Adversity spares no one. It does not matter how disciplined you are or how well you prepare. At some point, you will face difficulty. The real question is not if. It is when. And often, how long.

In this episode, John shares the powerful "coffee bean" lesson he learned from Damon West and connects it with insight from Kara Lawson about what we truly control during hard seasons.

Adversity is the gap between what you hoped would happen and what actually does, especially when you cannot control how long it lasts.

You cannot shorten the season.
But you can strengthen the person in it.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why uncertainty is often harder than pain
• How adversity shapes identity and character
• Three practical ways to strengthen yourself this week
• How to become transformative instead of soft or hard under pressure

🟩 Key Quote:
"The length of adversity is uncertain, but your response never is."

🎟 Join the Free Workshop
As mentioned in the episode, you can register for tomorrow's free leadership workshop here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8KDhBUlFTxS_9WLtNyDseQ#/registration

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone walking through a difficult season.

Use your gifts.

Jacob Morgan has spent years studying what actually drives employee engagement, and what leaders keep getting wrong. In this wide ranging conversation, we unpack why most engagement efforts turn into short term "dopamine hits" like perks and programs, and why they never solve the real issue.

We talk about the difference between employee engagement and employee experience, the cost of disengagement for both the employee and the organization, and how AI is changing the pressure on performance and expectations. Jacob also breaks down a simple framework from his new book and explains how leaders can raise standards without creating burnout or coddled mediocrity.

We close with a conversation about accountability, consistency, and the kind of leadership that earns trust when change is required.

Jacob's new book is The Eight Laws of Employee Experience

In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I sit down with Dan Casey and Griffin Brand, co-authors of Bring Your Own Pencil.

At its core, this conversation is about preparation, discipline, and respect. Not as buzzwords, but as daily practices that quietly separate professionals from amateurs. Dan and Griffin share stories and principles behind the idea of "bringing your own pencil," the mindset of taking ownership before you're asked, and why leaders who prepare consistently earn trust faster and sustain credibility longer.

We talk about:

• Why preparation is a signal of respect for others
• How leaders lose influence when they rely on talent alone
• The difference between showing up and showing up ready

This is a practical conversation for leaders who care about standards, growth, and doing the work before the spotlight ever turns on.

Get the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Bring-Your-Own-Pencil-Playbook/dp/B0GGC8JTL4