What does it really mean to pursue excellence over success?

In this fired-up episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Ryan Hawk—host of The Learning Leader Show, best-selling author, and leadership coach to top performers worldwide.

With over 600 episodes under his belt and years of experience working with leaders across all walks of life, Ryan has refined a simple but profound truth: your internal clarity shapes your external impact. He unpacks his personal purpose statement, explains how to define your own values, and offers a practical roadmap to living them out every single day.

Ryan opens up about how fear and curiosity fuel his growth, how to battle mediocrity with high standards, and why consistency is the ultimate trust builder. You’ll hear how he built an 11-year streak without missing a single podcast release and what that says about his commitment to excellence.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to define your purpose and values—and actually live them

• Why excellence beats success every time

• A framework for linking daily behaviors to core values

• How to use curiosity to push your limits

• Why fear can be productive (if used wisely)

• The mindset that drives consistent, meaningful impact

Whether you're leading a company, a family, or just trying to lead yourself better, this conversation will equip you with the tools to align your purpose, values, and daily behaviors to leave a meaningful dent in the world.

0:00 Intro

1:28 Learning from 600+ Top Performers

4:22 Clarity Through Purpose and Values

6:45 Ryan's Personal Purpose Statement

10:18 From Concept to Daily Action

14:00 Excellence vs. Success

18:02 Fear, Curiosity, and Courage

23:40 Using Prompts to Live in Alignment

28:29 High Standards in a Mediocre World

34:12 Why Most People Quit

37:07 Process Goals > Outcome Goals

41:30 The Power of Consistency

44:20 Living a Life That Leaves a Dent

Resources Mentioned:

🌐 Ryan's Site: https://www.learningleader.com

📚 The Score That Matters by Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps

📚 Welcome to Management by Ryan Hawk

📚 The Pursuit of Excellence by Ryan Hawk

📘 Great by Choice by Jim Collins

📘 The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Follow on social @PhilOnPurposehttps://www.instagram.com/philonpurposehttps://www.facebook.com/philonpupose

Can culture itself be a business strategy?

In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Matt Hoying, President of Choice One Engineering—a company consistently ranked as a Best Place to Work and known for its people-first culture, operational clarity, and unapologetic transparency.

Matt shares how he rose from intern to president, why engineering is just a vehicle for impact, and how they’ve built a coaching culture where everyone—from leadership to new hires—owns the mission. He also breaks down Choice One’s “Decision Filter” and explains why they’ve walked away from profitable deals that didn’t align with their values.

Whether you're a founder, team leader, or aspiring leader within an organization, this episode offers a blueprint for creating a culture that scales with clarity, intentionality, and heart.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to build culture intentionally—even inside a larger company

• Why values-based hiring is the ultimate filter

• How financial transparency transformed their organization

• What leadership looks like when it's not about you

• Why “best practices” are often anything but

• How to lead like an engineer

This is a masterclass in sustainable, purpose-driven leadership. If you're serious about culture, this one’s for you.

0:00 Intro

1:01 Matt’s Path from Intern to President

4:18 The Real Reason He Chose Engineering

6:37 Applying His Purpose at Work and Home

10:28 Faith and Leadership

13:17 When Leadership Feels Like Psychology

16:39 How to Build a Coaching Culture

19:06 Mission Without the Job Titles21:03 Culture as a Decision Filter

24:21 Saying No to Money

26:44 Growth Without Compromise

29:42 Starting Culture from Scratch

32:33 Why Best Practices Don’t Always Work

35:00 The Great Game of Business & Transparency

38:56 Matt’s Role as “Engineer” of the Train

43:15 Why He Feels Unfulfilled—and Why That’s Good

45:32 Final Reflections and How to Connect

Resources Mentioned

📚 Drive by Daniel H. Pink

📚 The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack

📚 Good to Great by Jim Collins

🌐 Choice One Engineering: https://choiceoneengineering.com/

🔗 Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthoying

Follow @PhilOnPurpose

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Joe Fairless is one of the most respected names in real estate investing—but this episode is about much more than business.

In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Joe Fairless, co-founder of Ashcroft Capital (with $2.5B+ AUM) and creator of the longest-running daily real estate podcast, Best Ever Real Estate, to talk about the deeper side of success.

Joe shares how consistency has shaped every part of his life—from doing 1,500+ straight days of podcasting to how he leads his team and builds trust with investors. They dive into long-term thinking, vision boards, leadership through systems like EOS, and how to build a business that gives people their time back.

This conversation will challenge how you define success, encourage you to reframe your goals, and inspire you to take small actions with massive integrity.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why Joe’s leadership style centers around developing other leaders
  
• How EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) changed his company culture
  
• The mindset behind his 12-year streak of creating vision boards
  
• What 50/50 goals are—and why they matter more than outcomes
  
• How real estate became a vehicle for giving others freedom
  
• Why doing the right thing when no one’s looking is Joe’s true definition of success

This is an inside look at what it really takes to scale with integrity, lead with humility, and live with purpose.

0:00 Intro1:03 Who is Joe Fairless?3:25 The Power of Doing What You Say You’ll Do6:21 Separating Identity from Outcomes9:42 The 50/50 Goal Framework13:08 Vision Boards & Long-Term Thinking16:58 EOS and Leadership Style Evolution20:52 Managing by Exception and Trusting Your Team23:15 Creating Leaders, Not Just Managing People25:44 Nature and The New Definition of Growth29:50 Family, Freedom, and the Role of Business34:04 Courage, Character, and the Early Hustle40:24 The True Meaning of Significance42:18 Final Reflections: Integrity When No One’s Watching

Resources Mentioned:

📚 Traction by Gino Wickman📚 The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
🌐 Ashcroft Capital https://www.ashcroftcapital.com🌐 https://joefairless.co/

Follow on Social @PhilOnPurpose
https://www.instagram.com/philonpurposehttps://www.facebook.com/philonpurpose

Do you feel pulled in a hundred directions…and none of them lead where you want to go?

In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Jennifer Hudye-Moscow, founder of Vision Driven and co-creator of the Vivid Vision Method that has helped over 6,000 entrepreneurs bring their future into focus.

Jennifer shares the story of how her journey—from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to building and selling a seven-figure business—shaped her unique approach to vision. She reveals why “balance is bull****,” the difference between a vision and a plan, and why most leaders are climbing multiple mountains with no clear summit in sight.

They dive deep into the three stages of entrepreneurial evolution—from being condition-driven to achievement-driven to finally becoming vision-driven. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the hustle, this conversation offers a roadmap to get out of survival mode and into alignment.Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why “balance” keeps you stuck—and how integration leads to clarity and momentum
  

• The real difference between a vision, a strategy, and a plan (and why it matters)
  

• How to write a 3-year vivid vision for your business and your life
  

• The three psychological stages every entrepreneur goes through—and how to evolve faster
  

• Why most people set goals without direction—and how vision makes your decisions easier
  

• How to cascade your vision across your team without losing clarity or control

When you’re vision-driven, everything else aligns. This episode will help you get clear on where you're going—and who you need to become to get there.

0:00 Intro1:28 Jennifer’s Entrepreneurial Roots3:25 The Dinner That Changed Everything6:48 Most People Don’t Understand Vision10:13 What Is a Vivid Vision?13:04 Generalization Kills Clarity18:03 Life Vision Comes First21:13 Balance Is Bull: Why Integration Wins23:27 The 3 Stages of Entrepreneurial Evolution31:38 You Don’t Go to Vision—You Come From It37:48 Casting Vision for Your Team44:26 Jennifer’s Personal Why

Resources Mentioned:

🌐 Free Resource - Vivid Vision Mind Map: https://www.visiondrivenglobal.com/

📚 Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold

Follow on social @PhilOnPurposehttps://www.instagram.com/philonpurposehttps://www.facebook.com/philonpurpose

You’re the lid on your team’s growth—are you holding them back, or shaking the bottle to see how much they can expand?

Today Phil dives into Principle #5 of Success: Leading by Example, and unpacks the 7 powerful ways leaders can transform their teams—starting with themselves.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who leads a team, whether that’s in the boardroom or around the kitchen table. Phil shares a roadmap to help you stop playing small, start owning your influence, and create a ripple effect that lifts everyone around you.

Whether you're the CEO, a team lead, a coach, or a parent, this episode will reframe how you think about leadership, and how being the example is the most effective way to drive purpose and performance.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why you might be unknowingly holding your team back—and how to fix it
  

• How vision and purpose create momentum (and what happens without them)
  

• The "law of the lid" and how a leader can expand the team’s potential
  

• Why courage, authenticity, and caring aren’t optional—they’re essential
  

• How to create a culture of excellence and accountability

Leadership isn’t about your title—it’s about your example. Let’s raise the standard together.

0:00 Intro0:33 Self-leadership vs. leading others1:58 Why everyone is a leader2:26 Principle 1: Give your team purpose6:09 Principle 2: Take ownership8:32 Principle 3: Have the courage to be authentic12:18 Principle 4: Set the standard of excellence15:31 Principle 5: Build a growth-minded culture19:46 Principle 6: Delegate and empower21:39 Principle 7: Show you care24:57 The ripple effect of leadership25:53 Final challenge

Resources Mentioned

📚 Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman📚 Leadership 101 by John Maxwell📚 Attitude 101 by John Maxwell📚 The Go Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann📚 The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell📺 Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfd9RiSXWAX63y6ZXYrBtyN05jy3BGEPg

Follow on social @PhilOnPurpose https://www.instagram.com/philonpurpose https://www.facebook.com/philonpurpose

What would make someone run two marathons a day for 111 days straight across the Sahara Desert?

For Charlie Engle, it wasn't about medals or headlines—it was about survival, transformation, and purpose.

In this raw and powerful episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Charlie Engle—ultramarathon runner, recovering addict, author of Running Man, and one of the most resilient humans alive. From the depths of crack addiction and federal prison to becoming one of the world’s top endurance athletes, Charlie’s story is a gripping masterclass in doing hard things on purpose.

Charlie reveals how fear became his greatest motivator, how recovery taught him presence, and why doing hard things—on your own terms—is the only real training for life. He shares the full story behind running across the Sahara Desert, his upcoming expedition from the Dead Sea to Mount Everest, and the mindset shifts that helped him become not just a survivor—but a purposeful force.

Whether you're battling addiction, striving for a big goal, or just trying to parent better—this episode is a must-listen on authenticity, self-awareness, and how to keep moving forward.

0:00 Intro

1:23 Who Is Charlie Engle?

4:00 Learning Presence Through Pain

5:53 From Addiction to Endurance

10:06 The Rock Bottom Moment That Changed Everything

13:20 Fear, Identity, and Outcome Obsession

18:03 Self-Awareness as a Lifelong Practice

20:08 Authenticity and Purpose

28:35 Running Across the Sahara Desert

33:11 The Hardest Day and Mental Shift

36:58 Is It Physical or Mental?

39:07 The Dead Sea to Everest Expedition

42:20 Why Purpose Evolves Over Time

46:33 Training Your Recovery, Not Just Your Body

49:49 Final Reflections on Purpose

Resources Mentioned:

📚 Running Man by Charlie Engle🌐 CharlieEngle.com – https://www.charlieengle.com

📖 Unlimited Life / Dave Asprey – https://www.daveasprey.com📘 "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

Follow on social @PhilOnPurpose https://www.instagram.com/philonpurpose https://www.facebook.com/philonpurpose

What if your hiring process is the problem—not the people?

In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, bestselling author and leadership expert Nathan Jamail joins Phil to unpack the brutal truths about hiring, culture, and what real leadership looks like.

Nathan pulls no punches. He argues that resumes are often worthless, culture beats strategy every time, and your worst employee is your fault if you’re still paying them. Through vivid metaphors, stories from the trenches, and a coaching-first mindset, Nathan outlines what it takes to build high-performing, accountable teams.

From janitor to sales leader to executive coach, Nathan shares how he went broke twice chasing his purpose—and why it was worth every second. This is a must-listen for anyone managing people, building teams, or ready to ditch the safe path for something meaningful.

0:00 Intro

1:33 Nathan's story: From janitor to sales leader

5:46 Hire the person, not the paper

9:36 Why the product doesn’t matter

13:27 Culture over strategy

16:47 How to actually build culture

23:21 Coaching vs. managing

28:07 Why practice trumps talent

35:41 What it really takes to grow

40:31 Entrepreneurship and going broke

44:51 Support systems and validation

46:12 Final thoughts: Purpose, impact, and belief

Resources Mentioned:

📚 The Leadership Playbook by Nathan Jamail📚 Serve Up, Coach Down by Nathan Jamail📚 The Sales Leaders Playbook by Nathan Jamail🌐 Website: https://nathanjamail.com

What if the scoreboard isn’t what matters most?

In this powerful episode, Phil is joined by Brook Cupps—longtime Centerville High School basketball coach, leadership educator, and co-author of Surrender the Outcome and The Score That Matters. Brook shares his evolution from outcome-driven coach to purpose-centered leader—and how one pivotal moment forced him to rethink everything.

Brook breaks down why defining your core values, identifying the behaviors that reflect them, and consistently living them out is the key to true leadership. He also explores why the most dangerous lie we believe is that success comes from comparing ourselves to others—and how surrendering that mindset brings freedom, peace, and power.

This is one of the deepest Purpose Matrix conversations yet—touching on spiritual purpose, personal discipline, and the practical tools that transform both coaches and companies alike.

0:00 Intro

1:20 Meet Brook Cupps: From Coach to Leadership Educator

3:36 The Moment That Changed Everything

6:54 What “Surrender the Outcome” Really Means

10:10 Defining Team Identity and Process-Oriented Goals

14:50 Building a Process from Core Values

19:30 How to Create a Culture of Behavior-Based Standards

24:15 Self-Leadership: The Foundation of Everything

29:49 The Role of Courage and Quiet in Personal Growth

34:59 When Are You Ready to Lead Others?

40:42 Excellence vs. Success: A New Definition

45:31 Purpose That Comes From God

48:42 Freedom From Fear and Anxiety

50:06 Where to Learn More About Brook’s Work

Resources Mentioned:

Brook’s personal leadership coaching & books: https://www.bluecollargrit.com/

https://learningleader.com/

📚 Surrender the Outcome by Brook Cupps

📚 The Score That Matters by Brook Cupps & Ryan Hawk

📚 The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

📚 Atomic Habits by James Clear

📚 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni