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Stop Chasing Approval and Do Work That Matters | Dr. Bobby Shelton
In this episode of the Achievement Mastery Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Bobby Shelton – coach, podcaster, and author of Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard: Finding the Work That Actually Matters to You.
Bobby breaks down his powerful “Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard” framework: why so many high performers stay stuck in a respectable but exhausting loop of chasing titles, promotions, and approval – and what changes when you finally start choosing the work that actually matters to you.
We go deep into his own story:
Burning out while chasing external success
Losing 180 pounds and still feeling empty
Starting a doctoral program from a place of self-punishment
And the moment he realized the title “Dr. Shelton” would never fix how he felt about himself
From there, we talk about self-leadership, love, and identity: how to stop living for other people’s expectations, how to build real self-respect, and why gratitude and self-talk are not “soft” concepts but hard performance skills.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
What Bobby calls the Easy Hard loop – and how approval-seeking hides inside “respectable” hard work
Why chasing promotions, titles, and status quietly erodes your sense of self
How shifting from “What will impress them?” to “What actually matters to me?” changes your energy, clarity, and focus
The surprising mindset shift Bobby experienced after losing 180 pounds and earning his doctorate
Why loving yourself is a prerequisite for loving others (and for sustainable high performance)
The crucial difference between working more and working effectively
Why action beats over-planning – and how to start with tiny, doable steps instead of waiting for the perfect moment
We close with Bobby’s rapid-fire insights:
The book that influenced him most
The habit he never skips, even on chaotic days
The advice he’d give his younger self
And the belief he had to unlearn to reach his current level
📘 Connect with Bobby Shelton
https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b/
👉 Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard: Finding the Work That Actually Matters to You https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Hard-vs-Finding-Actually/dp/B0FTSP2LP9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9YAEEKGQHAEP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lmh0olRHzTWspa6rizuXAnBrh4JSin9ttjQR6reQUV7X7KX0A_j3kg2I3wML2u0Ovt4gwmOKdx5BXhki422u-X4V7Kz54ggSppiWqkbWlVxCu8rk9Kh29POGyAYFjzphiB6pAAtj9kYkHM7Axxjdn50oSppcdjVM4-lEHeePdbijPazwZ6nU4gPRmYwTMol8bUmPSYCfJQim8bnwfyKEuaVvGiULR_3C6tnWl4Y3yWQ.SLUJR8zPzDjDx4_HDjcCQsD3926Ws7tLebbKiBwrRyI&dib_tag=se&keywords=easy+hard+hard+hard&qid=1766666706&sprefix=easy+hard+hard+%2Caps%2C417&sr=8-1
📌 Connect with me
https://achievementmasteryacademy.com/
https://www.achievementmasterypodcast.com/
If this episode spoke to you, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway – and tell us what you’re choosing this week: the Easy Hard loop or the Hard Hard work that truly matters. Please like and subscribe so more high performers can find these conversations. Keep striving, keep growing, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
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By Lajos KovacsIn this episode of the Achievement Mastery Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Bobby Shelton – coach, podcaster, and author of Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard: Finding the Work That Actually Matters to You.
Bobby breaks down his powerful “Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard” framework: why so many high performers stay stuck in a respectable but exhausting loop of chasing titles, promotions, and approval – and what changes when you finally start choosing the work that actually matters to you.
We go deep into his own story:
Burning out while chasing external success
Losing 180 pounds and still feeling empty
Starting a doctoral program from a place of self-punishment
And the moment he realized the title “Dr. Shelton” would never fix how he felt about himself
From there, we talk about self-leadership, love, and identity: how to stop living for other people’s expectations, how to build real self-respect, and why gratitude and self-talk are not “soft” concepts but hard performance skills.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
What Bobby calls the Easy Hard loop – and how approval-seeking hides inside “respectable” hard work
Why chasing promotions, titles, and status quietly erodes your sense of self
How shifting from “What will impress them?” to “What actually matters to me?” changes your energy, clarity, and focus
The surprising mindset shift Bobby experienced after losing 180 pounds and earning his doctorate
Why loving yourself is a prerequisite for loving others (and for sustainable high performance)
The crucial difference between working more and working effectively
Why action beats over-planning – and how to start with tiny, doable steps instead of waiting for the perfect moment
We close with Bobby’s rapid-fire insights:
The book that influenced him most
The habit he never skips, even on chaotic days
The advice he’d give his younger self
And the belief he had to unlearn to reach his current level
📘 Connect with Bobby Shelton
https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b/
👉 Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard: Finding the Work That Actually Matters to You https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Hard-vs-Finding-Actually/dp/B0FTSP2LP9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9YAEEKGQHAEP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lmh0olRHzTWspa6rizuXAnBrh4JSin9ttjQR6reQUV7X7KX0A_j3kg2I3wML2u0Ovt4gwmOKdx5BXhki422u-X4V7Kz54ggSppiWqkbWlVxCu8rk9Kh29POGyAYFjzphiB6pAAtj9kYkHM7Axxjdn50oSppcdjVM4-lEHeePdbijPazwZ6nU4gPRmYwTMol8bUmPSYCfJQim8bnwfyKEuaVvGiULR_3C6tnWl4Y3yWQ.SLUJR8zPzDjDx4_HDjcCQsD3926Ws7tLebbKiBwrRyI&dib_tag=se&keywords=easy+hard+hard+hard&qid=1766666706&sprefix=easy+hard+hard+%2Caps%2C417&sr=8-1
📌 Connect with me
https://achievementmasteryacademy.com/
https://www.achievementmasterypodcast.com/
If this episode spoke to you, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway – and tell us what you’re choosing this week: the Easy Hard loop or the Hard Hard work that truly matters. Please like and subscribe so more high performers can find these conversations. Keep striving, keep growing, and I’ll see you in the next episode.