52. When the Bad Guys Close In (How to Stay in the Fight)

56. John Lentini — Engineering Character: The 6-Dial Framework of Determination & Trust

In this episode, I sit down with leadership expert and author John Lentini to talk about why character—not talent—is becoming the rarest resource in modern leadership. And if your character drifts… your results eventually will too. John breaks down his "Engineering Character" framework and the six core dials that shape how we lead ourselves, lead others, and navigate pressure without losing who we are. 🎯 In this episode: * The six "character dials" every leader should monitor * Why discipline without empathy eventually breaks trust * How resilience and mindset work together under pressure * The power of honest feedback and the 360 process * Why creativity still matters in the age of AI 🧠 Key Takeaways The Character Dashboard Visualize your life as a six-dial control panel. Which dial needs recalibration right now? Diverse Empathy Different people require different communication approaches. Stop leading everyone the same way. Ground Rules for Hard Conversations Before difficult conversations, create mutual agreement around honesty, openness, and intention. Learn more about John Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnjlentini/ [https://www.instagram.com/johnjlentini/] Website: https://www.johnjlentini.com/ [https://www.johnjlentini.com/] Book: https://www.johnjlentini.com/pre-order-book [https://www.johnjlentini.com/pre-order-book] 📕 Ready to stop drifting? * Download the One-Page Director's Sheet: https://tonysuriano.com/action * Get my book: Direct Your Life Or Someone Else Will: https://directyourlifebook.com [https://directyourlifebook.com/] Thank you for being here, Tony ⭐️ Follow the show so you never miss an episode, leave a review/rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/direct-your-life/id1789979558], and share this with someone who needs it. Thank you for tuning in! If you're ready to stop drifting and start directing your life—join the Direct Your Life Newsletter for exclusive mindset tools, real stories, and the weekly fuel to Direct Your Life. https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter] Tony Suriano 🌐 Book Tony for speaking or podcast interviews: https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker [https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker] Follow me around internet town @tonysuriano 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano [https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano [https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano] 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL [https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/]

55. Jacob Salem — The Good, the Pure, The Positive

I sat down with Jacob Salem for a conversation about something most people quietly do…They shrink. They dim their light to fit rooms, expectations, or fear. Jacob and I get into what it actually looks like to own your energy, stop playing small, and direct your life with intention. We talk about: * Why dimming your light costs more than failing * Using every ounce of energy and resource you have * Making decisions that move your life forward—fast * What it really means to step into the version of you that's waiting Because this's about expanding into everything you're capable of. If you've been holding back—even a little—this episode is your cue. 🎧 Tap in and start directing. 🤝 Connect with Jacob Salem 👉 Business: https://ezmetrics.com/ [https://amzn.to/4ca5RNa] 👉 Book: Speaker Millionaire Secrets [https://amzn.to/4ca5RNa] 🎤 Want to share your message on stages? If you're serious about getting booked and building a speaking career, check out Jacob's Speaker Bureau: 👉 https://tonysuriano.com/becomeaspeaker [https://tonysuriano.com/becomeaspeaker] 📕 Ready to stop drifting? Get my book: Direct Your Life Or Someone Else Will 👉 https://directyourlifebook.com/ [https://directyourlifebook.com/] Thank you for being here, Tony —— ⭐️ Follow the show, leave a review/rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/direct-your-life/id1789979558], and share this with someone who needs it. Thank you for tuning in! If you're ready to stop drifting and start directing your life—join the Direct Your Life Newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter] for exclusive mindset tools, real stories, and the weekly fuel to Direct Your Life. https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter] Tony Suriano 🌐 Book Tony for speaking or podcast interviews: https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker [https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker] Follow me around internet town @tonysuriano 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano [https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano [https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano] 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/ [https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/]

54. Bob Burg — The Go-Giver Mindset: Why Giving Is the Ultimate Power Move

SEASON 2 OF DiRECT YOUR LiFE IS HERE—where I start bringing on guests who actually live what they teach. And there was no better place to begin than with Bob Burg: Hall of Fame keynote speaker, co-author of The Go-Giver book series (1M+ copies sold), and one of the leading voices on influence, communication, and value-based leadership. His perspective has impacted entrepreneurs, sales professionals, speakers, and business leaders around the world through his books, talks, and Daily Impact newsletter. In this episode, Bob and I break down why that shift isn't just nice… it's strategic—and it changes everything in your business and your life. Most people think influence is about pushing, convincing, or getting. It's not. It's about shifting your focus—off yourself and onto what actually creates value for others. Enjoy, lean in, and take notes. 🎯 Tune in if this is you… • You're grinding for results but feel like you're running on empty • You're a giver, but need to find balance • You want to lead—but keep getting pulled into self-focus • You struggle to say "no" without guilt or over-explaining • You catch yourself wasting time instead of executing • You're waiting to feel ready before taking action 🎙️ Episode Breakdown and Show Notes: The Influence Myth Why people only act for their reasons—not yours—and how to align with that instead of fighting it. Leadership vs. Human Nature How shifting from "me-focused" to "other-focused" creates real leverage. Action Precedes Feeling Why waiting to feel motivated is a trap—and how to move first. The Art of the Respectful "No" A simple, powerful way to protect your time without damaging relationships. Directing Your Awareness Why awareness—not effort—is the real unlock when you feel stuck. 🧠 Key Tools / Takeaways The Efficiency Filter "Is what I'm about to do the highest and best use of my time?" The Respectful Refusal "Thank you for asking. While it's not something I choose to take on, please know how honored I am that you would think to ask me." Physiology Shift Don't wait to feel ready. Move your body first—your mind will follow. This is what most people miss: Giving isn't passive. It's power. And when you learn how to use it, you stop chasing outcomes… and start attracting them. 🎧 Hit play. 🤝 Connect with Bob Burg 👉 Daily Impact Newsletter: burg.com [https://burg.com] https://burg.com [https://burg.com] 📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode If you want to go deeper into the ideas we talk about: 👉 The Go-Giver [https://amzn.to/3PLrBYo] by Bob Burg & John David Mann https://amzn.to/3PLrBYo [https://amzn.to/3PLrBYo] 👉 The Go-Giver Inflencer [https://amzn.to/3QhRRtt] by Bob Burg & John David Mann https://amzn.to/3QhRRtt [https://amzn.to/3QhRRtt] 👉 How to Win Friends and Influence People [https://amzn.to/4mdotAO] by Dale Carnegie https://amzn.to/4mdotAO [https://amzn.to/4mdotAO] 👉 The Magic of Thinking Big [https://amzn.to/4sKzuvD] by Dr. David Schwartz https://amzn.to/4sKzuvD [https://amzn.to/4sKzuvD] 👉 The Untethered Soul [https://amzn.to/4sSvE3M] by Michael A. Singer—one of my favorites! https://amzn.to/4sSvE3M [https://amzn.to/4sSvE3M] 👉 Living Untethered [https://amzn.to/4tp6MjQ]by Michael A. Singer—one of Bob's favorites! https://amzn.to/4tp6MjQ [https://amzn.to/4tp6MjQ] Thank you for being here, Tony —— ⭐️ Follow the show, leave a review/rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/direct-your-life/id1789979558], and share this with someone who needs it. Thank you for tuning in! If you're ready to stop drifting and start directing your life—join the Direct Your Life Newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter] for exclusive mindset tools, real stories, and the weekly fuel to Direct Your Life. https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/newsletter] Tony Suriano 🌐 Book Tony for speaking or podcast interviews: https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker [https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker] Follow me around internet town @tonysuriano 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano [https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano [https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano] 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/ [https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/]

53. From Breakdown to Breakthrough — The Final 5 Beats That Change Everything

📕 If you're ready to stop drifting and start directing your life, this is your book: Direct Your Life Or Someone Else Will [https://directyourlifebook.com/] 🎧 (Audiobook listeners—you're covered too.) When things fall apart… this is where most people drift. In this episode, I break down the final 5 beats of the 15-beat system—and how to navigate the hardest stretch of your life without giving up or losing direction. This is the collapse → comeback phase. Show Notes: In this episode, I break down the last 5 beats of the 15-beat system—and how to navigate the hardest stretch of your life without drifting or giving up. 🎯 If you're in a tough season right now, this will help you: • Understand why things falling apart might be part of the process • Handle the mental spiral (the 2 a.m. thoughts) without losing yourself • Shift from reaction to direction in high-stress moments • Take action when you don't feel ready • Actually finish what you started 🎥 What I cover in this episode: Beat 11: All Is Lost When the job, relationship, or identity disappears—and why this moment matters more than you think. Beat 12: Dark Night of the Soul The internal battle. The doubt. The questions. Plus the It's a Wonderful Life reframe that shifts everything. The Role Model Hat A simple tool: How would you respond if someone younger was watching you right now? Beat 13: Break into Three The shift from stuck → open → ready to move. Beat 14: Finale (Slaying the Dragon) Where you stop thinking and start proving who you are. Beat 15: Final Image You don't just reach a new outcome—you become someone new. 🧠 Key tools you can use immediately: The "Alternative" Sentence "I will persist in what matters to me because the alternative is ______." Conditioning Your Nervous System Why journaling both the good and bad prepares you for pressure. Annual Directing How to treat your year like a 15-beat movie so you stay grounded through chaos. You don't need a new life. You need a new cut. 🎧 Hit play. —— ⭐️ Follow the show, leave a review/rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/direct-your-life/id1789979558], and share this with someone who needs it. Thank you for tuning in! If you're finding value in this podcast, don't be shy—join the Direct Your Life Newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/directyourlife] for exclusive mindset tools, real stories, and the weekly fuel to Direct Your Life. Tony Suriano 🌐 Book Tony for speaking or podcast interviews: TonySuriano.com/speaker [https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker] Follow me around internet town: 📺 YouTube: @TonySuriano [https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano] 📸 Instagram: @TonySuriano [https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano] 📘 Facebook: @TonySuriano [https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/]

52. When the Bad Guys Close In (How to Stay in the Fight)

📕 If you're ready to stop drifting and start directing your life, this is your book: Direct Your Life Or Someone Else Will [https://directyourlifebook.com/] 🎧 (Audiobook listeners—you're covered too.) Part 10 of 15 — The Pressure Cooker When everything in your life starts going wrong at once, it's easy to freeze—or quit. In this episode, I break down how to stay in the fight when pressure hits from every side, using a real mistake I made in Malibu CA that forced me to confront ego, fear, and drift. This is about: * Regaining clarity when everything feels personal and chaotic * Building confidence inside the storm, not after it * Reclaiming control when life stops cooperating If you're in a season where it feels like the walls are closing in, this episode gives you your next move. 🎧 Hit play. —— ⭐️ Follow the show, leave a review/rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/direct-your-life/id1789979558], and share this with someone who needs it. Thank you for tuning in! If you're finding value in this podcast, don't be shy—join the Direct Your Life Newsletter [https://tonysuriano.com/directyourlife] for exclusive mindset tools, real stories, and the weekly fuel to Direct Your Life. Tony Suriano 🌐 Book Tony for speaking or podcast interviews: TonySuriano.com/speaker [https://www.tonysuriano.com/speaker] Follow me around internet town: 📺 YouTube: @TonySuriano [https://www.youtube.com/@TonySuriano] 📸 Instagram: @TonySuriano [https://www.instagram.com/tonysuriano] 📘 Facebook: @TonySuriano [https://www.facebook.com/TonySurianoDYL/]