May 29, 2025 • 29 mins
Welcome back to another powerful episode of the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast. I’m your host, John C. Morley—a serial entrepreneur, podcast coach, and someone who believes deeply in the value of clarity, unity, and leadership rooted in authenticity. In today’s episode, we’re diving into a truth that’s often overlooked in our fast-paced, opinion-saturated world: Unity and clarity are not just nice-to-haves—they’re essentials. When we prefer unity over division and clarity over confusion, we create space for growth, collaboration, peace, and progress. If you’ve been feeling stuck, misunderstood, or overwhelmed, this episode will help you refocus, reset, and re-ignite your inner compass. Let’s unpack the 10 most transformative principles for bringing more unity and clarity into your personal and professional life.🌟 Main Content1️⃣ The power of choosing unity in personal and professional relationships 🤝Unity is a conscious choice, not a passive state. When you decide to prioritize harmony in your relationships—whether with coworkers, friends, or family—you create a fertile ground for trust and growth. Disagreements and differing perspectives are inevitable, but choosing unity means you commit to working through those moments with respect and empathy. It’s not about agreeing on everything, but about valuing connection over ego. In workplaces, unified teams outperform fragmented ones because they function as one living, breathing organism with a shared heartbeat.2️⃣ Why clarity is a leadership strength, not a luxury 🧭Clarity is the compass every team, family, or organization needs. Without it, even the most talented individuals lose direction. Leaders often underestimate how much their people crave certainty—not in outcomes, but in communication. When you clearly articulate your vision, goals, and values, people respond with trust and confidence. Vagueness leads to hesitation, but clarity creates momentum. Whether you’re leading a business, a classroom, or your own life, clarity isn’t optional—it’s the fuel for decisive action.3️⃣ How division breeds doubt and confusion stalls progress ⚠️Division doesn’t just cause discomfort—it creates chaos. It fractures relationships, clouds decision-making, and drains energy. When people don’t feel aligned or included, they disengage, and confusion starts to creep in. Progress becomes paralyzed by indecision, second-guessing, and silos. That’s why it’s so important to address division head-on. Sometimes, a simple honest conversation can rebuild bridges that seemed irreparable. Progress depends on alignment, and alignment requires intention.4️⃣ Simple practices to promote understanding over judgment 🌱Understanding starts with curiosity. Before you jump to conclusions, pause and ask questions. Try replacing “Why did they do that?” with “What might they be experiencing?” Active listening, reflective feedback, and empathy-based responses are simple daily tools that break down walls of judgment. When you listen to understand—not to respond—you invite others into a space of safety and growth. That’s the foundation of true connection in both personal and professional settings.5️⃣ The long-term value of collective thinking over isolated ego 🌐One mind can go fast, but many minds go far. When ego drives decisions, people get excluded, and ideas become narrow. But collective thinking opens doors to innovation, inclusion, and resilience. The smartest leaders know how to step back, listen, and include voices they may not always agree with. They understand that a team’s greatest strength lies in its diversity—not just of backgrounds, but of thought. Let go of the need to be the only answer, and you’ll find the best solutions.6️⃣ How unified goals drive momentum and motivation 🚀When everyone is rowing in the same direction, the boat moves faster. Unified goals create alignment, reduce friction, and build intrinsic motivation. Individuals stop working in silos and start seeing their tasks as part of a g
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Episode Transcript
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(00:08):
Hey, guys,
good evening.
It is John C.
Morley, your serial entrepreneur.
Great to be with you on Inspirations for
Your Life.
(00:28):
Of course, love to be with you guys
all the time on the show.
Our master topic, incidentally, for the week, in
case you're wondering, is building unity through clarity,
communication, and compassion.
And tonight's granular topic is unity and clarity,
where preferred over division and confusion.
And it's series four, show 22, episode number
(00:52):
six, and a big welcome, everyone.
Hey, guys, if you're new here, well, welcome.
And if you're coming back, well, welcome back.
It's always great to have old friends back
here again.
Do share it out with your friends.
That's believemeachieved.com, where you can find more
of my amazing, inspiring creations.
Definitely check that out after the show or
anytime around the day that you'd like to
(01:13):
do that.
Our podcasts are available, short-form content, long
-form content.
If you're hungry or thirsty, head on over
to the kitchen.
I don't want you to be famished.
And get something delicious, something hot, something cold,
something sweet, something tart, healthy or not, totally
up to you.
All right, guys, let's kick off this show.
All right, welcome back, like I said, to
another powerful episode of Inspirations for Your Life
(01:34):
podcast.
I'm your host, John Seymour.
A serial entrepreneur, a podcast coach and host,
engineer, video producer, and many other things, and
someone who believes deeply in the value of
clarity, unity, and leadership, rooted in true integrity
with authenticity.
In today's episode, I'm going to dive into
a truth that's often overlooked in our fast
(01:57):
-paced world, opinion-saturated world, I should really
say.
Unity and clarity are not just nice to
have, they're essential.
When we prefer unity over division and clarity
over confusion, we create space for growth, collaboration,
peace, and progress.
If you've been feeling stuck, misunderstood, or overwhelmed,
(02:18):
this episode will help you refocus, reset, and
reignite your inner compass.
Let's unpack the 10 most transformative principles for
bringing more unity and clarity into your personal
and professional life.
So, let's just dive right in.
The first one is the power of choosing
unity in personal and professional relationships.
And I know this might sound like something
(02:40):
that, like, doesn't make sense, but it absolutely
does make sense, guys.
I want to share that with you.
It absolutely does make sense, and that's why
it's important to heed this advice and then
choose to apply it in your life.
Unity is a conscious choice, it's not a
passive state.
When you decide to prioritize harmony in your
relationships, whether with co-workers, friends, or even
(03:03):
family members, you create a fertile ground for
trust and for growth.
Disagreements and differing perspectives are inevitable, but choosing
unity means you commit to working through those
moments with respect and empathy.
It's not about agreeing on everything, but about
valuing connection over ego.
(03:24):
In workplaces, unified teams outperform the fragmented ones
because they function as one living, breathing organism
with a shared heartbeat.
I think that's important to realize because some
people don't understand that we're in a world
where many people don't understand that we are
interconnected.
We're not in this world alone, guys.
(03:47):
We're not in this world alone.
So, why clarity is a leadership strength and
not a luxury?
So, clarity is the compass every team, family,
or organization needs.
Without it, even the most talented individuals lose
their direction at one point.
Leaders often underestimate how much their people crave
certainty, not in outcomes, but in communication.
(04:08):
When you clearly articulate your vision, your goals,
and your values, people respond with trust and,
of course, confidence.
Vagueness leads to hesitation, but clarity creates momentum,
whether you're leading a business, a classroom, or
your own life.
Clarity isn't optional.
It's the fuel for decisive action, and I
(04:30):
think if more people understood that, I think
our world would be a better place, but
sometimes people get stuck in these egos.
I mean, it just sort of happens.
There's not too much I can tell you
about it, but it sort of happens, and
they get stuck, like I like to say,
in all this red tape, which is obviously,
(04:51):
you know, no fun, right?
No fun there.
All right.
So, now that you understand a little bit
about, you know, why we're talking about this
topic, I think another thing important is division
because, see, division breeds doubt, and confusion stalls
progress, and then we just don't know where
(05:13):
the heck to go or what to do
anymore, and we're like, I don't know what
we're supposed to do.
Like, I'm just so confused.
Division doesn't just cause discomfort.
It creates chaos.
It fractures relationships, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, clouds
decision making, and drains the energy that we
have left in us.
When people don't feel aligned or included, they
(05:36):
disengage, and confusion starts to creep in.
Progress becomes paralyzed by indecision, second-guessing, and
silos.
That's why it's so important to address division
head-on.
Sometimes a simple, honest conversation can rebuild bridges
that seemed irreparable, bridges that seemed like there
was no way they could ever be fixed.
(05:59):
Progress depends on the alignment, and the alignment
requires intention, but you can't just get intention
by snapping your fingers.
I think that's important to understand.
Number four, guys, simple practices to promote understanding
over judgment.
Many people elicit judgment because of why?
Because of the fact that, you know, they
(06:20):
have an ego, and they've got to let
that ego show.
Understanding starts with curiosity.
Before you jump to conclusions, pick and ask
some questions.
Try replacing why did they do that with
what might they be experiencing now.
Active listening, reflective feedback, and empathy based on
responses are simple daily tools that break down
(06:44):
walls of judgment.
When you listen to understand not to respond,
you invite others in a space of safety
and of growth.
That's the foundation of true connection in both
personal and professional settings.
The long-term value of collective thinking over
isolated egos.
One mind can go fast, but many minds
go far.
(07:05):
When ego drives decisions, people get excluded, and
ideas become narrow, but collective thinking opens doors
to innovation, inclusion, and resilience.
The smartest leaders know how to step back,
listen, and include voices.
They may not always agree with, and that's
important.
They understand that a team's greatest strength lies
in its real diversity, not just of backgrounds,
(07:28):
but of the thought.
Let go of the need to be the
only answer, and you'll find the best solutions.
Number six, how unified goals drive momentum and
motivation.
When everyone is rowing in the same direction,
in a boat, that boat moves faster.
Unified goals create alignment.
If somebody was rowing in the opposite direction,
(07:49):
well, that would cause friction, and it might
actually prevent you from getting where you want
to if the friction was strong enough.
Unified goals create alignment.
They reduce friction, and they build intrinsic motivation.
Individuals stop working in silos and start seeing
their task as part of a greater purpose,
the whole.
Whether in business or life, take time to
(08:10):
define shared outcomes.
When people see how the efforts contribute to
something meaningful, they become more driven, committed, and
engaged.
Number seven, clarity is a tool for reducing
anxiety and overwhelmness.
Uncertainty breeds anxiety.
When people don't know what's expected of them
or where things are headed, they fill in
the blanks with worst case scenarios.
(08:31):
Clarity, even when it's not all good news,
provides a sense of security.
It allows people to plan, act, and respond
appropriately.
If you're including a team, raising a family,
or just navigating life, communicating clearly establishes that
during uncertain times, it could be one of
(08:52):
the greatest gifts you'll ever uncover.
You can offer these things to others, and,
of course, yourself.
Number eight, division often comes from fear.
Unity requires courage.
Maybe that's why some people choose not to
unify, because they need courage to unify, and
that's a commitment for some people, right?
(09:15):
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
Let me say that again.
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
Division is often rooted in fear, fear of
change, fear of loss, fear of being wrong,
but unity calls for courage, the bravery to
face discomfort, ask hard questions, and meet others
(09:36):
halfway.
True unity isn't pretending everything is fine.
It's acknowledging differences and still choosing connection.
Leaders who model courage inspire unity, and people
who embrace vulnerability build bridges where walls once
stood.
Number nine, guys, the role of active listening
in building unity.
(09:57):
We've talked about the importance of listening well
in the past, but the thing is, do
you really understand what that means?
Active listening is a superpower in the world,
and it loves to talk.
When you genuinely hear someone, not just their
(10:18):
words, but their emotions, you validate their humanity
for their core and their purpose, what they
stand for.
That validation builds trust and makes unity possible.
Active listening requires patience, presence, and humility.
(10:38):
It's not about crafting a clever reply.
It's about holding space for the other person's
truth.
Whether you're a manager or a friend, when
people feel heard, they lean in, and that's
where unity begins.
I think if we can understand that, and
I want to go over to Merriam-Webster
(10:59):
for a moment here, if I may.
Merriam-Webster, and I want to look at
the definition of unity.
According to Merriam-Webster, unity is a noun,
and I quote, it's the quality or state
of not being multiple.
It's oneness, a definite amount taken as one
or for which one is made to stand
in calculation.
A condition of harmony, continuity without deviation or
(11:23):
change, as in purpose or action.
The quality or state of being made one,
a combination or ordering of parts in a
literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole
or promotes an undivided total effect.
The resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and
consistency of style and character.
(11:43):
A totality of related parts, entity that is
complex or systematic as a whole.
If we think of like maybe a washing
machine, the totality of all the parts together
as a whole is a unit.
It's unified, right?
Any of the three principles of dramatic structure.
This comes from the French classics, from Aristotle's
(12:05):
poetic assemblance, in requiring a play to have
a single action represented as an occurrence in
one place and within one day.
So when we think about unity in our
lives, I think it scares people because unity
means that you've got to be committed, all
right?
You've got to be committed, and if you're
(12:25):
not, then I feel it could be a
problem, all right?
I think sometimes we get stuck, right?
And the reason we get stuck is because
of a perception that we put into our
(12:48):
mind, a perception we put into our mind.
And I think that's a hard thing for
a lot of people to understand, is that
they don't quite understand like what it is
or what it should be.
But it's the truth, guys.
(13:10):
It absolutely is the truth.
And if we just embrace like where we
are, where we're going, I think that can
make the journey a lot easier for us,
right?
But in the beginning, it's going to be
a little bit uncomfortable, right?
And I've said you got to practice getting
comfortable, right?
(13:30):
Being uncomfortable.
That was something I said from the get
-go, and I'll say it over and over
again.
We have to practice getting comfortable, being uncomfortable.
And our last point for this evening is
replacing reactive responses with intentional communication.
Oh, wow, Jon.
That's a real mouthful.
I know.
But it's priceless.
(13:53):
So we live in a culture of this
knee-jerk reaction.
You did this, I'll do this, right?
But growth lives in truth, integrity, intentionality.
When you replace these quick retorts with thoughtful
dialogue, you elevate every conversation.
You build intentional communication, meaning choosing your words
(14:16):
based on values in the core, not emotions.
It requires you being present, being mindful, having
a certain level of maturity, and of course,
self-awareness, whether in a heated argument or
perhaps a crucial, I'm going to say, meeting.
Taking a breath before you speak can be
(14:38):
the difference between damage and breakthrough.
Speak to connect, not to control, and you'll
create a space for unity.
And I think maybe when you start to
know that this is the way it works
and that you've gotten some results from it,
well, then it's like you've learned something.
(14:58):
And I think that's something that's really, really
powerful.
All right.
Now is the time, guys, you know what
I like to do.
I want to give you some personal stories
from my life.
So I'm going to give you basically a
personal story for basically each point today.
(15:20):
And it's my hope that it will solidify
and it will also move you to start
changing the way you do things.
We've said before that if you do the
same thing over and over again and you
expect different results, well, that's insanity.
(15:41):
Einstein said that, right?
So if we realize that we're not going
to get a difference by doing the same
thing over and over again, right, then we
need to change.
But sometimes we need a mentor to say,
hey, wait a minute.
You're trying to go somewhere in an empty
tank of gas.
(16:01):
You can't do that.
They're not going to call you insane.
But I'm being really blunt and to the
point and saying, you got to wake up,
guys.
You got to realize that you're the captain
of your ship.
And if you don't like where it's going,
well, then you better get behind the helm
(16:23):
and change the direction of the wheel.
The power of choosing unity in personal, professional
relationships.
A few years ago, I was leading a
collaborative tech project involving multiple departments and each
with very strong opinions with this client.
Tensions definitely flared up on their sides and
(16:43):
meetings started to feel more like battlegrounds than
brainstorming sessions.
One day, instead of pushing my agenda, I
asked each team to share their concerns openly.
It changed everything.
That shift from I'm right to let's get
it right together allowed us to see the
value in each other's contributions.
(17:06):
Unity wasn't immediate, but choosing it daily created
a and actually built a new culture of
mutual respect.
That project, one of the most successful fulfilling
of my career, has taught me that when
we manage a project, we have to work
on building rapport with everyone first before we
(17:28):
try to even get an agenda going.
Why clarity is a leadership strength and it's
not a luxury anymore.
I remember mentoring a young entrepreneur who kept
switching directions in a startup every week, a
new vision.
Each team was confused.
One day, he was making chocolate chip cookies.
The next day, he was deciding to be
(17:50):
a delivery service.
Another time, he wanted to take care of
the sick.
Another time, he decided he wanted to go
into carpentry.
His team was so confused.
The morale, as I said, dropped and investors
began pulling back.
During a coaching session I had with him,
I asked him, what's the one message you
(18:12):
want your team to wake up thinking about?
That question led him to rework his mission
and communication.
Within a month, clarity thankfully returned.
And with it, so did momentum.
See, that taught me that leadership isn't just
about having a vision.
It's about making sure everyone else sees it,
too.
So, you might say, gee, John, why do
(18:33):
I have to do that?
Because when you do that, people get charged
about your vision.
How division breeds doubt and confusion stalls progress.
At one point, I was helping a nonprofit
board where members were silently divided about a
major initiative.
The lack of open dialogue led to whispers,
resentment, and delays.
(18:54):
I called a special meeting, not to resolve
the issue, but just to talk out what
was happening, see what's on people's minds.
What followed was, well, a little uncomfortable, but
it was necessary.
Once we acknowledged the division, clarity returned.
That experience reminded me silence is not always
golden.
Sometimes it's toxic.
Division thrives in the shadows.
(19:15):
Progress thrives in the light.
Let me say that again.
Division thrives in the shadows and progress thrives
in the light.
And that's important.
Number four, simple practices to promote understanding over
judgment.
I once judged a business partner from another
company, being difficult only to later learn he
was going through a divorce and caring for
(19:36):
a sick parent.
That changed everything.
I started every conversation after that by asking,
how are you, really?
It shifted our entire dynamic.
That small shift, choosing to understand before I
even, I shouldn't judge, but before I even
thought of judging, turned conflict into, well, pure
collaboration.
(19:56):
People don't always wear their struggles on their
sleeves.
Curiosity and compassion create bridges where assumptions build
walls.
Number five, the long-term value of collective
thinking over isolated egos.
When I launched one of my earlier companies,
I thought I had to be the smartest
voice in every room, but I learned the
hard way that one mind can't do it
(20:19):
all.
After a failed project launch, I invited my
entire team from marketing to interns to weigh
in on the next version.
The insights from those I'd overlooked.
Game-changing.
It wasn't my vision alone that succeeded.
It was our collective intelligence put together.
Ego-isolated inclusion innovating.
Number six, how unified goals drive momentum and
(20:42):
motivation.
And me telling you this probably doesn't mean
anything, but when this takes place in your
life, it's like, oh my gosh, like, how
did that ever happen?
So, in one of my mastermind groups, we
were all chasing different outcomes.
Our calls felt scattered and aimless, so we
(21:04):
paused and spent one session creating a shared
goal to help each other triple our impact
by the end of the quarter.
Everything changed.
Accountability skyrocketed, and so did results.
Unified goals turned isolated efforts into synchronized power.
It's like a rowing in a boat.
When everyone's in sync, as I said before,
you glide.
When one person's rowing the other direction, well,
(21:27):
it's harder for you to get the boat
to go the opposite direction, but then if
there are too many people that are rowing
in the wrong direction, it can nearly be
impossible to overcome that force.
So, it's important to have communication and make
sure everyone is pulling the same way.
Same thing would happen in a tug-of
-war, right?
If I suddenly was going this way and
(21:48):
you're supposed to pull this way, well, that
could be a big problem, right?
Really big problem for the team that wants
to win, that is.
Number seven, clarity as a tool for reducing
anxiety and overwhelmingness.
And this is something, again, you just can't
make up, guys.
This is something that you've really got to
live in that moment to believe what I'm
(22:08):
saying because all this stuff is great, but
until you've had a chance to live it
out, that's when life actually changes.
That's when it changes.
Clarity as a tool for reducing anxiety and
being overwhelmed.
I once worked with a high-performing assistant
who suddenly started missing deadlines.
(22:29):
Instead of reacting negatively, I asked her what
was going on.
She admitted she was unclear on priorities and
felt overwhelmed.
We sat down, clarified expectations, and created a
simple roadmap.
Her stress dropped and her performance soared.
Clarity isn't about micromanaging people, it's about offering
structure in the chaos.
People can do amazing things when they know
(22:51):
what's expected of them, whether this is a
class, whether this is a volunteer program, whether
this is a relationship.
I think it's important to know what the
non-negotiables are, what the expectations are.
Number eight, division often comes from fear and
unity requires courage.
I said that before, right?
(23:11):
I once had, let's say, a little falling
out with a close friend over a misunderstanding.
It would have been easier to just let
the relationship fade, but something inside me said,
be brave, reach out.
I did.
We met for coffee and within minutes, the
wall started to fall.
What I feared would be confrontation turned into
a reconnection.
(23:32):
Division whispered, protect yourself.
Courage says, take a step forward.
That coffee, one of the most healing cups
I've ever had, changed my life.
I think you can understand that too.
Most people want to figure things out.
They want to be able to enjoy life.
They want to know what's going on.
(23:55):
The role of active listening and building unity.
During a leadership retreat that I was running,
we did an exercise where one person spoke
for three minutes while the other just listened.
No interruptions were allowed.
When it was my turn to listen, as
I was also someone helping in the facilitation,
I heard a colleague share how undervalued he
(24:15):
felt.
I had no idea just listening truly helped
me and transformed a relationship that I didn't
even expect to.
I was the one facilitating the retreat and
I even got benefit out of it.
After that, I practiced being more present with
everyone.
It's amazing what people reveal when they truly
are heard.
Listening isn't just a skill, guys.
(24:37):
It's a power.
It's a superpower.
It's a gift.
I think the reason why a lot of
people don't listen is because they're afraid.
What you should be afraid of is not
listening.
When somebody doesn't communicate, it's like, oh my
gosh, what do I do now?
If you just communicate, you can figure out
what's going on in your life and other
(24:58):
people's lives.
Number 10, our last point for this evening.
Replacing reactive responses with intentional communication.
Wow, as I said, this is a jawbreaker.
I think because it's so emotional.
Years ago, a team member sent a critical
email that made, let's say, my blood start
(25:20):
to boil, which never happens, by the way.
I almost replied immediately, but I stopped myself.
I waited until the next day.
I reread it and I realized the person
had a valid point.
I just didn't like the tone or the
delivery.
We met, had an honest and calm conversation,
and ended up improving our workflow.
(25:42):
That pause saved the relationship and boosted productivity.
Intentional communication isn't about avoiding hard truths.
It's about honoring how we deliver them.
I think sometimes people get so zealous in
the way they want to give feedback, they
don't know how to soften the feedback.
As a leader and as a coach to
you, I want to tell you that you
(26:05):
should soften when you have constructive feedback.
It shouldn't feel like, oh my gosh, you're
in this hot chair.
Think about it if the cards or the
tables were reversed.
How would you want somebody to approach you?
Incorporating these practices, I hope, consistently, will create
(26:29):
an amazing culture where clarity for you will
lead to confidence and unity will become the
foundation of your interaction.
It has for me and it has for
many other people I've worked with.
Whether you are leading a team, you're a
household member, or your own life, remember choosing
unity and clarity is the first step toward
(26:51):
life of purpose, peace, and productivity.
As we think about all this, we can
get stuck in the weeds because maybe we're
focused on something else.
That something else, you know what it does?
It confuses us.
The reason it confuses us is because we
suddenly don't know where we stand.
(27:18):
Does that make sense?
I think when we can do these kinds
of things, there's a lot that happens.
I know that a lot of you are
(27:40):
saying to me, hey, John, this is interesting,
but it's not exactly what I wanted.
Okay, I'm all right with that.
But I think it's the fact that we
(28:00):
need to listen to what's going on in
the world.
I know that can be a very hard
thing for some people, but let's make it
our practice to actively listening to everything that
goes on and not judge.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, a serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you real soon, everyone.
Take care and have a wonderful rest of
(28:22):
your day.
Hey, guys,
good evening.
It is John C.
Morley, your serial entrepreneur.
Great to be with you on Inspirations for
Your Life.
(00:28):
Of course, love to be with you guys
all the time on the show.
Our master topic, incidentally, for the week, in
case you're wondering, is building unity through clarity,
communication, and compassion.
And tonight's granular topic is unity and clarity,
where preferred over division and confusion.
And it's series four, show 22, episode number
(00:52):
six, and a big welcome, everyone.
Hey, guys, if you're new here, well, welcome.
And if you're coming back, well, welcome back.
It's always great to have old friends back
here again.
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That's believemeachieved.com, where you can find more
of my amazing, inspiring creations.
Definitely check that out after the show or
anytime around the day that you'd like to
(01:13):
do that.
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-form content.
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All right, guys, let's kick off this show.
All right, welcome back, like I said, to
another powerful episode of Inspirations for Your Life
(01:34):
podcast.
I'm your host, John Seymour.
A serial entrepreneur, a podcast coach and host,
engineer, video producer, and many other things, and
someone who believes deeply in the value of
clarity, unity, and leadership, rooted in true integrity
with authenticity.
In today's episode, I'm going to dive into
a truth that's often overlooked in our fast
(01:57):
-paced world, opinion-saturated world, I should really
say.
Unity and clarity are not just nice to
have, they're essential.
When we prefer unity over division and clarity
over confusion, we create space for growth, collaboration,
peace, and progress.
If you've been feeling stuck, misunderstood, or overwhelmed,
(02:18):
this episode will help you refocus, reset, and
reignite your inner compass.
Let's unpack the 10 most transformative principles for
bringing more unity and clarity into your personal
and professional life.
So, let's just dive right in.
The first one is the power of choosing
unity in personal and professional relationships.
And I know this might sound like something
(02:40):
that, like, doesn't make sense, but it absolutely
does make sense, guys.
I want to share that with you.
It absolutely does make sense, and that's why
it's important to heed this advice and then
choose to apply it in your life.
Unity is a conscious choice, it's not a
passive state.
When you decide to prioritize harmony in your
relationships, whether with co-workers, friends, or even
(03:03):
family members, you create a fertile ground for
trust and for growth.
Disagreements and differing perspectives are inevitable, but choosing
unity means you commit to working through those
moments with respect and empathy.
It's not about agreeing on everything, but about
valuing connection over ego.
(03:24):
In workplaces, unified teams outperform the fragmented ones
because they function as one living, breathing organism
with a shared heartbeat.
I think that's important to realize because some
people don't understand that we're in a world
where many people don't understand that we are
interconnected.
We're not in this world alone, guys.
(03:47):
We're not in this world alone.
So, why clarity is a leadership strength and
not a luxury?
So, clarity is the compass every team, family,
or organization needs.
Without it, even the most talented individuals lose
their direction at one point.
Leaders often underestimate how much their people crave
certainty, not in outcomes, but in communication.
(04:08):
When you clearly articulate your vision, your goals,
and your values, people respond with trust and,
of course, confidence.
Vagueness leads to hesitation, but clarity creates momentum,
whether you're leading a business, a classroom, or
your own life.
Clarity isn't optional.
It's the fuel for decisive action, and I
(04:30):
think if more people understood that, I think
our world would be a better place, but
sometimes people get stuck in these egos.
I mean, it just sort of happens.
There's not too much I can tell you
about it, but it sort of happens, and
they get stuck, like I like to say,
in all this red tape, which is obviously,
(04:51):
you know, no fun, right?
No fun there.
All right.
So, now that you understand a little bit
about, you know, why we're talking about this
topic, I think another thing important is division
because, see, division breeds doubt, and confusion stalls
progress, and then we just don't know where
(05:13):
the heck to go or what to do
anymore, and we're like, I don't know what
we're supposed to do.
Like, I'm just so confused.
Division doesn't just cause discomfort.
It creates chaos.
It fractures relationships, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, clouds
decision making, and drains the energy that we
have left in us.
When people don't feel aligned or included, they
(05:36):
disengage, and confusion starts to creep in.
Progress becomes paralyzed by indecision, second-guessing, and
silos.
That's why it's so important to address division
head-on.
Sometimes a simple, honest conversation can rebuild bridges
that seemed irreparable, bridges that seemed like there
was no way they could ever be fixed.
(05:59):
Progress depends on the alignment, and the alignment
requires intention, but you can't just get intention
by snapping your fingers.
I think that's important to understand.
Number four, guys, simple practices to promote understanding
over judgment.
Many people elicit judgment because of why?
Because of the fact that, you know, they
(06:20):
have an ego, and they've got to let
that ego show.
Understanding starts with curiosity.
Before you jump to conclusions, pick and ask
some questions.
Try replacing why did they do that with
what might they be experiencing now.
Active listening, reflective feedback, and empathy based on
responses are simple daily tools that break down
(06:44):
walls of judgment.
When you listen to understand not to respond,
you invite others in a space of safety
and of growth.
That's the foundation of true connection in both
personal and professional settings.
The long-term value of collective thinking over
isolated egos.
One mind can go fast, but many minds
go far.
(07:05):
When ego drives decisions, people get excluded, and
ideas become narrow, but collective thinking opens doors
to innovation, inclusion, and resilience.
The smartest leaders know how to step back,
listen, and include voices.
They may not always agree with, and that's
important.
They understand that a team's greatest strength lies
in its real diversity, not just of backgrounds,
(07:28):
but of the thought.
Let go of the need to be the
only answer, and you'll find the best solutions.
Number six, how unified goals drive momentum and
motivation.
When everyone is rowing in the same direction,
in a boat, that boat moves faster.
Unified goals create alignment.
If somebody was rowing in the opposite direction,
(07:49):
well, that would cause friction, and it might
actually prevent you from getting where you want
to if the friction was strong enough.
Unified goals create alignment.
They reduce friction, and they build intrinsic motivation.
Individuals stop working in silos and start seeing
their task as part of a greater purpose,
the whole.
Whether in business or life, take time to
(08:10):
define shared outcomes.
When people see how the efforts contribute to
something meaningful, they become more driven, committed, and
engaged.
Number seven, clarity is a tool for reducing
anxiety and overwhelmness.
Uncertainty breeds anxiety.
When people don't know what's expected of them
or where things are headed, they fill in
the blanks with worst case scenarios.
(08:31):
Clarity, even when it's not all good news,
provides a sense of security.
It allows people to plan, act, and respond
appropriately.
If you're including a team, raising a family,
or just navigating life, communicating clearly establishes that
during uncertain times, it could be one of
(08:52):
the greatest gifts you'll ever uncover.
You can offer these things to others, and,
of course, yourself.
Number eight, division often comes from fear.
Unity requires courage.
Maybe that's why some people choose not to
unify, because they need courage to unify, and
that's a commitment for some people, right?
(09:15):
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
Let me say that again.
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
It takes a little effort to divide.
It takes strength to unite.
Division is often rooted in fear, fear of
change, fear of loss, fear of being wrong,
but unity calls for courage, the bravery to
face discomfort, ask hard questions, and meet others
(09:36):
halfway.
True unity isn't pretending everything is fine.
It's acknowledging differences and still choosing connection.
Leaders who model courage inspire unity, and people
who embrace vulnerability build bridges where walls once
stood.
Number nine, guys, the role of active listening
in building unity.
(09:57):
We've talked about the importance of listening well
in the past, but the thing is, do
you really understand what that means?
Active listening is a superpower in the world,
and it loves to talk.
When you genuinely hear someone, not just their
(10:18):
words, but their emotions, you validate their humanity
for their core and their purpose, what they
stand for.
That validation builds trust and makes unity possible.
Active listening requires patience, presence, and humility.
(10:38):
It's not about crafting a clever reply.
It's about holding space for the other person's
truth.
Whether you're a manager or a friend, when
people feel heard, they lean in, and that's
where unity begins.
I think if we can understand that, and
I want to go over to Merriam-Webster
(10:59):
for a moment here, if I may.
Merriam-Webster, and I want to look at
the definition of unity.
According to Merriam-Webster, unity is a noun,
and I quote, it's the quality or state
of not being multiple.
It's oneness, a definite amount taken as one
or for which one is made to stand
in calculation.
A condition of harmony, continuity without deviation or
(11:23):
change, as in purpose or action.
The quality or state of being made one,
a combination or ordering of parts in a
literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole
or promotes an undivided total effect.
The resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and
consistency of style and character.
(11:43):
A totality of related parts, entity that is
complex or systematic as a whole.
If we think of like maybe a washing
machine, the totality of all the parts together
as a whole is a unit.
It's unified, right?
Any of the three principles of dramatic structure.
This comes from the French classics, from Aristotle's
(12:05):
poetic assemblance, in requiring a play to have
a single action represented as an occurrence in
one place and within one day.
So when we think about unity in our
lives, I think it scares people because unity
means that you've got to be committed, all
right?
You've got to be committed, and if you're
(12:25):
not, then I feel it could be a
problem, all right?
I think sometimes we get stuck, right?
And the reason we get stuck is because
of a perception that we put into our
(12:48):
mind, a perception we put into our mind.
And I think that's a hard thing for
a lot of people to understand, is that
they don't quite understand like what it is
or what it should be.
But it's the truth, guys.
(13:10):
It absolutely is the truth.
And if we just embrace like where we
are, where we're going, I think that can
make the journey a lot easier for us,
right?
But in the beginning, it's going to be
a little bit uncomfortable, right?
And I've said you got to practice getting
comfortable, right?
(13:30):
Being uncomfortable.
That was something I said from the get
-go, and I'll say it over and over
again.
We have to practice getting comfortable, being uncomfortable.
And our last point for this evening is
replacing reactive responses with intentional communication.
Oh, wow, Jon.
That's a real mouthful.
I know.
But it's priceless.
(13:53):
So we live in a culture of this
knee-jerk reaction.
You did this, I'll do this, right?
But growth lives in truth, integrity, intentionality.
When you replace these quick retorts with thoughtful
dialogue, you elevate every conversation.
You build intentional communication, meaning choosing your words
(14:16):
based on values in the core, not emotions.
It requires you being present, being mindful, having
a certain level of maturity, and of course,
self-awareness, whether in a heated argument or
perhaps a crucial, I'm going to say, meeting.
Taking a breath before you speak can be
(14:38):
the difference between damage and breakthrough.
Speak to connect, not to control, and you'll
create a space for unity.
And I think maybe when you start to
know that this is the way it works
and that you've gotten some results from it,
well, then it's like you've learned something.
(14:58):
And I think that's something that's really, really
powerful.
All right.
Now is the time, guys, you know what
I like to do.
I want to give you some personal stories
from my life.
So I'm going to give you basically a
personal story for basically each point today.
(15:20):
And it's my hope that it will solidify
and it will also move you to start
changing the way you do things.
We've said before that if you do the
same thing over and over again and you
expect different results, well, that's insanity.
(15:41):
Einstein said that, right?
So if we realize that we're not going
to get a difference by doing the same
thing over and over again, right, then we
need to change.
But sometimes we need a mentor to say,
hey, wait a minute.
You're trying to go somewhere in an empty
tank of gas.
(16:01):
You can't do that.
They're not going to call you insane.
But I'm being really blunt and to the
point and saying, you got to wake up,
guys.
You got to realize that you're the captain
of your ship.
And if you don't like where it's going,
well, then you better get behind the helm
(16:23):
and change the direction of the wheel.
The power of choosing unity in personal, professional
relationships.
A few years ago, I was leading a
collaborative tech project involving multiple departments and each
with very strong opinions with this client.
Tensions definitely flared up on their sides and
(16:43):
meetings started to feel more like battlegrounds than
brainstorming sessions.
One day, instead of pushing my agenda, I
asked each team to share their concerns openly.
It changed everything.
That shift from I'm right to let's get
it right together allowed us to see the
value in each other's contributions.
(17:06):
Unity wasn't immediate, but choosing it daily created
a and actually built a new culture of
mutual respect.
That project, one of the most successful fulfilling
of my career, has taught me that when
we manage a project, we have to work
on building rapport with everyone first before we
(17:28):
try to even get an agenda going.
Why clarity is a leadership strength and it's
not a luxury anymore.
I remember mentoring a young entrepreneur who kept
switching directions in a startup every week, a
new vision.
Each team was confused.
One day, he was making chocolate chip cookies.
The next day, he was deciding to be
(17:50):
a delivery service.
Another time, he wanted to take care of
the sick.
Another time, he decided he wanted to go
into carpentry.
His team was so confused.
The morale, as I said, dropped and investors
began pulling back.
During a coaching session I had with him,
I asked him, what's the one message you
(18:12):
want your team to wake up thinking about?
That question led him to rework his mission
and communication.
Within a month, clarity thankfully returned.
And with it, so did momentum.
See, that taught me that leadership isn't just
about having a vision.
It's about making sure everyone else sees it,
too.
So, you might say, gee, John, why do
(18:33):
I have to do that?
Because when you do that, people get charged
about your vision.
How division breeds doubt and confusion stalls progress.
At one point, I was helping a nonprofit
board where members were silently divided about a
major initiative.
The lack of open dialogue led to whispers,
resentment, and delays.
(18:54):
I called a special meeting, not to resolve
the issue, but just to talk out what
was happening, see what's on people's minds.
What followed was, well, a little uncomfortable, but
it was necessary.
Once we acknowledged the division, clarity returned.
That experience reminded me silence is not always
golden.
Sometimes it's toxic.
Division thrives in the shadows.
(19:15):
Progress thrives in the light.
Let me say that again.
Division thrives in the shadows and progress thrives
in the light.
And that's important.
Number four, simple practices to promote understanding over
judgment.
I once judged a business partner from another
company, being difficult only to later learn he
was going through a divorce and caring for
(19:36):
a sick parent.
That changed everything.
I started every conversation after that by asking,
how are you, really?
It shifted our entire dynamic.
That small shift, choosing to understand before I
even, I shouldn't judge, but before I even
thought of judging, turned conflict into, well, pure
collaboration.
(19:56):
People don't always wear their struggles on their
sleeves.
Curiosity and compassion create bridges where assumptions build
walls.
Number five, the long-term value of collective
thinking over isolated egos.
When I launched one of my earlier companies,
I thought I had to be the smartest
voice in every room, but I learned the
hard way that one mind can't do it
(20:19):
all.
After a failed project launch, I invited my
entire team from marketing to interns to weigh
in on the next version.
The insights from those I'd overlooked.
Game-changing.
It wasn't my vision alone that succeeded.
It was our collective intelligence put together.
Ego-isolated inclusion innovating.
Number six, how unified goals drive momentum and
(20:42):
motivation.
And me telling you this probably doesn't mean
anything, but when this takes place in your
life, it's like, oh my gosh, like, how
did that ever happen?
So, in one of my mastermind groups, we
were all chasing different outcomes.
Our calls felt scattered and aimless, so we
(21:04):
paused and spent one session creating a shared
goal to help each other triple our impact
by the end of the quarter.
Everything changed.
Accountability skyrocketed, and so did results.
Unified goals turned isolated efforts into synchronized power.
It's like a rowing in a boat.
When everyone's in sync, as I said before,
you glide.
When one person's rowing the other direction, well,
(21:27):
it's harder for you to get the boat
to go the opposite direction, but then if
there are too many people that are rowing
in the wrong direction, it can nearly be
impossible to overcome that force.
So, it's important to have communication and make
sure everyone is pulling the same way.
Same thing would happen in a tug-of
-war, right?
If I suddenly was going this way and
(21:48):
you're supposed to pull this way, well, that
could be a big problem, right?
Really big problem for the team that wants
to win, that is.
Number seven, clarity as a tool for reducing
anxiety and overwhelmingness.
And this is something, again, you just can't
make up, guys.
This is something that you've really got to
live in that moment to believe what I'm
(22:08):
saying because all this stuff is great, but
until you've had a chance to live it
out, that's when life actually changes.
That's when it changes.
Clarity as a tool for reducing anxiety and
being overwhelmed.
I once worked with a high-performing assistant
who suddenly started missing deadlines.
(22:29):
Instead of reacting negatively, I asked her what
was going on.
She admitted she was unclear on priorities and
felt overwhelmed.
We sat down, clarified expectations, and created a
simple roadmap.
Her stress dropped and her performance soared.
Clarity isn't about micromanaging people, it's about offering
structure in the chaos.
People can do amazing things when they know
(22:51):
what's expected of them, whether this is a
class, whether this is a volunteer program, whether
this is a relationship.
I think it's important to know what the
non-negotiables are, what the expectations are.
Number eight, division often comes from fear and
unity requires courage.
I said that before, right?
(23:11):
I once had, let's say, a little falling
out with a close friend over a misunderstanding.
It would have been easier to just let
the relationship fade, but something inside me said,
be brave, reach out.
I did.
We met for coffee and within minutes, the
wall started to fall.
What I feared would be confrontation turned into
a reconnection.
(23:32):
Division whispered, protect yourself.
Courage says, take a step forward.
That coffee, one of the most healing cups
I've ever had, changed my life.
I think you can understand that too.
Most people want to figure things out.
They want to be able to enjoy life.
They want to know what's going on.
(23:55):
The role of active listening and building unity.
During a leadership retreat that I was running,
we did an exercise where one person spoke
for three minutes while the other just listened.
No interruptions were allowed.
When it was my turn to listen, as
I was also someone helping in the facilitation,
I heard a colleague share how undervalued he
(24:15):
felt.
I had no idea just listening truly helped
me and transformed a relationship that I didn't
even expect to.
I was the one facilitating the retreat and
I even got benefit out of it.
After that, I practiced being more present with
everyone.
It's amazing what people reveal when they truly
are heard.
Listening isn't just a skill, guys.
(24:37):
It's a power.
It's a superpower.
It's a gift.
I think the reason why a lot of
people don't listen is because they're afraid.
What you should be afraid of is not
listening.
When somebody doesn't communicate, it's like, oh my
gosh, what do I do now?
If you just communicate, you can figure out
what's going on in your life and other
(24:58):
people's lives.
Number 10, our last point for this evening.
Replacing reactive responses with intentional communication.
Wow, as I said, this is a jawbreaker.
I think because it's so emotional.
Years ago, a team member sent a critical
email that made, let's say, my blood start
(25:20):
to boil, which never happens, by the way.
I almost replied immediately, but I stopped myself.
I waited until the next day.
I reread it and I realized the person
had a valid point.
I just didn't like the tone or the
delivery.
We met, had an honest and calm conversation,
and ended up improving our workflow.
(25:42):
That pause saved the relationship and boosted productivity.
Intentional communication isn't about avoiding hard truths.
It's about honoring how we deliver them.
I think sometimes people get so zealous in
the way they want to give feedback, they
don't know how to soften the feedback.
As a leader and as a coach to
you, I want to tell you that you
(26:05):
should soften when you have constructive feedback.
It shouldn't feel like, oh my gosh, you're
in this hot chair.
Think about it if the cards or the
tables were reversed.
How would you want somebody to approach you?
Incorporating these practices, I hope, consistently, will create
(26:29):
an amazing culture where clarity for you will
lead to confidence and unity will become the
foundation of your interaction.
It has for me and it has for
many other people I've worked with.
Whether you are leading a team, you're a
household member, or your own life, remember choosing
unity and clarity is the first step toward
(26:51):
life of purpose, peace, and productivity.
As we think about all this, we can
get stuck in the weeds because maybe we're
focused on something else.
That something else, you know what it does?
It confuses us.
The reason it confuses us is because we
suddenly don't know where we stand.
(27:18):
Does that make sense?
I think when we can do these kinds
of things, there's a lot that happens.
I know that a lot of you are
(27:40):
saying to me, hey, John, this is interesting,
but it's not exactly what I wanted.
Okay, I'm all right with that.
But I think it's the fact that we
(28:00):
need to listen to what's going on in
the world.
I know that can be a very hard
thing for some people, but let's make it
our practice to actively listening to everything that
goes on and not judge.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, a serial entrepreneur.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you real soon, everyone.
Take care and have a wonderful rest of
(28:22):
your day.
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