The Purpose Matrix

Nobody has it figured out. Not even the guy who looks like he does.

Adam Rammel grew up in Coldwater, Ohio, and was laid off from his first corporate job in 2008. Today he co-owns BrewFountaine and The Syndicate in Bellefontaine, leads a team of about 65, and helps small-town businesses build their brands. His first downtown buildings cost a dollar each.

Adam got vulnerable on this one. After five great years and five hard ones, he’s leaning on faith, leaning on other leaders, and for the first time in a while, he sees the light again.

We talk about why getting let go turned out to be the best thing that happened to him, and why small towns and small businesses are worth protecting. We get into growing the pie instead of fighting over it, and why the next generation of employees wants to know your purpose. We also cover getting into rooms where you feel like an imposter, the loneliness of leading, and why peace is not the same as an easy life.

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00:00 Introduction to Adam Rammel and His Impact

02:57 The Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

05:57 The Importance of Values in Business

09:03 Community Revitalization and Cultural Impact

11:57 The Abundance Mindset in Business

15:04 The Shift from Business to Impact

18:04 Empathy and Leadership Growth

25:01 The Ripple Effect of Small Businesses

26:04 The Importance of Small Towns

27:05 Small Business vs. Corporate Opportunities

28:51 Core Values and Culture in Business

30:31 The Role of Purpose for Younger Generations

31:36 The Importance of HR in Business

32:55 Learning and Growth Through Curiosity

34:53 Building Connections in the Industry

36:04 The Loneliness of Leadership

38:12 Balancing Faith, Family, and Business

42:15 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations

Father Nathan Cromly, founder of St. John Institute and author of Coached by the Apostle Paul, joins me to talk about what real greatness looks like in business and in life. Your work isn't who you are. It's how you express who you are. We dig into why your workplace culture becomes your city's culture, why self-awareness is a leadership issue and not a soft skill, and why humility has to come before greatness.

We also talk about wealth and how to have it without letting it have you. Father Nate also shares one small step any leader can take in the next 30 days to bring faith into the workplace.

If you lead a team, run a business, or are trying to get faith, family, and work pointed in the same direction, this one's for you.

Learn more about Father Nate at daregreatthings.org and saintjohninstitute.org.

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00:00 Introduction to Father Nathan Cromly

01:11 The Arena of Leadership and Criticism

03:32 Defining Success and Greatness

06:19 Identity and Work: Who We Are

11:55 The Impact of Workplace Culture

15:44 Faith, Family, and Community Values

18:29 Leadership and Authenticity

24:12 The Role of Leadership in Achieving Common Goals

25:10 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

27:32 Perception and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

30:26 The Essence of Leadership: Influence and Followership

33:18 Greatness and Humility in Leadership

34:46 The Distinction Between Normal and Christian Leadership

38:10 Building a Ministry and Practical Faith

43:15 Learning from Saint Paul: Leadership Lessons

46:19 Wealth: A Tool for Blessing Others

Dr. Jeff Otte is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopedic Institute of Ohio, serving patients from Sidney to Tiffin. He's also my neighbor.

Fourteen years of school. Quitting never felt like an option. And he still isn't sure how he got here.

We talk about being present and calm when someone is hurt, why he trains while everyone else is asleep, and how Exodus 90 reshaped his mornings with prayer and silence. We get into the power of honest fellowship, and why your work can be your ministry, no matter what you do.

Jeff also opens up about the cost of the job: time away from his family, and the drives home from residency when he couldn't hold it together.

It's hard, and it's okay to not be okay. But if you're pursuing what you're called to do, you can be at peace.

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00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jeff Audi

02:47 The Journey to Becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon

05:57 The Importance of Physical Fitness in Medicine

08:54 Balancing Life's Responsibilities

12:00 Influential Figures in Dr. Audi's Life

15:08 Calmness in Crisis: The Role of a Surgeon

18:03 The Power of Presence in Leadership

21:06 Navigating Self-Perception and Confidence

23:17 The Impact of Spiritual Practices

25:58 Continuous Education and Personal Growth

27:32 The Importance of Fellowship and Vulnerability

29:53 Connecting Career and Ministry

32:10 Finding Purpose in Work

35:00 Reflections on Blessings and Challenges

39:43 Embracing Humanity in Professional Life

Andy Lynch spent 13 years as a Lima sports reporter, on TV every Friday night covering the MAC. Then he walked away from a career he loved to become a pastor.

We talk about why kids need adversity, and why he's rooting for it as a goalie dad. We get into what makes MAC families raise athletes who handle pressure. We also cover guilt versus shame and what it means to "clear the pipe" with God. He shares how he found the courage to make his move after fighting it for years, and how you can find your God-given gifts.

At the end, he talks about being an awkward kid and what he'd tell anyone who feels that way. It's a message we all need to hear.

Are you fighting a move you already know you need to make?

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00:00 Introduction to Andy Lynch

01:11 Career Journey: From Sports Reporting to Pastoral Work

04:04 Life in Alaska: Unique Experiences and Challenges

09:02 Transitioning from TV to Faith-Based Work

12:05 The Resurgence of Faith Among Young People

14:54 The Importance of Family and Community in Sports

20:10 Lessons from Adversity in Sports

24:06 The Decision to Leave Lima: A Personal Reflection

24:52 Reflections on a Sports Career

27:05 The Transition to Family Life

29:25 Navigating Career Changes with Faith

32:59 Embracing New Seasons of Life

36:40 Finding Purpose Beyond Career

41:06 The Impact of Serving Others

45:42 Embracing Awkwardness and Authenticity

In October 2023, Neil Smith walked into a hospital — and didn't walk back out. What began as unexplained pain on a family vacation turned into a rare neurological diagnosis, months of chemo, and a total rebuild of everything he thought defined him.

On this episode, Neil and his wife Angie share the real, unfiltered story of walking through suffering: the fear, the identity crisis, the marriage strain, and the small Ohio community that carried them when they couldn't carry themselves. They talk about what it means to find freedom instead of fear, how physical health is tied to mental and spiritual health, and why redefining your identity might be the hardest — and most important — work you'll ever do.

If you've ever faced a season that stripped away everything familiar, this conversation will show you what it looks like to find peace on the other side.

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00:00 Introduction to Neil and Angie Schmitz

03:18 The Beginning of a Health Journey

09:13 Community Support and Family Dynamics

12:52 Current Life and Daily Challenges

18:42 Faith and Personal Growth Through Suffering

23:24 Finding Meaning in Adversity

25:19 The Power of Perspective

28:01 Coaching and Life Lessons

29:34 Celebrating Small Victories

32:12 Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection

35:33 Living in the Moment

39:18 Fear vs. Freedom

41:13 Youth and Faith Today

45:02 Strengthening Relationships

48:22 Messages for the Next Generation

Originally recorded two years ago, the late Tim Kight, founder of Focus 3 and longtime leadership coach for Ohio State football, was and still is a major influence on Phil's leadership journey, and this conversation is a fitting reminder of that impact.

In it, Tim breaks down the R Factor,  a simple equation (Event + Response = Outcome) that shaped leaders across sports, business, and his own life. He and Phil dig into the mindset cycle that drives every human reaction, why discipline beats default, and how the same tool that fixes a bad commute carried Tim through his own cancer diagnosis. Tim explains the Performance Pathway connecting leadership, culture, behavior, and results, and introduces "20 square feet" — the idea that everyone owns a piece of the outcome, no title required. The conversation closes on identity and purpose: why values have to be chosen, not absorbed, and why timeless principles matter more than trends.

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26 years in law enforcement, thousands of lives touched.  From the DARE program to CASA, Make-A-Wish, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Nick Schulze has spent his life showing up for people nobody else would. In this episode, Phil sits down with the Mercer County law enforcement veteran, probation officer, and community advocate to talk about faith, fellowship, and the power of surrounding yourself with the right people. Nick shares the story behind a Make-A-Wish family's heartbreaking request, why FCA is changing the way young people talk about faith, and what happened when he opened his home to priests, brothers, and sisters from around the world for seven straight years. If you've ever wondered whether one person's willingness to serve can actually change a community, this episode is your answer.

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00:00 Nick Schulze's Journey of Service

00:57 Introduction to Nick Schulze's Experience

12:39 The DARE Program and Its Impact

15:48 Involvement with FCA and Youth Engagement

21:47 Building Community Through Faith and Support Groups

27:44 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

28:38 The Role of FCA in Community Engagement

30:26 Embracing Fear and Seeking Growth

33:25 Setting Goals and Looking Forward

36:47 The Impact of Community and Faith

42:19 Serving Others: CASA and Make-A-Wish

49:24 Reflecting on a Life of Service

Phil and Mark dig into the tax strategies most business owners miss, R&D credits, cost segregation, and cash-basis accounting, before shifting into what actually separates financially successful business owners from everyone else: knowing your numbers. The conversation moves into real leadership territory as Mark opens up about his own transition from technician to managing shareholder, comparing it to becoming a first-time dad. The back half covers estate planning (why "winging it" with an outdated will is a real risk), staying grounded during tax season, and Mark's own hierarchy of faith, family, and work, and how that order shapes decisions at his firm.

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Tax Planning by Age: 22 to 42 — what to prioritize at each career stage

The R&D Tax Credit Most Businesses Miss

Cost Segregation & Bonus Depreciation Explained

Cash Basis vs. Accrual: The Deferral Opportunity

Year-End Moves: Roth Conversions & Charitable Giving

What Separates Successful Business Owners — financial acumen vs. hustle

From CPA to Managing Shareholder — Mark's "new dad" leadership analogy

Self-Awareness as a Leadership Skill — "the problem isn't not knowing; it's not knowing what you don't know"

Estate Planning 101: Wills vs. Trusts

Does Tax Season Ever Get Easier? — how Mark protects family time in Q1

Faith, Family, Work: Mark's Hierarchy — and how it filters decisions

Alex Brau built the career most people chase — CFO, mergers and acquisitions, a run helping build Inter Miami from the ground up. He had it all, or thought he did. Then his 15-year-old son started watching him a little differently, and Alex realized something that had nothing to do with finance: his kids didn't need a wealthy father; they needed a courageous one. This episode digs into what actually held him back for years — not strategy, not timing, but fear — and the underwater moment during a scuba certification that cracked it wide open for him. Phil and Alex talk about being aggressive with action but patient with results, why "having more to lose" in your 40s is mostly an illusion built on stuff that doesn't matter, and why regret from inaction outweighs regret from failure almost every time. It's a conversation for anyone sitting on a dream they've been circling for years, waiting for the "right time" that never quite comes.

00:00 Introduction to Alex Brau and His Journey

03:02 The Balance of Corporate Success and Entrepreneurial Passion

05:51 Navigating Fear and Courage in Business Decisions

09:00 Mindset and Daily Affirmations for Success

12:10 The Importance of Core Values in Business

14:46 Fractional CFO: Supporting Business Growth and Transitions

18:10 Overcoming Fear of Failure and Embracing Growth

21:00 The Role of Community and Accountability in Business

24:06 Looking Ahead: Opportunities in Business and Technology

26:57 Recommended Reading: Mindset by Carol Dweck

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (786) 326-2255
Website: https://thebayfrontgroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbraucpa/

Nate Bruns had the identity every small-town Midwest kid dreams of — state champion in football and basketball, all-conference at Findlay, top-five in program scoring history. Then two things stripped it all away: losing his best friend and teammate Ty Mescher his junior year, and getting shot twice in a random Columbus shooting two years later — one bullet two inches from costing him his leg. This episode is about what's left when the identity you built your whole life around gets taken from you, and what Nate found underneath it. Straight line to "Remember Who You Are" — and a direct challenge to leaders on why faith at work isn't a liability, it's an advantage for attracting the next generation.

0:51 – Welcome Nate, his athletic résumé at Marion Local and Findlay

3:00 – Junior year peak — academically, spiritually, on the court

5:00 – Losing Ty Mesher, what real leadership through energy looks like

10:00 – You don't have to be the loud one to lead — lead yourself first

14:00 – Senior year drift, questioning faith, "why would this happen to a great guy"

17:00 – Coach Ernst's leadership conversation — adapting style, not identity

25:00 – 2024 — the leadership shift starts to take root

27:00 – The shooting in Columbus — what actually happened

32:00 – Recovery, the infection scare, three weeks of surgeries

38:00 – Leaning into faith — the Romans 5:3-5 "God wink" moment

44:00 – Identity — athlete vs. who God made him to be

48:00 – Starting the Watch Men’s Group with Alex Kanapke

53:00 – Choosing your associations — the roommates story

57:00 – Closing challenge: faith at work is an advantage, not a risk