The Self-Leadership Lab

You’ve done the thinking. You’ve made the plans. But none of it matters until you take the first step.

In this episode, Bobby explores what separates the Easy Hard from the Hard Hard: action. You’ll learn how to move from intention to momentum, why starting small matters, and how consistency and accountability fuel transformation.

“In twenty years, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” — Mark Twain

Start where you are. Take one action today. Then repeat.

Welcome back to the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast, a show dedicated to helping you find and do the work that actually matters.

In this solo episode, Bobby Shelton explores Chapter 6 of his book , Self-monitoring, and why this simple but powerful habit separates those who drift into Easy Hard from those who stay on the road to their Hard Hard.

Fresh from attending at the CEO Summit at Liberty University, Bobby shares lessons on leadership, awareness, and the importance of gentle course correction. Drawing from his own 180-pound weight-loss journey and coaching experience, he reveals how self-monitoring helps you stay aligned without falling into the trap of over-measurement or self-criticism.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why self-monitoring is about awareness, not anxiety.

• The key difference between evaluation and monitoring.

• How to spot patterns before they become problems.

• Why early metrics can discourage progress.

• The power of small, daily “micro check-ins.”

• How being gentle with yourself builds momentum.

Favorite Quotes:

“Self-monitoring is your compass — you’re just checking the map to make sure you’re still heading in the right direction.”

“All change is self-driven. Only you can make the change.”

“Be gentle with yourself. The harder you are on yourself, the harder it is to recover.”

Referenced in This Episode:

• Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard — by Bobby Shelton

• Atomic Habits — by James Clear

Episode Highlights:

• Why metrics can sometimes lie to you early in the journey.

• How awareness creates consistency, and consistency builds trust.

• The difference between gentle self-awareness and micromanaging yourself.

• When to bring in accountability partners ; and when not to.

• How simple self-monitoring transforms reflection into forward momentum.

Key Reminder:

Don’t over-engineer your growth. Just check in, adjust course, and keep moving. You’re not looking for perfection ; you’re building presence and progress.

Join the Movement:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s chasing their Hard Hard. Every listener who learns to self-lead contributes to a world that’s more focused, fulfilled, and free from distraction.

#self-leadership #self-monitoring #easyhardvshardhard

The Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard podcast celebrates Episode 20 with author and publisher Ben Gioia, creator of Influence With a Heart®. Together they explore how to write your book with purpose. Ben shares how coaches and leaders can finish a meaningful book in just weeks, overcome fear, use dictation to find their voice, and market it before it’s even published. If you’ve ever said “someday I’ll write a book,” this episode will help you start today.

Connect with Ben:

www.influenecewithaheart.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia/

Connect with Bobby:

www.easyhardvshardhard.com

www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b

Buy a copy of Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard at https://a.co/d/cDKpKcM

After a recording mishap, Bobby takes the mic solo to share what he learned from his backyard trees and how their rhythm of growth and rest can help us avoid burnout.

He unpacks the concept of masting, the natural cycle where trees go all-in for one season, then pause to recover.

The message?

Even purpose-driven people need to recharge.

Also in this episode:

Updates on the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard book launch

Why rest isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom

A moving story about compassion from an unexpected stranger

If you’re feeling drained, this episode will remind you that rest is part of the work.

Listen. Reflect. Restore.

#SelfLeadership #EasyHard #HardHard #Mindfulness #PurposeDrivenLife #MeaningfulWork #Resilience #LeadershipPodcast

Bobby’s book, Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard, is now available on Amazon Kindle, with the print version coming soon.

This book consolidates the ideas explored on the podcast—helping readers recognize the difference between the “Easy Hard” (the comfortable grind that leads nowhere) and the “Hard Hard” (the meaningful work that fulfills).

Get your copy: https://a.co/d/4EbWLrz

If your interested in the program offered by Ben Gioia, please find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengioia/ or visit his website: https://www.influencewithaheart.com

In this episode of the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast, Bobby Shelton explores the critical distinction between self-evaluation and self-assessment and why both are essential for chasing the work that truly matters.

You’ll learn:

How self-evaluation helps you look back at past actions with honesty, kindness, and clarity.

Why self-assessment is about looking forward, setting small, achievable goals, and taking consistent action.

The importance of honesty, avoiding overthinking, and embracing baby steps on the path to meaningful change.

Practical questions to guide your reflection and assessment process.

Bobby shares personal insights, actionable strategies, and encouragement to stop chasing “Easy Hard” tasks and instead commit to your “Hard Hard”...the work that brings purpose, progress, and fulfillment.

Whether you’re journaling, redefining your habits, or simply seeking clarity on your next steps, this conversation will help you take stock, take action, and move forward with consistency.

If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who might need it and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update.

Follow Bobby Shelton and the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard journey across all platforms to keep chasing the work that matters most.

Self-discipline isn’t about punishment or willpower it’s about aligning with the work that truly matters. In this episode, Bobby Shelton breaks down common myths about discipline, explains why chasing someone else’s goals never works, and shows how consistency, accountability, and purpose create lasting self-leadership. Tune in and discover how to build discipline that actually sticks.

In this heartfelt episode, Bobby Shelton steps away from the planned topic of self-discipline to address something deeper: the role of love versus hate in our lives. Sparked by recent conversations with friends and neighbors, and a tragic event in the news, Bobby explores how easy it is to let hate creep in and how essential it is to intentionally root ourselves in love.

You’ll hear:

Why hate is the ultimate Easy Hard. Fueled by fear, insecurity, and borrowed anxieties.

How focusing on what we observe in our daily lives, rather than what we’re told, changes our perspective.

Practical ways to cultivate love: gratitude journaling, identifying what you truly love, and simple daily acts of kindness.

Bobby’s personal reflections on depression, healing, and how love reshaped his mindset.

This episode is a call to action: to lead with love, reject distractions fueled by hate, and find the work that actually matters.

If this resonates with you, share it with someone who could use more love and encouragement in their life.

Coach Matt Lovitt has logged over 20,000 hours of coaching CEOs, pro athletes, and everyday people looking to transform their health. In this episode, Matt shares how fitness became his path to safety and confidence, why walking may be the most underrated fat-burning tool, and how accountability and consistency matter more than perfection.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why environment and mindset keep so many people stuck

- How a 30-minute workout system can transform your energy and focus

- Why rest, recovery, and walking are the real keys to lasting results

Subscribe to the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don’t miss future episodes.

#FitnessTransformation #MorningWorkout #EasyHardVsHardHard #MattLovitt #SelfLeadership #30MinuteWorkout #HealthAndPerformance #ConsistencyOverMotivation #VirtualTraining #BobbySheltonPodcast

In this episode, Bobby Shelton sits down with Gregg Swanson, a certified mental strength and peak performance coach with over 20 years of experience. Greg is on a mission to help ambitious professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs flip the burnout script and reconnect deeply with their purpose without sacrificing their health or values.

As the founder of Warrior Mind Coaching, Gregg has worked with leaders across tech, finance, health, and beyond. He’s also a featured mindset trainer on BetterUp’s global coaching platform, author of multiple books, and host of the Warrior Mindset Podcast.

Together, Bobby and Gregg dive into the hidden traps of motivation, the reality of burnout, and how to develop a warrior mindset that fuels elite performance and meaningful living.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why motivation can be deceptive and what to rely on instead.

The principles behind Greg’s burnout recovery method.

How to reclaim your masculine edge and reconnect with purpose.

The habits and mental frameworks high performers use to sustain energy.

Practical steps you can apply today to start leading yourself with strength

Guest Bio: Gregg Swanson

Gregg is a certified mental strength and peak performance coach with two decades of experience guiding professionals through burnout, overwhelm, and self-doubt. Through his company, Warrior Mind Coaching, and his own Warrior Mind Podcast, Gregg teaches strategies to cultivate resilience, discipline, and a deeper connection to meaning in both work and life.

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Links & Resources

Learn more about Gregg’s work:

Website: https://warriormindcoach.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mental-performance-consultant

Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/user/gregg-swanson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarriorMindCoach/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreggSwanson

Follow Bobby Shelton for more insights on self-leadership and the Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard framework

Website: www.battlecatcoaching.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-hard-vs-hard-hard/id1820794207

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02KH2GGhlEUY6gPSnbBCfZ?si=99c8499a3ca649d0

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f522489-6543-4719-9040-9422de3e81af/easy-hard-vs-hard-hard

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@EasyHardvsHardHard

Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/

If you’ve ever felt burned out, disconnected from your purpose, or trapped chasing motivation that doesn’t last, this episode is for you. Listen in and start building your own warrior mindset today.

In this episode, Bobby Shelton sits down with Bally Binning to unpack what really happens when success is achieved without support-and why leadership can feel lonelier as you rise.

Bally shares her personal journey: returning to the UK in her 30s, jumping between roles that lacked purpose, and finally earning the title of Program Leader only to realize that the support system she expected didn’t exist.

From launching an events business solo to commuting 15 hours a week while holding it all together, Bally faced the cost of silent struggle. That moment became her turning point.

Now, as a Performance Coach & AI Educator and founder of Leaderize, Bally helps mid-level leaders reclaim their power, build clarity, and escape the performance trap.

This episode is a powerful reminder: no one climbs alone-and you don’t have to either.

Bally Binning is the founder of Leaderize Ltd, a UK-based coaching business empowering discerning leaders to ignite change, realize their potential, and shape the future through the power of their own voice. An ICF Certified Performance Coach and AI Educator, Bally specializes in inclusive leadership and ethical AI integration, equipping professionals with the tools to embrace transformation, elevate performance, and achieve lasting growth.

She is also the co-author of Wisdom Woven Through Adventure in Golden Threads (2024), a celebration of women’s shared wisdom.

To connect with Bally and explore more of her work, follow her on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ballybinning/

Learn more and connect with Bobby:

Website: www.battlecatcoaching.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-hard-vs-hard-hard/id1820794207

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02KH2GGhlEUY6gPSnbBCfZ?si=99c8499a3ca649d0

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f522489-6543-4719-9040-9422de3e81af/easy-hard-vs-hard-hard

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@EasyHardvsHardHard

Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/