What People Who Actually Love Their Work Understand

In this episode of The Next Better AMA Show, Coach Woody and Kristin Rinkel explore what separates people who truly love their work from those who simply get through it. Through stories of risk, authenticity, and curiosity, Coach Woody shares the mindset shifts that redefine success—not as achievement, but as alignment with your values.

Key Insights or Questions

• How redefining risk changes your relationship with fear and purpose

• Why authenticity outperforms professionalism in both leadership and connection

• The power of curiosity to deepen every relationship—personal and professional

• How knowing your values transforms the way you see others

• Why fulfillment is found not in avoiding failure, but in choosing growth

Listener Takeaway
People who love their work don’t have it all figured out—they’ve learned to stay curious, take risks, and lead from who they truly are. This conversation is a reminder that “safe” often isn’t secure—it’s stagnant. Listen in, take notes, and start asking the better questions that make work feel like purpose.

Stay Connected

• Watch full episodes on YouTube

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Join the Next Better Newsletter

• Click here to ask a question

Timestamps
00:00 Intro — redefining “risk” and fulfillment
07:19 The real fear: not trying at all
17:59 Authenticity beats professionalism
24:30 Seeing values clearly in others
32:05 Curiosity as a connector
38:30 The exchange of value

External Resources

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

• Coffee with Coach (Coach Woody’s live series)

Alejandra Malo is an entrepreneur, mother, traveler, and nonprofit founder who shows us what it means to create a life that holds space for business, family, and impact. In this conversation, she shares how she built multiple ventures, stayed true to her values, and found joy in both work and life.

Key Insights

• Why Alejandra built her first company, Pink Team, around happiness

• The leadership lesson behind “you can’t teach attitude”

• How she balances entrepreneurship, motherhood, and travel

• Why she started a nonprofit to give back to her community

• The belief that morals matter more than languages

Listener Takeaway
Alejandra Malo proves you don’t need to choose between career, family, and purpose. With intention and energy, you can design a life that allows for all of it. Subscribe to The Next Better Podcast for more stories of bold choices and better paths forward.

Stay Connected

• Watch full episodes on YouTube

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Join the Next Better Newsletter

• Click here to ask a question

Timestamps
[00:02:38] Building Pink Team around happiness
[00:05:16] Why you can’t teach attitude
[00:31:34] Communication beyond language
[00:42:22] “This is your time” — taking the leap
[00:57:19] Morals over languages
[01:12:40] Starting a nonprofit to give back
[01:25:15] Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship

External Resources

• Pink Team Cleaning Services – Alejandra Malo’s cleaning company

• Pink Team Foundation – The nonprofit she founded

• Pink Team Foundation Gala 2025 – Fundraising event at Gathering Acres Event Center

• Alejandra Malo on LinkedIn

As a business owner, leader, or parent — you’re carrying a lot. So how do you stay clear, grounded, and focused… without burning out? In this episode of the AMA Show, Coach Woody and Kristin Rinkel unpack the strategies, mindset shifts, and leadership habits that help you stay sharp when everyone’s pulling on your time and energy.

From listening as a leadership superpower to managing ambition and gratitude, this episode is full of insight for anyone juggling complexity in their career and personal life.

We cover:

• The energy-draining habits leaders need to unlearn

• How to listen first — and why it creates stronger influence

• What the Savannah Bananas can teach you about customer experience

• The formula for long-term satisfaction (hint: it’s not more hustle)

• Real talk on burnout, balance, and doing work that actually matters

Listener takeaway:
You don’t need to do more — you need to do what matters most. Tune in for honest, actionable strategies to protect your energy and lead with clarity.

Stay Connected:

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Watch on YouTube

• Join the Next Better Newsletter

• Click here to ask a question

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Humidity jokes & Colorado catch-up
01:57 – “You have two ears and one mouth…”
04:14 – The best question leads to a deeper one
06:23 – Savannah Bananas & Fans First
13:35 – Reducing friction for your customers
20:08 – Leadership habits you need to unlearn
26:45 – Building a culture that sustains motivation
33:53 – How to find fulfillment beyond financial success
40:57 – Balancing ambition with gratitude
53:54 – How to keep your energy sharp as a parent & business owner
59:29 – “More isn’t better. Better is better.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Fans First by Jesse Cole

• Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks

• VIA Strengths Assessment

• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard

• Pedal Stomper Productions — shoutout to Josh Trokey

• The Business Fix Podcast with Chrissy Myers & Josh Troche

In this powerful episode, Coach Woody sits down with financial coach and veteran investment manager Steve Selengut, who spent over 40 years helping clients build portfolios that generate income—not just paper gains. If you’ve ever been told that retirement is about selling off your nest egg bit by bit, this conversation will challenge that mindset.

Steve doesn’t just advocate for income-focused investing—he lives it. With a strategy rooted in closed-end funds, REITs, and income securities, he shows how your money can work harder for you, even in retirement. But this episode isn’t for beginners—it’s a deep dive into a rarely discussed approach that may just change the way you think about financial fitness forever.

🔑 Key Insights from the Episode:

• Why the traditional “4% rule” falls short for many retirees—and how it can actually shrink your nest egg.

• The hidden incentives behind model portfolios most financial advisors push (hint: it's not your income).

• What closed-end funds are—and why they’ve been quietly outperforming in income generation for decades.

• Why market value isn’t the best measure of wealth—and how “working capital” reframes the conversation.

• The single question you should ask your advisor: How much income is my portfolio generating for me right now?

  
  

🎧 Listener Takeaway:

If your retirement plan is based on hope, market swings, or selling off stocks, Steve’s message is a wake-up call. With the right education and structure, your portfolio can become your primary source of income—without sacrificing growth. Start by asking better questions and exploring alternative strategies. Your financial independence might be closer than you think.

• 00:00 – Steve on old-school brokerage models and why the system isn’t designed for your retirement income

• 00:51 – Coach Woody introduces the conversation on financial fitness and portfolio design

• 03:27 – Debunking the 4% Rule: Why market downturns wreak havoc on traditional retirement strategies

• 07:19 – The education gap: Why most people don’t understand what they’re invested in

• 11:18 – Risks of overconcentration and the power of diversification

• 14:22 – Turning portfolios into income machines—and why most advisors never talk about it

• 21:41 – How to shift your financial mindset (and how Steve helps clients make the change)

• 25:28 – Closed-end funds vs. traditional ETFs/mutual funds: The real difference

• 30:46 – Steve’s working capital model: Focus on income, not market value

• 35:13 – Steve’s personal journey: From miserable commutes to financial freedom

• 39:40 – How to identify income-paying securities and analyze dividend yields

• 45:31 – The difference between financial “sickness” and “fitness”

• 51:39 – What to do if your current advisor won’t support an income-first strategy

• Book: Retirement Money Secrets by Steve Selengut

• Website: theincomecoach.net

• Course: Start the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) — launching soon

• AMA Questions: Click here to ask a question

  
  

🎙️ Subscribe to the Next Better Podcast on your favorite platform:

• YouTube

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

Coach Woody goes solo in this AMA episode to tackle questions on work-life integration, fast trust-building, conflict resolution, and how to lead through tough moments with purpose and clarity.

• This week’s show includes a reflection on why “balance” is outdated and how to pursue integration instead
• Learn a surprisingly simple way to build trust quickly in high-turnover environments
• Hear Coach Woody’s personal story of a leadership win that didn’t feel like a win
• Plus: how to reset when you’re overwhelmed, how to resolve conflict fast, and what to do when your values don’t align

Takeaway:Leadership is more than productivity — it’s about alignment. Coach Woody challenges listeners to root their decisions in values, recognize their limits, and stay intentional across all areas of life.

Submit your question for the next AMA episode:
Click here to ask a question anonymously

Links & Resources:
• Website: nextbetter.com
• Newsletter: Join the Next Better Newsletter
• YouTube: @TheNextBetter
• Coach Lucas Woody on Instagram/LinkedIn: @CoachLucasWoody
• Book of the Month: Fans First by Jesse Cole
• Recommended Books: Essentialism by Greg McKeown, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, Lifting Up by Jen Marr

Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & update on Kristin Rinkel01:45 – Quote of the day + Book of the Month02:20 – Balancing work and family: why “balance” doesn’t work09:10 – Work-fun integration + 8 areas of well-being13:40 – Building trust fast in high-turnover teams25:15 – When values don't align: turning down opportunities31:40 – When a win doesn’t feel like a win37:10 – How to reset when you're overwhelmed41:45 – Leadership books that shaped Coach Woody48:00 – Resolving conflict quickly and constructively53:10 – Hard leadership lesson: you can’t control perception58:30 – Final thoughts and CTA to stay connected

In this powerful conversation, Coach Woody is joined by Jen Marr, founder of Showing Up and author of the new book Lifting Up, to discuss how leaders can navigate burnout, awkward conversations, and emotional overwhelm in the workplace—without crossing the line into therapy.

After witnessing major national tragedies firsthand—Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon bombings—Jen committed her life to helping leaders and organizations build stronger, more compassionate relationships in times of hardship.

This episode is a guidebook for any leader who wants to support their team with empathy, clear boundaries, and real relational skills in today’s tech-heavy and emotionally disconnected workplace.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why human connection skills are the missing piece in modern leadership—not another framework.

• The “5 80s” framework: 5 surprising 80% stats that reveal a disconnect between intention and impact in the workplace.

• How to balance supportive leadership without overstepping into therapist territory.

• The Barbell Framework: Self-care, supportive care (leader's role), and clinical care—and why the “middle” matters most.

• What it really means to be available, approachable, and relatable as a leader in a VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous).

  
  

🎧 Listener Takeaway:

You don’t have to be a therapist to be a phenomenal leader. What you do need are intentional relational skills that help your team feel seen, heard, and supported—especially in times of burnout and uncertainty. Jen Marr reminds us that empathy is not a feeling—it’s a skillset. And every leader can learn it.

📲 Stay Connected:

• Learn more about Jen’s work: showing-up.com

• Connect with Jen on LinkedIn

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

  
  

• (01:24) Social wealth vs. leadership frameworks

• (02:24) How Jen’s journey began (Sandy Hook & Boston Marathon)

• (06:15) What Lifting Up is—and isn’t

• (09:35) Why leaders struggle with awkward conversations

• (13:31) The 5 80s framework explained

• (18:30) The importance of modeling vulnerability

• (24:11) Availability = Approachability + Relatability

• (28:08) Navigating awkwardness with boundaries

• (30:36) Intention vs. Impact: Addressing blind spots

• (38:10) Redefining management vs. leadership

• (47:08) What kinds of conversations Lifting Up focuses on

• (50:58) Jen’s vision for future workplaces

• (57:16) Responsibility: Leader vs. individual

• (59:45) Navigating delegation without “dumping”

• (1:01:11) Where to learn more + closing thoughts

  
  

• Showing Up – by Jen Marr (Amazon)

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

• Grit by Angela Duckworth

• Barbell Framework + 5 80s Framework (from Lifting Up)

• Mental Health First Aid & QPR suicide prevention training (referenced)

In this reflective and energizing episode of the AMA Show, Coach Woody and Kristin Rinkel dive into powerful mindset tools for navigating life transitions, overcoming procrastination, and reconnecting with your deeper sense of purpose. With questions submitted anonymously and from the community, this session is full of clarity and compassion for anyone wrestling with motivation or meaning.

• How to Prioritize Projects Without Deadlines: Tools like the Eisenhower Matrix help, but reframing your mindset around why you want to do something is even more powerful.

• The Practice vs. Project Framework: Not everything you do has to end. Learning to treat passions as ongoing practices (like quilting, journaling, or pickleball!) can reduce guilt and increase fulfillment.

• 3 Practical Steps for Handling Big Life Transitions: From building a morning routine to anchoring in gratitude and identifying what you want to bring into your next chapter, Coach Woody offers tangible mental shifts.

• How to Stay Motivated When Life Is “Good Enough”: When stability leads to stagnation, clarity of purpose and redefining “impact” can re-energize your ambition.

• Action Breeds Confidence: The most important way to counter self-doubt is by starting small and building momentum—because no one builds a fulfilling life by staying in their head.

If you’ve ever said “I want to do this, but I just don’t have time or motivation,” this episode is for you. Coach Woody challenges the belief that stability means we should stop striving—and instead offers a powerful reminder: your life is a practice, not a project. The sooner you start, even with 18 minutes a day, the more fulfilled you’ll feel.

• (00:00) Welcome & Kristin’s Big Life Move

• (01:30) Prioritizing “Want To” Projects with No Deadlines

• (03:45) The Eisenhower Matrix + Return on Investment Mindset

• (08:30) Joy as ROI: Pickleball, Quilting, and Permission

• (12:00) Project vs. Practice: Which Are You Building?

• (18:00) 3 Steps to Organize Your Life in a Major Transition

• (27:00) Military Morning Routines & Anxiety Management

• (28:00) What Drives Coach Woody + The Power of Mentorship

• (37:30) Feeling Unfulfilled in a “Stable” Job: Vic’s Question

• (43:00) Impact vs. Perfection: Why You Don’t Need 20 Years

• (51:00) Self-Doubt, Confidence, and Taking the First Step

• (56:30) Book Recommendations for Taking Action

• (60:00) Teaser for Next Week: Work-Life Balance Myths

  
  

In this episode of The Next Better Podcast, Coach Woody sits down with Mikel Berger—entrepreneur, systems thinker, and co-founder of Little Engine Ventures—to dismantle one of the most celebrated myths in high performance: that being busy means being important.

With a career that spans software startups, investing in Main Street businesses, and leading through 17+ acquisitions, Mikel offers a refreshing—and deeply practical—take on what it really means to build a life of impact without wearing busyness as a badge.

Through personal stories, intentional frameworks, and servant-hearted leadership, Mikel shows us how to stay involved without burning out, and how the best leaders design their days around energy, not just time.

Together, Mikel and Coach Woody unpack:

✅ Why “busy” isn’t a flex—and what to aim for instead

✅ How to design your calendar to match your energy (not your ego)

✅ Why leadership transitions fail—and how to do them right

✅ What it really takes to lead multiple businesses without chaos

✅ The overlooked power of weekly 1:1s (and how to do them well)

✅ How to say “no” without guilt—and why it’s an act of service

✅ The difference between doing good work and being effective

✅ Why values-driven leadership is the only kind that scales

This episode is for the high-achiever who's done being overwhelmed, and ready to lead with more clarity, capacity, and calm—whether you're managing a business, a team, or your own time.

🔔 Follow the show for more conversations that challenge the hustle, elevate purpose, and redefine high performance.

✨ Stay connected:
LinkedIn: Coach Lucas Woody
YouTube: @TheNextBetter
Website: https://nextbetter.com

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Mikel Berger joins from Matchbox Studio

01:09 – How to stay involved without becoming busy

03:09 – Mindset first, systems second: the shift from “hacks” to values

04:49 – Saying no to protect your purpose (and your people)

06:44 – Predictability = love: why your family needs structure too

10:35 – Deep Work in the morning, creative work when tired? Yes.

11:10 – Books that shaped him: Deep Work & When

15:03 – Time ≠ value; energy determines impact

19:01 – Juggling 12+ businesses without losing your mind

22:00 – Inside Little Engine Ventures: buying small businesses with heart

29:00 – Culture fit or failure: why values matter in acquisition

33:39 – Transitioning leadership without losing people

37:16 – When to keep, coach, or let go: the hard calls

41:09 – Servant leadership ≠ saying yes to everything

45:31 – Busy ≠ better: what real productivity looks like

50:21 – Manager and leader: why you need both hats

55:07 – The power of weekly 1:1s (and how to lead them well)

58:38 – For the thinkers: The Activator Advantage

01:01:23 – For the doers: the habit that changed everything

In this episode of the AMA Show, Coach Woody and Coach Kristin take on one of the most requested—and misunderstood—topics in business: how to build culture that actually works inside a startup.

Drawing from 15+ years of coaching and real-world examples from founder-led companies, Coach Woody breaks down why most teams struggle with culture (hint: it’s not about perks) and how to build a system rooted in values, rituals, and intentional leadership.

Together, Coach Woody and Kristin explore:

✅ The 3 things every thriving culture is built on: Vision, Values, Rituals

✅ Why most startup values fall flat—and how to make yours stick

✅ How to hire people who actually align with your mission

✅ What to do when your team grows, but your culture doesn’t

✅ How to shift course without losing your people

✅ Building connection and accountability in remote teams

✅ Why culture isn't about where you work—it's about how

✅ The $5 challenge for listeners who stay to the end

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or rethinking culture at scale, this episode is packed with truth, tools, and practical strategies to help you build a team people want to join—and stick with.

Don’t forget to follow the show for real, unfiltered conversations about performance, purpose, and becoming the kind of leader people trust.

Stay connected:LinkedIn: Coach Lucas WoodYouTube: @TheNextBetterWebsite: ⁠https://nextbetter.com⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 – Live from the barn: caffeine and intentionality

01:38 – Why we use caffeine—and what it reveals about us

03:17 – What this show is (and why we do it live)

05:34 – Today’s top question: how to build startup culture

07:24 – Vision, Values, Rituals: the foundation of real culture

08:57 – Why “integrity” isn’t a real core value

10:50 – How to hire using values instead of just gut instinct

12:12 – Sam Walton, Walmart, and what gets lost over time

14:32 – A real client case: defining “agility” as a core value

17:55 – How to help your current team embrace new values

22:52 – What to do when people just don’t align anymore

25:12 – How to exit people gracefully and protect your mission

27:36 – The right way to rebuild culture with your existing team

31:46 – Culture in remote teams: what works and what doesn’t

34:06 – Rituals, in-person energy, and why lunches > bonuses

38:44 – Can remote teams thrive? Only if you do this first.

40:25 – Next question: How do I stay positive in adversity?

42:48 – The “well-being wheel” and redefining self-worth

47:30 – Jen, you’re already bringing value (and here’s how)

49:16 – How to balance ambition and rest without guilt

52:22 – What success actually means (hint: define it yourself)

56:49 – What’s really stressing you out? It might not be work

59:38 – Good is the enemy of great: why saying yes burns you out

01:02:15 – FOMO, false priorities, and chasing the wrong success

01:05:16 – Teaser for next episode: multiple projects, no deadlines

In this episode of The Next Better Podcast, Coach Woody sits down with Andrew Oxley—leadership expert, consultant, and founder of the Oxley Group to challenge one of the most pervasive myths in leadership: that the best leaders need to be heroes.

Drawing from 40+ years of experience and the transformative “Guide vs. Hero” framework, Andrew offers a powerful mindset shift for high-performing, servant-hearted leaders who want to stop carrying everything alone—and start building organizations where people thrive on purpose.

Together, Andrew and Coach Woody explore:

✅ Why leadership isn’t about being the hero—but the guide

✅ How to build influence by asking better questions, not having all the answers

✅ Why modern leadership is more personal—and what to do about it

✅ The "Villain, Hero, Guide" framework for long-term leadership success

✅ How to lead older, more experienced teams with humility and confidence

✅ What most leaders get wrong about accountability and expectations

✅ Why curiosity is your most underrated leadership skill

✅ The litmus test that reveals your true leadership influence (no title required)

This episode is a must-listen if you're a purpose-driven leader who wants to grow your influence, guide your team more effectively, and build a culture people want to be part of—not just a job they clock into.

🔔 Don’t forget to follow the show for more conversations that challenge the hustle, elevate purpose, and redefine high performance.

✨ Stay connected:

LinkedIn: Coach Lucas Woody

YouTube: @TheNextBetter

Website: https://nextbetter.com

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why leadership belongs on this podcast

01:42 – The 3 leadership roles: Villain, Hero, and Guide

04:10 – Why “Guide” leaders are the most effective (and hardest to be)

05:37 – Leadership = journey + vision alignment

08:11 – The Southwest Airlines story: purpose in action

09:57 – Leadership’s ripple effect: beyond just your team

13:14 – The personal shift from corporate speak to meaningful mission

14:45 – Major leadership trends post-COVID

17:50 – Hiring is not an HR job—it’s the leader’s responsibility

19:31 – Why people won’t put up with “bad” leadership anymore

22:03 – Letting go of needing to have all the answers

25:22 – Vision vs. tactics: how to lead without being a know-it-all

28:41 – Respect, curiosity, and leading older/more experienced teams

32:46 – Accountability ≠ punishment: resetting the narrative

36:41 – How to reestablish expectations without overwhelming your team

40:25 – The power of appreciation and proportionate praise

42:45 – Mindful leadership: stop monologuing in your head

44:10 – Clarity, scorecards, and how to give real feedback

46:58 – Emotional intelligence: be mad for them, not at them

49:15 – How to manage friction for progress—not perfection

50:15 – You can lead from anywhere: influence without a title

53:50 – The ultimate leadership litmus test: who seeks your advice?