Start With Who

How do you Start With Who at the team level? On paper, the executive team at a regional insurance agency was doing a lot of things well. Strong performers, healthy financials, and meaningful community give-back. Underneath it, operations and IT had been quietly at war for years, and the whole organization was absorbing the fallout. Rick Newton tells the story of a CEO who knew something was broken but didn't know how to improve it, and what changed when his team finally got the language to understand each other and work together. Listen to hear how understanding each executive's unique design led to a 32% jump in ESOP stock value in a single year.

Rick and Joe take the same four questions from the personal compass and apply them at the organizational level: WHO are we? WHY are we here? HOW do we operate? WHERE are we headed? Rick breaks down how a clear compass reshapes business strategy, corporate branding, and AI adoption, sharing a real client story of guiding an executive team through a compass-driven strategic overhaul. The conversation lands on a timely challenge: as AI reshapes how organizations operate, the compass becomes the "human context layer" that keeps identity intact.

What actually changes when you know who you are, why you're here, what you value, and where you're headed? In this episode, Joe and Rick unpack the eight areas of life a clearly defined personal compass transforms — from core beliefs to leadership. Rick tells the story of his own marriage, and the shift in perspective that, ten years in, changed how he and his wife work together. Rick and Joe also dig into financial stewardship, exploring why money decisions should flow from identity. If you've ever felt slightly off course in an area of your life, this episode explains how misalignment can compound into a completely different destination – and what to do about it.

In this episode, Rick Newton unpacks one of the biggest barriers to living and leading authentically: head trash — the lies and limiting beliefs that quietly run beneath the surface of everything we do. Rick shares from his own experience with perfectionism and comparison, explaining why simply recognizing a lie isn't enough to get rid of it. He walks through what it actually looks like to replace those lies with truth, over time. So, if you've ever found yourself performing instead of leading, or lacking in confidence, this one's for you.

In this episode, Rick Newton walks through the full Newton Compass — the four foundational questions every person must answer to live and lead with clarity: Who am I? Why am I here? How should I be living? Where am I headed?

Rick and Joe explore what each point of the compass means, how they connect, and what becomes possible when all four questions are answered. If you've ever felt like you were drifting — successful on the outside but something still felt off — this episode is for you.

What would change if you had clarity and language for who you are? In this episode, Rick Newton and Joe Shannon explore the process of discovering your unique design. From life history to input from others to assessments- and how conviction, confidence, and contentment follow when you Start With Who.

The Start With Who podcast features Rick Newton and Joe Shannon discussing the concept of 'Starting With Who' and its impact on personal and professional development. Rick shares his personal journey, the development of the Newton Institute, and the importance of understanding one's unique design and identity.

Before you can answer “What’s next for my life?” you need to discover who you really are.

The Start With Who Podcast is a space for reflection, curiosity, and real-world stories—exploring how understanding your unique design shapes the way you live, lead, and move forward.

Season One looks at what it means to truly start with who—and why it changes everything.