Seek Go Create with Tim Winders

By Tim WindersSociety & Culture Business Entrepreneurship Religion & Spirituality Christianity Philosophy

Seek Go Create with Tim Winders episodes

February 21, 2022Defining Leadership with Jennifer Thornton
What does leadership mean to you? Everyone has their preferred approach to leadership. But leading a team to reach a common goal harbors its own hurdles causing an arduous journey. At times, a leader may be confronted with unforeseen matters and challenges. As a leader, it is your responsibility to spearhead change and progress for your team and community.
In this episode, Tim Winders invites Jennifer Thornton, a highly-skilled leader and marketing executive, to share her insights on effective leadership. She talks about the essence of balancing both directive and collaborative traits for effective leadership and management. Lastly, Jennifer imparts ways women can step up as leaders despite the overwhelming archaic stereotypes.
Being a leader is a continuous learning process. Tune into this episode to learn more about defining leadership!
3 Reasons to Listen:
Discover what it means to be a great leader.
Learn how you can make change happen by being unafraid to question others.
Find out the three reasons why people work.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Grab a copy of Coach: A Story About Success Redefined.
Check out The Greatest Salesman by Og Mandino
Here’s more about Tesla
Read about Jen’s insights on Understanding the Talent Cliff and the Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership
Wall Street Journal article on why people are leaving their jobs.
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
Learn more about 304 Coaching on their website.
Episode Details

Episode Highlights[03:22] Defining Leadership
Everyone has their own definition and perspective of leadership.
For Jen, leadership is the respect you show to a group to achieve your goals together.

[03:30] “I think that leadership means something different to every person... For me, it is the respect you show a group of people in order to do something big.” - Click Here to Tweet This
Currently, Jen describes leadership as being in a state of confusion where we seek answers to pursue greater endeavors.
The difficulties of 2020 have led to the development of directive leadership.
The increase in fear has caused drops in emotional control, decision quality, and collaboration.

[07:13] The Balance in Leading
Leadership is a continuous practice and experimentation process.
Directive leadership is needed in cases where you are pressed for time and have difficulty reaching a consensus.
Jen recommends a balance of 75 - 80% collaborative and 20 - 25% directive.

[09:13] A Perfect Leader
No one is a perfect example of a leader. Instead, the people have pieces of what is needed to lead the organization.
Understanding who you surround yourself with is essential in leadership.
Learn to leverage experts in every area of your business to pave the way for good work.

[10:50] “You have to understand how to leverage experts as part of your decisions, part of your education, and part of your learning. This is taking that old school saying of ‘surround yourself with great people to what it looks like today.’" - Click Here to Tweet This
It’s important to be able to lead people through progress and change.

[14:23] Behind the Name 304 Coaching
In pager code, 304 had a negative meaning
Jen’s company started when she was invited to pitch immediately, and during this time, starting her own business was not yet a concrete plan.
304 is her lucky number. It was only supposed to be a temporary name for the upcoming pitch.

[16:52] Growing Into Leadership
Jen enjoyed working in the retail industry even at a young age.
Jen was able to practice her leadership skills in a multimillion business.
After transferring to the HR department, she realized that projects could either fail or succeed depending on the team.
Her family has a history of entrepreneurship. She was surrounded by business-minded people.

[22:10] Early Learnings
Jen learned that doing the right thing will always lead to something great.
Collecting experiences instead of money and titles will lead to what you want to achieve.

[22:31] “You have to collect experiences, not money and titles because those experiences start to add up to get you what you want.” - Click Here to Tweet This
Working together is an important part of Jen’s experiences.

[25:21] “What you're getting in trouble for is what you're really good at because you're too much of it for someone. Good leaders learn what that is, and learn how to situationally manage it.” - Click Here to Tweet This
Jen is a lifelong learner, but she wants to learn and gain experience in her own way.

[27:38] Speaking Up: A Female’s Perspective
Jen being vocal and rebellious at a young age was deemed inappropriate by her family.
Leadership roles can begin from the moment children are assigned specific types of chores.
Generally, men are more able to boast the details of their accomplishments, garnering respect within their surroundings.
Jen advises women to articulate the results and impact of their achievements to gain respect as leaders.

[36:20] Talent Cliff
It starts when the people behind the business are more than capable of starting their company.
However, their focus starts to shift towards other areas of business. They stop ensuring that the talent skill stays above the business needs.
Fear intensifies, and directive leadership starts, causing their people to turn away.
The talent skill goes off a cliff, and the business begins to fall.

[39:34] Reasons For Working
Nowadays, there are many different opportunities to earn money.
Other than financial reasons, people work to connect with others and grow as an individual.
Another reason is to be able to contribute to something bigger than them.
Providing employees with opportunities will attract more people to work for you.
Listen to the podcast to learn how employers can support their employees to encourage growth.

[42:10] An Addiction to Being Right
People who are set in their ways often believe that they are always right.
Leaders who think this way will be inflexible to changes and new perspectives.
“I don’t see it, but change my mind” is a good approach to use for a leader when dealing with contradicting views.

[47:41] “Whatever your thoughts are around it, all you have to say is ‘I do not see it, but change my mind.’ Because then you're honest that I don't get it but you're opening up a conversation to learn.” - Click Here to Tweet This
By doing this, a leader can create a space where others can defend their perspective and tell their truths.
Through a proper discussion, opposing sides can find a middle ground that may work for everyone.

[49:11] Using Annual Reviews
Annual reviews can be used as an opportunity to ensure alignment of appraisal between employee and employer.
A good leader would reduce fear by encouraging conversations.
Some see annual reviews as a finish line. It gives them a goal and a starting point for a new race to run.
It’s a process of continuous learning from others on your team.

[52:56] The Seven Deadly Sins of Leadership
These are representations of being addicted to being right in a business.
Wrath can manifest through yelling and violent motions in a disagreement.
Gluttony shows the development of that addiction to being right.
Noticing these seven deadly sins in you can be a sign that you should work on yourself.

[54:56] Making Hiring Choices
When desperate for more helping hands, employers tend to hire candidates without checking if they would be a good fit for the job.
Hiring the wrong person can be as stressful as lacking manpower.
Extra work for the team can cause burnout and exhaustion.
Vanity work has no real impact on the business and needs to be cut out.

[57:36] Redefining Success
For Jen, success is when you have made a positive impact in your community as a leader.
Creating better work environments can create better communities.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to change how they work. Why work when you can play?
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
1 hr 3 min
February 14, 2022How to Lead a Significant Life Through Faith with Mark Whitacre
Sometimes, the life of our dreams isn’t the life we need.
It’s easy to be caught up in material things and get distracted by shiny objects. We often believe that having a massive house and expensive cars equates to success. Plus, shopping without looking at the price tags and going on expensive trips is a sign of success. But correlating success to financial achievements only brings harm by sowing the seeds of greed. This creates an endless cycle of insatiable desire, wanting more and more yet never feeling satisfied.
In this episode, Mark Whitacre recounts the largest price-fixing case in US history that utterly destroyed his life and mind. He discusses how he recovered his faith and hope in the aftermath of this ordeal. Mark also shares the psychological effects of corporate greed and the harrowing experience of working as an FBI informant. Lastly, he goes on to discuss his inspiring story of finding faith and purpose in prison.
Listen to this episode if you want to find out what a significant life means.
3 Reasons to Listen:
Find out Mark’s incredible journey through addiction, loss, and faith.
Discover the effects of addiction, corporate greed, and materialism on a person’s mental and spiritual health.
Learn how faith can help you lead a significant life.

Resources
The Informant! by Steven Soderbergh
Connect with Mark: Website
Seek Go Create: Selflessness as the Key to Living a Better Life with Richard Lui
Coach: A Story of Success Redefined by Tim Winders
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and receive updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Episode Details

Episode Highlights[04:02] Who’s Mark?
He is currently 64 years old, and the price-fixing case took place 32 years ago.
Back then, he was the Divisional President of the Biotech Division at ADM, a Fortune 500 company.
Today, Mark is a father to three adult children with his wife of 42 years and blessed to have a second chance.

[05:37] Definition of Success
Thirty-two years ago, success meant the size of his house and the number of jets he had.
But today, he believes success is living a meaningful life and the impact you leave behind on the world rather than materialism.

[05:57] “I would feel strongly that success is really more a life of significance, kind of what you’re leaving behind when I’m no longer here because I can see the end of life a lot closer than I can the beginning of life.” - Click Here to Tweet This
Also, he strongly feels that the younger generation is obtaining wisdom beyond their years to mentor others younger than him.

[08:02] The Value of “Significance”
All the houses and cars that Mark used to define success are rusty now, thus having no long-term value.
His materialistic definition of success was simply selfishness, and so was the leadership shown by Mark and the other executives involved in the price-fixing case.
Selfish leadership could have gotten him to the level of Bill Gates.
Thinking that there must be more, he learned that no material thing could fill the void in a heart through a journey of brokenness.

[12:12] A Background on ADM
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) was one of the world’s largest food additive companies, with 70 billion in revenue and 30,000 employees.
It wasn’t a bad company, and the employees worked with the right moral compass.
However, four of the top leaders were self-centered, with Mark being the youngest.
When you buy a food or beverage, there are likely ingredients from ADM.

[14:48] The Price-Fixing Case
In April 1992, Mark got promoted to Corporate Vice President of ADM.
He received a $100,000 bonus and 25,000 stock shares, but bonuses were unusual at the time. However, he was greedy and did not return it.
The illegality came up when they discussed passing the baton and mentoring him, but they simply dismissed the laws as outdated.
They said it was essential to the commodity business, and he believed them.

[20:08] The FBI’s Involvement
They were having sabotage problems with a $300 million biotech plan they built for a food additive that goes into poultry.
It was nerve-wracking that the FBI became involved in the sabotage problem, but there was also a larger price-fixing case that was occurring at the same time.

[22:59] Where Does The Extra Profit Come From?
But his wife knew something was wrong, and he was becoming selfish, narcissistic, and materialistic.
With a profit margin built-in, prices will rise, and consumers will bear the cost.
A few dollars from consumers around the world is the source of the extra profit.
Ginger was confused as to why her grandmother was paying extra. A major expense, when they lived in a mansion with a jet and flashy cars.

[25:40] Mark’s Addiction
In 1992, Ginger told him that she would rather have a smaller house and her husband back.
She had lost Mark to a whirlwind of temporary success.
Being Christian, she brought God into their conversation, but Mark didn’t believe in God due to his scientific education.
She accused him of being addicted to work and materialism.

[27:55] The True Whistleblower
The largest price-fixing case in US history and third largest in the world would never have happened without Ginger.
A whistleblower sacrifices everything to do the right thing, and that was Ginger.

[28:55] “She said I’d rather be homeless than live in a home where illegal activity is occurring. And that's a whistleblower.” - Click Here to Tweet This
On the other hand, an informant is usually someone trying to get less punishment.

[30:20] Being an FBI Informant
They were wired every day for three years and were under immense stress due to the severity of the issue.
An inner part of him was still greedy, and he was still getting promotions at that time.
He began to wonder what company would accept him if he wore a wire against his own company.
Falling apart, he wrote five checks for $9 million to justify what he’s owed in stock.

[34:13] The Effects on His Mental and Spiritual State
He was falling apart and losing his identity.
He was thinking about how to protect his family and himself.
Ginger told him she needed to find God.
Because of what happened to Mark after three years, the FBI no longer allows informants to wear wires for more than a year.

[36:48] Prison, Suicide and Bipolar Disorder
For the movie “The Informant,” they did consult with advisors and psychiatrists on bipolarity.
Before going to prison, Mark got a plea agreement that would’ve shortened his sentence to 6 months.
But Mark ripped it up because he was angry at Ginger for getting him into that mess.
He attempted suicide twice before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and admitted to the hospital. Following that, advisors and psychiatrists provided information about bipolar disorder.

[39:27] The Movie Storytelling
The movie ended when Mark was in prison and showed a 30-second clip about what he’s doing at present.
Mark thinks the story would be better if they included the rest of it.
At the red carpet premiere, the director was clear that he wasn’t looking for a redemption story but a crime drama to share in an entertaining way.

[41:51] Mark’s Childhood
He grew up with wonderful parents with the right moral compass.
He was the only one out of four brothers to attend college and became senior class president and homecoming king.
Growing up, he would have never stolen an apple, much less $9 million.
Going to an Ivy League college, he started losing his faith in God.

[44:14] On Christianity
Mark considered faith to be a crutch.
He assumed that his parents believed in God because they did not attend college.
Even though Ginger attended college, he assumed she became a Christian because she was not interested in science.
He thought church was like joining a club and meant you’re Christian.

[47:50] Mark’s Faith Decision
His two attempted suicides were reported in the news.
Ian House from Christian Businessmen Connection (CBMC) told him that prison was the beginning of his life and he’d find his purpose. Mark regained hope.
Chuck Colson of the Watergate scandal challenged him on his disbelief in God.
Chuck presented him with scientists that believed in God, and he surrendered his life to Jesus.

[50:50] “After reading everything I read that Chuck Colson exposed me to, I thought this, Tim: how can you be a PhD scientist and not believe in God?” - Click Here to Tweet This[51:43] How His Addiction Was Cured
He used to earn seven figures, but now, with $20/month, God has filled the void in his heart. God took everything away to show him what it means to be a servant leader.
He started helping others get their GEDs.
A selfish leader will be addicted to more and create a void that will never be filled.

[53:03] “Because if you’re a selfish leader, all you want is more, you’re addicted to more, and you’re never going to fill that void.” - Click Here to Tweet This
The first time Mark felt peace was at 40 in federal prison.

[53:59] Life After Prison
Mark, being a PhD scientist from Cornell, does not doubt that Jesus exists.

[55:14] “I feel like God said, ‘I will give you a second chance.’ But this time, God’s way. And not my way.” - Click Here to Tweet This
While bipolarity still needs treatment, his deficiency in faith was more than the chemical imbalance.
After prison, he was hired in the biotech industry and became the COO of California’s cancer research company.
Currently, he’s the Executive Director for Coca-Cola, one of the victims of ADM’s price-fixing case, and continues to be a servant leader for 15 years.

[56:42] God’s Miracles
Mark gets asked what would happen if he signed that 6-month plea agreement. If he did, he probably would never become a Christian.
He had to be broken to find himself and what’s important in life through Jesus.
Being able to save his marriage and get re-employed are also miracles of God.
Ginger was given a whistleblower award, and his family was financed while he was in prison.

[59:15] The Spirituality in His Journey
In the movie, the director was an atheist and thus removed the spiritual aspect.
While it was entertaining, Mark believes it missed the last 25 years of his journey and continued his life through and after prison.
Even Mark thought his life ended in prison; it was just beginning.

[59:59] What’s Next For Mark and Ginger?
Mark and Ginger believe that their purpose aligns with 2 Corinthians 5:20 and that they are ambassadors for Jesus on Earth.
They are all about making disciples and sharing the teachings of God with other people.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired to think about the meaning of life with this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to redefine success in their lives.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
1 hr 7 min
February 07, 2022The Second Foundational Principle to Success: The Meaning of Faith
Turmoil and upheaval make us question our faith. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of things happening around us. It makes us shortsighted. Worse, it can reach a point where we box ourselves into the belief that the world revolves around us. We lose faith because we think we're alone in our struggles. But that is far from the reality God has planned for us. He created us to succeed and thrive. And only when we put in our pure and absolute trust can we find our meaning of faith.
In this episode, Tim delves into faith as the second foundational principle to success. He explains how these principles are instrumental to the main character of his book. He then shares how the podcast listeners define faith from their perspectives. We'll also get a glimpse of the book's definition of faith and how we can learn from it. Finally, Tim shares a heartwarming glorification his wife did for him that reinforced his faith in humanity.
If you want to redefine the meaning of faith and success in your life, tune in to this episode!
3 Reasons to Listen:
Discover why love comes before faith.
Define the meaning of faith.
Understand that there is a bigger picture — the world doesn't revolve around a single person.

Resources
Check out the following Seek Go Create Podcast episodes:
Love: A First Foundational Principle to Success
From Ministry Worker to International Businesswoman: Mixing Faith & Business with Katie Hornor
Is God Really in Control | Q&A with Chris Cree
The Blue Jeans Christian Podcast by Kevin Brownlee
Your Glorious Endeavor by Kevin Brownlee
Indiana Jones - Leap of Faith clip
The Ziglar Show with Kevin Miller
POSITIVELY JOY Podcast S2 Ep32: Podcasters talk about Jeep's ad: "In the Middle" with Tim Winders and David Weaver
Beyond the Rut Podcast by Jerry Duggan
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Grab a copy of Tim's book, Coach: A Story of Success Redefined!
Episode Details

Episode Highlights
[0:42] The Three Foundational Principles to Success
Tim introduced the first foundational principle last time — love. The second one is faith.
The three principles are like a three-legged stool; one does not go well without the other two.
These three keys are instrumental to the character Tim wrote about in his novel.

[02:05] Love Before Faith
A lot of people think that faith needs to go first before love.
It’s difficult to move into the faith arena without having the slightest bit of love.
Understanding love is important before understanding the meaning of faith.

[03:25] Redefining Success and Faith
Achieving a level of success is possible without having some degree of faith. However, it’s not sustainable.
Success without faith is not a true success; it's more of fleeting worldly success.
The understanding that the world does not revolve around you is a foundational component of faith.
True and purposeful success requires faith.

[05:47] Defining Faith
Tim asked listeners to define faith in 15 words or less.
The scene in Indiana Jones called The Leap of Faith is one way to define the meaning of faith.
Faith is mastering the calm and knowing the way to move forward is always there.
Listen to the full episode to know how Tim’s viewers define the meaning of faith!

[11:25] “[Faith is] putting legs to trust. Faith speaks and acts.” -Click to Tweet This
[13:42] Faith in Hebrew
Emunah is the Hebrew word for faith.
Believing in the power of your Elohim, or God, to do the things you cannot is another meaning of faith.

[14:30] Believing in the Unknown
Many of the definitions of faith gathered by Tim refer to Hebrews 11.
Knowing all is well is the third leg of the three foundational principles to success.
Faith is a decision and choice of confidence in something unprovable and without uncertainty.
Everyone has a degree of faith in something despite not realizing it.

[17:00] “I don't think you can not have faith. You either have faith in yourself, or you have faith in your abilities, or someone else, or the government or things like that.” -Click to Tweet This
[17:56] Faith as Hope
Faith is a measure we have all received for the expected, unseen — accessed by our ability to hope, dream, and create.
It’s knowing unwaveringly that God’s promises are true through eternity.
Faith is hope wrapped up in a blanket of peace. It’s taking the next step without a safety net.
It's through belief in God's plan that the next generations will have a chance for happiness.

[18:00] “[Faith is] a measure we have all been given for the expected unseen — accessed by our ability to hope, dream, and create.” -Click to Tweet This
[20:45] The Formula of Faith
Faith = belief x action x confidence.
Faith is the presence of a correct belief about God.
The counterpoint to faith or unbelief means the absence of any belief or the presence of an incorrect one.

[21:56] Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the substance of the things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
It's not necessarily believing all that you see, but believing things as they are.
God’s word is plan A; there’s no plan Bs.
Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t make it wrong.
Faith is the currency of the Kingdom of God. It’s moving on behalf of what God tells us.

[25:41] The Main Character in Tim’s Novel
Tim wanted the main character in his novel to have three things that would transform his life.
These three things are foundational in urging the character to shift from a place of self-centeredness.
A mentor of the main character helps him define what faith is.

[27:46] The Mentor’s Definition of Faith
The unapologetic and unashamed belief that there is God and that He is our Creator is the meaning of faith.
It is the faith that God loves His creation. He has a desire for us to thrive, flourish, and find our place in the world.
Faith is hope for a better future. It is the assurance that He has the power, wisdom, and desire to help us follow His plan for our life.

[27:57]“Faith is the confidence that God loves His creation, and has a desire for us to thrive, flourish, and find our place in his world.” -Click to Tweet This
[28:36] Confessions of the Main Character About Faith
Believe in God and get convinced that nothing can alter the conviction and belief in this truth.
There's no searching for answers; the answer is your relationship with God.
God always has a plan, even if you don't always understand it. Place all trust in him.
Identify and accept your purpose.
You were created to succeed, not to fail.

[29:57] Faith in Something Bigger than Ourselves
Tim recorded the episode on the day of this birthday. He wanted to move the conversation towards the meaning of faith in the higher power.
Some time ago, Tim’s wife Glori asked Tim what he wanted for his birthday. Tim made an offhand statement to have people make a short video of how he impacted them.
Glory “glorified” the project. It showed Tim that we need to have faith in other people.
We were created for a specific purpose and become a blessing in whichever way.
The world doesn’t revolve around us as individuals. There is a bigger picture.

[32:58] “I have faith that you are created for a specific purpose. You were created to interact with other people to be a blessing in whatever way that is.” -Click to Tweet This

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to discover the meaning of faith.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
37 min
January 31, 2022Empower Struggling Students By Revolutionizing Education with Anne Huntington
Every child is entitled to a fair chance at education. We hope that all children will reach their full potential through learning and competent guidance. However, we are not living in a utopian society. Some children get left behind.
In this episode, Anne Huntington discusses the current challenges in the education system and how her company is transforming the field. She also shares how they help struggling students break down their limiting self-beliefs. Finally, she discusses what it takes to run a family-owned business and its advantages and drawbacks.
If you are interested in being a part of revolutionizing education, then this episode is for you!
3 Reasons to Listen to the Episode:
Discover solutions to problems in the education system.
Uncover how the Huntington Learning Center redefines education and can help a struggling student.
How Anne’s business survived the Great Recession and pandemic.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and receive updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Grab a copy of Coach: A Story of Success Redefined
Learn more about Huntington Learning Center
Buy tickets of The Art of Making It
Connect with Anne: LinkedIn
Episode Details

Episode Highlights
[03:21] Anne, the Problem Solver
Anne loved to connect and network with people at a very young age.
She seeks to solve issues and thinks outside the box. However, she still recognizes the box's existence.
Anne liked to push boundaries even while young.

[04:26] Anne’s Childhood
Anne grew up in northern New Jersey, surrounded by loving family and friends.
Her liberal arts degree propelled her into a career in the arts industry.
She later established her own art curatorial and production company.
After a conversation with her parents, she made a career shift and worked at the Huntington Learning Center.
From childhood to adulthood, she always wanted to bring people together.

[06:39] About the Huntington Learning Center
Huntington is a family business founded in June 1977.
The people working for Huntington Learning Center are beautifully aligned. Everyone from founder to franchisee aims to fulfill the center’s mission and vision.

[09:05] “When you're aligned, and you understand [the business’] vision, and there's trust, there's integrity, anything is possible." - Click Here to Tweet This
Although it faces unique challenges, the alignment of personnel is priceless.
Huntington began when Anne’s parents saw a problem in how the education system handles a struggling student.
Tune in for an in-depth discussion about the history and challenges of the Huntington Learning Center!

[17:49] On Defining Education
Education is fundamental learning, and it continues after school.

[17:49] “Education is fundamental learning. Education continues after you're out of school.” - Click Here to Tweet This
It allows you to know about yourself and the world.
At its core, it makes things possible and solves problems around you.
You can make your dreams come true through education.

[19:20] Challenges in the Education System
Students are missing fundamental skills like reading, reading comprehension, and phonics.
Huntington Learning Center addresses this skill gap by creating lessons customized for the student’s level.
Listen to the whole episode and learn how Huntington can bring a struggling student up more than two grade levels.

[25:51] Macro Solutions on Education
We should ask ourselves how we can help struggling students.

[25:51] “Education is critical to the future. The more folks can think and read, have critical thinking, and be able to make decisions for themselves, the better will be.” - Click Here to Tweet This
People from the education industry must discuss solutions.
People from non-education sectors are also welcome to participate in the discussion because they have a different perspective.
Public-private partnerships must happen to help as many students as possible.

[31:38] Huntington Learning Center Redefining Success
The Huntington Learning Center redefines success by creating customized learning plans for students.
Grades do not define a student.
At the Center, they aim to alter a struggling student's self-limiting beliefs.

[36:15] Franchise Model
A few years after establishing the company, Anne's parents realized that they had a model and system that worked.
They wanted to expand their family business, so they offered to franchise.
Their slogan is: you're in business for yourself, but not by yourself.
Franchisees help fulfill their family’s mission of giving students the best education and vision of world-class student results.
Listen to the full episode to learn how you can also be a franchisee of Huntington Learning Center.

[40:12] What They Learned During the Great Recession
Most of the franchisees who closed their doors were new ones who did not believe in what they were doing and did not have roots in the community.
You need to cultivate relationships in your community to get through tough times.
They learned to adjust the company’s fixed costs and staffing models to make things work.

[43:54] How they Faced the Pandemic
Anne was the newly appointed President of the Center when the pandemic happened.
They had to change their system from face-to-face classes to online tutoring immediately.
The company had a strong franchise network, so Anne was constantly talking to the franchisees for updates.
They realized online and hybrid students outperform those who attend the centers.
2020 was different from the Great Recession — they had to transform their business model completely.

[53:19] Impressive Feat During the Pandemic
Anne was impressed that the company is thriving, and its revenue exceeded that of 2019.
The pandemic allowed them to fix a lot of things and change their organizational chart.
She needed to grow and protect the company. At the same time, she needed to make tough calls.
They hosted free webinars on mental health to help out struggling students.

[59:03] Biggest Challenge as a Leader
Anne believes her biggest challenge is time — there are many things to do, but limited time.

[59:03] “The biggest challenge is time. How you solve that is [through] prioritization.” - Click Here to Tweet This
She solves this problem using prioritization.
To get through challenges, she also learned to delegate roles and rely on her team members.
She is also concerned about reaching more students and expanding the company.

[01:00:51] Anne in the Art World
Anne has a passion for collecting things, especially art. She believes that you can always change your role in art.
As technology advances, so does the art world. NFTs have created many difficult conversations but also benefits for artists.
Art and education are related; art can be therapeutic or assist people with learning disabilities.

[01:005:36] “Art education is critical for learning and creating that imagination for the young learner and the older learner.” - Click Here to Tweet This[01:07:52] Seek, Go, Create
Anne chooses to create because it causes something to exist. It’s how you produce something.
Once you produce something, you can build anything.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired to think about the changing environment of education, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to redefine success in their lives.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
1 hr 11 min
January 24, 2022Creating Growth And Scaling The Business With Simon Severino
Growth doesn't simply mean becoming bigger. There can be growth mentally, physically, and financially. You can't stop at just earning more — there is growing your impact and what you can give. To progress, you need effort and care to move beyond where you are right now and reach even higher heights. But there's more to growing a business than just doing more. Moving forward requires scaling the business.
Together with Simon Severino, this episode discusses the importance of growth and scaling. He shares his own story of going beyond his fulfillment for the continued growth for him and his team. We learn how to start pursuing growth and see the best way to push past limbo for scaling a business.
If you’re curious about why you should never stop growing, improving, and scaling your business, join Simon in this episode and listen to his message.
3 Reasons to Listen:
Find out why growth goes beyond just you and scaling the business and encompasses your whole community.
Learn three habits to start now to improve your work and process.
Discover your focus while expanding what you learn every day.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Learn more about Strategy Sprints.
Take this eight-minute tester to find your game plan.
Connect with Simon Severino on LinkedIn.
Episode Details

Episode Highlights [02:26] Simon The Problem Solver
Simon Severino works to help other people solve their problems.
He specifically works with small and medium size business owners with problems in growth and scaling business.
Many business owners are passionate, but time and burnout limit what they can do.

[04:30] Natural Growth
Simon believes in discipline and practicing, and focusing on what you enjoy.
Plants, animals, and fellow humans grow naturally. They want to expand and explore the different aspects of their lives.
The growth stage is only the beginning. The growth stage is when a business explores its unique place in the world.
While in the growth stage, businesses find out how to increase conversion and what unique needs they can fill.
You have to go from growing to scaling the business. After nurturing your business, there comes a time to let go.

[06:58] “When you start a business, it's this one thing you have to put it out there. You love it; you nurture it; you care about it every day; and at some point, you have to let go. This is when scaling starts, and that's actually the rewarding part of the business.” - Click Here to Tweet This[08:17] Getting Lost in Limbo
Some people don’t move from growing to scaling the business because they’re in limbo.
Limbo is a state of noncommitment and staying undefined to avoid risk.
This can be beneficial for a while. But in the long run, it can also lead to stagnation and a lack of learning.
Learning comes from leaning into experiences that can be both comfortable and uncomfortable.
Children can be more open to learning because they lean into the moment.

[11:40] Growth in Leadership
Simon himself is a leader who started his business to have more impact and freedom in the world. However, his work restrained him.
He thought that he didn’t want growth.
After reaching a revenue ceiling, he realized that he didn't want to get stuck in a miserable, work-focused life.
A business coach encouraged him to create systems and share them with others. This allowed him to create a space for people to grow.

[15:19] “I fired myself from fulfillment two and a half years ago, and that wasn't that hard at all... Since then, I moved from star to galaxy. Now I'm not the dancer anymore, I'm the dance floor. I curate the space for every single dancer in the team to dance.” - Click Here to Tweet This
He found that there’s always work to be done. He pushed past his fulfillment ceiling by finding new and balanced ways toward making an impact and scaling the business.

[17:03] Satisfying the Ego
Many entrepreneurs think that they are the best at what they do.
Simon's coach helped him realize that many others can do his job just as well or even better. He let others take his role by creating systems.
By becoming a systems builder, he stays relevant and needed.
There are still many who need you. You can still create meaning and do good work in the world.
By serving your team, you enable them to serve clients.

[19:50] The Benefit of Working with Teams
Many people can do a much better job than you. People have different talents and backgrounds that can help them be great in their niches.
For Simon, he excelled in a few industries in his 17 years of work. But for other things, he needs other people.
Together with a community of different people with different superpowers, you can take on big projects. For big projects, you need a small ecosystem and a committed community. Once you've got that, you can serve every day.

[20:34] “One person alone cannot do big projects. For big projects, you need a container made of a small ecosystem and community committed to holding a big complexity and to digest it and to serve every day and every week, whatever the weather is.” - Click Here to Tweet This
As a beginner, you can have the help of a team that understands the process. Altogether, you can do great things.
Tune in to the full episode to hear how a team is helping Simon write his first book!

[24:27] Scaling the Business with Strategy Sprints
Have a main specialization or practice to focus on that will never change. But start new hobbies and interests where you can learn something new.
Simon's primary focus is to serve business owners on how to strategize and execute solutions.
Entrepreneurs should fall in love with the problem and target group but not the solution. The challenge lies in understanding the problem and target group.
Simon helps business owners plan their future while remaining stable. He discusses their modules and the core theme of building and refining the product in the full episode!
The other challenge is to keep what you do fresh. Stay interested and keep learning from your focus.

[27:51] What Strategy Sprints Does For Scaling the Business
They implement three strategies to increase the price, frequency of sales, and conversion rate by 25%.
This increase gives room and freedom to work on the systems for scaling the business.
Strategy Sprints' 274 modules are tactics for implementing the three strategies. At least one of these tactics can apply to any customer at any time.
Their coaches focus on the business owners to find the right tactic to fit them.
Their cadence is to find out what works using two to three experiments in seven days.

[32:03] Keeping Things Fresh
One of Simon’s habits is to ensure that his work is repeatable and fun. They break every work package into small things they can do immediately and get feedback.
Immediate feedback can help encourage people to do better and reach higher.
Sprint work focuses on breaking a project down into small parts and seeing how fast they can test it.
Instead of market research, his team learns from what they do and turns the actions that had good results into daily practice.

[34:13] “We make work small. We make it repeatable. We don't overthink, we learn from the action. That keeps us childlike, and it keeps us real and quick. That keeps me on my toes.” - Click Here to Tweet This
By learning from actions and not overthinking things, they remain childlike and quick in working. Listen to the full episode to hear Simon’s example using LinkedIn polls!

[36:03] Working Within 90 Days
In Strategy Sprints, you eliminate everything in between without yearly planning. Instead, you develop a vision for three years in their method.
There are 3 goals to accomplish over 90 days. These goals are broken down into three numbers.

[38:15] “When the whole team knows the vision has just three goals and one thing to do, you have a core-focused aligned team. You would be surprised how motivated and how smart and how fast and how creative people are when you give them just one thing to do that contributes to one vision.” - Click Here to Tweet This
The numbers keep track of revenue and client satisfaction and measure the success of a business’ service or product.
Every seven days, they learn from and analyze the feedback on these three numbers.
The whole team establishes and focuses on a singular vision for the next week. Having one goal helps the team thrive.

[40:53] Working on Habits and Trusting the Process
Simon and his team practice daily, weekly, and monthly habits.
A daily habit monitors the tasks that need to be done. It helps them determine what they can do better, what to focus on, and what they can delegate instead.
The weekly habit includes three reports on marketing, sales, and operations to be analyzed weekly. A small change offers much to learn.
The monthly habit looks at the bigger picture and ensures that the team and their work are on track. If the team's confidence level is not at 100%, they stop and go deeper.

[46:14] Focusing on Growth
For Simon, not practicing these habits leads to a reactive mode.
Without these habits, unimportant things can draw your attention away from what should be your focus.
The loud things are usually not the most important. They only get your attention.
Everything needs attention in running a business. But Simon can focus on the most critical things by using his habits.

[49:09] Adapting to Changes
The pandemic caused them to lose half of their business because they ran many physical events.
Because of the systems and habits that Simon had in place, they were able to react quickly. Through this, they started their first Mastermind to help the community.
The Mastermind met the community’s needs of managing the COVID situation. This has now become an established community that continues to help each other.
One thing that Simon learned is that things can change quickly. He always knew that things were dynamic; he just felt it now in higher intensity.
Another lesson he learned is that despite having a smart company, you still depend on many other people. He realized that a Mastermind is a trustworthy community where people can help each other.

[54:56] Simon’s Routine
Simon makes sure he has "me time" to nurture himself in the first hour of his day.
Afterward, he caters to his family’s needs and preparations for the day.
Then for three hours, he focuses on work and creation. In the afternoon, he ensures he’s available to his team.
Lastly, he ends the day by winding down with his family and friends.
His routine doesn’t feel like work because he integrates family, play, and nature into his daily routine.

[01:01:54] Seek, Go, or Create?
Simon is happy to create. He spends time focusing on creating truly and deeply.
If he weren’t able to create, despite accomplishing much, he would still feel miserable.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. It would also help us if you shared this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. You can help us reach more people who want to grow continually.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
1 hr 6 min
January 17, 2022Unleash Your Strength Within with Eddie Villa
When we think of improving ourselves, we often jump to the conclusion that we need to work on our weaknesses — but that’s where we’ve been wrong all along! It’s often challenging, sometimes even impossible, to refine ourselves where our weaknesses lie. There’s no shame in that. God gave us unique abilities and talents we must share with the world. We don’t have to be the best in everything. We only have to unleash the strength within ourselves to fulfill God’s purpose for us.
In this episode, Eddie Villa talks about why we feel miserable when we make others happy and disregard our feelings. He also shares how we can uncover the power hiding within us through the Gallup Strengths assessment. As a society, we must rely on each other’s abilities for us to flourish. As such, Eddie explains why we should focus on improving our strengths instead of our weaknesses.
For those who want to use their God-given talents to maximize their potential, this episode is for you!
3 Reasons to Listen:
Discover why we should appreciate each other’s strengths.
Learn about the Gallup Strengths Assessment.
Uncover why people lose their identity.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Seek Go Create Podcast: Do Your Willpower & Personality Determine Your Future Self With Benjamin Hardy
Connect with Eddie: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Email
Unleash Your Strengths by Eddie Villa
12 Week Year by Brian Moran
Take the Gallup Strengths Assessment
Episode Details

About Eddie
Eddie Villa is a husband, father, mentor, and entrepreneur. His life mission is to help others obtain mastery of their strengths. He believes when we discover our unique abilities, we become energized, inspired, and empowered. To date, he has talked to thousands of entrepreneurs, couples, and communities and helped them find their calling.
Apart from this, he is also the author of the digital book, Unleash Your Strengths which aims to uncover the power that lies within us.
If you want to connect with Eddie, you can check out his website or social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.
Episode Highlights[04:23] On Trying to Be Who You’re Not
We desire to make the people around us happy.
Eddie has a strategic personality. He wanted to help others improve but realized that the more he helped them, the more they pushed him away.
Eddie became sensitive to rejection. He began to serve other people’s needs while ignoring his own.
For Eddie, trying to make others happy feels like a commitment to misery.

[06:29] “To try to make other people happy is, I would say, a commitment to misery.” - Click Here to Tweet This[06:44] Losing Your Identity
Many employees are searching for other careers or quitting their jobs because they’re losing their identity.
While working for a large enterprise, Tim shared he wanted to resign from day one. He did not function well in a corporate structure.
Tim talked about his experience of visiting Romania and seeing people lose their sense of identity because of living in a former Communist country with little hope.

[09:40] Eddie’s Turning Point
We instinctively know what should and shouldn’t be done at work. However, because no one will listen to our opinion, we keep it to ourselves.
After his fifth promotion, Eddie found himself working all the time. He and his family lived in the property he managed to make things as efficient as possible.
Eddie discovered a patch of grass near his office. Tune in to the full episode to learn how the patch of grass gave him the strength to walk away from his real estate job!
Resisting God’s purpose for our existence will make us miserable.

[15:12] Living Authentically
When Eddie decided to be true about himself, he became present with his family.
Being authentic makes you genuinely happy. It allows unlimited access to income, relationships, and health.
Eddie’s children wanted to live their truth as much as their father does.

[17:11] Generating Income in the Patch of Grass
Companies fired Eddie multiple times.
The most unstable source of income is to work for someone else.
If you were following your calling, you would wake up with joy every day.
Look out for the greatness and opportunities that may come once you work for yourself.

[18:11] “The most unstable income source is to work for someone else. The question that I should have been asking all along is, 'how can I generate an income just by relying on myself'?" - Click Here to Tweet This[22:29] The Gallup Strengths Assessment
Eddie hated the concept of self-development tests. They identify you as part of a group even when you believe otherwise.
However, he became excited with the Gallup Strengths assessment because it tells you who you are and what makes you unique.
Today, he can help people love who they are and get the results they want.

[28:04] Becoming a Part of a Network Marketing Business
You can experience personal development through network marketing businesses. They push you to be the best you can be.
Eddie never knew he would be part of a network marketing business.
Go for whatever you’re called to do by God.

[30:28] Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses
School and employment systems are all about developing your weaknesses instead of leveraging your strengths.
The system tells us to serve a certain need.
Focus on yourself so you can do things your way.
Being someone we’re not meant to be will take away God’s purpose for us.

[34:48] Overview of Gallup Strengths Assessment
Researchers formulated the exam through the responses of thousands of people.
The test tells us we have 34 unique talents and strengths. It shows how we love to do things and what we care about most. Listen to the full episode to know about the Gallup assessment ranking!
The test blends with other personality exams like Myers-Briggs or DISC. It’s accurate in identifying the uniqueness of a human being.

[38:27] Thinking of Your Calling
People either feel encouraged or disheartened when asked what they want to accomplish.
Some compare themselves with others and think they can’t be at par with successful personalities.
Society forces us to do things we’re not good at, and it makes us miserable.
Think about your strong points, bring in people capable of doing things you couldn't, and do something together.

[41:57] Eddie’s Lessons from Coaching
People are jealous of another person’s strength.
Strengths finder tests identify your authentic abilities. Comparing yourself with others is pointless because there is no one like you.
Comparisons are good only if they serve to energize and inspire you.

[43:14] “There is no perfect strength for anything. What I learned was, whatever it is you feel called to do, then you already have the talents and the strength to do it. The problem is you don't believe it.” - Click Here to Tweet This[46:06] Working Under the Stress
Lacking the belief that you’re the right one for the task causes stress.
While our strengths are unique, our problems aren't.
We start believing in ourselves when we operate in a space where our strong points are utilized.

[46:26] “Your strengths are unique; your problems aren't.” - Click Here to Tweet This[48:04] Everyone Can Lead
Leaders don't have the same combination of strengths. There is no perfect personality for leadership.
People want to follow a leader who is trustworthy, compassionate, hopeful, and stable. If you want to learn more about these traits, check out Eddie’s book, Unleash Your Strengths!
What we see today are poor examples of leadership. As such, it becomes harder to understand what real leadership looks like.

[52:18] Tim’s Strengths
The Strengths report is divided into three: high energy, no energy, and negative energy.
High-energy keeps you energized, while the others make you feel bored or drained.
When you see your assessment results, think about what those mean to you.
Tim wants to help people get to where they want to be. Listen to the full episode to hear more of Tim’s Gallup Strengths results!

[01:09:18] “When we're looking at our strengths, we realize we don't have to be those things that we're not. We can just do things our way.” - Click Here to Tweet This[01:14:11] Using Strengths in a Marriage
Using strengths in a marriage is a universal idea applicable to other types of relationships.
Understand how your strengths are complementary. The reason couples think their strong points conflict with each other is because they believe so.
Any strength can be complementary when partners look at what they become together.

[01:18:52] Appreciate Our Differences
Appreciate the strengths your partner has instead of focusing on their shortcomings.
Every strength focuses on one thing. Because it prioritizes only one area, some things won’t get done. In such cases, we must rely on the strengths of others.
Start to appreciate people's differences. Don’t be selective on who you value.

[01:27:06] Seek, Go, Create
While Eddie is not doing a lot of seeking, he’s into creating because he’s filled with ideas.
He will soon release his second book and documentary to spread the lessons of his movement.
He’s also in the middle of creating a new program that will change the world of marketing.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to change how they work. Why work when you can play?
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
1 hr 32 min
January 10, 2022On Finding Value in Your Work and Why Cryptocurrency is the Future with Joel Comm
Cryptocurrency may be the most exciting thing happening today. But there is still a lot of stigma and mystery surrounding it. To a newcomer, it could be overwhelming to parse so much information at once. Luckily, our guest this week will guide us through the world of Bitcoin and NFTs and why cryptocurrency is here to stay.
In this episode, our guest Joel Comm talks about his career and all things cryptocurrency. Joel gives a commentary on his background in app development and marketing. Here, we learn how the mentality of being playful can serve you well in your career. Joel then discusses how he first got involved with cryptocurrency and why cryptocurrency is the future.
Tune in to this episode to satisfy all your questions about why cryptocurrency is the future. Plus, discover how working smarter is better than working harder!
3 Reasons to Listen:
Discover the benefits of work and play in your career.
Gain more knowledge and insights about the emerging world of cryptocurrency and NFTs.
Learn how to become involved and participate in Bitcoin and the different avenues in cryptocurrency.

About Joel
Joel Comm is one half of the creative duo that brought us the Bad Crypto and the Nifty Show podcasts. The podcasts provide informative and entertaining commentary on everything going on in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry.
Beyond this, Joel is also a New York Times best-selling author, keynote speaker, marketing strategist, live video marketing expert, technologist, and brand influencer. With his willingness to try new things and learn, he describes himself as an eternal twelve-year-old.
To know more about Joel and his work, you can check out his website. You can also go to Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with him.
Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
iFart app
The Bad Crypto Podcast by Joel Comm and Travis Wright
The Nifty Show by Joel Comm and Travis Wright
The Fun Formula by Joel Comm. If you are interested in his other books, you can browse through this link.
If you’re interested to find out more information about how cryptocurrency is the future, check out Joel Comm’s recommended sites CoinTelegraph and CoinDesk.
If you’re looking for places to buy bitcoin, check out these sites: Crypto, Etoro, and Coinbase.
If you’re curious to see what decentralized videos look like, check out Odysee.
Connect with Joel: Twitter | LinkedIn| Website
Episode Details

Episode Highlights[03:20] Joel’s Background
Joel describes that he doesn't work — he plays for a living.
His career spans 26 years and involves doing business online. Joel constantly changes his work to fit his lifestyle.
Joel doesn’t believe he left anything too soon because he always follows his curiosity and interests.

[05:25] “But I always do what I want to do. I always follow my curiosity to what interests me at that moment. So that means I’m always right on time.”  - Click Here to Tweet This[05:44] Making Money and Liking Your Work
Joel acknowledges that some people find it hard to make money when they need to cover their basic needs.
But when someone already has their essentials, bringing value to others is not challenging. They only need to figure out how to bring it out in a way that makes them feel fulfilled.
For Joel, making money is not hard. Because once you know how to make money, you won’t have a hard time doing so.
Joel never wants to trade his play for work. The balance should lean more towards what you want to do; you tolerate the work that needs to be done.

[07:55] The Success of iFart
In December 2008, Joel was part of the team that created the iFart app. It became a pop culture phenomenon that still gets downloaded today.
iFart was not Joel’s first iPhone app. But their first app, iVote, no longer exists today.
The iFart app started when one of their team members suggested a digital fart app. So Joel discussed with his developer and designer about its development.
With compelling storytelling, this landed him an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Because of its popularity, other apps also imitated the work.

[10:21] Storytelling in Marketing
The success of iFart reinforced the importance of storytelling in marketing.
The best marketers are good storytellers. Lean into owning what the story is.
You're going to strike out and fail multiple times. But when you connect, you hit a home run.
Marketing is a matter of leveraging what people are talking about and not being afraid. Have the willingness to keep trying things; eventually, it will pay off.
A competing fart app developer filed a lawsuit against Joel’s team. Tune in to the full episode to find out how Joel responded.

[12:48] “Having the willingness to keep trying things that you know ultimately pays off. You go up the plate, and you swing for the fences every time. Yep, Babe Ruth, that marketing campaign. And that means you’re going to strike out a lot. Sometimes, you get to first or second base, but boy, when you connect, it’s out of the park. And that’s why I do what I do.”   - Click Here to Tweet This[14:02] The Fun Formula
There are seasons in life where you need to buckle down and work. But the hustle and grind is not a sustainable or rewarding lifestyle in the long run for anyone.
Things are more difficult when you’re inexperienced. So for most people in their 20s, they believe hustling and grinding will bring them success.
People can be more prosperous when they balance work and play. When you enjoy your work, it translates into balance.
Joel doesn’t work a lot in a traditional sense because he doesn’t want to burn out.

[16:01] Joel’s Defining Moment
Joel has always been curious and creative. He never liked the idea of having a job.
In 1995, he owned a mobile DJ business. After working in nightclubs, he realized he would make more money DJ-ing for events.
In around 2008, Joel invested in mobile marketing. But because he wasn’t passionate about it, it didn’t go anywhere.
Our failures are our best teachers. When Joel pulled the plug on the mobile marketing business, he felt a weight fall off his shoulders.
Joel realized that he stopped failing the moment he stopped paying for it. Now, he doesn't go into something unless he really wants to be in it.

[20:26] Redefining Success
His failed venture was a redefining focus moment for Joel. The event helped him realize that he isn’t interested in doing business for the money.
Joel advises us that stuff only brings us moments of happiness. There’s an attached weight to them.
Since 2011, Joel has been focusing on simplifying and scaling back his life. He has since sold his collections and moved to Puerto Rico.
He doesn’t own as much as he did before, but what he has is enough for him. It makes him feel light.
Joel doesn’t judge people on their purchases. Being in the marketing business, he likes creating and selling NFTs because it doesn’t take up space.

[26:59] On Getting Involved with Blockchain
Joel ignored cryptocurrency back in 2012. But after learning more about it, he thought it was revolutionary and bought his first piece of Bitcoin in May 2017.
Just as the Internet was the future in 1995, Joel believes that cryptocurrency is the future in 2021.
He and Travis Wright were interested in the cryptocurrency industry. With their backgrounds in broadcasting, they decided to start a podcast, The Bad Crypto.
The success of their show took both of them by surprise and enabled them to start another podcast about NFTs.

[31:29] Dealing with Career Boredom and Overload
Joel admits to being bored and feeling burnt out after almost 4 years and over 600 episodes in their podcast.
But he enjoys his work, which pushes him to take too much on his plate at times.
Having his own business helps Joel juggle work and play on his own time.
Living in Puerto Rico helps his entrepreneurial side take a break because he enjoys being in the community he has found.

[36:40] Why Cryptocurrency is the Future
Governments are terrified of what cryptocurrency can do to their control over money.
All fiat currencies are backed by faith in a specific government. Political and economic shifts can drastically affect the value of fiat currency.
Cryptocurrency is the future. It is the great equalizer that’s far more empowering to people.
Decentralized money has the power to put the value of money in the people’s hands.
Listen to the episode to find more information and insights about why cryptocurrency is the future!

[38:48] “Cryptocurrency is the great equalizer because it takes the power away from the governments and gives it to the people who say, ‘Wait a second, we don’t need to depend on your failed currency that keeps us enslaved to your system we didn’t opt into.’” - Click Here To Tweet This[41:52] Government Control of Cryptocurrency
The government has no control over the Internet. Shutting it down to control cryptocurrency will only cause them more problems.
Cryptocurrency is now beyond the point of being overregulated.
Financial institutions, governments, and big institutions are now learning that cryptocurrency is the future. They’re now buying into cryptocurrency as well.
Cryptocurrency does not charge its users as much as banks do. Furthermore, you get to transfer and receive money instantly.

[44:57] How to Start Navigating Cryptocurrency and NFTs
Before going into cryptocurrency and NFTs, Joel advises us to do our research rather than listening to others' hearsays.
Becoming better informed means making better decisions and choices.
NFTs are non-fungible tokens. An NFT is an item in a blockchain with a distinct serial number.
Anybody can mint NFTs. As collectibles, it all comes down to how you bring value to them and market them.
Joel gives a compelling and detailed introduction to NFTs in the full episode.

[45:34] “Don’t let anybody tell you, ‘Oh, we’ll just go to this exchange and go buy this.’ Anybody who’s doing that is trying to sell you something. You need to use critical thinking and learn, inform yourself.” - Click Here to Tweet This
[54:06] Joel’s Concerns
Joel is concerned about how governments don’t know what they’re doing about NFTs and cryptocurrency.
America presents itself as the land of the free. Yet, it is harder for Americans to buy crypto than for other people in other countries.
Governments are merely trying to regulate crypto and hold onto their financial systems to protect their own interests and cronies.

[56:13] Joel’s Take on Shutdowns and Social Media
Joel shares how an early shutdown of the Bad Crypto podcast affected their follower count.
He also believes people on social media are being used and blinded to how broken the world systems are.
Joel then introduces how decentralized video platforms can help avoid your content being taken down.
Joel encourages people to stop and think about what’s true regarding social media.

[01:04:24] “If you have this curiosity and this willingness to try and to fail, to have some sandcastles to just collapse because that’s how you learn. You’re going to build amazing stuff.” - Click Here to Tweet This[01:03:23] Seek, Go, or Create?
Joel resonates with the words seek and create.
You have to seek something before you can find it.
If you have the curiosity and willingness to try and fail, you will learn and create amazing things.
Everybody is talented and gifted in some way. Don’t be single-minded in approaching where you want to go.

Enjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to change how they work. Why work when you can play?
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
1 hr 6 min
January 03, 2022Love: A Foundational Principle to Success
Another year begins, and the promise to be a better person is almost on everyone’s list of resolutions. We hope that by changing our ways, we also build habits to become successful. But have you ever thought of love as a foundation to success? We all define success differently, but the core values needed to navigate through it remain constant.
In this episode, Tim unravels why love is a foundational principle to success. He also talks about how others define love and its relevance in creating a better world. Finally, Tim discusses his book and the lessons you can gather from it.
If you’d like to learn how love is an important principle to success, tune in to this episode!
3 Reasons to Listen:
Understand the meaning of love.
Discover the foundational principles of success.
Recognize why love is the first principle to success.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Grab a copy of Coach: A Story of Success Redefined
Episode Details

Episode Highlights[01:47] Love: The Foundational Principle of Success
Before, Tim thought that sticking to your goals was the only thing necessary for success.
He later realized there’s much more to success than just reaching your target.
The first foundational principle to success is love, while the second is faith.
You must learn the meaning of love before understanding faith. Listen to the full episode to know how Tim’s viewers define love!

[04:23] “You can achieve certain levels of success within the system that I like to call the world system or Babylon…But I've just come to realize there's much more to what success means.” - Click Here to Tweet This[08:48] Love Is a Spectrum[6:34] “...understanding of love needs to come before one begins understanding what faith really is.” - Click Here to Tweet This
There are no right or wrong definitions of love.
Some may equate love to a hearty, delicious taco, while others see it from the words of God.
Love is a decision and not an emotion.
Love is patient and kind. It does not boast.

[13:03] Becoming Selfless When Loving
When Jesus sacrificed His life to save us, it showed His tremendous love for people.
When we put another person’s sake before ours, we are sending forth love.
Doing what’s best for others even if they disagree is an act of love.
Love constitutes unconditional grace and mercy.

[18:38] Love Is an Action
Love is something you do.
When you love someone, you see a person for his spirit and not his flesh.
Love does not measure. It only gives without expecting anything in return.

[20:24] Love in the Context of the Bible
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, said that all material things would be nothing if you don’t have love.
Love must be Christ-centered. It must be selfless and unconditional despite all odds.
God loves us so much that He sacrificed his only Son.
Love is from God. It’s an unrelenting pursuit by a perfect heavenly Father.

[27:23] Greek Definition of Love
Ancient Greek words were used to classify love: epithemia, eros, storge, philautia, and agape.
Agape is found in scriptural passages. It’s the willful decision to put others’ interests above one’s own.
Most of the love definitions gathered by Tim refer to agape.

[28:53] The Protagonist in Tim’s Novel
The main character in Tim’s book had a difficult time understanding and showing love.
The novel’s protagonist was going through a crisis, and he knew he needed to change something in his life.
A mysterious character came into his life. He served as a coach who helped him redefine success.

[30:38] The Coach’s Definition of Love
Love is unearned, unconditional compassion, and understanding for all people.
Love is not just a feeling or emotion. It is also an act.
We are commanded to love God and love others, as we love ourselves.

[30:39] “Love is unearned, unconditional compassion, and understanding for all people. It is not just a feeling or emotion. It is patient, kind and honoring to others. Love is an action. It is something that one does. We are commanded to love God and love others, as we love ourselves.” - Click Here to Tweet This[31:26] Confessions Taught by the Coach
Show love and seek opportunities to honor those around you.
We shouldn’t earn the love of others.
Do not judge and be quick to forgive.
Be a person of compassion.
Understand that your thoughts, words, actions are evidence of the love that flows through you.

[31:27] “I will show love, I will seek opportunities to honor those around me, I have not earned the love that is shown to me. Therefore, I will not expect others to earn love from me, I will not judge, I will be quick to forgive, I will be a person of compassion, and understanding my thoughts, words, and actions will be evidence of the love that flows through me at all times. I will show love.” - Click Here To Tweet This[32:17] The World with Love
Imagine what the world would look like if people show love regularly.
Sometimes individuals and organizations fall short of showing love.
Make love a foundational principle in redefining success.
Tim hopes that love takes over as many people as possible.

[33:25] “As you begin the year or begin a process of redefining success…make love a foundational principle.” - Click Here to Tweet ThisEnjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to change how they work. Why work when you can play?
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim

Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
38 min
December 27, 2021How to Redefine Success in Parenthood and Life with Hunter and Dulce Irving
Life rarely works the way we want it.
Parenthood holds an immense responsibility in molding your children. Your ability to nurture either makes or breaks your family. The intrinsic duties of a parent, though, tend to run us over and bury us with overwhelming emotions. Reevaluating and regrouping as an individual and as a family will assist in determining the best plan for you.
In this episode, host Tim Winders turns the microphone over to his daughter and son in law.
Hunter and Dulce recount how they dealt with last year's hardships and how things are going this year. They share updates on their life, starting from Dulce’s motherhood journey to Hunter’s early stages of coaching. Hunter and Dulce discuss how ministry and community help them move forward in their journey. And with counseling, they are able to refocus their priorities toward the future they desire.
Listen to this episode if you find yourself wondering what success truly means.
3 Reasons to Listen:
Find out from Hunter and Dulce’s reflections about counseling and having disciplines as a way of life.
Discover ways you can unlearn and relearn your definition of success.
Learn how having a community helps in reshaping Hunter and Dulce’s life.

Resources
Subscribe to our website to get resources from our guests and receive updates on our latest giveaways and episodes.
Episode Details

Episode Highlights[01:11] Dulce’s Motherhood Journey Now Vs. A Year Ago
Hunter and Dulce hit rock bottom in a lot of areas in their life last year.
Dulce describes her 30th birthday as the worst of her life as her mental health took a significant hit.
Unlearning previous mindsets and counseling were necessary for her to redefine her success.
Allowing her husband to be the provider for the family was a major test of her faith.
Despite her circumstance, she is physically and mentally preparing herself to be a mom.

[04:37] Dulce’s 30th Birthday and its Significance
Dulce had a lot of expectations going into her 30th birthday.
It was a symbol of her advancing to the next decade of her life.
Dulce regards that year as noteworthy because of all she accomplished in the previous decade.

[05:37] Having a Serious Conversation Together
Counseling helps them realize their goals moving forward.
One of their goals is to create financial stability for their family.
Having the right mindset helps them prepare for this goal.

[06:27] How the Right Mindset Starts Positive Change
What affects one person in the family affects the whole family.
It is important to perceive yourself as a whole community, before evaluating your individual setbacks.
Dulce remarks how much God has influenced her mental healing.

[07:45] Redefining Success
Hunter notes that Dulce has toned down her energy for certain things and reaps more rewards as a result.
Dulce recalls her father’s story about the real estate crash of 2008 and how her parents responded to this event, which eventually inspired her definition of success.
The overworking culture of her parents contributed to Dulce’s wrong outlook of pursuing and achieving success.
This year, Dulce has been able to seek peace, trust God, and let Him work in her life.

[10:47] Unlearning Things from Dulce’s Childhood
Dulce remarks that people experience layers of paradigms of what they learned from their childhood.
A small or silly habit can become significant over the years. For example, how you wear your hair or the clothes you wear.
She says that everyone goes through a process of learning and relearning to realize how they want their past to operate in their life.
Parents have the responsibility to take care of what they say to children at their moldability.

[12:07] “I think it’s an unlearning and relearning. What does God [actually] say about this? What is it I choose to believe about this? How do I want to operate this in my life?” - Click Here to Tweet This[13:21] Hunter’s Takeaways from Counseling
Hunter followed suit after Dulce went into counseling after many sessions.
He remarks that having professional guidance helped them make a big step towards active and open dialogues between each other.
He notes that counseling helps anchor Dulce throughout certain difficult times.
Counseling also let him realize his issues as a first-time father and freed him from the concerns he had.
It allowed him to reshape his life and get back into the groove, keep his disciplines, and pursue his endeavors.

[17:25] “I just got to a point of peace and trust that regardless of what ends up happening in our future for our kids or [for] our families, I’m trusting that it will be okay.” - Click Here to Tweet This[18:18] Hunter’s New Habits and Disciplines
Working out early in the day helps set out his intention. Due to lifestyle changes, Hunter shares he hasn’t been able to commit to his goal.
After going to a men’s retreat, he learned that adding disciplines to his life has kept him grounded.
Hunter shares the importance of intentionally positioning oneself to achieve success.
Journaling in the evening helps him to assess his day and take inventory of his wins and failures.

[19:24] “It’s that idea of conquering something very, very early that sets a really good tone for me to conquer more things throughout the day.” - Click Here To Tweet This[23:13] No Screens During the Evening Routine
Dulce and Hunter commit to following their no-screens rule during their nighttime routine.
The rule grants them better sleep, which helps them out in many areas of their life.
Their efforts in sticking to this rule include putting their WiFi on a timer and having bluescreen glasses.

[25:06] Recent Changes to their Diet
Dulce’s position as the main chef of the family translates well to their meals and eating habits.
Envisioning and planning his future appearance motivates Hunter’s healthy-eating habit.
Food affects your mental state just as much as your physical state.

[28:11] Hunter’s Disciplines Towards His Work
Hunter’s disciplines play a significant role in handling and holding himself accountable in remote work.
He keeps reminders on his phone to keep him from distracting events.
Working from home requires self-discipline and adaptability.
Having a routine can help manage energy and strategize the entire day of work.

[32:16] Hunter’s Insights as the Main Provider of the Family
Hunter prioritizes his children’s needs; it motivates him to do things for them.
Though his father was the hardest working man and someone he looks up to, he wasn't always present in the family.
While he aims to accumulate generational wealth, he wants to maintain a good level of availability for his family.
His current frameworks help him achieve his goals for his family.

[32:59] “I want to be able to be what my kids need me to be, in any given moment within a realistic sense. I want to be emotionally available to my kids, I want to be providing for them so they have plenty of opportunities. I also want to be providing so we can go and do things and create memories.” - Click Here to Tweet This[35:20] Future Visions and Goals
Hunter recalls the valuable skills and tools he learned during his job at sales and how he grew professionally.
Seeking stability in his current position at the tech company is one of his long-term goals.
He believes that quitting coaching because of his lack of expertise would be a disservice to himself, his family, and the people he could impact.
Dulce and Hunter initially wanted to be pastors; their plans have changed in recent years.

[39:34] Hunter’s Coaching and Ministry Focus
Hunter wants to help young fathers who have problems with their work, marriage, and children.
There is a rippling effect on being a good father that spans out in generations.

[41:33] Where Dulce and Hunter are Right Now
Their current place in the community was circumstantial, considering that they wanted to leave Colorado Springs.
While they lost friends after having a child, God provides a way for them to make new friends through their church.
Asking guidance from God lines everything up in place for them to make an addition to their family.
Being in a nurturing community gave them a healthy sense of responsibility and direction in their lives.
It is important to define your inner circle with intention; positive change can start from the people you surround yourself with.

[48:03] “We [chose] to show up when it was uncomfortable. We [chose] to have conversations that needed to be had and build deeper relationships. And it’s shown up in some cool ways.” - Click Here to Tweet ThisEnjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired to think about the meaning of life with this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By leaving a review, you can help us reach more people who want to redefine success in their lives.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
51 min
December 20, 2021Expectations Setting to Manage Disappointment and Create a Better Reality with JK Winders
Everyone has a dream life — we envision what we want for Christmas, where we'll go for summer, or the careers we want to have. Everyone does expectations setting in their lives when they plan, from their hopes for the year to career objectives. Sometimes those goals help us create something wonderful. Other times, not meeting them leads to disappointment.
In this episode, JK Winders discusses how 2021 went for him and the unmet expectations that gave way to a season of healing. He shares his insights on expectations setting, exploring his own experiences on struggling with high standards and disappointments. Lastly, he talks about setting healthy expectations and creating a beautiful life.
Listen to the episode to nurture your relationship with expectations and deal with disappointment healthily.
3 Reasons to Listen:
Find out how 2021 didn't go as JK planned — and yet, it all turned out fine.
Reflect on how you handle disappointment.
Discover how expectations setting helps you create the life you want to live yourself.

About JK Winders
JK Winders is a visual artist, creative director and consultant, documentarian, and avid explorer. Born and raised in Georgia, he has also coexisted in the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, California, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and several places in between.
At his core, he is a storyteller. He uses the mediums of photography, the written word, and design to tell stories. Visit his website to learn more about his portfolio.
Resources
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Episode Details

Episode Highlights
[03:52] Christmas For JK
JK has been a fan of the Christmas season for his whole life. His mother, an expert decorator, would transform the house into a winter wonderland.
His family had a tradition of unwrapping one gift on Christmas Eve. Every year, he knew that the gift would be pajamas.
He would have trouble sleeping due to excitement about Santa's gifts
Throughout the day, they would revel in their Christmas gifts and desserts before gathering at the dining table to talk about goals.

[5:57] Facing Reality
Each year, his expectations for Christmas increased until he reached the point where the season no longer lived up to what he thought he wanted.
Reality hits JK as Christmas decorations and gifts took a minimalistic and practical approach compared to the previous years.
The question, "Are expectations good or bad?" arose after observing the changes in the Christmas atmosphere.

[07:15] How 2021 Went For JK
JK started 2021 intending to regain the momentum lost in 2020.
However, some expectations weren't met. Everything felt unstable.
While 2021 wasn’t a bad year, it felt less than expected.

[09:23] His Ram Trucks Gig
He started 2021 in the Southern Utah desert doing some expectations setting for the year.
He landed one of the biggest gigs in his photography career — shooting a campaign for Ram Trucks.
They sent him a fully stocked 4-wheel drive to capture around the desert for ten days.
JK was eager to create the best campaign Ram Trucks would ever get. However, JK encountered multiple problems that derailed his plans.
The photos came out good, but they weren’t as good as he wanted. Looking back, he wishes he had more fun with it.

[11:56] His Short-Lived Trip to the Pacific Northwest
By spring, he was feeling parched and dry from the desert.
Setting his sights in the Pacific Northwest, he hoped to replenish himself with a change of scenery and planned outdoor excursions with his friends.
Unfortunately, a couple of months later, the West had record-breaking temperatures as summer was getting into full swing.
Being in an RV in that heat was insufferable and he only lasted one day before he left for South Dakota to escape the heat.

[13:45] Heading to South Dakota
Escaping the heat, JK headed to South Dakota, stopping only for gas and to send an apology to his friends for ditching them.
He was somewhat optimistic about this unplanned change in trajectory.
Shortly after crossing the state line into South Dakota, his RV started to wobble; he found out it was a shredded rear tire.
He called up his parents and his dad told him to find a tire shop and get it fixed.
At that moment, JK just wanted to take the motorcycle perched on his back trailer and rip it out of there.

[17:34] A Season of Loneliness
“That’s a situation that you can’t really or at least don’t want to anticipate. But I also think to myself, ‘If something like that happened last year, could I have handled it any better than I did this year?’” - Click Here to Tweet This
JK wondered if these problems happened last year, could he have handled it better?
A critical part of growth is realizing that you only experience problems that you can handle.
He got a brand new tire and settled for a short stay in South Dakota.
In his solitude, he felt lonely, lethargic, and uninspired.

[19:28] A Season of Healing
In his loneliness, he reached out to people.
One of his friends invited him to come out to Montana. Upon getting there, his friend let him park his RV in his family’s driveway.
He spent four inspiring and nourishing months in Montana.
He reconnected with good friends, explored beautiful places, and created the best artwork he’s ever made.
JK felt like he was operating on more freedom.

[21:52] Having High Standards
The most constant criticism he receives is that he doesn't set realistic expectations.
It annoys JK that no one gives him an example of healthy expectations setting — they point it out and don't do anything else.
Due to how his parents raised him, he challenges himself with higher standards and doesn't want to compromise.
Maintaining high standards while expectations setting often leads to disappointment.

[23:12] Healthy Expectations Setting
Setting expectations involves a lot of grace and can put you into a free-flowing, healthier state.
Expectations can be positive or negative, met or unmet.

[24:53] “There is a definite beauty in that level of depravity. It makes you shake your head, but also makes you think at the same time. How do we deal with unmatched expectations? How do you deal with the disappointments?” - Click Here to Tweet This
While there is beauty in having no goals, it also makes you think about handling disappointment and unmet expectations.
Disappointments are part of growth and can teach you what to focus on moving forward.
Focusing on expectations might make you lose sight of the present.

[25:39] "When you focus on the expectations, you lose sight of the present and where your current footing is." - Click Here to Tweet This
[25:48] Looking Forward
JK sometimes wonders about the future and forgets to enjoy the present.
Your trajectory is a critical part of your journey, whether or not you meet your expectations.
JK is expecting nothing unusual about this Christmas: spending quality time with his parents, being in his RV, and having a cheerful season.

[27:46] JK’s Biggest Takeaways From 2021
JK pruned many of his branches this year, refining his focus and vision for a better and more realistic future.
JK has balanced living in peace for his past, enjoying the present, and being excited about the future.
Reconciling his bitterness and disappointment was vital in leaning towards self-improvement.
Despite some decisions he regrets, he believes that he can be better and cultivate a beautiful world within himself.

[29:31] “Because I know full well that the world around me is only as beautiful as the world within me and that if I’m not doing the necessary actions to cultivate a beautiful world within, I can’t possibly expect anything better around me.” - Click Here to Tweet This
[29:52] Creating a Beautiful Life
When he doesn’t try to work on himself, it leads to sadness and anger.
JK tends to project his problems and anger at his loved ones when he can’t handle his negative emotions.
Fortunately, he has moments where he recognizes the benefits of his work and remembers how much he loves himself and his life.
He can’t change what has happened, but he can still appreciate what he has.
Life doesn't come on a silver platter. Create a beautiful life and commit to it — even if it's hard. Don't get trapped in unmet expectations.

[32:10] “... stop expecting your life to be easily handed over to you as a pretty little gift and start leaning into the idea of creating a life that is beautiful even when it’s hard.” - Click Here to Tweet ThisEnjoy the Podcast?
Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead.
If you were inspired and educated by this episode, feel free to subscribe to us on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so that you never miss another episode. Also, share this episode or what you’ve learned today on your favorite social media platform.
Love to give us 5 stars? If you do, we'd love a review from you. By doing this, you can help us reach more people who want to practice better and healthier expectations setting.
Connect with the SeekGoCreate Network! For updates and more episodes, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
To growing and becoming all we are created to be,
Tim
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop Reacting, Start Leading: Free 30-Minute Coaching Call
Are you leading with strategy or just reacting to the daily chaos? If you're feeling stuck, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to focus on the big picture, it’s time to take control. I’m offering a FREE 30-minute coaching call to help you shift from reactive to proactive leadership with clear, actionable strategies. Whether you’re facing new challenges or just need a reset, this call will give you clarity and direction. Book your free coaching call now by clicking the link in the show notes or visiting TimWinders.com/coaching.
Book Coaching Call
38 min

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