The Coaching Equation

The Coaching Equation Podcast - Whitney Faires on The Courageous Leader Roadmap[01:05] From Division I Volleyball to Leadership Mastery Whitney's earliest leadership lessons came from coaches and teammates—discovering that transformation of the person, not just driving outcomes, is what makes leadership truly powerful and fulfilling.[03:26] Why "Squeezing the Juice" Always Backfires The single point of failure trap: when leaders micromanage for outcomes, they can't scale. Plus the hidden costs of the "churn and burn" mentality with VAs and team members.[05:57] The Metrics That Matter for Leadership Retention rates, engagement surveys, internal promotions, and productivity—plus the Gallup bombshell: 70% of employee engagement traces directly to their relationship with their direct leader.[09:12] The True Cost of Burning Through VAs Why "Google Doc and hope for the best" wastes more time than proper training. The game-changing question: "How do you like to learn things?" tailors your approach and builds lasting team members.[12:24] Ruthless Prioritization Under Fire When your business feels like chaos, Whitney's barometer: "If prioritization isn't hard, you're not really doing it." Choose quality over quantity, even when the house is on fire.[15:39] The Courageous Leader Roadmap: Step 1 Define Your Leadership Identity—create 5-7 leadership commitments that guide your decisions. Whitney's examples: "People First Always" and "Assume Best Intent" for navigating conflict.[19:19] Whitney's Leadership Commitments in Action Address the person before the employee. Stay curious instead of reactive. How defining your leadership identity becomes the ultimate form of accountability.[23:42] Who Do You Want to Be as a Leader? The reflection framework: Know your strengths and weaknesses, learn from your best and worst leaders, and answer the legacy question—what do you want people to say about your leadership 10 years from now?[28:26] Step 2: Connect to Inspire Connection isn't "soft"—it's strategic. Avoid the "franager" trap (friend + manager) while showing genuine interest beyond surface-level rapport. Leadership is done WITH people, not TO people.[35:24] Step 3: Activate Your Power Zone Your mental state is a choice, not chance. Leaders have a responsibility to show up optimally because there are "eyes on you"—your team mirrors how you handle pressure and adversity.[39:25] The Leadership Reality Check "If you don't want to serve the people you're leading... please don't be a people leader." Why doing it for money, title, or career mobility without genuine care for people's growth always fails.[43:25] Step 4: Execute with Resilience Turn struggle into strength through the adversity reframe process. Separate emotion from problem-solving while still processing feelings. You stand behind your people in the spotlight, but in front of them under fire.[47:22] Step 5: Fearless Communication Not being the loudest person or "live tweeting your inner monologue"—that's reckless. True fearless communication is speaking in spite of fear, having difficult conversations swiftly, and contributing your perspective even when uncomfortable.[51:38] The Ripple Effect of Great Leadership When teams watch you execute with resilience and view adversity as opportunity, organizational problems disappear. Personal responsibility becomes contagious, and performance dips become rare.[54:01] Skills vs. Self-Development Technical skills hit a ceiling—true leadership comes from developing yourself. Whitney's final mic drop: focus on internal development, not just external skills, to break through growth barriers.Connect with Whitney: www.whitneyfaires.com

[00:00] A Different Kind of Fast FiveRyan and Brook pivot from the usual format to dive into a timely and emotional topic—how much time we really have left and how we’re using it.[01:20] The Power of QTR: Quality Time RemainingRyan shares a concept he heard from Ed Mylett—QTR—and how it reframed his thinking about urgency, intentionality, and time.[02:08] Brook’s Wake-Up Call: Stage 4 DiagnosisBrook shares the deeply personal news about his father’s cancer diagnosis and how it immediately clarified his perspective on life, legacy, and presence.[04:46] Two Men, Same Age—Very Different LegaciesBrook contrasts his dad’s response with Tony Robbins’ drive to feed 2 billion people—highlighting how beliefs shape behavior and define our legacy.[06:18] Done Playing SmallBrook explains how this experience has pushed him to stop playing small and step fully into purpose, impact, and contribution.[08:14] Pain vs. Suffering: Making the ChoiceBrook reveals his mindset shift after the diagnosis—choosing to feel pain without spiraling into suffering—and how it’s informed his approach to supporting his father.[10:03] The Sleepwalk EffectRyan explores how most people live in autopilot mode and how our internal constructs often limit the experiences and results we believe are available to us.[12:15] The Bold Move: Taking a Day OffIn a rare move, Brook commits to stepping away from work for a full day to prioritize family and presence—challenging the idea that hustle is the only way.[13:38] Make Room for Your GiftsBrook shares a powerful quote from Jim Rohn via Tony Robbins: “Your gifts will make room for you.” A reminder to step into who you were made to be.[14:19] Preview of What’s NextRyan and Brook commit to expanding this conversation in a future episode, diving even deeper into how to fully maximize the time we’ve got left.

[03:05] From Bunk Beds to Zig Ziglar Brook’s uncle, Navy-SEAL-in-training, fills a shared bedroom with personal-development tapes—sparking Brook’s fascination with influence and landing him a high-end restaurant job that doubles his peers’ tips.[08:42] Two Months, Zero Sales A brutal start in timeshare sales ends with a 92 % close rate, an $80 k month, and a lifelong belief: master the lowest-quality leads and everything else gets easier.[18:55] Relationship Selling at Buffini & Company Personality profiling (“You said, but I heard…”) teaches Brook to tailor every conversation, sets new revenue records, and plants the seeds of his future Close Everyone framework.[26:14] Fired on Friday, 30 Clients by Monday After an unexpected termination, Brook launches his own coaching practice—walking into 50 real-estate offices, offering free training, and signing 30 paying clients in 30 days.[35:48] Day 1 at Tony Robbins No chair, no leads, “that desk is cursed”—yet Brook nets $98,670 in his first month by mining overlooked leads and letting results, not volume, do the talking.[46:37] Tripling Income, Halving Hours A two-hour dawn ritual (“How do I triple my income and cut my hours in half?”) yields a repeatable sales system that scales across a newly remote team.[57:22] Scaling Business Mastery to $33 M Brook turns a struggling division into a zero-ad-spend powerhouse, then closes with the two WHYs every coach must answer: your personal why and your client’s transformational why—meet both, and sales take care of themselves.

Episode Highlights00:01 – Why communication is the missing skill in leadership, sales, and coaching01:13 – The shocking stat about managers and communication training02:54 – Marcus’ early experiences that sparked his obsession with asking better questions06:17 – A baptism gone wrong… and the moment that revealed the true power of questions08:40 – How asking the right questions transformed a tense moment into connection and clarity11:10 – The childhood experience that exposed the cost of miscommunication13:41 – “It’s dumb not to dumb it down”: Why trying to sound smart is costing you influence16:55 – The #1 KPI every sales team should track: "No one has ever asked me that before."18:41 – The most powerful question in discovery (and why it's not “why”)23:28 – Introducing “The Pathfinder” and the quadrant that reveals your communication identity26:22 – Dictator, Lawyer, Instructor, Pathfinder: Which one are you?29:45 – Why real leadership means not being the hero31:44 – Solopreneurs beware: Why great salespeople often struggle as leaders35:23 – The Pushback Pivot: A simple technique to stay curious (and disarm objections)40:09 – Why defending kills authority—and what to do instead41:08 – The “Question Only Game” (and how to use it to lead someone to their own insight)45:10 – The 3 P’s of a perfect question: Progress, Purpose, Path48:28 – A real-life communication test: Solving a personal crisis in under 60 seconds52:35 – The magic question that created a breakthrough (and why it worked)54:11 – Why true mastery in communication comes from decades of obsessionLinks MentionedMarcus Sheridan’s book: They Ask, You Answer Learn more about Marcus: https://marcussheridan.com

In this engaging discussion, contract law expert Angie Boynton shares her 26 years of experience helping coaches safeguard their businesses. She emphasizes that contracts should foster clarity in collaborations, not just be defensive tools. Angie warns against using borrowed contract templates, which can jeopardize business integrity. She also outlines the five essential clauses every coaching contract should include, such as confidentiality and clear obligations, to prevent misunderstandings and ensure both parties are protected.

Episode Highlights[00:01] Health and Fitness Should Be Job #1 Ryan shares wisdom from health icon Mark Sisson and reflects on how even high performers let their health slide—and why it’s time to prioritize your body like your business depends on it.[03:16] When Business Feels Like Drowning A powerful lesson from Rob Dyrdek and a Navy SEAL mantra: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” When chaos hits in business, slow down, breathe, and move intentionally.[06:50] Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, Today a Gift A quote from Bill Keane reminds us to stop chasing the horizon and start honoring the present. Ryan challenges you to embrace “blissful dissatisfaction.”[10:07] What’s Your Level of Urgency? Are you coasting—or chasing your goals like your house is on fire? Ryan explains how losing urgency erodes momentum, and why acting with intensity changes everything.[14:37] It’s Not the Circumstance—It’s the Meaning You Assign to It After a serious car accident involving his mom, Ryan shares a heartfelt reminder: the meaning you attach to challenges defines your experience—and you can choose a new one.🔗 Links Mentioned:More from The Coaching Equation – Visit: coachingequation.com

Episode Highlights[00:00] What You Condition Becomes Real Brook shares a story about losing momentum in sales—and how he turned it around by conditioning his mind, environment, and habits around a powerful goal.[06:54] Reconnect with the Real Mission Ryan and Brook explain why losing sight of your "why" leads to mid-year drift—and challenge you to revisit the true reason behind your 2025 goals.[12:44] Recalibrate Your Plan Whether you had a plan and abandoned it—or never really had one—Ryan and Brook break down how to get back on track without scrapping your year.[19:51] Turn Off the Noise Brook and Ryan call out the distractions stealing your focus (including yourself!)—and share tactical ways to reclaim your attention and momentum.[25:18] Keep It Fresh Boredom kills businesses. Brook and Ryan reveal why you must celebrate the small wins, refresh your routines, and stay connected to the bigger mission to finish the year strong.🔗 Links Mentioned:Profitable Coach Live – Vail, CO (June 5–7, 2025) Apply to attend: www.quantumempire.io/event

Episode Highlights[00:00] From Doubt to Possibility Ryan breaks down why the question “Can I...?” often leads to hesitation—and how adding just one word (“How can I...?”) can shift you into possibility and action.[02:23] Is Your Routine Serving You or Stagnating You? Routines are powerful—but they can also turn into ruts. Ryan shares why shaking up your daily structure might be the key to a breakthrough.[04:48] What REAL Progress Looks Like A quote from Dan Sullivan sparks a mindset shift: stop measuring against your future ideal, and start looking back to see how far you’ve come.[07:16] Are You Avoiding the Real Problem? The most important move you can make in business: confront the real issue. Ryan challenges listeners to get honest about the root problem—and whether they’ve been avoiding it.[09:29] Get in the Right Rooms with the Right People A week with fellow high-level entrepreneurs reminded Ryan how energizing it is to be surrounded by people who truly get it. He shares why proximity isn’t optional—it’s essential.🔗 Links Mentioned:Profitable Coach Live – Vail, CO (June 5–7, 2025) Apply to attend: www.quantumempire.io/event

Episode Highlights[00:00] Define the Lifestyle You Want Ryan and Brook explore how lifestyle preferences directly shape your business model—with a story about a misaligned business partner whose “no Mondays or Fridays” rule clashed with growth goals.[07:03] How Many Clients Do You Actually Want? Your ideal number of clients determines everything—from your schedule to your business model to your pricing. Ryan and Brook explain how to align this with your mission, energy, and season of life.[14:06] How Much Revenue Feels Right (for You)? Brook introduces a values-based money framework—Survival, Stability, Success, Significance—and shares how redefining your financial targets around lifestyle and season can bring clarity and peace.[21:53] Finding the Right Price Point Reverse-engineering your pricing based on hours, income goals, and delivery style leads to aligned offers. Ryan and Brook also discuss why ROI-based offers often support higher price points—and why emotional integrity still matters most.[32:37] Do You Want a Team or Just More Time? Not everyone wants to manage people—and that’s okay. Ryan and Brook unpack what it really takes to lead a team, why some people change their minds, and how to know if building a company is right for you.[49:18] You Have Permission to Rebuild If your current business doesn’t align with what you truly want, don’t be afraid to break it. Ryan shares why smart reinvention beats staying stuck—and how to begin that process with intention.🔗 Links Mentioned:Book: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi More from The Coaching Equation – Visit coachingequation.com

Episode Highlights[00:00] Do What You Can with What You Have, Where You Are A sweaty post-Peloton Ryan reminds us that waiting for perfect conditions is a trap. The best things in life are built on imperfect action.[02:32] Influence with Intention Ryan reflects on his journey from money-driven persuasion to purpose-driven influence—and why belief in what you're offering makes all the difference.[07:10] Redefining Freedom A 40-minute tennis session with his daughter in the Colorado sun serves as a powerful reminder of why we build our businesses in the first place.[09:10] Purpose > Pleasure A quote from Bedros Keuilian and a timeless lesson from Les Brown come together to reveal the secret to resilience in uncertain times.[12:54] People, Process, Profit Inspired by entrepreneur Suneera Madhani, Ryan unpacks the three essentials to scaling any coaching business—starting with getting the right people on the bus.🔗 Links Mentioned:Liquid Biocell / Gut Health – For product info, reach out to Janelle Devlin on Instagram Jay Shetty x Suneera Madhani Interview – https://youtu.be/enrJL6wk2VQ?si=EQqUFRXDUtMuM-fYMore from The Coaching Equation – Visit coachingequation.com