Potent with Steven Lawson

Hosted by Steven Lawson

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Sep 2024

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Discover a more Potent life. Welcome to Potent, the podcast where we explore transformative ideas and practices to help you live into your unique potential and build a more potent life. By exploring ideas and practices from expert thinkers and practitioners in psychology, business, personal development, and spirituality we provide you with new and old ideas + tools for building a full(er) life. Sponsored by monkmanual.com

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17 recent

September 17, 20241 hr 34 min

Making Sense (Part 2) | Andy Hickman

What are your emotions really trying to tell and how can you use them to teach you? In part two of this two-part episode of Potent, Steven is joined once more by Andy Hickman, founder of hēl, as they explore personal growth through emotional insight and sensory engagement, emphasizing the significance of addressing physical sensations and emotions rooted in early experiences for breakthroughs. They emphasize the necessity of a balanced integration of intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects, presenting methodologies for fostering such harmony, as well as sharing practical exercises for recalling positive memories are introduced, aimed at facilitating personal transformation and growth. About Today's Guest Andy is the head coach and founder of hēl, a high-touch coaching practice that helps creators cultivate their spirituality through the reorganization of their physical senses. Interviewed by the David Allen Company® for his ground breaking research on the connections between medieval philosophy and modern project management, he's been invited to speak for members of the U.S. congress, Business leaders at organizations like FOCUS and Ernst & Young, and numerous popular podcasts. Show Notes 00:00 - Introduction 00:02:22 - Exploring Positive and Negative Stories 00:05:58 - The Importance of Observing vs. Examining 00:10:52 - The Detective Analogy for Thought Processes 00:12:40 - The Hierarchy of Meaning 00:17:08 - The Personal Nature of Change 00:22:09 - The Challenge of Teaching vs. Coaching 00:29:10 - Identifying Personal Preferences and Understanding Personal Patterns 34:01 - Exploring the Connection Between Time and Personal Value 37:12 - The Challenge of Articulating Complex Ideas 41:04 - Overview of hēl's Four Behaviors 46:09 - Clarifying: Making Sense of What You Recognize 48:14 - Reviewing: Realigning Reason, Intuition, and Lists How to Learn More About hēl: If these conversations with Andy Hickman are resonating strongly with you, you will want to read his Landmark Letters, which are a free and thoughtful distillation of the what and why of hēl. In this series of 13 letters you will: Hear audio clips of practitioners experiencing healing Learn the personal story of Andy's neurotic breakdown at age 17, which planted the seed for the creation of hēl Rediscover the nature of organization Understand how to make choosing in life easy To read Andy's Landmark Letters for free, go to www.hel.co and click the "hēl your creativity" button". _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

September 3, 202434 min

The Practical Path to Being | Steven Lawson

Does completing ten menial tasks compare to completing one meaningful task? On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven explores the process of how to best prioritize essential tasks by zooming out on life goals and reducing unnecessary actions, as well as challenging the notion that doing and being are mutually exclusive, advocating for a harmonious relationship between external productivity and internal fulfillment. By focusing on time leadership over time management, creating outer order to facilitate inner peace, and using priorities as guiding principles, he explains how we can navigate a more intentional and meaningful life while providing practical advice on setting generative, objective, operative, and desirable (GOOD) goals, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing self-reflection and growth through journaling, reading, and supportive relationships. About Today's Guest Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives. Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children. Show Notes 00:00 - Introduction to Being and Doing 05:30 - Misconceptions about Being and Doing 10:50 - Practical Steps for Integrating Being and Doing 19:26 - Importance of Priorities Over To-Do Lists 25:34 - Shift from SMART Goals to Focusing on the Good 31:55 - Starting the Journey Towards Fullness of Being _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

August 20, 20241 hr 50 min

Making Sense (Part 1) | Andy Hickman

Making Sense (Part 1) | Andy Hickman What are your emotions really trying to tell and how can you use them to teach you? On part one of this two-part episode of Potent, Steven is joined once again by Andy Hickman, founder of hēl, as they explore self-awareness and personal growth through a live therapy workshop, highlighting the mapping of experiences and excavating deep emotions through storytelling, sensing, and clarifying exercises. The two also discuss the transformative power of reflection, the importance of authentic living, and turning negative experiences into productive energy. About Today's Guest Andy is the head coach and founder of hēl, a high-touch coaching practice that helps creators cultivate their spirituality through the reorganization of their physical senses. Interviewed by the David Allen Company® for his ground-breaking research on the connections between medieval philosophy and modern project management, he's been invited to speak for members of the U.S. Congress, business leaders at organizations like FOCUS and Ernst & Young, and numerous popular podcasts. Show Notes 00:00 Intro 02:06 Live Workshop with Andy* 12:38 The Concept of Self-Discipline 15:12 Understanding Willpower and Desire 20:05 Navigating Inner and Outer Worlds 26:49 The Process of Sense Making 54:40 Mapping Emotions and Stories 01:06:55 Slowing Down the Story 01:16:26 Breathing Through the Story 01:25:44 Reflecting on the Process 01:36:40 Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps How to Learn More About hēl: If these conversations with Andy Hickman are resonating strongly with you, you will want to read his Landmark Letters, which are a free and thoughtful distillation of the what and why of hēl. In this series of 13 letters you will: Hear audio clips of practitioners experiencing healing Learn the personal story of Andy's neurotic breakdown at age 17, which planted the seed for the creation of hēl Rediscover the nature of organization Understand how to make choosing in life easy To read Andy's Landmark Letters for free, go to www.hel.co and click the "hēl your creativity" button". _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com.

August 6, 202444 min

What's the Purpose of Your Money | YNAB Founder Jesse Mecham

TITLE: What's the Purpose of Your Money | YNAB Founder Jesse Mecham Do you have trouble in your relationship with the money you earn? On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by personal finance expert and founder of YNAB, Jesse Mecham, to discuss the philosophy and principles of YNAB (You Need a Budget), an app designed to help users align their spending with their personal values and goals. Jesse shares his journey of using money intentionally and the benefits of giving every dollar a job and covers four key habits promoted by YNAB: assigning every dollar a job, embracing true expenses, rolling with the punches, and aging one's money. About Today's Guest Jesse Mecham is a personal finance expert and founder of YNAB, an app with a simple set of habits to help people change the way they think about money. Jesse hosts the top-rated financial podcast You Need A Budget (8 million downloads), as well as the business owners’ guide to managing cash flow, the Beginning Balance Podcast. He is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of, You Need A Budget and is regularly quoted in the media as a money management expert – Forbes, New York Times, CNBC, and Business Insider have featured him – to name a few! Jesse started YNAB in 2004, and back then, it was just a lil' bitty spreadsheet that helped him (a self-proclaimed cash-strapped, newly married college student) cover the cost of his textbooks without going into debt. Nearly two decades later, The TODAY Show described YNAB as a “cult-favorite,” and the YNABverse continues to expand – amassing passionate fan communities on every corner of the internet (that combined are larger than the population of Charleston). Every day they share stories of demolishing debt, paying for cars in cash, or quadrupling their net worth. YNAB the company is home to a fast-growing team living and working all around the world, and has built a thriving remote culture that earned recognition as Fortune’s #1 best small company to work for. (YNAB was doing remote work before it was cool!). When not teaching the YNAB Method – four habits to help people spend, save and give without guilt or second-guessing –Jesse loves gardening, woodworking, marksmanship, and travel. He also spends a good bit of time with his wife and their seven children – yes, seven! To learn more, visit www.ynab.com. Show Notes 0:00 Intro + Story and Philosophy of "You Need A Budget" 04:59 YNAB's Four Habits 14:06 First Steps to Giving Your Money A Job 19:33 Scarcity Is Clarity 26:53 Dealing with Debt: Pace and Prevention 31:46 Taking Inventory, Making Decisions 37:33 Rapid Fire Questions _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com

July 16, 202454 min

Befriend Your Inner Creative Genius | Prof. Elizabeth Wimer

What’s holding you back from reaching your fullest capability for creativity? On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Syracuse University’s Professor Elizabeth Wimer to discuss a range of topics from providing practical advice for avoiding burnout, to understanding the Pareto principle to identify impactful relationships, fostering creativity through thoughtful practices, and leveraging weak ties for idea generation. The two also touch on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and get into Professor Wimer’s personal reflections on teaching and balancing professional life with genuine care for her students. About Today's Guest Elizabeth Wimer is equally passionate about coffee and entrepreneurship – a combination that serves her well as a caffeinated educator for conferences, consulting, and as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. Her experience in entrepreneurial ventures and her passion for marketing translates into courses, consulting, and speaking engagements in entrepreneurship, ideation, marketing, creative problem solving, personal selling, management, and customer service. Her consulting work has taken her throughout the United States and also to the United Arab Emirates, Asia, Africa, and the U.K. and her passion for education has led her to South Sudan to volunteer to teach at an understaffed school in rural Ariang. She is currently running an annual signature immersion experience for Syracuse University students to consult on-site with entrepreneurs, refugee artisans and underserved rural schools in Nairobi & Nakuru, Kenya. Although she resides in Syracuse, New York with her husband, sons and new puppy she remains an avid Boston sports fan – particularly for the Boston Bruins and especially when they win against the Habs or Rangers. Show Notes 0:00 Intro 02:21 Applying the Pareto Principle to Life 07:16 Elizabeth's Journey Toward Teaching 10:54 How to Find Your Purpose 14:52 How to Reframe Problems and Generate Ideas 18:13 The Problem with Brainstorming 23:05 Are People Born Creative? 28:13 Idea Generation with Steve: Who is Your Audience? 34:30 The Intersection of Generosity, Curiosity and Creativity 41:20 Processes & Practices _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

July 2, 202426 min

Stealing Fire Back From Procrastination | Steven Lawson

Do you know the real cause of why you procrastinate? On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven tackles the concept of procrastination, and how while many may view it as a lack of discipline, in reality it’s more rooted as a fear response. Through his experience with the Monk Manual and coaching entrepreneurs over the years, Steven identifies patterns and consequences of procrastination he’s observed, such as feelings of shame and lost potential, while detailing practical strategies like setting clear goals, sitting with discomfort, finding inspiration, and building a supportive community to better help confront and navigate procrastination effectively. About Today's Guest Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives. Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children. Show Notes 00:00 Intro, Procrastination, Potential, and Malaise 03:52 Procrastination is not about discipline, but fear and discomfort 11:10 The Mechanics of Procrastination: Decision - Avoidance 13:36 Confronting Procrastination: Strategies for Moving Forward 17:38 Procrastination Beyond Actions: The Impact on Being _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best in class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

June 18, 202451 min

The Problem with Isolation - Community, Purpose, and Monks | Joe Rutten

Does placing too much importance on personal individualism separate us from each other more than we realize? On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Joe Rutten, Director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute at Mount Marty University, to discuss the importance and impact of communal monasticism based on the principles of St. Benedict. Joe outlines his role, which involves integrating the Benedictine way of life into the university's curriculum and fostering a community-based approach to personal and professional development, as well as highlighting the essential elements of a strong community: honesty, transparency, peacemaking, and accountability. About Today's Guest Joe Rutten is from Sioux Falls, SD where he lives with his wife Laura and their four boys. He is a passionate visionary, respected for his work in Catholic education, faith and business integration, and professional leadership development. In over two decades of work in Catholic education at the parish, high school, and university level, Joe has found his calling in helping people of all ages discover a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to their lives and helping university students navigate the peaks and values of life as they seek to impact the world personally and professionally. Beyond the classroom, he has been actively involved in the work of faith and business integration. His passion for helping men connect to their catholic faith through their work in business inspired him to create the Catholic Men’s Business Fraternity in Sioux Falls, SD in 2012. In 2015, Joe started an annual Faith & Business Conference in Sioux Falls for men and women of all faiths to help them take Sunday into Monday by integrating faith principles into business practices. He is currently the Director of the Benedictine Leadership Institute and professor of Theology at Mount Marty University in Yankton, SD, where he builds the next generation of leaders through the Benedictine way of life. Show Notes 0:00 Intro 01:10 Benedictines and the origin of the Benedictine Leadership Institute at Mount Marty University 05:12 Integrating Benedictine Principles into Education and Leadership 11:26 The Importance of Community 14:58 What Vows Do To Relationships 22:51 Four Types of Monks according to Benedict 27:47 Navigating Community in Our Tech Age 29:57 The University Bubble: A Microcosm for Community Building _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The Monk Manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

June 4, 202458 min

Understanding Yourself: MBTI, Enneagram, and Core Gift | Leslie McDaniel

Are you holding yourself back from knowing the real you? On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Leslie McDaniel to discuss her lifelong journey of self-awareness through personality typology and core gifts, as well as how her curiosity has shaped her life. Through emphasizing body awareness and presence, the two highlight some of the most common pitfalls in self-awareness pursuits and offer practical advice for living a more potent life. About Today's Guest Leslie is a self-discovery coach, podcast host, and curious human whose quest for self-understanding leads her to see the positive ripple effects of self-love. With her open heart, intuitive questions, and deep wisdom, she guides clients to have insight into all that is transpiring in their lives. Leslie's clients gain clarity on their life's path with tools such as personality typology and the Core Gift Discovery Process so that they can have an authentic impact on the things that matter most. https://hellopersonality.com/ Show Notes 02:24 The Role of Self-Awareness in Personal Growth 09:32 Overview of Personality Models: MBTI, Enneagram, and Core Gifting 14:14 The Scientific Debate: Validity of Personality Models 28:46 Personal Growth and the Pitfalls of Personality Typing 37:35 The Role of Myers-Briggs in Self-Awareness 40:34 The Journey of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery 44:56 The Core Gift Discovery Process 50:32 The Impact of Core Gifts on Personal Development 01:01:31 Expanding Self-Awareness Through New Experiences _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The Monk Manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

May 21, 202430 min

5 Lessons on Transforming Unrest | Steven Lawson

Where is the unrest in your life truly coming from and what can be done about it? On today’s solo episode of Potent, Steven describes his personal journey with the Monk Manual and shares lessons he’s learned about honesty, dealing with unrest, embracing change, and focusing on serving others to achieve personal growth and reach one's full potential. About Today's Guest Steven Lawson is the founder and creator of the Monk Manual, a productivity company on a mission to fix productivity by serving the whole person, mind + body + spirit. After searching high and low for a more holistic and fulfilling approach to work and human flourishing, he found it amongst the ancient path of the monks. Featured in Inc, Forbes, and Fortune magazine, this new (old) model for work and personal growth has already helped over 100,000 people cultivate peaceful being and purposeful doing in their everyday lives. Steven lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and three children. Show Notes 00:00 Intro 01:46 Steven’s Journey with Monk Manual 03:46 Lesson 1: By Definition, Visionaries Will Be or Feel Misunderstood 05:27 Lesson 2: Success Doesn't Look The Same For Everyone 10:12 Lesson 3: Unrest is a Messenger 14:22 Lesson 4: Internal change is the important, neglected work 20:02 Lesson 5: Shifting Focus from Self to Service 26:18 Ending Questions for Reflection Toward Personal Growth _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .

May 7, 20241 hr 2 min

Returning back to your most authentic self | Kelly Wendorf

What’s stopping you from returning to the truest version of yourself? On today’s episode of Potent, Steven is joined by Kelly Wendorf, founder and CEO of EQUUS, as they talk about rewilding, authenticity, and integrating nature-based experiences for personal and professional development, along with the challenges of finding belonging beyond societal labels, specifically presence, and self-awareness. Throughout the episode, the two also discuss embracing wisdom traditions, opening up to new perspectives, and optimizing personal growth through connection with oneself and nature. About Today's Guest Kelly Wendorf, Founding CEO of EQUUS, a leadership development firm, is an author, a socially responsible entrepreneur, disruptor, and expert in the art form of taking people through transformative change and onto meaningful levels of success, purpose, and profound fulfillment. She has been assisting her clients to navigate transformation for over 30 years, and in so doing has extensively researched this question: what conditions need to be created to allow people to live a life of deep authenticity, freedom, and joy? Having also experienced numerous tectonic shifts in her own life, she intimately knows the landscape of metamorphosis and transformative change. She has been called a corporate shaman and a CEO whisperer. Her work has been featured in Forbes, VOGUE, Huffington Post, and The New York Times. Her latest book Flying Lead Change – 56 Million Years of Wisdom for Leading and Living published by Sounds True, invites us to look to the evolutionary intelligence of nature, and nature-based wisdom to meet the challenges we face today. She works inside a spectrum of clientele – from Amazon to Microsoft to some of the most underserved communities. She serves her clients from all over the world remotely and also in person, alongside her talented co-facilitators––a herd of eight equines––on her small ranch just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. ***Save 50% off Kelly's book "Flying Lead Change" by entering MONKMANUAL50 at checkout. https://kellywendorf.com/ https://www.equusinspired.com/ Instagram: @EQUUSinspired LinkedIn @ Kelly Wendorf or @EQUUS Facebook: @EQUUSinspired Show Notes 00:00 Intro 02:52 What is Rewilding? 11:28 From Corporate to Coaching with Horses 27:28 Navigating Spirituality and Business 38:12 The Essence of Presence and Overcoming Categorization 44:00 The Power of Presence 54:43 The Essence of Presence in Equine Principles 01:06:21 Practical Tips for Cultivating Presence 01:09:22 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Advice _ The Potent Podcast is produced and edited by Justin Sinclair, who also composed the theme music. Additional editing support and mixing by Aaron Feeney. This podcast is brought to you by the Monk Manual. The monk manual is dedicated to providing best-in-class tools for helping you build a more potent life, and experience peaceful being and purposeful doing on a daily basis. If you’d like to be more intentional with your time and energy - please visit monkmanual.com .