythm could actually grow because of friction — not in spite of it?

That’s the question we dig into with today’s guest, Travis Lee Howard, as he shares his powerful framework called the Mindful Business Paradigm (MVP). 

This isn’t just another business model — it’s a way to diagnose where things are off, whether you're a leader, creator, or changemaker trying to do mission-minded work that actually matters.

Travis breaks down the four-part paradigm — Self → Customer → Machine → Team — and helps us understand how misalignment between any of these areas can derail your impact. 

But with the right questions and reframes, you can find your way back to clarity, connection, and creativity.

• How to use friction as your best diagnostic tool

• The real reason your systems or team might be struggling (hint: it’s probably not the tools)

• How non-founders and employees can use this to find their place and amplify their impact

• Why your most powerful leadership move is to speak your inarguable truths

“When things break down, don’t panic — diagnose. Are you out of sync with yourself, your customer, the machine, or the team?”

• Business leader growing your company

• Employee searching for purpose and alignment

• Consultant designing better systems

• Or creative finding your path back to meaningful work...

This episode is your invitation to pause, realign, and reimagine how your work flows from gift to impact.

• Connect with Travis Lee Howard on LinkedIn

• Explore more tools to create, own, and storytell your real work at reframetocreate.com

About my guest: 

Travis Lee Howard’s career is a remarkable blend of entrepreneurship, leadership, and mindful management. From his early days in technology and law to his pioneering work in the cannabis industry and his current role as a coach and consultant, Travis’s journey is marked by continuous growth and impactful contributions. His dedication to fostering innovation, compassion, and strategic excellence makes him a standout figure in the modern business landscape.

With over 20 years of entrepreneurial leadership experience, Travis coaches potential founders and entrepreneurs to reach their full potential through a simple paradigm. In teaching the mindful management pillars he works with his clients to tackle self, customer, machine, and team in a manner that aligns and inspires.  

Contact Travis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisleehoward/

Reference Episodes

Reframe to Create Episode 97 - Are you the Gift or the Gift-Giver | Travis Lee Howard 

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer/

You already know story matters.

However, a few subtle hang-ups may still be holding you back. 

In this episode, I reframe four common storytelling mistakes so you can get comfortable, get practicing, and get your stories working for you.

• Practice over theory: Storytelling is a verb. Shift the ratio from “one more book/framework” to actual reps.

• You don’t have one story: You have many. Build a Story Bank and match moments to context and audience.

• Personal ≠ private: Tell human, lived stories (with appropriate vulnerability) without oversharing.

• Process > product: Storytelling changes the storyteller too. Transformation happens while you craft and share, not only when you deliver.

If after listening to this episode you feel ready to get restoried or prep a stage-ready story, then I want to hear from you! 

Explore packages: https://reframetocreate.com/restoried • Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Reframe to Create Episode 64 - The Why and How of Building a Powerful Personal Brand | Diane Diaz

   

• Reframe to Create Episode 88 - How to Build Your Story Bank

   

• Reframe to Create Episode 108 - The Real Reason Your Story Falls Flat (And How to Fix It)

   

• LinkedIn Video Series: Your Guide to Storytelling Frameworks 

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

“They get to change their mind, and you get to change yours too.”

When Sawida’s mom dropped this nugget of wisdom into a moment of heartbreak in middle school, it was more than comfort.

It was liberation.

In this episode, I take you inside that story and unpack the stunning power of this reframe: the reminder that rejection doesn’t strip you of your agency. You still have a choice. You still get to pivot, reframe, and keep creating.

We explore:

• How “they get to change their mind” frees you from taking rejection personally

• How “you get to change your mind too” reminds you of your own power and choice

• Why rejection isn’t just an ending, but often a signal of completion

• How to use rejection as a springboard into the final step of my C.R.E.A.T.E. framework: Evolve

Because here’s the truth: rejection does not unmake you. It simply points to a new choice, a new path, a new creation waiting for you.

🔑 In this Episode, You’ll Learn:

• A liberating reframe for rejection that helps you stay in your agency

• How to spot when “no” really means “this is complete”

• Practical ways to pivot and evolve when something ends

• Why changing your mind is not flakiness — it’s wisdom in action

🎧 Tune in to hear how this one sentence — “You get to change your mind” — can become your permission slip to reframe, pivot, and keep creating.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

Do you struggle to create consistently in the mornings—even though you know it sets up your day for success?

You’re not alone. I’ve fought this battle for years, and I’ve learned something game-changing:

💡 Your morning doesn’t start in the morning—it starts the night before.

In this episode of Reframe to Create, I share my candid struggle with building a solid night routine and how that impacts my ability to create first thing in the morning.

You’ll hear:

• Why your nighttime habits may be sabotaging your creativity.

• The three essential steps to conquer the night so you can master the morning.

• How to protect your sleep, reclaim your environment, and set yourself up for success.

• Why Creating Mavens never give their best energy to their job first.

Your mornings can become a launchpad for creativity—but only if you win the battle the night before.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

Have you ever felt stuck, replaying past decisions and beating yourself up about what you “should have known”?

I’ve been there—so much so that when I was learning to drive, I spent more time staring into my rear-view mirror than focusing on the road ahead.

In this episode of Reframe to Create, I’m sharing why regrets don’t have to break you or keep you stuck. Instead, they can become treasure troves of learning—if you know how to reframe them.

You’ll learn:

• Why regrets are not a bug but a feature of life.

• How beating yourself up about the past prevents you from learning.

• Two powerful perspective shifts to help you move from regret to growth.

• How to see your past as sealed as your future—so you can finally let go.

Regret doesn’t have to haunt you. It can teach you. It can guide you. It can even help you create something beautiful.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

The other day, I was devouring a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant sandwich with a friend (yes, it was as delicious as it sounds) when our convo shifted from breakfast to bilingual babies to life transitions.

That’s how we do.

She’s pregnant with her third and was wondering when to teach her kids Portuguese.

I told her the answer in one word: Now.

Because you don’t wait for the perfect time.

You get ready now.

That chat turned into a deeper reflection on those seasons when nothing seems to be happening—but you know something is around the corner. You may not know what or when, but there’s something in your spirit whispering, “Get ready.”

And I’ve lived that.

Years before I made a major move to a new city, I started preparing. Not because I had all the details, but because I had a desire. I decluttered my life—physically, mentally, emotionally—so that when the moment came, I could move light, free, and fully ready.

That’s what this episode is about:

Positioning yourself to meet opportunity—not with overwhelm—but with open arms.

🎧 In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why you already know enough to start preparing now

• What to do in your “still” seasons when nothing seems to be moving

• How the “Stop, Start, Continue” framework can guide your next steps

• Why action—not clarity—brings more clarity

• And what Portuguese, closets, and junk mail have to do with your next big thing

🔑 You’ll walk away with:

• The mindset shift that helps you feel ready—even when life feels uncertain

• Simple prompts to declutter and position yourself for the life you want

• The confidence to trust your curiosity as your compass

So... what are you getting ready for?

The move? The business? The creation? The shift?

You already know enough to get started.

Let’s get ready—now.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

I spent decades believing Star Wars was set in the future.

Yes, the Star Wars. Yes, the one that literally starts with “A long time ago…” No, I didn’t want to believe it. 😂

But here’s the thing:

It made me ask, where else am I stuck in an old story? What invisible frames am I living in, the ones that keep me from seeing what’s possible for me?

Because you can only create out of who you are.

And who you are is shaped by the story you believe.

✨ You want to innovate? Get restoried. ✨ You want to get paid to be you? Get restoried. ✨ You want to create work that sets you apart? Get restoried.

That’s what this new episode is about — how to break free from the old story holding you back so you can finally reframe to create. 

🔑 Want help? If you’re ready to find the stories that are anchoring you, inspiring you, and holding you back — and finally step into the freedom of creating with your gifts — I’d love to help you reframe and get restoried. Learn more at reframetocreate.com/restoried.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

We’ve all been told that storytelling is a superpower.

But what if the way you’ve been using it is aimed at the wrong target?

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Manning, who will help us reframe storytelling from something you tell to something you design—with empathy, intention, and transformation at the core.

Dan Manning is a veteran fighter pilot, entrepreneur, and master story designer who will help you take your storytelling to the next level.  

If you want your stories to do more than just sound good but you want them to move people, then this one’s for you.

• Why your audience is already telling themselves a story and how to make sure it’s the right one

• The difference between storytelling and story design (and why it matters so much)

• How to avoid triggering the wrong narrative in your audience’s mind

• The power of listening, empathy, and understanding pain before you ever open your mouth

• Dan’s “Nano Story” and “Micro Story” tools for building impactful stories fast

• How to frame your story so people choose transformation

🖇️ Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danmanning

🌍 Learn more at: buildthestory.com

About my guest: Dan is the Chief Story Architect and Founder of Build The Story, where he helps founders, coaches, and consultants create short, impactful stories to sell themselves and their businesses. 

Before beginning this business, Dan was an Air Force officer, fighter pilot, and military diplomat. He led the day-to-day air operations against ISIS from the Combined Air Operations Headquarters in Qatar. During that deployment, he also served as the lead operational negotiator with Russian forces in Syria. In his storytelling work, he examines how stories shape our beliefs and behaviors. 

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

"Thought leader." 

What comes to mind when you hear that? 

A know-it-all? 

A viral TED Talk speaker? 

Something you could never be?

In this episode, we’re breaking down that phrase and rebuilding it with purpose. And who better to help us reframe thought leadership than Carol Cox, the founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand® and one of the original voices who pushed me to launch this very podcast!

Carol is back on the mic (you may remember her from Episode 54), and she’s bringing clarity, conviction, and a serious invitation to elevate how you show up and speak up.

Together, we unpack what thought leadership really is (and what it isn’t), why it's critical for mission-driven professionals, and how you can get started today.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What thought leadership really means and why you might already be doing it

• The different “packages” your thought leadership can take

• How stepping into thought leadership supports your personal brand and mission

🎁 Resources + Links Mentioned:

• Grab Carol’s free Thought Leadership Workbook: https://speakingyourbrand.com/guide 

• Listen to the Speaking Your Brand® Podcast

• Connect with Carol on LinkedIn

• Revisit Episode 54: Becoming Better at Navigating Transitions with Carol Cox

About my guest: Carol Morgan Cox is the founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand®,  a coaching and training company that helps high-performing, purpose-driven women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and thought leadership platforms. Carol is host of the weekly 5-star rated Speaking Your Brand® podcast and during election seasons serves as a Democratic political analyst on TV news. Carol was named as one of Orlando's Women of the Year in 2021 and has been featured in Forbes. Through her company and content, her mission is to empower more women to find and use their voice, to tell the stories that need to be told, and to activate ideas for change.

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer

Does weaving storytelling into your work feel like a lot? 

Like a heavy lift, you don’t always have time or energy for?

What if I told you there’s a shortcut? 

A storytelling tool that’s faster, flexible, and just as powerful in most situations?

Spoiler alert: it’s the analogy.

In this episode of Reframe to Create, we’re building your Analogy Bank.

I can become your go-to collection of comparisons, metaphors, and visual word-pictures that help you easily explain complex ideas and connect with your audience instantly.

Analogies are the bridge.

They’re the glasses and flashlight you whip out in that dim restaurant so you can finally read the menu. (Can anyone relate?) 😩

They take the foggy and make it crystal clear.

And here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a poet to use them well. 

You just need to start noticing them, collecting them, and pulling them out when it counts.

In this episode, I’ll show you:

• Why analogies are your communication superpower

• How to build your own Analogy Bank step-by-step

• A few of my favorite analogy examples that you can use  

If Episode 88 helped you build your Story Bank, this one is your next move. 

Grab your notebook. 

It’s Analogy Time!

About: The Reframe to Create podcast is hosted by Joy Spencer, an Executive Leadership and Storytelling Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Development Consultant working with professionals and leaders at all levels within organizations.  Joy leverages over 17 years of experience she gained while working to champion change in social justice movements, including those related to global access to essential medicines and consumer advocacy for online privacy.  This work required a dogged commitment to not merely challenging the status quo, but to reimagining and working towards creating an ideal future.  It is this commitment to creating that has shaped Joy’s coaching philosophy and approach today. Using her signature C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, Joy guides her clients through a process to become incomparable in work so they can get paid to be themselves.  

Follow Joy on LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-spencer