493. How The ONE Thing Made Success Finally Feel Right for Stu McLaren

Feb 24, 2025

Stu McLaren, a successful entrepreneur and founder of Wishlist Member and Village Impact, shares his transformative journey of self-discovery. He discusses how reading a pivotal book led him to align his career with his values. The conversation dives into building meaningful communities, emphasizing the importance of shared purpose and genuine connections. Listeners learn the crucial questions to ask when creating community engagement and are encouraged to envision their ideal community, balancing passion and practicality.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Reflection

01:49 • 3min

Navigating Financial Stress and Career Transitions

04:31 • 11min

Building Meaningful Communities

15:41 • 13min

The Power of Community Engagement

28:50 • 4min

Building Predictable Profits and Wealth Understanding

32:36 • 3min

What if success wasn’t enough?

Stu McLaren, a pioneer in the world of online communities and membership businesses, faced this question head-on. By all accounts, he had built something incredible—Wishlist Member, a massively successful membership platform powering over 70,000 communities. Yet, in the quiet of a rainy night at a remote family camp, he realized he wasn’t fully aligned with his purpose.

In this episode, Stu shares how reading The ONE Thing helped him recognize the gap between where he was and where he truly wanted to be. He walks us through the defining moment when he decided to sell his business and pursue a path that connected more deeply to his values and his nonprofit, Village Impact.

But this episode isn’t just about making bold choices. It’s also a masterclass in community building. Stu reveals the essential question anyone leading a team, organization, or membership community must ask: Why would someone want to be part of this community? From shared purpose to inside jokes, he breaks down the key ingredients that transform a group of people into a thriving, engaged community.

If you're feeling stuck between comfort and passion, or if you're looking to create a community that truly matters, this episode will give you the clarity—and the push—you need.

Challenge of the Week:

Define the vision for your community. Whether it's a business, a workplace team, or a personal network, ask yourself: What do I see happening? Where is this going? What will life be like for those who are part of it? The clearer your vision, the stronger your community will be.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

How Stu McLaren used The ONE Thing to make a bold decision and sell his business.
The essential ingredients that turn a group into a true community.
Why celebrating small progress milestones matters more than big wins.

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Learn more at stu.me
Support Stu’s nonprofit Village Impact
Connect with Stu on LinkedIn
Follow Stu on Instagram: @stumclaren
Read Predictable Profits by Stu McLaren
Free Resources
Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email podcast@the1thing.com or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

Produced by NOVA