• Why chasing approval sabotages your authority
• How to reframe success around internal health, not external hype
• The danger of tying identity to income or image
• A two-step roadmap for building deep, lasting impact

We’ve been taught to chase influence by being impressive. But what if the real breakthrough doesn’t come from the applause—but from the inner work we’ve avoided?

In this bold and personal episode, Jim Burgoon dismantles the toxic hustle culture and invites you to stop performing for people who don’t care and start transforming lives with authentic impact. Drawing from his own story—ministry scars, leadership wounds, and a long-overdue internal commitment—Jim outlines a new definition of success rooted in internal health and legacy-level purpose.

This one’s not about performance. It’s about permission.

• Impression vs. Impact
• Impressing others feeds your ego. Impacting others feeds your legacy.
• Success ≠ Worth
• Six-figure launches mean nothing if you're miserable. Internal victory > External applause.
• Commitment Starts with You
• Waiting for permission is a trap. Growth begins when you decide to show up.
• Your Circle Shapes You
• The right people challenge and lift. The wrong people drain and distract.

Jesus didn’t chase status—He focused on mission. He impacted people by walking in identity, not image. What does it profit you to gain the world but lose your soul? (Mark 8:36)

For Christian creatives juggling many callings, this episode reminds you: impact doesn’t require perfection or polished personas. It requires alignment. Start where you are—commit inwardly, and the clarity and clients will come.

Where are you still performing for approval instead of building with purpose?

Instagram: @leadwithjim

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Website: www.leadwithjim.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/leadwithjim

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This podcast just got a new name—but not a new heart.

In this short but powerful update, Jim shares why Grace in the Grind is becoming Online Business for Christian Creatives. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, scattered, or unsure how to build something meaningful with your gifts, this new season is for you.

It’s time to build—with focus, faith, and fire. Expect solo episodes, spiritual strategies, leadership tools, and creative biz talk rooted in Jesus.

• Why the podcast rebrand was necessary
• Who this show is now for: faith-driven, multi-passionate creatives
• What to expect moving forward: strategy, spirit, and stories
• A commitment to keep it real, biblical, and bold

This isn’t just a pivot—it’s obedience. We're aligning our gifts, businesses, and platforms to God’s design, not just our feelings.

Whether you're a coach, podcaster, writer, or speaker, you’ll find clarity and conviction to release what God’s put in you.

Instagram: @leadwithjim

Facebook: facebook.com/leadwithjim

Website: www.leadwithjim.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/leadwithjim

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

• Share this episode with a friend

• Subscribe, like, and comment on YouTube

• Join our newsletter → www.leadwithjim.com

• What it looks like to lead while unraveling behind the scenes
• How burnout can quietly erode success
• Why healing inside marriage is both messy and powerful
• How Rachel rebuilt not just her business, but her identity

In this powerful closing chapter of Grace in the Grind, Jim sits down with Rachel Pedersen to unpack the real cost of building something great while carrying unresolved pain. Rachel shares openly about her CPTSD, bipolar diagnosis, and the public breakdown that led to a new way of leading—from rest, not performance. Together, they explore how faith, safe relationships, and fierce honesty can help you rebuild everything burnout tried to take away.

Rachel Pedersen is a Minnesota-based entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Unfiltered. Known for her social media expertise and raw storytelling, she built an eight-figure empire while navigating complex mental health challenges, marriage, and motherhood. Her story is proof that grace and grit can coexist.

1. Healing Can Happen Mid-Battle – You don’t have to be fully healed to start again.
2. Burnout Is a Clue, Not a Curse – When you’re exhausted, it’s time to listen.
3. Success Isn’t the Finish Line – What really matters is who you are when the lights are off.

Website: https://www.rachelpedersen.com

Instagram: @themrspedersen

LinkedIn: Rachel Pedersen

Rachel’s story is soaked in grace. This episode reminds us that God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect—He meets us in the middle of the mess.

For creators, leaders, and visionaries navigating multiple roles, this conversation gives permission to pause, process, and still press forward without losing yourself.

Rachel didn’t just bounce back—she redefined what success meant. Her story is a reminder that rebuilding starts with radical honesty and safe community.

Performance without inner work leads to burnout. True leadership is built on self-awareness, trust, and the courage to ask for help.

What have you been hiding behind your hustle? What would it look like to lead from wholeness instead?

Instagram: @leadwithjim

Facebook: facebook.com/leadwithjim

Website: www.leadwithjim.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/leadwithjim

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