Living an Abundant Life Through Purpose, Faith, and Leadership with John Knowlton

On today’s episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with John Knowlton to dive deep on leadership, faith, and the power of intentional thinking. We explored how your mindset shapes your outcomes, the importance of personal mission, and how values guide every decision — both in business and in life. John shared inspiring stories from his journey, including lessons from the prison chaplaincy and the business world, and practical tips to help you lead with purpose, serve others, and create abundance. If you’re ready to elevate your leadership impact and align your daily actions with your greater calling, this episode is a must-listen!

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 Multi-Hat Life: Pastor to Financial Planner

04:36 "Aligning Goals with Mission"

09:25 Facing Fearful Decisions

12:42 Selfish Choices in Troubled Lives

17:01 "Redirect Negative Thoughts"

18:35 Objectifying People: A Coffee Shop Reflection

22:20 Genesis Origins: Purposeful Stewardship

25:31 Finding Life Purpose: Simple or Grand?

28:13 Finding Purpose Through Faith

33:40 From Incarceration to Entrepreneurial Mentor

37:33 "Christian Business Leadership Challenges"

39:35 Stewardship Through Business Principles

43:33 Experiment with Generosity

47:45 "Start Mornings Mindfully"

50:08 "Comical Morning Routine Insight"

55:44 Email's Impact: A 30-Year Reflection

56:34 Digital Search Revolutionizes Interaction

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Here are my three biggest takeaways:

🔹 Clarity of Mission Is Everything Whether you’re guiding a business, a team, or your own career path, John emphasized the power of a clear personal mission, vision, and values to navigate tough choices and stay aligned—even when business and personal goals collide.

🔹 Abundance Comes from Giving John’s prison chaplain experience highlighted that mindsets focused on serving and contributing to others—not “taking”—create the conditions for real abundance in life and business. Generosity isn’t just good, it’s practical leadership strategy.

🔹 Growth Is a Journey, Not a Destination Finding your true purpose isn’t handed to you at graduation—it’s a process, discovered along the way. Pay attention to what energizes you, and don’t be afraid to test, reflect, and refine your path over time.

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Links

John's Website

LinkedIn

John's new book