"I thought my calling was to be a Catholic priest." – Ryan Monk It wasn’t a whim. Ryan devoted years — undergrad, master’s, a year of theology in seminary — to answering what he believed was his life’s purpose. But somewhere along the way, a quiet unease began to grow. His head said priesthood but his heart whispered his gifts might belong in a different kind of service — one with a family at the center & a new way of walking alongside people in their most important moments. So, he traded vestments for brick dust, late-night restaurant shifts, & finally, law school — chasing a career that could both provide for his young family & serve others. Then 2008 hit. The economy tanked. A Big Law offer disappeared. And that mortgage, those babies… they were staring him down. Ryan took one last leap of faith — starting from a borrowed desk in a warehouse. Little by little, he built his own law firm on three values you can’t fake: humility, gratitude, & joy — the kind that shows up in grief, uncertainty, recessions, pandemics, & all the moments in between. If you’ve ever wondered whether changing course can bring you closer to your true calling… Connect at monklegal.com Joseph Campbell said it best of journeys like Ryan’s: “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

“That’d be impossible… unless?” – Andrew James

How do you respond when life throws a punch?

If you’re like most people, when you hit a wall, you just push harder—longer hours, more stress, hoping brute force will somehow get you through.

If you’re like Andrew, you stop. Take a breath. And then ask the simple question that’s carried him through every tough season: “What would have to be true for this to work?”

That single question has shaped everything he’s built—taking him from a scrappy kid flipping diet plans on eBay (& later hustling affiliate offers & imported products) to the founder of Eyeball Division & Cerebro Analytics, two companies helping brands grow smarter and faster.

And it’s the same mindset that’s pulled him through the messy middle: the clients ready to walk, the pivots that felt terrifying, the nights where the easy answer would’ve been to quit.

If you’re ready for an episode that part wake-up call, part permission slip to do things differently:

Download Andrew’s episode of the Anything But Typical Podcast (link in 1st comment) Connect at cerebroanalytics.com Andrew has built a life out of tackling challenges most people walk away from—and actually enjoys the climb. Which is why Walt Disney’s words feel spot on: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

“It’s me just wanting freedom… freedom to make my own choices & live life on my terms.” - Ron Weatherly Ron didn’t start his waterproofing company, Dry Pro Foundation and Crawlspace Specialists, with a business plan, angel investors, or even a clue how to fix a foundation. He started with a crawlspace, raw knees, whatever tools he could scrounge, & a spark of rebellion. Because he knew what he didn’t want… Another layoff. Another week waiting on a paycheck. Another life ruled by someone else’s calendar. So, he built something of his own. He gave up his salary to hire his first manager. Went back into sales when the numbers didn’t add up. Grew the business past $29 million—and walked away when the values lined up, not just the dollars. That’s not luck. That’s freedom built on purpose. Today, he’s not stuck in meetings. He’s mentoring founders, investing in people he believes in, & home by 3:30—because that’s the life his business was built to protect. If you’re growing fast but feel trapped, maybe it’s time to ask: what am I really building? Connect with him at ronweatherly.com Chris Brogan said it best: “The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.”