In this reflective and honest episode, we explore what it really means to choose your next chapter in life — especially when certainty is missing. Through personal stories, business decisions, and long-term commitments, this conversation breaks down why confusion often appears right before clarity, and why discomfort is usually a signal that meaningful change is happening.

Rather than chasing balance or novelty, this episode reframes progress as commitment. Choosing a chapter isn’t about finding the perfect plan — it’s about deciding what you’re willing to stay with long enough to build something real.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Why confusion often signals the start of a new chapter
2. How long-term commitments create clarity over time
3. The difference between interest and true commitment
4. Why productive neglect can drive success but limit fulfillment
5. How to think about life and business as harmony, not balance
6. Why choosing a direction matters more than perfect certainty
7. How discomfort plays a role in meaningful progress

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why this year felt confusing but important

02:00 – Understanding chapters and long-term consequences

05:00 – Harmony vs balance explained

09:00 – The instrument analogy and productive neglect

14:00 – Reflecting on fulfillment and personal growth

18:00 – Being good at something you no longer enjoy

22:00 – Commitment versus interest

26:00 – Making year-long commitments

30:00 – Choosing the people and work worth investing in

35:00 – Final thoughts on commitment and direction

🔥 Power Quotes

“Confusion often shows up right before clarity.”

“You can be great at something and still not enjoy it.”

“Interest feels good. Commitment feels heavy.”

“Choosing a chapter means saying no to others.”

“Progress requires staying with something long enough.”

📝 Topics Covered

1. Life transitions
2. Commitment and focus
3. Personal growth
4. Long-term decision making
5. Productive neglect
6. Harmony vs balance
7. Entrepreneurial identity

🧭 Key Takeaway

Choosing your next chapter isn’t about certainty — it’s about commitment. When you decide what you’re willing to stay with through discomfort, clarity follows and progress becomes inevitable.

💬 Connect with Us

👉 Visit bethe.ceo

👉 Follow

In this episode, we explore why the best leaders are willing to make decisions that aren’t popular but are necessary for long-term success. Using real-world examples from business, leadership, sports, and history, this conversation breaks down why comfort, familiarity, and fear often stop people from making the changes they know they need to make.

This episode challenges the idea that good leadership is about keeping everyone happy. Instead, it reframes leadership as stewardship, making hard, intentional decisions based on vision, not approval.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why popularity is a dangerous metric for leadership decisions
• How comfort and familiarity keep businesses stuck
• Why avoiding change leads to stagnation and decline
• The difference between intentional change and change for novelty
• How vision creates certainty in difficult decisions
• Why leaders must act as fiduciaries for their business
• How discomfort signals meaningful growth

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why unpopular decisions define real leadership

02:30 – Comfort vs change and why people resist both

05:00 – Popularity, business, and the Mets analogy

08:00 – Change or die: historical lessons applied to business

12:00 – Vision as the filter for hard decisions

15:00 – Why leaders must accept discomfort

18:00 – Flexibility, adaptation, and long-term thinking

22:00 – Making decisions for the future, not the present

25:00 – Final thoughts on leadership and responsibility

🔥 Power Quotes

“You can’t run a business based on popularity.”

“Comfort is often more dangerous than failure.”

“If you don’t change, you die.”

“Vision makes the decision.”

“Leadership requires doing what’s right, not what’s liked.”

📝 Topics Covered

• Leadership decision-making
• Vision and strategy
• Change management
• Comfort vs growth
• Business stewardship
• Adaptability
• Long-term thinking

🧭 Key Takeaway

Great leaders are willing to be unpopular when the situation demands it. When decisions are guided by a clear vision not comfort or approval, leaders build businesses that endure, adapt, and grow.

💬 Connect with Us

👉 Visit bethe.ceo

👉 Follow Tom Marino & Adam Hurd on LinkedIn & Instagram

In this unexpectedly deep episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, Tom and Adam unpack the real reason entrepreneurs lose focus, drain their energy, and struggle to stay productive — even when they’re in their zone of genius. What begins with a chaotic dog interruption unfolds into a powerful exploration of attention management, flow states, boundaries, energy cycles, and why most business owners break their own non-negotiables without realizing it.

Through raw conversation, pattern recognition, and stories drawn from sports, parenting, and business, Tom and Adam reveal a hidden skill: the ability to manage your flow state before it manages you. This episode reframes how to protect your focus, maintain your energy, and shift your internal rhythm with intention so you can perform your best throughout the day.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why interruptions destroy your flow more than distractions do
• The difference between short-term and long-term flow states
• How to recognize important interruptions before it’s too late
• Why most business owners unintentionally break their own boundaries
• How to manage energy cycles throughout the day
• Why flow state management may be the most underrated business skill
• How to design your day around your natural rhythms for better performance

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – The chaotic dog incident that sparks the whole conversation

01:40 – Missing red flags and the cost of ignoring interruptions

03:10 – The struggle of breaking flow once you're locked in

05:00 – The danger of clients reconditioning your boundaries

06:00 – The concept of permeable vs. rigid boundaries

07:30 – Can you stay in flow and still be open to learning?

08:40 – Short-term vs. long-term flow states explained

10:50 – How physical movement affects your ability to stay in the zone

12:20 – Why environment design matters more than willpower

14:00 – Parenting, podcasting, and pausing flow with intention

17:00 – Using sports as training for focus and mental transitions

18:50 – The two wavelengths of flow — and why they matter

21:00 – When being 'too deep' in flow becomes a liability

23:00 – Blending productive work with flow intentionally

25:00 – Using mundane tasks as a tool for visualization

28:00 – Rethinking the four zones and expanding the model

31:00 – Energy, vitality, and the daily management system

33:30 – How your energy baseline determines your effectiveness

35:00 – Why entrepreneurs must manage energy, not time

38:00 – Innovation, frameworks, and building a system for the world

40:00 – Final thoughts on crafting a practical, usable philosophy

🔥 Power Quotes

“You’ll miss the red flags you don’t give yourself permission to look at.” – Adam Hurd

“Flow is not fragile — but your boundaries are.” – Tom Marino

“Clients will recondition you if you let them.” – Adam...

In this grounded and introspective episode of Be The CEO, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd explore what it really means to lose — and then rediscover — your rhythm during seasons of transition.

What begins with a story about unexpected humanity turns into a powerful discussion about ambition, choices, daily structure, energy management, and why entrepreneurs often feel stuck even when life is objectively good. Drawing from their own personal challenges, shifting priorities, and evolving obsessions, they break down how to rebuild momentum by understanding your internal rhythms and designing days that actually align with who you are and where you want to go.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why transition phases feel uncomfortable and confusing
• How ambition shifts with age, success, and changing priorities
• Why your daily rhythm matters more than your goals
• How to separate choices from obligations
• The role of energy, attention, and personal timing in high performance
• Why simplicity and alignment create momentum faster than hustle
• How to design days that fit who you are now — not who you used to be

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – A moment of unexpected humanity at 7-Eleven

01:00 – Good people in bad situations and what it teaches us

02:00 – Why business is simple (but never easy)

03:30 – The invisible weight of transition phases

04:30 – When opportunity feels unclear and overwhelming

05:45 – Why people chase goals that aren’t truly theirs

07:00 – The danger of avoiding reality and refusing hard choices

09:00 – Rethinking yearly priorities and personal pursuits

11:30 – Tom’s struggle with rekindling ambition

13:30 – The crossroads between doing more and doing less, better

14:45 – Obligation vs. choice and why ‘should’ kills momentum

16:30 – The impact of divided obsessions on energy and clarity

18:00 – Letting go of old roles and redefining identity

20:00 – Designing days around desire instead of pressure

22:00 – The circadian rhythm of an entrepreneur

23:30 – Why losing your rhythm kills ambition

25:00 – Recognizing personal energy cycles and limits

27:00 – What truly exhausts entrepreneurs (hint: it’s not clients)

30:00 – Auditing everything that doesn’t support your purpose

32:00 – Why connection — not chasing clients — drives growth

35:00 – How removing variables restores energy and clarity

36:00 – Final reflections and the challenge to rethink your rhythm

🔥 Power Quotes

“It's better to be a good man in a bad situation than a bad man in a good situation.” – Adam Hurd

“Business is simple — it’s just not easy.” – Tom Marino

“People chase goals that were never theirs in the first place.” – Adam Hurd

“Sometimes you lose your rhythm because you're beating to someone else’s drum.” – Tom Marino

“Your day

In this episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into the real engine behind business success: meaningful connection. What begins as a light conversation about Thanksgiving traditions, nightlife, and family quickly evolves into a powerful exploration of why the hardest skill in business is *learning how to create meaningful, deep, human connection*—something no one teaches, but every business depends on.

Through stories about partying, parenting, clients, and their own friendship, Tom and Adam reveal how meaningful conversations fuel growth, reduce chaos, unlock understanding, and allow business owners to break free from limiting beliefs. They also explore why personal honesty, vulnerability, approval, courage, and the ability to go deeper with people are the foundations of real entrepreneurial success.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why meaningful connection is the real superpower in business
• How deeper conversations eliminate chaos and reveal clarity
• Why approval-seeking destroys authenticity and decision-making
• The Believe–Behave–Become framework vs. ‘fake it til you make it’
• How to break limiting beliefs imposed by others
• Why courage only exists in the moment of action
• How meaningful environments create better clients, better thinking, and better business outcomes

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Thanksgiving week intro and holiday memories

01:00 – Why reconnecting during the holidays feels special

02:20 – Business owners who still live like ‘kids with adult money’

03:50 – How different generations approach fun, music, and joy

05:00 – Adam’s past life exploring everything from raves to house parties

06:00 – Why Tom and Adam prefer small, intimate conversations

07:00 – The power of meaningful environments and deep connection

08:20 – Why meaningfulness fuels the Atomic coaching style

09:10 – How younger environments shaped who Adam became

10:45 – Group dinners, vulnerability, and unlocking real conversations

12:00 – Why deeper conversations transform coaching results

13:20 – Understanding lowers entropy and reduces chaos

14:45 – How vulnerability creates a map for real change

15:45 – Personal growth = learning to lie less to yourself

17:00 – Breaking limiting beliefs and false identities

18:30 – Why approval-seeking destroys progress

19:30 – Believe • Behave • Become explained

20:45 – Courage is not a feeling—it's the action itself

22:30 – Why courage disappears the moment you use it

25:00 – The ‘tightrope’ analogy of courage and fear

27:00 – Why deeper conversations unlock transformation

28:00 – Meeting impressive people and feeling humbled

30:00 – Why superficial marketing frustrates Tom & Adam

31:00 – The meaningful connection that keeps clients for years

32:00 – Adam’s...

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: