With Purpose

If your current metric for success is based on fried chicken, consider yourself on the right track. In this week’s episode, Ben reflects on a line from Zac Brown Band’s Chicken Fried and the deeper questions it raises: Are the most meaningful things in life the things we can easily measure? Where have you let others define success for you and what would it look like to measure it differently? List...

How often do we commit to something good, only to realize that it pulls us away from what matters most? In this episode Ben explores William Ury’s Power of a Positive No, a simple way to say no with clarity, confidence, and respect by grounding your “no” in the things you’ve already said yes to. What could the Power of a Positive No unlock for you and your decision making?   Set some time aside to...

When you lead, people will let you down. Knowing how to respond is important but knowing who you're dealing with makes all the difference. The Wise, the Foolish, and the Evil is a framework from executive coach Henry Cloud that sorts people into these three categories based on how they respond to feedback. Knowing which type you're dealing with changes everything about how you lead them. Let us kn...

We are trained to think of overhead as a bad thing, but what if overhead isn’t an anchor that holds you? What if we viewed overhead as an enabler for seeing your purpose and values actualized in your work? Investing in training, benefits, and technology isn't waste. That kind of overhead is the engine that makes everything else possible. Download this week's With Purpose planner and reflect on whe...

We've gotten good at protecting our attention, but are we good at protecting our energy? If you’re showing up to your most important moments worn out, it means you're probably not performing at your best. Think of it like an electric car: You can't start a journey without charging the battery first. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about how to manage your energy. Let us know what you think o...

What signals does your organization send, and how can you be more intentional about sending them? In this week’s episode, Ben explores a decision he recently made: using pricier solid core doors on a project vs. installing cheaper, hollow ones. Every decision you make communicates more than you think. Are you aware of the messages your decisions are sending?    This week, Ben challenges leaders to...

How can we make future plans when sometimes, even the experts don’t know what’s next? In this week’s episode, Ben draws a connection between meteorologists, economists, and the way we set goals. When we let outside predictions dictate our actions, are we handing over our agency? Don’t let the forecast determine your future. You make your own weather. Plan your week and take control of it using thi...

Who are your real friends, and who are your deal friends? In this week’s episode, Ben explores a concept from Arthur Brooks about the difference between relationships rooted in commitment and those built around transaction. Deal friends aren’t bad, but confusion happens when we expect them to show up like real friends when they were never meant to.  Watch this episode to reflect on how to recogniz...

Do you know how gold is refined? It’s a messy but necessary process of heating, washing, and reheating the raw gold ore again and again. This process allows gold to become more of itself, despite the harshness of the journey. In this week’s episode, Ben reflects on that process and how it mirrors the way adversity shapes leaders. It’s often in the most uncomfortable moments that real growth begins...

Conflict is inevitable, but carrying it with us isn’t doing us any favors. In this episode, Ben talks about the idea of “keeping short accounts” in our relationships by addressing misunderstandings quickly instead of letting them compound.  Watch this episode to unpack why we avoid hard conversations, how discomfort tricks us into delay, and what actually builds trust when things go wrong. Is ther...

How do you measure progress when you’re chasing something big? Too often, we measure progress by how far we still have to go – and then move the goalposts when we finally get there. Isn’t there a better way?  This week on With Purpose, we challenge listeners to stop measuring the gap and start measuring the gain. How far have you already come? What obstacles have you already overcome? And how migh...

Have you ever played Bandu? It’s a stacking game from the 90s with oddly shaped pieces and a handful of beans. In this episode, Ben explains how the strategy of this game can be seen as a metaphor for life – because it’s difficult to build a stable tower if you say yes to everything. Stability, both in the game and in life is about choosing the right pieces to accept and the right ones to let go....

Buffaloes don’t avoid storms – they run straight into them. In this episode, we explore what that mindset can teach us about leadership and life. Avoidance feels easier in the moment, but it often makes challenges last longer. Charging forward shortens the storm and builds resilience. What would it look like to stop dodging hard conversations and start moving through them? Grab this week’s planner...

What does Tetris have to do with leadership? In this episode, we’re talking about the Tetris Effect and how it connects to confirmation bias – the way our brains filter the world through what we expect to see. From Shawn Achor’s research in The Happiness Advantage to practical ideas for reframing your perspective, this conversation will challenge you to notice your biases and even use them for goo...

Happy New Year! Today's episode is about hitting the reset button after a hard day –  or maybe even a hard year. How do you reset when something throws you off? Let's talk about rituals – small, intentional actions that help us recenter and move forward. From research on how a quick laugh can boost performance to examples of leaders using physical reminders to overcome fear, this conversation is a...

Merry Christmas everyone! Put your phones down, and spend some time with your friends and family!

Big plans and big goals are exciting, but what about the ordinary moments in between? In this episode, Ben reflects on Mary Jean Irion’s quote about the “normal day” and why the small, unplanned moments often hold the most meaning. Can we create space for those moments of normalcy? Even in our roles of leadership? Today, we talk about some practical ideas for leaving room in your schedule and bein...

Social media is designed to keep your attention, not deepen your understanding. In this episode, Ben breaks down how algorithms shape what we see, what we believe, and how we lead. If we want to grow in wisdom, we have to step outside the echo chamber. Ben challenges listeners to become more aware of what’s capturing their attention, and to intentionally seek out deeper learning and alternative vi...

“To everything (turn, turn, turn), there is a season…” -The Byrds. This week, Ben reflects on the cycles of leadership and life—how different seasons call for different kinds of action, presence, and purpose. Drawing from The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe and a gardening analogy from Ryan Bond ( listen to his podcast here ), Ben explores how leaders can better understand the moment they’re in and le...

Happy Thanksgiving! Tell someone you love how much you appreciate them. See you next Thursday.

What are you uniquely gifted to do? In this episode, Ben reflects on Romans 12 and the idea that we all have different strengths—and that leadership gets better when we lean into them. Ben shares a personal story about the years he spent working outside his strengths and how discovering his true gifts changed everything. This episode is a reminder that knowing yourself isn’t prideful—it’s powerful...

Jim Collins’s concept of the “20-Mile March” isn’t just for companies—it’s a mindset for life and leadership. In this episode, Ben shares the story of his 418-mile bike ride across Kansas and how the rhythm of 20-mile segments helped his team stay focused and finish strong. What does it look like to build consistency into your own life or organization? How can you set goals that are both ambitious...

In today's episode, Ben shares the story behind a sculpture called Folding Planes by Kevin Box, and how its seven folds represent the process of becoming. Big visions and unlimited potential are exciting, but it’s the intentional steps in between that make them real. Join Ben as he reflects on what this means for leadership and how you can apply it to your own life and work. Like we do every week,...

What’s the difference between service and hospitality? In this episode, Ben explores the concept of unreasonable hospitality from Will Guidara’s book and why it matters for leaders and organizations. From a frustrating airport experience to a coffee shop owner who went above and beyond, Ben shares stories that illustrate how small gestures can transform relationships. Plus, hear the legendary hot...

Today's episode is about the title of the podcast: the words "With" and "Purpose." What is Purpose ? What does it mean to plan our weeks With it? When we're doing everything with purpose, whether it's leading, planning, or living our daily lives, Ben believes we will notice a major transformation. Can you try living this week with purpose? Plan your week alongside Ben by using this personalized pl...