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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.