110: Why Pushing Harder Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead) w/ Houston Bradley

Most leaders believe control is the key to success. It helps them push through pressure, survive adversity, and achieve results. But what happens when the very strategy that once saved you starts holding you back?

In this episode of the No Limit Leadership Podcast, host Sean Patton sits down with executive coach Houston Bradley for a deeply personal and transformational conversation. Houston shares how a near-fatal brain injury at 17, years of high performance in Hollywood, and eventual recovery reshaped his understanding of leadership, identity, and control.

Together, Sean and Houston unpack the difference between confidence and ego, when control is a useful tool—and when it becomes a dangerous identity. They explore why so many driven leaders know what they want to have but lack clarity around who they need to be to create it.

This conversation challenges the grind mentality, exposes the hidden costs of unchecked control, and offers a new framework for leadership rooted in self-awareness, accountability, and transformation.

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

• 00:00 – The hidden downside of control in leadership
• 01:00 – Introducing Houston Bradley and his unconventional path
• 02:30 – A near-fatal skateboarding accident and waking up in a coma
• 05:45 – Using control as a survival tool—and when it turns against you
• 08:20 – Faith, recovery, and the identity shift after trauma
• 10:20 – Ego, overachievement, and drifting from humility
• 12:20 – Ignoring warning signs and living without accountability
• 14:45 – Confidence vs. ego: how high performers get trapped
• 16:40 – Rock bottom, recovery, and choosing a new way of being
• 20:00 – When control becomes an identity instead of a tool
• 23:00 – Blind spots, accountability, and why self-reflection isn’t enough
• 26:00 – Vision vs. identity: why “doing more” doesn’t create change
• 28:00 – Why leaders know what they want—but not who they must become
• 30:45 – Coaching, transformation, and creating a future worth the work
• 36:00 – The power of having people who call you out and call you forward
• 39:00 – Final reflections on growth, leadership, and transformation

👉 Houston Bradley
https://www.hbmetacoaching.com/

IMDb Profile — Background on his creative work and credits:
👉 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5652382/

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.