In this emotionally powerful episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd open up about one of the most difficult realities of leadership: how to survive when life hits harder than your workload. What begins as a conversation about stress, surgery, and personal strain quickly evolves into a deep exploration of resilience, identity, partnership, and what it truly costs to lead when you’re not operating at full strength.

Tom reveals his recent health battle and the physical and emotional weight he has been carrying, while Adam shares the unseen impact it has had on him, their partnership, and the business. Together, they break down why the hardest part of leadership is navigating the season between who you were and who you must become next.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why leadership feels heaviest when life demands the most from you
• How health challenges affect clarity, performance, and decision-making
• Why choosing your regrets is the key to sustainable leadership
• The importance of honesty, transparency, and emotional awareness
• How numerology and natural cycles influence personal transformation
• Why simplicity—not complexity—is the true savior of overwhelmed leaders
• How to identify the moment you're in a forced evolution

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why recording always feels different than real conversations

00:45 – Tom’s stress, family worries, and the weight of aging parents

02:00 – How lack of passion and activity accelerates decline

03:30 – Technical difficulties and the metaphor they revealed

05:30 – Adam opens up about his concerns for Tom as a partner

07:00 – Tom reveals the full medical journey and diagnosis

10:00 – How physical breakdown affects leadership capabilities

13:00 – Adam explains the cognitive changes he's observed

15:30 – The fear of losing momentum vs. the need for recovery

18:00 – Why leaders must choose their regrets

20:00 – Numerology, timing, and the meaning behind 2025–2026

24:00 – Letting go of old habits to create a new beginning

28:00 – The Simple CEO philosophy and why simplicity saves leaders

30:00 – Why mastery matters more than opportunity

33:00 – The importance of honesty inside a business partnership

🔥 Power Quotes

“Without physical health, you can’t do any of this.” – Tom Marino

“Sometimes the universe says ‘Stop. Stay here. This is enough.’” – Adam Hurd

“Choosing your regrets is choosing your future.” – Adam Hurd

“We preach simple, not easy—and simplicity always wins.” – Tom Marino

“The body knows before the mind does.” – Tom Marino

📝 Topics Covered

• Health challenges
• Leadership under pressure
• Entrepreneurial resilience
• Numerology and personal cycles
• Simplifying business for clarity
• The Simple CEO...

In this episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into the real conversations that inspire growth, creativity, and purpose in business and life.

What starts as a light chat about music evolves into a powerful dialogue about emotional connection, self-awareness, and the transformative journey of entrepreneurship. They explore the idea of The Lonely Chapter—a concept introduced by Chris Williamson and Alex Hormozi—that moment between who you were and who you’re becoming.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or leader, this episode will resonate if you’ve ever felt stuck between chapters, searching for meaning, rhythm, and connection.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – When the best podcasts aren’t even recorded

01:00 – Why authentic conversations matter more than “value” content

02:15 – How music shapes emotion, focus, and creativity

05:30 – The emotional frequency of music and why it’s spiritual

06:45 – “Motion creates emotion” — using music for performance

08:00 – Comfort vs. focus: why some people need background noise

10:30 – The numbing effect of distraction vs. mindful listening

12:00 – From mixtapes to Spotify: how we discover new music today

15:00 – AI and the future of music (and business creation)

18:00 – The low barrier to entrepreneurship and the rise of digital creators

20:00 – The “Lonely Chapter” explained — and why it’s necessary for growth

22:00 – The “Liminal Moment” — being between who you were and who you’re becoming

23:30 – The difference between being lonely and being alone

25:00 – Finding connection again — and embracing your evolution

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why authenticity always wins over polish in podcasting and business
• How to use music as a mindset tool to get into your zone of genius
• The psychological connection between music, focus, and emotion
• Why entrepreneurship feels lonely—and how to embrace it as growth
• How AI, accessibility, and creativity are changing modern business
• The difference between being alone vs. being lonely, and why it matters
• What it means to live through your liminal moment and lonely chapter

🔥 Power Quotes

“Sometimes the best podcasts aren’t lessons—they’re just people talking about interesting sh*t.” – Adam Hurd

“Music connects to the soul on a different frequency. It can literally shift how you feel about yourself or a situation.” – Tom Marino

“The lonely chapter means you’ve outgrown who you were, but you’re not yet who you’re becoming.” – Adam Hurd

🎵 Artists & Mentions

• Artists: Des Rocs, Coulter Wall, Charles Wesley Godwin, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Oliver Anthony
• Concepts: The Lonely Chapter, Liminal Moments, Motion Creates Emotion
• References: Modern Wisdom (Chris Williamson), Joe Rogan Experience, Acquisition.com (Alex Hormozi), Dana...

In this episode of the Be The CEO Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive into two powerful ideas shaping business and mindset today:

1. Loving the process more than the destination
2. Why confidence is a decision backed by action

Drawing inspiration from Alex Hormozi’s philosophy and a thought-provoking post by Yousef L. Alame, Tom and Adam break down how business owners can simplify success, stay present, and overcome the paralysis of overthinking.

Key Takeaways

1. The Work Is the Goal

Inspired by Alex Hormozi’s quote:

“The man who walks because he loves walking will walk further than the man who loves the destination.”

Success isn’t about chasing an endpoint; it’s about loving the process.

When you focus on doing the work, the byproducts such as money, success, and freedom naturally follow.

Tom and Adam share personal insights on how business owners often create anxiety by obsessing over outcomes instead of breaking work into manageable steps.

2. The Destination Isn’t the Purpose

Reaching a goal can sometimes feel empty if you’ve tied all your purpose to it.

The key is realizing you’re not just climbing a single mountain; you’re a mountain climber.

True satisfaction comes from continuous growth and embracing the journey itself.

3. Thinkers vs. Doers

Based on Yousef L. Alame’s post: “Confidence isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision you back with action.”

Overthinking breeds doubt, while action builds evidence and confidence.

Adam and Tom discuss how thinking without doing turns people into statues: stuck, unmoving, and paralyzed by fear.

The cure for overthinking is one small action. Motion destroys doubt.

4. Real Coaching Insights

The hosts share a behind-the-scenes story of how taking one imperfect action reignited progress on a stalled course project.

They also discuss real client examples showing that massive action equals momentum, while inaction keeps you stuck.

The biggest lesson: Overthinkers are simply under-doers.

Favorite Quotes

“The work is the goal.”–Adam Hurd

“Confidence is a decision you back with action.”–Yousef L. Alame

“The destination represents the end of purpose. Doing the work gives you certainty.”–Tom Marino

“Overthinkers are simply under-doers.” –Adam Hurd

Next Move Session

Feeling stuck or unsure of your next move?

Book a Next Move Session with Tom and Adam at bethe.ceo

For only $97, you’ll get 45 minutes of expert coaching valued at $10,000 in insight.

Whether you build, install, clean, film, write, or produce, this is your chance to gain clarity and create momentum.

Tune In For

• Real talk about entrepreneurship mindset
• Practical ways to shift from anxiety to action
• Proven principles from The Atomic Game Changer
• How to simplify success and fall in love with the process

Connect with Atomic Business Coaching

• Website: bethe.ceo
• Book: The Atomic Game Changer
• Podcast: Be The CEO Podcast /Atomic Business Coaching Podcast
• Instagram & LinkedIn: @atomicbusinesscoaching
• LinkedIn: