Take A Step

In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh sits down with entrepreneur Emmett Davis to unpack what it really looks like to build, buy, fail, learn, and keep moving forward.

Emmett shares his journey from cybersecurity and ministry leadership to acquiring a bakery and building a septic company from the ground up. Together, Josh and Emmett explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the power of community, learning through failure, and why your first move doesn’t require a perfect plan.

They also challenge the traditional definition of success. Instead of chasing a destination, what if success is found in the process—taking action, learning, adjusting, and becoming the person capable of reaching the goal?

If you’ve been waiting for clarity before making your next move, this conversation is your reminder: action produces clarity. Take the step.

Instagram: @iamemmettdavisjr
https://davissouthernseptic.com/

What does it really take to bet on yourself and build a life on your own terms?

In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh sits down with Calvin Favors, founder of Top Dawg Tech Solutions, to unpack his transition from the comfort of corporate America into entrepreneurship. Calvin shares how complacency pushed him to make a change, the intense preparation behind leaving his salary, and why taking action before you have everything figured out is often the key to creating clarity.

Josh and Calvin also dive into building confidence through repetition, developing conviction in what you do, creating your own “luck” by being prepared when opportunities arrive, and redefining what success actually looks like. They close with a conversation around Ikigai and the pursuit of work that combines what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

If you know you're capable of more but have been waiting for the perfect time to move, this episode is for you.

Check out Top Dawg Tech Solutions here: https://www.topdawg.ai/

Check out the Ikigai here: https://www.wholegraindigital.com/blog/ikigai-finding-purpose-at-work/

Most people think they need clarity before they take action. But what if clarity only comes after you move?

In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh Johnston and John Szarszewski unpack The Take A Step Mentality: Action Produces Clarity. They explore the difference between being interested and truly committed, how fear keeps us stuck, and why faith gives us the confidence to move forward even when we can’t see the entire path.

Through stories about business, family, fitness, and faith, Josh and John break down why you don’t need the perfect plan to pursue meaningful growth. You need enough courage to take the next step, reflect on what it teaches you, and keep moving.

If you’ve been waiting until you have it all figured out, this episode is your challenge to start.

What do you do when life stops making sense?

In this episode, Josh Johnston unpacks the powerful truth found in Proverbs 3:5–6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Through personal stories of delayed growth as an athlete, missed opportunities during COVID, and lessons learned through life's unexpected setbacks, Josh explores why not everything is meant to be understood right away. Sometimes the greatest growth happens when we stop demanding answers and start trusting the process.

If you're walking through uncertainty, this conversation will encourage you to keep moving forward with faith, knowing that clarity often comes in hindsight.

Check out Take A Step: letstakeastep.com

At just 22 years old, Matt Phillips has grown a pressure washing side hustle into a million-dollar business with a team of more than ten employees. In this episode, Matt joins Josh to discuss what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes—from building systems only when they're needed to navigating the stress of leading people, embracing failure, and staying focused on consistent progress over perfection. Together, they explore why action creates clarity, why relationships matter more than networking, and how the best leaders keep taking the next step, even when the path ahead isn't fully clear.

Connect with Matt Phillips:

🌐 Website: https://www.mattsexteriorwashing.com/
📸 Instagram: @mattphillipsbiz
🎥 YouTube: @MattPhillipsBiz

If this conversation challenged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that clarity comes through action—not waiting.

Here's a podcast description that fits the Take A Step brand voice and stays around 100 words, based on the transcript.

Before you can steward more, you have to become more. In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh Johnston and John Szarszewski unpack what it truly means to Be the Steward—the seventh step in the Take A Step Journey.

They explore why stewardship is about far more than finances, how the Be → Do → Have framework reshapes personal growth, and why abiding in Christ produces lasting fruit. Through practical stories and leadership insights, they challenge listeners to stop chasing outcomes and start becoming the kind of person who can faithfully steward their time, talents, relationships, and opportunities with purpose.

letstakeastep.com

What does it take to build a business without losing sight of what matters most? In this episode, Josh sits down with entrepreneur Esteban Alarcon to discuss faith, entrepreneurship, discipline, and the pursuit of purpose. Together, they explore why action creates clarity, how fear keeps us stuck, and what it looks like to trust God while building something meaningful.

From overcoming setbacks to redefining success beyond money and status, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders who want to pursue excellence without compromising their values. If you're building your career, your business, or your life, this episode will challenge you to take the next step.

letstakeastep.com

What happens when the thing you’ve built your identity around is suddenly taken away?

In this powerful episode of the Take A Step Podcast, Josh Johnston sits down with former head football coach Chris Hirschfield to discuss his journey through success, failure, addiction, recovery, and redemption. After years of chasing achievement, Chris found himself battling an identity crisis that led to the loss of his coaching position, struggles with alcohol, and a season of deep brokenness.

But through surrender, faith, and a commitment to taking the next right step, Chris discovered that true identity isn’t found in titles, accomplishments, or results—it’s found in Christ.

This conversation explores leadership, purpose, resilience, and the courage to rebuild when life falls apart. If you’ve ever felt stuck, defined by your past, or unsure of your next step, this episode will challenge and encourage you to keep moving forward.

If you would like to donate to support Chris's FCA efforts, you can do that at this link: https://my.fca.org/?form=chrishirschfield&keyword=Jimmy%20Hardeman

In this episode of The Take A Step Podcast, Josh Johnston and John Szarszewski continue the 8-Step Journey by exploring Step 6: Find the Support.

They discuss how the people around you influence your mindset, shape your expectations, and ultimately determine your ceiling.

From entrepreneurship and marriage to faith and personal growth, Josh and John share why intentional relationships are essential for becoming the person you’re called to be. They unpack the dangers of isolation, the power of accountability, and why surrounding yourself with people who share your future is more important than sharing a common past.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsupported, or limited by your environment, this conversation will challenge you to evaluate your circle and take ownership of the relationships that are shaping your life.

Your circle determines your ceiling. Choose wisely.

What happens when a child raised in an abusive household, left homeless at 21, sleeping in bushes on a college campus, refuses to give up? Shane Wahner story is one of the most extraordinary you'll hear.

In this episode, Shane opens up about surviving a brutal childhood, building a thriving business from nothing, losing it all, and finding his way back — through faith, fatherhood, and an unwavering belief that every hardship exists to make you stronger. Now the founder of the Becoming Limitless movement, Shane is on a mission to equip the next generation with the mindset and practical tools they need to build lives of purpose and impact. Don't miss this one.