June 21, 2025 • 28 mins
Welcome to another transformative episode of the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast. I’m your host, John C. Morley, Serial Entrepreneur and Podcast Coach. Whether you're on the go, reflecting in your quiet time, or seeking that next push forward in your life or leadership journey — you’re in the right place. Today’s episode is titled “Multiply Meaning, Not Effort,” and I want you to sit with that for a moment. What if you could make more impact without burning out? What if small, intentional actions could create outcomes that stretch far beyond your reach? In this episode, we’re unpacking how focus, meaning, and clarity can amplify everything you do — without doing more. Let’s dive into how you can align your actions with purpose and create lasting value through small but significant shifts in behavior and mindset. 1️⃣ Small Steps, Big Ripples 🌊
Sometimes, we hold back because we believe that if we can’t make a grand gesture or launch a massive initiative, it won’t be worth it. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that the smallest, most thoughtful actions often create the biggest ripples. Whether it’s offering a kind word, making a micro-shift in your daily routine, or choosing patience over frustration, these “small” decisions leave lasting impressions. Like a single stone tossed into a calm lake, your quiet efforts can radiate far beyond the moment — influencing people, outcomes, and even your own self-confidence. The world doesn’t need more noise — it needs more intentional motion. So never underestimate the power of one meaningful action repeated consistently. 2️⃣ Giving Back Amplifies Value 🤝
Giving is often misunderstood as a loss — but true giving always multiplies value. When you invest your time, wisdom, or presence in someone else's life or work, you're creating something greater than a transaction — you're building trust, legacy, and connection. Whether it’s mentoring a junior colleague, helping a neighbor, or volunteering your talent where it's needed, these acts of contribution have a way of echoing back with new energy. Giving doesn’t empty you — it expands you. You grow through the act of contributing because you step into a larger purpose than your own. And what you give has a ripple effect, often inspiring others to do the same. That, right there, is value that no currency can buy. 3️⃣ Leadership Starts with Service 🧭
Too often, leadership is portrayed as a role of authority or status — but its real foundation is service. True leadership starts when you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work alongside others. It’s about stepping in when things get uncomfortable, showing compassion when it’s inconvenient, and being the example of consistency when others are wavering. The best leaders don’t wait to be needed — they notice the need and respond. It could be as simple as picking up an overlooked task or empowering someone else to rise to the occasion. Leadership by service is magnetic; it builds loyalty, earns respect, and nurtures a culture of ownership. When people see that you’re not just “in charge,” but in service, they follow you with their trust, not just their obligation. 4️⃣ Structure Drives Results 🏗️
Passion may be the spark, but structure is the engine that keeps things moving forward. Without structure, great ideas stall. Structure gives your goals a roadmap, your routines a rhythm, and your teams a framework for success. It’s not about being rigid — it’s about being intentional. Think about your calendar, your team meetings, your habits — how are they set up to support the results you want? When structure is thoughtfully designed, it actually frees you up to be more creative, spontaneous, and effective. The key is clarity: know what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and how it should unfold. That level of focus turns vision into progress, one action at a time. 5️⃣ Traditions Shape Identity 🧩
In both personal and pro
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:18):
Well, hey guys, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
It is great to be with you on
Inspirations for Your Life this evening.
Of course, you know, we have a brand
new master topic.
That's what Saturdays mean, right?
It means we're starting with a brand new
master topic.
And the master topic this week is Multiply
Meaning, Not Effort.
(00:39):
Series four, show 26.
And this is episode number one guys, in
case you just joined us.
Hey guys, if you are thirsty, feel free
to get yourself some water.
I know I've got some RO water just
sitting here on the counter.
Maybe you want to get yourself something delicious,
something hot, something cold, something sweet or tart,
healthy or not, go ahead and do that.
(01:00):
And hurry on back from the kitchen.
And by the way, ladies and gentlemen, don't
forget to check out after the show, not
now, BelieveMeAchieved.com for more of my amazing,
inspiring creations.
All right, guys.
So we'll get into the show because I
know you guys are anxious to hear what
I have to say, because I have a
lot to say.
And I got a very interesting story about
(01:22):
Amazon that I've got to share with you.
So welcome, everyone, to another transformative episode of,
yes, Inspirations for Your Life podcast.
I am your host, John Seymour, serial entrepreneur,
podcast coach and host, serial entrepreneur, video producer
and so many other things.
And whether you're on the go, reflecting in
your quiet time or seeking the next push
(01:44):
forward in your life or leadership journey, you're
in the right place.
Today or tonight's episode is titled Multiply Meaning,
Not Effort.
And we've got a lot to go into
this week about that, but this is like
the intro of it.
And I want you to sit with that
for just a moment, right?
And it is multiply meaning, not the effort.
(02:07):
What if you could make more impact without
burning out?
What if small intentional actions could create outcomes
that stretch far beyond your reach?
In this episode and the entire week, I'm
going to unpack how focus, meaning and clarity
can amplify, well, everything you do.
(02:28):
Without doing more, let's dive into how you
can align your actions with purpose and creating
a lasting value through small but significant shifts
in behavior and mindset.
Are you guys ready for point number one?
I know you are.
So point number one is small steps, big
ripples, right?
(02:49):
We know that we've seen before when you
take a rock and you skip it, that
small rock can make big ripple waves in
that pond or the lake, sometimes we hold
back because we believe that if we can't
make a grand gesture or launch a massive
initiative, it won't be worth anything.
But that couldn't be further friends from the
(03:10):
truth.
The reality is that the smallest, most thoughtful
action often creates the biggest ripples.
Whether it's offering a kind word, making a
micro shift in your daily routine or choosing
patience over frustration.
These small decisions leave lasting impressions like a
single stone tossed into the calm lake.
(03:31):
As I said, your quiet efforts can radiate
far beyond the moment.
Influencing people, outcomes, and even your own self
-confidence.
That's right.
Your own self-confidence.
The world doesn't need more noise.
It needs more intentional motion.
So never underestimate the power of one meaningful
(03:53):
action repeated consistently, because it actually will astound
you.
Are you ready for point number two?
I know you are.
So point number two is this, giving back
amplifies value.
That's more about give first, take later.
Giving is often misunderstood as a loss, but
(04:13):
true giving always multiplies value.
When you invest your time, wisdom, or presence
in someone else's life or work, you're creating
something greater than a transaction.
You're building trust, legacy, and connection.
Whether it's mentoring a junior colleague, helping a
(04:35):
neighbor or volunteering your talent where it's needed.
These acts of contribution have a way of
echoing back with new energy.
Giving doesn't empty you.
It expands you.
You go grow through the act of contributing
because you step into a larger purpose than
your own.
And what you give has a ripple effect.
(04:58):
Like the boomerang we've talked about before, often
inspiring others to do the same, right?
That right there is value that no currency
can buy.
Many people I talk to say, well, you
know, John, I don't want to do that
because I don't know what I'm going to
gain out of it.
Well, we're trying to gain something.
Why don't we try to like bring value
(05:19):
into things?
Number three, leadership starts with service.
Too often, leadership is portrayed as a role
of authority or a status, like status figure,
but it's real foundation that is the foundation
that is the service, true leadership starts when
you're willing to roll up your sleeves, I
don't have any on tonight and do the
(05:41):
hard work alongside others.
It's about stepping in when things get uncomfortable,
showing compassion when it's inconvenient.
And being example of consistency when others are
wavering.
The best leaders don't wait to be needed.
No.
(06:01):
They notice the need and they respond accordingly.
It could be as simple as picking up
an overlooked task or empowering someone else to
rise to the occasion.
Leadership by service is magnetic.
It builds loyalty.
It earns respect.
(06:22):
And nurtures a culture of ownership.
When people see that you're not just in
charge, but in service, they follow you with
their trust.
Let me say that again.
When people see that you're not just in
charge, but in service, they follow you with
their trust, not just their obligation.
(06:42):
It's like they have this curiosity and then
they want to be part of it.
Number four, guys, structure drives results.
Passion may be the spark, but structure is
the engine that keeps things moving forward.
Without structure, guys, great ideas stall.
Structure gives your goals a roadmap, your routines
(07:04):
a rhythm, and your team's a framework for
success.
It's not about being rigid.
It's about being intentional.
We've talked about this before.
Think about your calendar, your team meetings, right?
Your habits.
How are you set up to support in
that particular way?
I mean, how does that work in your
own life?
(07:24):
And I think that's a question that many
people don't really understand.
They don't understand why that works a certain
way or why that's not working a certain
way.
And so, again, think about your calendar, your
team meetings, your habits, and how are they
set up to support the results that you
want.
When, this is key, guys, structure is thoughtfully
(07:47):
designed, it actually frees you up to be
more creative, spontaneous, and effective.
The key is clarity.
Know what needs to happen when it needs
to happen.
Let me say that again.
Know what needs to happen when it needs
to happen and how it should unfold.
That level of focus, guys, turns vision into
(08:10):
progress one action at a time.
Number five, traditions shape identity.
And I'm not just talking about the holiday
time.
In both personal and professional life, traditions ground
us.
They help us know who we are and
what we stand for.
(08:31):
Think of team rituals, morning routines, family dinners,
or even how you start your week.
These repeated behaviors aren't just habits, they're anchors
of identity.
They give people a sense of belongingness, consistency,
and alignment.
When you create meaningful traditions, whether in your
(08:52):
company culture or your daily schedule, your relationships,
you're reinforcing values in a way that feels
natural, not forced.
And over time, these traditions become symbolic.
They tell your story, communicate your priorities, and
inspire others to join you in something bigger
(09:13):
than the day-to-day stuff you're doing,
right?
That's important.
Number six, guys, waste less, honor more.
That's an interesting caveat, right?
Waste less, honor more.
In a world of things where we often
are chasing more stuff, more likes, more productivity,
(09:36):
we forget the power of enough.
The practice of honoring what you already have
is quiet, but powerful in its shift.
It means paying attention to what's often overlooked.
The unfinished conversations, the unused ideas, the extra
time we scroll instead of reflecting.
(09:58):
It's about recognizing that everything you're doing with
your time, your attendance, your resources has a
value and choosing not to waste them is
an act of integrity.
When you live with this kind of mindfulness,
you become more present, more resourceful, and more
fulfilled in everything you do.
(10:19):
Waste isn't just about things, guys.
It's about potential and honoring your potential is
how you create a life that feels meaningful
and abundant without needing more in it.
Number seven, symbols speak beyond words.
Some of the most powerful messages aren't spoken
at all.
(10:39):
They're symbols, whether it's visual, verbal, or ritualistic.
They carry an emotional kind of weight and
a memory, a handshake, a journal, a logo,
a specific phrase you say before starting your
day, maybe a mantra.
These things take on power because of the
meaning you assign to them.
(11:02):
In leadership, branding, personal growth, using symbols is
how we reinforce our value and communicate deeply
without over-explaining.
They create connection, consistency, and clarity.
The power of a symbol is that it
reminds people of who they are, what they
believe, and what they're part of.
(11:23):
When used intentionally, symbols are not fluff.
They are the focus.
I think this is something that a lot
of people miss is that symbols are here
to give us a presence.
They're here to help us connect with others.
They're here to give us ideas.
They're here to give us inspiration.
Here's the part of the show that I
(11:44):
love.
I love the whole part of the show,
but this is one part of the show
I really like.
I'm going to go ahead and give you
a personal lesson or story for each point
I said tonight.
It's my hope, guys, that this is going
to transform you.
This is going to get you curious, but
(12:04):
this is going to make you want to
do something, not because you have to, but
because you want to.
I think that's a very, very important thing,
a very, very important thing.
So without any further ado, I'm going to
get into these lessons, which I'm hoping that
they will spark something in your mind, spark
(12:26):
something in your life to get you to
say, oh, that's an aha moment for me,
right?
An aha moment is something that we sometimes
miss.
We don't catch the aha moments, but they're
really, really, really important.
Are you ready, guys?
Number one, small steps, big ripples.
I remember a time when I was volunteering
at a local school career day.
(12:47):
I didn't think much of it, just a
few hours sharing what I do and answering
some questions.
But months later, one of the students emailed
me.
He said that day changed his life forever.
It made him believe he could actually become
an engineer like myself.
That one small conversation planted a seed in
(13:07):
that guy's mind.
It reminded me that impact isn't always loud.
Sometimes the most powerful things we do start
with the smallest steps and the simplest ones.
And that's when the ripple begins.
Number two, giving back amplifies value.
Years ago, I took time each week to
(13:29):
mentor a young professional, which I've done many
times, who was struggling to find his direction.
I shared what I learned, offered feedback, and
I just listened.
At the time, I didn't realize how deeply
that commitment would come full circle.
That same person now runs a successful business
and credits those conversations as his turning point
(13:51):
to making a success.
I didn't just help him.
I guess I learned a lot about myself
too.
Giving doesn't deplete your energy, guys.
It expands your purpose and can often recharge
you.
The more you pour out, the more meaningful
your journey becomes.
Number three, leadership starts with service.
(14:13):
When I started the J-More Connection a
little over 31 years ago, almost 32 this
December, I had every reason to delegate the
grunt work, but I always made it a
point to show up and do what needed
to be done, even if that meant crawling
under desks to fix a cable or staying
late to handle a client crisis.
That earned me more than respect.
(14:35):
It built a bond with my team and
they saw that it wasn't just issuing orders
for me.
I was right there with them in the
box hall.
That kind of leadership isn't taught in books
or schools or colleges.
It's modeled in moments of life.
Service is what makes leadership real.
Number four, structure drives results.
(14:57):
I've said it before and I'll say it
again.
I used to be someone who resisted routine.
I thought it limited creativity, but over time
I saw that there's truth and the most
creative breakthroughs happen because of a structure.
Now you can still have some free flow,
but you need some structure.
And not in spite of it, when I
finally built a consistent system for my content
planning and client communication, everything just took off.
(15:22):
I had more mental space, better outcomes, and
less stress.
It wasn't about rigidity.
It was about rhythm and flow.
And that rhythm gave me freedom with structure,
passion, and any kind of fizzling out, because
without those things, it would have just died.
(15:45):
With it, everything just grows.
Number five, traditions shape identity.
Every Friday I have a quiet ritual.
I reflect on the week, write three lessons
I learned, and express gratitude even for the
challenges.
It may seem small, but it's become a
cornerstone of who I am.
(16:06):
It keeps me grounded, focused, and true to
my values at the core.
That tradition shapes my identity, and it's one
of the reasons I show up every week
with clarity and intention on this podcast, in
my business, and in my life.
We don't just live traditions, guys.
They live within us.
(16:26):
Number six, waste less, honor more.
There was a time when I had piles
of notebooks filled with ideas I never acted
on, one day I went through them and
realized I had been sitting on gold, not
because I needed more content, but because I
had failed to honor what I already created,
(16:47):
and since then, I made it, guys.
But I want to tell you that this
did not happen overnight.
This took some time, and that time is
something that I think a lot of people
don't really understand, but it's important, all right?
When you recognize that you have value, you
(17:09):
can react to it.
I made a point to use repurposing and
reflecting on everything.
I build a cornerstone, whether it's content, connections,
or conversations, I no longer let good things
go to waste.
Honor creates value.
Remember that, guys.
Honor creates value.
Honor creates value.
(17:31):
Waste erodes it.
Number seven, symbols speak beyond any words that
you could ever imagine.
One of the most powerful moments in my
career was gifting a team member a pen
with a word.
You know what the word was?
Impact, engraved on it.
(17:51):
And it wasn't expensive, but it meant everything
to that person.
That pen sat on his desk for years.
He said it reminded him every day that
what he did mattered.
That small symbol connected him to the bigger
picture.
I've learned that words, gestures, and even visual
anchors can carry more weight than the best
(18:14):
speeches.
Symbols speak to the soul and use them
intentionally.
I think this is a perfect time to
talk about this situation.
We talk about multiply meaning, not effort.
So today, I had gone on Amazon to
order something and I've done that many times
before and I have Prime.
(18:34):
So I had ordered some things for a
show that we're doing.
And I don't know, the order was $200.
And around one o'clock, I got an
email back telling me, and I didn't see
it until later on, that my transaction had
been declined.
Now I gave my bank account, plenty of
money in the bank account.
And so the first thing I did was
I called Telecheck and they said there was
(18:54):
no decline with the transaction.
They didn't even see the transaction.
So then I started piecing things together as
I called Amazon.
I noticed the amount they tried to authorize
on my account was over $100 more than
what the order should have been.
I was like, hmm.
(19:15):
So I'm on the phone with them for,
oh gosh, over an hour and 10, over
15 minutes.
And they keep apologizing.
One person hung up on me.
I let them know what they're doing is
fraud.
And, you know, I was convinced the issue
was on their end, really convinced.
And I proved it at the end because
I said, why did you charge me $337
(19:38):
when it should have been $237?
She's like, oh, she said, there's a reason
for that.
That's fraud.
Well, no, at Amazon, we don't have the
ability, listen to this, to handle multiple types
of payment tendering.
That's just like ridiculous, right?
You can go there and apply a gift
(19:59):
card and you can do a credit card
or whatever, but you can't apply a gift
card to a bank account transaction.
That's crazy.
So after spending all this time with them,
I figured out what the problem was.
Their system was trying to charge one amount
of money, but the order amount didn't truly
(20:23):
match what was being charged.
And I think it negated, it caused it
to basically decline.
Now, when you talk to people at Amazon,
oh, it's a real project.
You call the number.
Okay.
And just to give you an example, let's
see if I can, let's see if I
can pull them up right now.
Hang on.
I'm going to pull them up right now.
(20:44):
And dial this number for Amazon.
Uh, if I have it here, I'm going
to dial it.
You guys can hear that ringing.
Hopefully.
Let me, let me, let me, let me
go back and make that a little, a
(21:05):
little bit, a little bit.
Um, so I'm gonna go back and make
that louder.
Okay.
I think you guys will find this funny.
Okay.
(21:30):
I'm muted right now, but I'm going to
say, no, stay on the line.
I don't want to do that.
(21:57):
No, no, I unmuted what I said.
No.
Verifying your account will expedite the time.
And the thing just keeps going on.
I said, no.
Right.
Can I quickly send you a text message
to verify your account?
Watch.
No.
Verifying your account will expedite the time it
takes to resolve your concern.
(22:19):
Can I quickly send you a text message
to verify your account?
No.
For customer support in Spanish, press nine.
Otherwise, please hold.
(22:40):
So now we wait.
Now, to get you to the right agent,
can you please say a few words about
what you need help with?
Regarding an order.
My past order.
Get someone to help with this.
(23:02):
Your call is in queue and will be
answered by the next available member of our
team as soon as possible.
So now you get some music, right?
And the people you get on the phone
with all due respect, they're not really dialed
into like what's going on.
So you're listening to some music.
(23:23):
They're telling you they're going to record the
call.
And this is just like insane.
Okay.
This, this is like absolutely insane.
Now I'm holding here.
They haven't picked up yet.
(23:48):
Getting through that automated system.
The key is to basically not say anything
because if you try to say something, it
just makes it worse.
Now, because it's in the evening, they're probably
not going to pick up right away.
I don't know about you, but this is
extremely frustrating and they play the same music
(24:11):
no matter.
And finally I got somebody, but my point
is, uh, what I wouldn't even to talk
to the person.
You had to go through verifying the account.
So then they had to send you an
email.
You had to click the link.
I mean, Verizon does the same thing.
So my question is why can't Amazon say,
okay, can I send you a text message?
No.
(24:32):
Okay.
Can I verify your account via your email?
I would say yes.
Like, why don't they like think in terms
of how the people want to use the
system?
I don't want to get a text message,
right?
Um, I do with Verizon, they have my
phone number anyway, but I just don't like
giving up my phone number and having them
a system.
So my point is, is that when you
(24:52):
get the personal, I like, oh, I'm so
sorry about the situation.
And then, you know, they really don't help
you.
And then if you really have a problem,
they hang up on you half the time.
So you ask for a supervisor and that's
more of a challenge.
So what I want to share with you
guys is that meaning is important, not the
effort.
So like, oh, I'm very sorry about what
happened.
(25:14):
That's the effort.
The meaning is you're trying to take accountability.
One of the things that Amazon does not
have, unfortunately, they do not have accountability.
I have several stories where, um, they've delivered
things to the wrong address that I had
to like fight with them to get either
a refund or get a replacement because it
was shipped by a third party.
(25:35):
And then I had to follow things with
like, uh, the better business bureau and all
kinds of nonsense.
So I got to tell you, I think
it's insane.
Um, how they provide this.
Not really customers.
Like a lack of customer service.
But so I think when you're designing any
kind of automated call systems or any systems
(25:56):
you're using, they've got to be designed around
the customer, right?
Or the client.
And so what I thought was very interesting
with them is that when I explained to
her what was going on, very sorry about
the situation, but I'm going to say very
sorry.
So I want to thank you guys for,
um, definitely joining me here.
(26:17):
Um, on the inspiration for your life show
tonight, I hope to hear tonight's resonated with
you and multiply meaning, not the effort reminds
you that you don't have to do more
to be more.
Let me say that again.
You don't have to do more to be
(26:39):
more purpose, presence, and consistency.
Are the real multipliers.
When you apply these seven principles, you'll find
your actions carry more weight, your relationships grow
deeper and your influence expand naturally, not forcefully.
And I think that's the whole point.
(26:59):
We've got to get things to flow, right?
We've got to get them to flow because
if we don't get them to flow and,
you know, we try to push, like, you
know, if you try to push, um, right.
A square peg to a round hole, well,
that's not going to work.
So, right.
So I think if we understand what the
meaning is, not the effect, right?
(27:22):
The effect will be better and people will
be more willing to help you.
So when you dial, they want you to
go to a chat system, right?
But all I want them to do is
take accountability.
Amazon doesn't.
And it's like, they don't even care about
you on the phone.
(27:42):
It's probably one of the worst customer service
experiences I've ever, uh, had.
So I hope tonight gave you at least
an entry point into why we're going to
be studying multiplying meaning and not trying to
just push the effort up.
I think that's a big issue for everyone.
(28:03):
When we learn that it's about the meaning
and the why everything else sort of takes
care of itself.
Ladies, gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
You check out, believe me, achieve that conf
more of my amazing, inspiring creations.
Catch you soon.
Well, hey guys, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur.
It is great to be with you on
Inspirations for Your Life this evening.
Of course, you know, we have a brand
new master topic.
That's what Saturdays mean, right?
It means we're starting with a brand new
master topic.
And the master topic this week is Multiply
Meaning, Not Effort.
(00:39):
Series four, show 26.
And this is episode number one guys, in
case you just joined us.
Hey guys, if you are thirsty, feel free
to get yourself some water.
I know I've got some RO water just
sitting here on the counter.
Maybe you want to get yourself something delicious,
something hot, something cold, something sweet or tart,
healthy or not, go ahead and do that.
(01:00):
And hurry on back from the kitchen.
And by the way, ladies and gentlemen, don't
forget to check out after the show, not
now, BelieveMeAchieved.com for more of my amazing,
inspiring creations.
All right, guys.
So we'll get into the show because I
know you guys are anxious to hear what
I have to say, because I have a
lot to say.
And I got a very interesting story about
(01:22):
Amazon that I've got to share with you.
So welcome, everyone, to another transformative episode of,
yes, Inspirations for Your Life podcast.
I am your host, John Seymour, serial entrepreneur,
podcast coach and host, serial entrepreneur, video producer
and so many other things.
And whether you're on the go, reflecting in
your quiet time or seeking the next push
(01:44):
forward in your life or leadership journey, you're
in the right place.
Today or tonight's episode is titled Multiply Meaning,
Not Effort.
And we've got a lot to go into
this week about that, but this is like
the intro of it.
And I want you to sit with that
for just a moment, right?
And it is multiply meaning, not the effort.
(02:07):
What if you could make more impact without
burning out?
What if small intentional actions could create outcomes
that stretch far beyond your reach?
In this episode and the entire week, I'm
going to unpack how focus, meaning and clarity
can amplify, well, everything you do.
(02:28):
Without doing more, let's dive into how you
can align your actions with purpose and creating
a lasting value through small but significant shifts
in behavior and mindset.
Are you guys ready for point number one?
I know you are.
So point number one is small steps, big
ripples, right?
(02:49):
We know that we've seen before when you
take a rock and you skip it, that
small rock can make big ripple waves in
that pond or the lake, sometimes we hold
back because we believe that if we can't
make a grand gesture or launch a massive
initiative, it won't be worth anything.
But that couldn't be further friends from the
(03:10):
truth.
The reality is that the smallest, most thoughtful
action often creates the biggest ripples.
Whether it's offering a kind word, making a
micro shift in your daily routine or choosing
patience over frustration.
These small decisions leave lasting impressions like a
single stone tossed into the calm lake.
(03:31):
As I said, your quiet efforts can radiate
far beyond the moment.
Influencing people, outcomes, and even your own self
-confidence.
That's right.
Your own self-confidence.
The world doesn't need more noise.
It needs more intentional motion.
So never underestimate the power of one meaningful
(03:53):
action repeated consistently, because it actually will astound
you.
Are you ready for point number two?
I know you are.
So point number two is this, giving back
amplifies value.
That's more about give first, take later.
Giving is often misunderstood as a loss, but
(04:13):
true giving always multiplies value.
When you invest your time, wisdom, or presence
in someone else's life or work, you're creating
something greater than a transaction.
You're building trust, legacy, and connection.
Whether it's mentoring a junior colleague, helping a
(04:35):
neighbor or volunteering your talent where it's needed.
These acts of contribution have a way of
echoing back with new energy.
Giving doesn't empty you.
It expands you.
You go grow through the act of contributing
because you step into a larger purpose than
your own.
And what you give has a ripple effect.
(04:58):
Like the boomerang we've talked about before, often
inspiring others to do the same, right?
That right there is value that no currency
can buy.
Many people I talk to say, well, you
know, John, I don't want to do that
because I don't know what I'm going to
gain out of it.
Well, we're trying to gain something.
Why don't we try to like bring value
(05:19):
into things?
Number three, leadership starts with service.
Too often, leadership is portrayed as a role
of authority or a status, like status figure,
but it's real foundation that is the foundation
that is the service, true leadership starts when
you're willing to roll up your sleeves, I
don't have any on tonight and do the
(05:41):
hard work alongside others.
It's about stepping in when things get uncomfortable,
showing compassion when it's inconvenient.
And being example of consistency when others are
wavering.
The best leaders don't wait to be needed.
No.
(06:01):
They notice the need and they respond accordingly.
It could be as simple as picking up
an overlooked task or empowering someone else to
rise to the occasion.
Leadership by service is magnetic.
It builds loyalty.
It earns respect.
(06:22):
And nurtures a culture of ownership.
When people see that you're not just in
charge, but in service, they follow you with
their trust.
Let me say that again.
When people see that you're not just in
charge, but in service, they follow you with
their trust, not just their obligation.
(06:42):
It's like they have this curiosity and then
they want to be part of it.
Number four, guys, structure drives results.
Passion may be the spark, but structure is
the engine that keeps things moving forward.
Without structure, guys, great ideas stall.
Structure gives your goals a roadmap, your routines
(07:04):
a rhythm, and your team's a framework for
success.
It's not about being rigid.
It's about being intentional.
We've talked about this before.
Think about your calendar, your team meetings, right?
Your habits.
How are you set up to support in
that particular way?
I mean, how does that work in your
own life?
(07:24):
And I think that's a question that many
people don't really understand.
They don't understand why that works a certain
way or why that's not working a certain
way.
And so, again, think about your calendar, your
team meetings, your habits, and how are they
set up to support the results that you
want.
When, this is key, guys, structure is thoughtfully
(07:47):
designed, it actually frees you up to be
more creative, spontaneous, and effective.
The key is clarity.
Know what needs to happen when it needs
to happen.
Let me say that again.
Know what needs to happen when it needs
to happen and how it should unfold.
That level of focus, guys, turns vision into
(08:10):
progress one action at a time.
Number five, traditions shape identity.
And I'm not just talking about the holiday
time.
In both personal and professional life, traditions ground
us.
They help us know who we are and
what we stand for.
(08:31):
Think of team rituals, morning routines, family dinners,
or even how you start your week.
These repeated behaviors aren't just habits, they're anchors
of identity.
They give people a sense of belongingness, consistency,
and alignment.
When you create meaningful traditions, whether in your
(08:52):
company culture or your daily schedule, your relationships,
you're reinforcing values in a way that feels
natural, not forced.
And over time, these traditions become symbolic.
They tell your story, communicate your priorities, and
inspire others to join you in something bigger
(09:13):
than the day-to-day stuff you're doing,
right?
That's important.
Number six, guys, waste less, honor more.
That's an interesting caveat, right?
Waste less, honor more.
In a world of things where we often
are chasing more stuff, more likes, more productivity,
(09:36):
we forget the power of enough.
The practice of honoring what you already have
is quiet, but powerful in its shift.
It means paying attention to what's often overlooked.
The unfinished conversations, the unused ideas, the extra
time we scroll instead of reflecting.
(09:58):
It's about recognizing that everything you're doing with
your time, your attendance, your resources has a
value and choosing not to waste them is
an act of integrity.
When you live with this kind of mindfulness,
you become more present, more resourceful, and more
fulfilled in everything you do.
(10:19):
Waste isn't just about things, guys.
It's about potential and honoring your potential is
how you create a life that feels meaningful
and abundant without needing more in it.
Number seven, symbols speak beyond words.
Some of the most powerful messages aren't spoken
at all.
(10:39):
They're symbols, whether it's visual, verbal, or ritualistic.
They carry an emotional kind of weight and
a memory, a handshake, a journal, a logo,
a specific phrase you say before starting your
day, maybe a mantra.
These things take on power because of the
meaning you assign to them.
(11:02):
In leadership, branding, personal growth, using symbols is
how we reinforce our value and communicate deeply
without over-explaining.
They create connection, consistency, and clarity.
The power of a symbol is that it
reminds people of who they are, what they
believe, and what they're part of.
(11:23):
When used intentionally, symbols are not fluff.
They are the focus.
I think this is something that a lot
of people miss is that symbols are here
to give us a presence.
They're here to help us connect with others.
They're here to give us ideas.
They're here to give us inspiration.
Here's the part of the show that I
(11:44):
love.
I love the whole part of the show,
but this is one part of the show
I really like.
I'm going to go ahead and give you
a personal lesson or story for each point
I said tonight.
It's my hope, guys, that this is going
to transform you.
This is going to get you curious, but
(12:04):
this is going to make you want to
do something, not because you have to, but
because you want to.
I think that's a very, very important thing,
a very, very important thing.
So without any further ado, I'm going to
get into these lessons, which I'm hoping that
they will spark something in your mind, spark
(12:26):
something in your life to get you to
say, oh, that's an aha moment for me,
right?
An aha moment is something that we sometimes
miss.
We don't catch the aha moments, but they're
really, really, really important.
Are you ready, guys?
Number one, small steps, big ripples.
I remember a time when I was volunteering
at a local school career day.
(12:47):
I didn't think much of it, just a
few hours sharing what I do and answering
some questions.
But months later, one of the students emailed
me.
He said that day changed his life forever.
It made him believe he could actually become
an engineer like myself.
That one small conversation planted a seed in
(13:07):
that guy's mind.
It reminded me that impact isn't always loud.
Sometimes the most powerful things we do start
with the smallest steps and the simplest ones.
And that's when the ripple begins.
Number two, giving back amplifies value.
Years ago, I took time each week to
(13:29):
mentor a young professional, which I've done many
times, who was struggling to find his direction.
I shared what I learned, offered feedback, and
I just listened.
At the time, I didn't realize how deeply
that commitment would come full circle.
That same person now runs a successful business
and credits those conversations as his turning point
(13:51):
to making a success.
I didn't just help him.
I guess I learned a lot about myself
too.
Giving doesn't deplete your energy, guys.
It expands your purpose and can often recharge
you.
The more you pour out, the more meaningful
your journey becomes.
Number three, leadership starts with service.
(14:13):
When I started the J-More Connection a
little over 31 years ago, almost 32 this
December, I had every reason to delegate the
grunt work, but I always made it a
point to show up and do what needed
to be done, even if that meant crawling
under desks to fix a cable or staying
late to handle a client crisis.
That earned me more than respect.
(14:35):
It built a bond with my team and
they saw that it wasn't just issuing orders
for me.
I was right there with them in the
box hall.
That kind of leadership isn't taught in books
or schools or colleges.
It's modeled in moments of life.
Service is what makes leadership real.
Number four, structure drives results.
(14:57):
I've said it before and I'll say it
again.
I used to be someone who resisted routine.
I thought it limited creativity, but over time
I saw that there's truth and the most
creative breakthroughs happen because of a structure.
Now you can still have some free flow,
but you need some structure.
And not in spite of it, when I
finally built a consistent system for my content
planning and client communication, everything just took off.
(15:22):
I had more mental space, better outcomes, and
less stress.
It wasn't about rigidity.
It was about rhythm and flow.
And that rhythm gave me freedom with structure,
passion, and any kind of fizzling out, because
without those things, it would have just died.
(15:45):
With it, everything just grows.
Number five, traditions shape identity.
Every Friday I have a quiet ritual.
I reflect on the week, write three lessons
I learned, and express gratitude even for the
challenges.
It may seem small, but it's become a
cornerstone of who I am.
(16:06):
It keeps me grounded, focused, and true to
my values at the core.
That tradition shapes my identity, and it's one
of the reasons I show up every week
with clarity and intention on this podcast, in
my business, and in my life.
We don't just live traditions, guys.
They live within us.
(16:26):
Number six, waste less, honor more.
There was a time when I had piles
of notebooks filled with ideas I never acted
on, one day I went through them and
realized I had been sitting on gold, not
because I needed more content, but because I
had failed to honor what I already created,
(16:47):
and since then, I made it, guys.
But I want to tell you that this
did not happen overnight.
This took some time, and that time is
something that I think a lot of people
don't really understand, but it's important, all right?
When you recognize that you have value, you
(17:09):
can react to it.
I made a point to use repurposing and
reflecting on everything.
I build a cornerstone, whether it's content, connections,
or conversations, I no longer let good things
go to waste.
Honor creates value.
Remember that, guys.
Honor creates value.
Honor creates value.
(17:31):
Waste erodes it.
Number seven, symbols speak beyond any words that
you could ever imagine.
One of the most powerful moments in my
career was gifting a team member a pen
with a word.
You know what the word was?
Impact, engraved on it.
(17:51):
And it wasn't expensive, but it meant everything
to that person.
That pen sat on his desk for years.
He said it reminded him every day that
what he did mattered.
That small symbol connected him to the bigger
picture.
I've learned that words, gestures, and even visual
anchors can carry more weight than the best
(18:14):
speeches.
Symbols speak to the soul and use them
intentionally.
I think this is a perfect time to
talk about this situation.
We talk about multiply meaning, not effort.
So today, I had gone on Amazon to
order something and I've done that many times
before and I have Prime.
(18:34):
So I had ordered some things for a
show that we're doing.
And I don't know, the order was $200.
And around one o'clock, I got an
email back telling me, and I didn't see
it until later on, that my transaction had
been declined.
Now I gave my bank account, plenty of
money in the bank account.
And so the first thing I did was
I called Telecheck and they said there was
(18:54):
no decline with the transaction.
They didn't even see the transaction.
So then I started piecing things together as
I called Amazon.
I noticed the amount they tried to authorize
on my account was over $100 more than
what the order should have been.
I was like, hmm.
(19:15):
So I'm on the phone with them for,
oh gosh, over an hour and 10, over
15 minutes.
And they keep apologizing.
One person hung up on me.
I let them know what they're doing is
fraud.
And, you know, I was convinced the issue
was on their end, really convinced.
And I proved it at the end because
I said, why did you charge me $337
(19:38):
when it should have been $237?
She's like, oh, she said, there's a reason
for that.
That's fraud.
Well, no, at Amazon, we don't have the
ability, listen to this, to handle multiple types
of payment tendering.
That's just like ridiculous, right?
You can go there and apply a gift
(19:59):
card and you can do a credit card
or whatever, but you can't apply a gift
card to a bank account transaction.
That's crazy.
So after spending all this time with them,
I figured out what the problem was.
Their system was trying to charge one amount
of money, but the order amount didn't truly
(20:23):
match what was being charged.
And I think it negated, it caused it
to basically decline.
Now, when you talk to people at Amazon,
oh, it's a real project.
You call the number.
Okay.
And just to give you an example, let's
see if I can, let's see if I
can pull them up right now.
Hang on.
I'm going to pull them up right now.
(20:44):
And dial this number for Amazon.
Uh, if I have it here, I'm going
to dial it.
You guys can hear that ringing.
Hopefully.
Let me, let me, let me, let me
go back and make that a little, a
(21:05):
little bit, a little bit.
Um, so I'm gonna go back and make
that louder.
Okay.
I think you guys will find this funny.
Okay.
(21:30):
I'm muted right now, but I'm going to
say, no, stay on the line.
I don't want to do that.
(21:57):
No, no, I unmuted what I said.
No.
Verifying your account will expedite the time.
And the thing just keeps going on.
I said, no.
Right.
Can I quickly send you a text message
to verify your account?
Watch.
No.
Verifying your account will expedite the time it
takes to resolve your concern.
(22:19):
Can I quickly send you a text message
to verify your account?
No.
For customer support in Spanish, press nine.
Otherwise, please hold.
(22:40):
So now we wait.
Now, to get you to the right agent,
can you please say a few words about
what you need help with?
Regarding an order.
My past order.
Get someone to help with this.
(23:02):
Your call is in queue and will be
answered by the next available member of our
team as soon as possible.
So now you get some music, right?
And the people you get on the phone
with all due respect, they're not really dialed
into like what's going on.
So you're listening to some music.
(23:23):
They're telling you they're going to record the
call.
And this is just like insane.
Okay.
This, this is like absolutely insane.
Now I'm holding here.
They haven't picked up yet.
(23:48):
Getting through that automated system.
The key is to basically not say anything
because if you try to say something, it
just makes it worse.
Now, because it's in the evening, they're probably
not going to pick up right away.
I don't know about you, but this is
extremely frustrating and they play the same music
(24:11):
no matter.
And finally I got somebody, but my point
is, uh, what I wouldn't even to talk
to the person.
You had to go through verifying the account.
So then they had to send you an
email.
You had to click the link.
I mean, Verizon does the same thing.
So my question is why can't Amazon say,
okay, can I send you a text message?
No.
(24:32):
Okay.
Can I verify your account via your email?
I would say yes.
Like, why don't they like think in terms
of how the people want to use the
system?
I don't want to get a text message,
right?
Um, I do with Verizon, they have my
phone number anyway, but I just don't like
giving up my phone number and having them
a system.
So my point is, is that when you
(24:52):
get the personal, I like, oh, I'm so
sorry about the situation.
And then, you know, they really don't help
you.
And then if you really have a problem,
they hang up on you half the time.
So you ask for a supervisor and that's
more of a challenge.
So what I want to share with you
guys is that meaning is important, not the
effort.
So like, oh, I'm very sorry about what
happened.
(25:14):
That's the effort.
The meaning is you're trying to take accountability.
One of the things that Amazon does not
have, unfortunately, they do not have accountability.
I have several stories where, um, they've delivered
things to the wrong address that I had
to like fight with them to get either
a refund or get a replacement because it
was shipped by a third party.
(25:35):
And then I had to follow things with
like, uh, the better business bureau and all
kinds of nonsense.
So I got to tell you, I think
it's insane.
Um, how they provide this.
Not really customers.
Like a lack of customer service.
But so I think when you're designing any
kind of automated call systems or any systems
(25:56):
you're using, they've got to be designed around
the customer, right?
Or the client.
And so what I thought was very interesting
with them is that when I explained to
her what was going on, very sorry about
the situation, but I'm going to say very
sorry.
So I want to thank you guys for,
um, definitely joining me here.
(26:17):
Um, on the inspiration for your life show
tonight, I hope to hear tonight's resonated with
you and multiply meaning, not the effort reminds
you that you don't have to do more
to be more.
Let me say that again.
You don't have to do more to be
(26:39):
more purpose, presence, and consistency.
Are the real multipliers.
When you apply these seven principles, you'll find
your actions carry more weight, your relationships grow
deeper and your influence expand naturally, not forcefully.
And I think that's the whole point.
(26:59):
We've got to get things to flow, right?
We've got to get them to flow because
if we don't get them to flow and,
you know, we try to push, like, you
know, if you try to push, um, right.
A square peg to a round hole, well,
that's not going to work.
So, right.
So I think if we understand what the
meaning is, not the effect, right?
(27:22):
The effect will be better and people will
be more willing to help you.
So when you dial, they want you to
go to a chat system, right?
But all I want them to do is
take accountability.
Amazon doesn't.
And it's like, they don't even care about
you on the phone.
(27:42):
It's probably one of the worst customer service
experiences I've ever, uh, had.
So I hope tonight gave you at least
an entry point into why we're going to
be studying multiplying meaning and not trying to
just push the effort up.
I think that's a big issue for everyone.
(28:03):
When we learn that it's about the meaning
and the why everything else sort of takes
care of itself.
Ladies, gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
You check out, believe me, achieve that conf
more of my amazing, inspiring creations.
Catch you soon.
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