Why are you really doing what you're doing? Most people can explain what they do. Some can explain how they do it. Almost nobody can explain their real why.

In this episode of The New Rules Podcast, Adrian Crawford and Breezy unpack one of the most powerful principles from Magnum Opus — The Scalpel. The practice of asking yourself "why" isn't soft self-help. It's surgical. It cuts through performance, press releases, and public image to expose the origin story underneath.

Because here's the truth: The first answer you give is usually a press release. The real answer lives in the basement.

We explore:

• Why most people are terrified of their real motives

• The difference between curiosity and interrogation

• How shame blocks self-discovery

• Why humans compromise themselves just to belong

• What happens when you disconnect from your origin story

• Why integration work creates freedom

• And how asking "why" can literally bring you back to life

This conversation is vulnerable, layered, and honest — especially around topics like mission vs. family, superficial desires vs. deeper motives, and the pressure to give socially acceptable answers.

If you've ever felt like:

• You're performing instead of living

• You're successful but not satisfied

• You're disconnected from your deeper motives

• Or you're tired of giving "marketing why" answers

This episode is for you.

This episode continues our journey through Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One.

Pre-order the book here:

http://magnumopusproject.co

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it.

And in the meantime — keep writing new rules.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: / adriancrawford-nrc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writenewrules/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writenewrules

00:00 – The Question That Sets You Free

01:06 – Why Most People Are Afraid of Their Real "Why"

02:24 – Where the "Why" Practice Came From (Therapy + Five Minutes of Real Time)

03:18 – Is This the Same as Simon Sinek's Start With Why?

04:38 – Poverty, Fear, and the Survival-Driven Career Path

07:16 – Why Asking "Why" Feels So Exposing

11:34 – The Scalpel: Why Is Surgical, Not Soft

17:26 – The Jordan Story: Origin Narratives & Superficial Desires

20:00 – Curiosity vs. Interrogation

23:39 – Overthinking Your Motives

26:13 – Should You Question Other People's Motives?

31:21 – Why We Give Press Release Answers

35:12 – What Happens When You're Disconnected from Your Why

39:40 – Common "Marketing Why" Responses

44:00 – Mission vs. Family (An Honest Conversation)

47:04 – What Happens When You Live Connected to Your Why

48:51 – "I Think I'm Alive Because of the Integration Work"

50:16 – Magnum Opus & The Long Game

We're living in a pivotal time.

In a world that rewards performance, platforms, personas, and amplifies approval, it's easy to slowly drift away from who you actually are.

In this episode, we explore "The Unbecoming."

Not the act of becoming someone new — but the painful process of shedding the character you've been playing.

• Why performance culture is exhausting

• How approval can slowly become a prison

• The difference between talent and performing for validation

• Guilt vs. shame ("I did something bad" vs. "I am bad")

• Why freedom always costs something

• The power of being able to walk away

• The question that changes everything: "Where are you?"

This episode continues our journey through Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One.

Pre-order the book here:

http://magnumopusproject.co

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it.

And in the meantime — keep writing new rules.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: / adriancrawford-nrc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writenewrules/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writenewrules

00:00 – We're Living in a Pivotal Time

02:00 – Why Everyone Feels Exhausted

07:00 – The Character You Don't Know You're Playing

10:50 – Everything Is Performative

15:00 – Talent vs Performance

19:40 – Your Backstage Reality Gets Exposed

20:15 – The Lady Gaga "Unbecoming" Moment

23:00 – When You Realize You're Not Being Yourself

25:30 – How Performance Becomes a Prison

28:40 – The Role of Shame

33:40 – Guilt vs Shame

36:00 – Can Unbecoming Destroy Your Life?

38:20 – Changing the Scoreboard

39:50 – Freedom Is Dangerous

41:15 – The Cost of Authenticity

43:40 – Under Pressure, You Get Exposed

49:10 – Where Do You Begin?

55:10 – The Question: Where Are You?

59:10 – How to Start Rebuilding

Our whole lives we've been told two competing messages: be unique, but also fit in; be original, but make sure you're accepted. So which is it? In this episode, we unpack the tension at the heart of identity—the paradox of being completely one of one while still being made of the same "frozen water" as everyone else.

If these concepts and ideas have inspired you to begin your journey toward becoming one of one, we highly encourage you to pre-order a hardcover copy of Adrian Crawford's Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One.

Purchase the book today!

https://www.newrulescollective.com/product-page/magnum-opus-the-art-of-becoming-one-of-one

You are unique, but you're not superior. You're human. And learning to live in that tension may be one of the most important leadership skills of our generation.

• Authenticity vs performance

• Belonging vs fitting in

• Personal growth and self development

• The difference between finding yourself and becoming yourself

• Identity in an age of social media

• Confidence without ego

• Leadership rooted in humility

• Purpose, calling, and self awareness

• Why most people cosplay uniqueness

• How to stop performing and start becoming

If you've ever struggled with:

• Comparison

• Feeling behind

• Trying to stand out

• Trying to fit in

• Losing yourself in success

• Chasing approval

• Wanting deeper meaning and purpose

This episode is for you.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@WriteNewRules

📲 To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: / adriancrawford-nrc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writenewrules/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writenewrules

If you feel like the world is shifting faster than you can process… If you're exhausted from performing… If you know there's something deeper in you that hasn't fully come alive yet…

This episode is your starting point.

This week on The New Rules Podcast, we launch a brand-new season centered around one idea: Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One — your great work.

But not the kind you put on a résumé.

The kind you become.

In Episode 107, we unpack what it means to design your internal world instead of letting culture design it for you. As systems destabilize and predictability fades, the question is no longer, "How do I win the game?" — it's "Who am I becoming inside of it?"

This conversation explores why so many feel misaligned and stuck in performance although it's exhausting, and how to begin the process of becoming "one of one."

We introduce a powerful four-phase framework inspired by Adrian Crawford's powerful new book Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One.

• Echo – Discovering the inherited narratives, history, and internal patterns shaping you

• Chisel – Developing disciplines that bring your real self forward

• Fire – Integrating your gifts into the world with power and responsibility

• Work – Evaluating whether your life is producing real impact or just personal gain

This episode dives into:

• How your internal world is being formed — whether you're intentional or not

• The mental and emotional cost of living disconnected from yourself

• How modern systems mass-produce performance instead of cultivating originality

• Why creativity feels rare in today's world

• The difference between being impressive and being integrated

• Why great work is formed in "little rooms" before it's seen in big ones

• How responsibility — not astrology, personality tests, or systems — shapes identity

This isn't a "5 steps to success" conversation.

It's an invitation.

To slow down. To sit with deeper questions. To stop outsourcing your design. To take ownership of who you're becoming.

Magnum Opus: The Art of Becoming One of One sets the foundation for a season focused on identity, leadership, creativity, and building something that outlives you.

If you're ready to stop performing and start becoming, this episode is for you.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: / adriancrawford-nrc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writenewrules/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writenewrules

Purchase the book today: https://www.newrulescollective.com/product-page/magnum-opus-the-art-of-becoming-one-of-one

If you're heading into change, feeling the weight of decision-making, or wanting to lead yourself more intentionally, this episode will help you slow down, think critically, and move forward with clarity.

This week on The New Rules Podcast, Bri is joined by producer Lauren for a reflective, honest conversation to close out the year. Together, they unpack what it looks like to learn yourself deeply, take responsibility for your internal world, and develop the foresight needed to navigate pressure, transition, and uncertainty.

This episode explores why reflection isn't just a year-end exercise, but a lifelong discipline that turns awareness into wisdom. From tracking patterns and managing fear to understanding responsibility, calling, and self-governance, this conversation offers language and perspective for anyone stepping into a new season.

We cover:

• Why reflection is essential for growth, not just insight

• How to track patterns before they become problems

• The difference between awareness and responsibility

• Learning to anticipate pressure instead of reacting to it

• Self-governance and owning your internal world

• How commitment shapes maturity over time

• Using reflection as foresight, not hindsight

• Why knowing yourself matters more than controlling outcomes

This episode is thoughtful, grounding, and deeply practical for anyone committed to becoming wiser, more self-aware, and more intentional in the year ahead.

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

This week, we're diving into a skill most people skip but everyone needs: reflection. Not the "wow, that happened" kind. The kind that turns your past into information so you can build foresight, notice patterns, and stop repeating the same cycles in a new year.

If you've ever set goals without slowing down long enough to understand what's actually been shaping you, this episode will give you language and a framework to make reflection a muscle, something you practice, not something you do once a year. Reflection takes internal fortitude, but it's how gratitude, correction, and growth become possible.

We cover:

• Why reflection takes internal fortitude and why the moments you want to avoid are often where the lesson is

• How to "excavate" cringe/embarrassing moments instead of running from them

• Why we need to reflect on wins too (not just failures) so we can repeat what actually works

• The paradox: it's often what goes unaddressed that becomes your future

• The "watch film" framework for reviewing life with a bird's-eye view (good, bad, and everything in between)

• A practical way to reflect by reviewing what you've created (writing, work, episodes, output) as evidence of who you were

• How to separate what's you, what's influence, and what's fear because life is layered

• How to actually find time: silence, closing mental tabs, and making reflection a habit

This episode is honest, practical, and gives you a framework to stop drifting so you can build a better future with clarity instead of just hoping things change.

📲 Connect with Us:

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

This week, we're bringing you a special Holiday Q&A Episode, featuring real questions from our listeners about navigating family, old patterns, and emotional pressure during the holidays.

This is an episode that helps you lead yourself well and navigate the old patterns and challenging environments that the holidays often resurface. Listen for language, tools, and perspective to stay grounded, lead yourself well, and show up as the healthiest version of you. For your own growth or to be someone that encourages the people around you.

We cover:

• How to stay grounded when you feel reactive or disconnected.

• Whether irritation means you haven't forgiven someone.

• How to set boundaries without creating unnecessary conflict.

• How to be around family members who are estranged from one another.

• What to do when you've outgrown old friendships back home.

• How to measure your resilience and self-awareness in real time.

• How to show up authentically without expecting others to change.

• How to care for yourself before and after the holiday environment.

This episode is honest, practical, and full of wisdom for anyone walking into environments that pull on their history or test their growth.

📲 Connect with Us:

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In this episode of The New Rules Podcast, Adrian and Bri dive into one of the most overlooked forces shaping our lives: belief.

Not blind optimism. Not hype. But the deep, internal conviction that fuels calling, direction, resilience, and identity.

Starting with Winston Churchill's outrageous belief at 19 that he would one day save England, the conversation unpacks how belief forms, why it wavers, and how you can build it in your own life. Adrian opens up about his lifelong struggle with self-belief, how ADHD shaped his confidence, and the role others played in helping him see what he couldn't see in himself.

They explore:

• Why belief often looks irrational from the outside.

• The tension between bold belief and foolishness.

• How belief anchors identity, especially in seasons of doubt.

• Why those with strong belief often experience deep lows.

• How belief in others (kids, spouse, team) shapes their future.

• Why calling needs both conviction and evidence.

• The role of time in confirming or correcting your belief.

• How to choose belief when the evidence isn't there yet.

This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human—helping you understand how belief works and what it will take to become who you're designed to be.

📲 Connect with Us:

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

We'd love to hear your thoughts! After listening, don't forget to leave a comment on YouTube, leave a review, and share your favorite takeaways on social media.

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In this episode of The New Rules Podcast, Adrian and Bri unpack the truth behind one of the most overused ideas in culture: being "one of one."

Everyone says they want to be different, but few are willing to fight the internal war it takes to truly become who they were designed to be.

This conversation explores the cost of authenticity, the battle between your past and your future, and what it really means to live as a whole person, not a performance.

They discuss:

• Why most people are chasing uniqueness for the wrong reasons.

• The real difference between being different and being whole.

• The war between your past and your future and how to win it.

• How pain, purpose, and calling are connected.

• Why becoming 1 of 1 isn't about fame, but transformation.

This is a raw and hopeful episode about the fight to be real in a culture of copies.

📲 Connect with Us:

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your thoughts on how power and fear have played a role in your own leadership experiences.

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules

In this episode of The New Rules Podcast, Adrian and Bri sit down with one of their favorite thinkers, Mark Sayers, pastor of Red Church in Melbourne and author of A Non-anxious Presence and Reappearing Church. Known for his insights on faith, culture, and leadership, Mark unpacks what it means to live and lead faithfully in a world defined by uncertainty, disinformation, and rapid technological change.

Together, they explore:

• How AI and cultural instability are reshaping leadership.

• The hidden spiritual hunger emerging beneath global chaos.

• The loss of truth, the rise of tribalism, and what authentic hope looks like now.

• Why the next era of leadership requires depth, humility, and integrity rather than platforms.

This is a timely and deeply grounded conversation about faith, formation, and the kind of leadership the future desperately needs.

📲 Connect with Us:

More of a visual person?

You can WATCH today's episode on our Youtube Channel:

Youtube: youtube.com/WriteNewRules

To stay connected, visit us at the following places to help as a guide for you on your journey to becoming an authentic leader!

LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford

Instagram: @writenewrules

TikTok: @writenewrules