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Get ready for an inspiring journey with Steve Ward, a Birmingham, Alabama native who shares his powerful story of overcoming addiction and finding faith.

This episode dives into five key values—meaning, purpose, identity, contribution, and community—that shape a fulfilling life.

Hear how his struggles led to founding Steps Ministries, offering hope and healing to hurting people worldwide. Expect heartfelt insights on intentional living, serving others, and raising kids with love and perseverance. Don’t miss this chance to grow and connect!

"I'm still a high-functioning alcoholic and nobody knows it except my wife." With these powerful words, Steve opens a window into the compartmentalized life he once lived—excelling in his 38-year IBM career while hiding an addiction that was slowly consuming him. His story isn't just about addiction, though—it's about the universal struggle to find authentic purpose and identity in a world that often pushes us toward performance and perfectionism.

Through raw honesty, Steve walks us through his journey of discovering five core values that transformed his life: community, meaning, purpose, identity, and contribution. Each revelation came at pivotal moments—realizing his family mattered more than himself, experiencing God's reality at a stadium filled with 70,000 men seeking truth, witnessing divine orchestration when basketball legend Dr. J "coincidentally" sat next to him on a flight right when a ministry needed a celebrity speaker. These weren't just spiritual experiences but stepping stones toward his calling.

What makes this conversation truly exceptional is Steve's insight into addiction and recovery as metaphors for the human condition. "We're all addicted to something," he explains, whether it's alcohol, perfectionism, control, or validation. His ministry, Steps, emerged from a profound question: Why do we wait for people to crash and burn before teaching them the principles of living life effectively? Now based in Birmingham, Alabama, he distills wisdom from recovery, psychology, neuroscience, and biblical principles into practical resources for anyone seeking help.

Perhaps most moving is his reflection on parenting through his son's addiction struggles. Despite making "a lot of mistakes," Steve maintained two crucial elements: ensuring his son always knew he was loved, and persevering through the darkest times. Today, his son is thriving—evidence that our problems often become the very foundation of our purpose.

Ready to take your next step toward living with intention? Visit lifeimprovementsteps.com to access resources that can help you find your own path to meaning, purpose, and authentic living.

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How do you rebuild your life when you lose your family as a teenager? Monica Rivera's extraordinary journey from surviving on her own at 16 to becoming a sought-after communication strategist reveals the transformative power of determination, faith, and chosen connections.

Monica shares her raw, inspiring story with disarming honesty, explaining how she navigated paying bills, finishing high school, and putting herself through college while grieving the loss of her biological family. "Grit, determination, and relentlessness," she explains, were the bedrock qualities that carried her through years of uncertainty and struggle. Rather than being defined by what she lost, Monica intentionally crafted a life filled with meaningful relationships—what she powerfully describes as her "chosen family."

The conversation dives deep into the emotional complexity of creating family bonds beyond biological connection. When people would dismiss her most important relationships as "just friends," Monica reclaimed her narrative: "They're my chosen family. No one else gets to define that relationship for me." This perspective offers a profound reminder that we each have agency in determining our most significant connections.

After climbing the corporate ladder in marketing for over 15 years, Monica reached a pivotal realization—success without meaning left her wondering, "Is this it?" Her journey of reinvention led to founding "You Want to Do What," where she now helps entrepreneurs and professionals communicate their value and share their stories with confidence. Her approach balances practical strategy with essential internal work, recognizing that success requires becoming the person capable of doing the work, not just knowing what to do.

Throughout her story, Monica weaves insights on personal development, morning movement as a foundation for wellbeing, and the importance of self-understanding. Her recommendations for transformative reading (The Mountain Is You, Atomic Habits, and The Midnight Library) offer pathways for anyone seeking growth.

Ready to share your story with greater confidence and impact? Visit youwanttodowhat.com to access Monica's free Authority Accelerator guide with practical exercises to help articulate your unique value and experiences. Remember: "Your ordinary is someone else's extraordinary."

Gain insights on crafting your narrative, embracing personal growth, and communicating with confidence. This conversation offers practical tips to help you share your story boldly.

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#PersonalGrowth #Storytelling #Motivation

Join an inspiring conversation with a leadership expert and former submarine officer who shares a powerful five-step framework for building aligned, adaptable teams.

Hear how his Navy experience shaped a unique approach to leadership, connecting people to purpose through simple mission statements and compelling stories. Explore practical tools like the one-page captain’s plan and discover how to apply these principles to both business and family life.

What can nuclear submarine leadership teach us about thriving in today's disruptive business environment? Former submarine officer Mark Kohler reveals the extraordinary framework that enables 23-year-olds to operate $3 billion vessels in life-or-death situations with 33% annual turnover.

The Fast Attack Leadership framework transforms how teams function by treating everyone as a leader. "On a submarine, we didn't have 10 people leading 120 crew members. We had 130 leaders," explains Kohler. This mindset creates remarkable readiness and adaptability—crucial qualities when you're 600 feet underwater where the nearest rescue might be days away.

At the heart of this approach lies mission connection. While most companies have mission statements few employees can recite, submarine missions use memorable code words and symbols everyone knows instantly. This clarity ensures complete alignment, even in rapidly changing circumstances. Kohler's research reveals a startling gap in most organizations: leadership teams typically demonstrate only 9% alignment on basic elements like mission, vision, and values.

Particularly relevant for today's workforce: this system was designed for young people. Current nuclear submarines are operated entirely by Millennials and Gen Z—no Baby Boomers or Gen X. As these generations become 82% of our workforce within five years, their desire for immediate leadership opportunities requires frameworks that distribute decision-making authority rather than concentrate it.

Kohler applied these principles not only to transform struggling businesses but also to strengthen his family. His one-page family plan—mirroring the one-page captain's plan from submarines—created alignment between his stated priorities and daily choices. "I had 90% commitment to written business goals versus 10% for my unwritten family priorities. Which one wins? The 90%, every time."

For leaders feeling overwhelmed by complexity and change, Kohler offers a powerful alternative to working longer hours or adding more structure. The submarine-tested framework creates clarity, connection, and commitment that allows teams to thrive in even the most challenging environments.

Don’t miss the chance to gain actionable insights for leading effectively in today’s fast-paced world!

Connect with Marc:

leadwithpurpose.com
markkoehlerspeaks.com, and
familywithpurpose.com

For free resources to lead with impact!

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#Leadership #PurposeDriven #TeamBuilding