In this episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into the real engine behind business success: meaningful connection. What begins as a light conversation about Thanksgiving traditions, nightlife, and family quickly evolves into a powerful exploration of why the hardest skill in business is *learning how to create meaningful, deep, human connection*—something no one teaches, but every business depends on.

Through stories about partying, parenting, clients, and their own friendship, Tom and Adam reveal how meaningful conversations fuel growth, reduce chaos, unlock understanding, and allow business owners to break free from limiting beliefs. They also explore why personal honesty, vulnerability, approval, courage, and the ability to go deeper with people are the foundations of real entrepreneurial success.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why meaningful connection is the real superpower in business
• How deeper conversations eliminate chaos and reveal clarity
• Why approval-seeking destroys authenticity and decision-making
• The Believe–Behave–Become framework vs. ‘fake it til you make it’
• How to break limiting beliefs imposed by others
• Why courage only exists in the moment of action
• How meaningful environments create better clients, better thinking, and better business outcomes

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Thanksgiving week intro and holiday memories

01:00 – Why reconnecting during the holidays feels special

02:20 – Business owners who still live like ‘kids with adult money’

03:50 – How different generations approach fun, music, and joy

05:00 – Adam’s past life exploring everything from raves to house parties

06:00 – Why Tom and Adam prefer small, intimate conversations

07:00 – The power of meaningful environments and deep connection

08:20 – Why meaningfulness fuels the Atomic coaching style

09:10 – How younger environments shaped who Adam became

10:45 – Group dinners, vulnerability, and unlocking real conversations

12:00 – Why deeper conversations transform coaching results

13:20 – Understanding lowers entropy and reduces chaos

14:45 – How vulnerability creates a map for real change

15:45 – Personal growth = learning to lie less to yourself

17:00 – Breaking limiting beliefs and false identities

18:30 – Why approval-seeking destroys progress

19:30 – Believe • Behave • Become explained

20:45 – Courage is not a feeling—it's the action itself

22:30 – Why courage disappears the moment you use it

25:00 – The ‘tightrope’ analogy of courage and fear

27:00 – Why deeper conversations unlock transformation

28:00 – Meeting impressive people and feeling humbled

30:00 – Why superficial marketing frustrates Tom & Adam

31:00 – The meaningful connection that keeps clients for years

32:00 – Adam’s...

In this emotionally powerful episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd open up about one of the most difficult realities of leadership: how to survive when life hits harder than your workload. What begins as a conversation about stress, surgery, and personal strain quickly evolves into a deep exploration of resilience, identity, partnership, and what it truly costs to lead when you’re not operating at full strength.

Tom reveals his recent health battle and the physical and emotional weight he has been carrying, while Adam shares the unseen impact it has had on him, their partnership, and the business. Together, they break down why the hardest part of leadership is navigating the season between who you were and who you must become next.

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why leadership feels heaviest when life demands the most from you
• How health challenges affect clarity, performance, and decision-making
• Why choosing your regrets is the key to sustainable leadership
• The importance of honesty, transparency, and emotional awareness
• How numerology and natural cycles influence personal transformation
• Why simplicity—not complexity—is the true savior of overwhelmed leaders
• How to identify the moment you're in a forced evolution

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why recording always feels different than real conversations

00:45 – Tom’s stress, family worries, and the weight of aging parents

02:00 – How lack of passion and activity accelerates decline

03:30 – Technical difficulties and the metaphor they revealed

05:30 – Adam opens up about his concerns for Tom as a partner

07:00 – Tom reveals the full medical journey and diagnosis

10:00 – How physical breakdown affects leadership capabilities

13:00 – Adam explains the cognitive changes he's observed

15:30 – The fear of losing momentum vs. the need for recovery

18:00 – Why leaders must choose their regrets

20:00 – Numerology, timing, and the meaning behind 2025–2026

24:00 – Letting go of old habits to create a new beginning

28:00 – The Simple CEO philosophy and why simplicity saves leaders

30:00 – Why mastery matters more than opportunity

33:00 – The importance of honesty inside a business partnership

🔥 Power Quotes

“Without physical health, you can’t do any of this.” – Tom Marino

“Sometimes the universe says ‘Stop. Stay here. This is enough.’” – Adam Hurd

“Choosing your regrets is choosing your future.” – Adam Hurd

“We preach simple, not easy—and simplicity always wins.” – Tom Marino

“The body knows before the mind does.” – Tom Marino

📝 Topics Covered

• Health challenges
• Leadership under pressure
• Entrepreneurial resilience
• Numerology and personal cycles
• Simplifying business for clarity
• The Simple CEO...

In this episode of The Atomic Business Coaching Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into the real conversations that inspire growth, creativity, and purpose in business and life.

What starts as a light chat about music evolves into a powerful dialogue about emotional connection, self-awareness, and the transformative journey of entrepreneurship. They explore the idea of The Lonely Chapter—a concept introduced by Chris Williamson and Alex Hormozi—that moment between who you were and who you’re becoming.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or leader, this episode will resonate if you’ve ever felt stuck between chapters, searching for meaning, rhythm, and connection.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – When the best podcasts aren’t even recorded

01:00 – Why authentic conversations matter more than “value” content

02:15 – How music shapes emotion, focus, and creativity

05:30 – The emotional frequency of music and why it’s spiritual

06:45 – “Motion creates emotion” — using music for performance

08:00 – Comfort vs. focus: why some people need background noise

10:30 – The numbing effect of distraction vs. mindful listening

12:00 – From mixtapes to Spotify: how we discover new music today

15:00 – AI and the future of music (and business creation)

18:00 – The low barrier to entrepreneurship and the rise of digital creators

20:00 – The “Lonely Chapter” explained — and why it’s necessary for growth

22:00 – The “Liminal Moment” — being between who you were and who you’re becoming

23:30 – The difference between being lonely and being alone

25:00 – Finding connection again — and embracing your evolution

🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why authenticity always wins over polish in podcasting and business
• How to use music as a mindset tool to get into your zone of genius
• The psychological connection between music, focus, and emotion
• Why entrepreneurship feels lonely—and how to embrace it as growth
• How AI, accessibility, and creativity are changing modern business
• The difference between being alone vs. being lonely, and why it matters
• What it means to live through your liminal moment and lonely chapter

🔥 Power Quotes

“Sometimes the best podcasts aren’t lessons—they’re just people talking about interesting sh*t.” – Adam Hurd

“Music connects to the soul on a different frequency. It can literally shift how you feel about yourself or a situation.” – Tom Marino

“The lonely chapter means you’ve outgrown who you were, but you’re not yet who you’re becoming.” – Adam Hurd

🎵 Artists & Mentions

• Artists: Des Rocs, Coulter Wall, Charles Wesley Godwin, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Oliver Anthony
• Concepts: The Lonely Chapter, Liminal Moments, Motion Creates Emotion
• References: Modern Wisdom (Chris Williamson), Joe Rogan Experience, Acquisition.com (Alex Hormozi), Dana...

In this episode of the Be The CEO Podcast, hosts Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive into two powerful ideas shaping business and mindset today:

1. Loving the process more than the destination
2. Why confidence is a decision backed by action

Drawing inspiration from Alex Hormozi’s philosophy and a thought-provoking post by Yousef L. Alame, Tom and Adam break down how business owners can simplify success, stay present, and overcome the paralysis of overthinking.

Key Takeaways

1. The Work Is the Goal

Inspired by Alex Hormozi’s quote:

“The man who walks because he loves walking will walk further than the man who loves the destination.”

Success isn’t about chasing an endpoint; it’s about loving the process.

When you focus on doing the work, the byproducts such as money, success, and freedom naturally follow.

Tom and Adam share personal insights on how business owners often create anxiety by obsessing over outcomes instead of breaking work into manageable steps.

2. The Destination Isn’t the Purpose

Reaching a goal can sometimes feel empty if you’ve tied all your purpose to it.

The key is realizing you’re not just climbing a single mountain; you’re a mountain climber.

True satisfaction comes from continuous growth and embracing the journey itself.

3. Thinkers vs. Doers

Based on Yousef L. Alame’s post: “Confidence isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision you back with action.”

Overthinking breeds doubt, while action builds evidence and confidence.

Adam and Tom discuss how thinking without doing turns people into statues: stuck, unmoving, and paralyzed by fear.

The cure for overthinking is one small action. Motion destroys doubt.

4. Real Coaching Insights

The hosts share a behind-the-scenes story of how taking one imperfect action reignited progress on a stalled course project.

They also discuss real client examples showing that massive action equals momentum, while inaction keeps you stuck.

The biggest lesson: Overthinkers are simply under-doers.

Favorite Quotes

“The work is the goal.”–Adam Hurd

“Confidence is a decision you back with action.”–Yousef L. Alame

“The destination represents the end of purpose. Doing the work gives you certainty.”–Tom Marino

“Overthinkers are simply under-doers.” –Adam Hurd

Next Move Session

Feeling stuck or unsure of your next move?

Book a Next Move Session with Tom and Adam at bethe.ceo

For only $97, you’ll get 45 minutes of expert coaching valued at $10,000 in insight.

Whether you build, install, clean, film, write, or produce, this is your chance to gain clarity and create momentum.

Tune In For

• Real talk about entrepreneurship mindset
• Practical ways to shift from anxiety to action
• Proven principles from The Atomic Game Changer
• How to simplify success and fall in love with the process

Connect with Atomic Business Coaching

• Website: bethe.ceo
• Book: The Atomic Game Changer
• Podcast: Be The CEO Podcast /Atomic Business Coaching Podcast
• Instagram & LinkedIn: @atomicbusinesscoaching
• LinkedIn:

In this insightful episode of Be the CEO, hosts Adam Hurd and Tom Marino dive deep into what it really means to “be the CEO” — not as a title, but as a mindset. They redefine CEO as Commitment, Effort, and Obsession, exploring how these three traits are essential for leading both your life and your business with purpose and passion.

Key Topics Covered

The True Meaning of CEO

Adam and Tom clarify what Be the CEO stands for:

• Commitment: Going all in on your goals.
• Effort: Consistently taking the actions required for success.
• Obsession: Caring so deeply about what you do that quitting isn’t an option.

They emphasize that leadership starts with being obsessed enough to stay committed, even when things get tough.

📈 The Power of Commitment: Lessons from MrBeast

The hosts discuss the journey of Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast), who predicted his YouTube growth 10 years ago — and surpassed it beyond belief, growing from 8,000 subscribers to over 444 million.

Adam uses MrBeast’s story to highlight the difference between being interested in success and being committed to it.

“When you eliminate all other options, you eliminate the ability to fail.”

🧠 Interest vs. Commitment

Adam and Tom explore why so many people stay “interested” instead of “committed.”

• Interest fades when things get hard.
• Commitment pushes you through uncertainty and failure.
• Tom adds that wisdom comes from learning what not to do — often the most valuable lessons come from mistakes.

🚫 Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs

Tom introduces a powerful post that inspires reflection:

“Don’t limit your challenges — challenge your limits.”

They discuss how limiting beliefs can make people feel stuck, even when they’re actually just entering a new level of growth.

Tom shares how external voices once told him he couldn’t succeed — and how challenging those beliefs became the foundation of his success.

🔍 Learning, Growth & Self-Disruption

Adam and Tom connect the dots between learning and growth:

• Learning is the antidote to uncertainty.
• Challenging beliefs is how you evolve.
• “It’s better to have self-disruption than self-destruction.”

Adam emphasizes that by intentionally challenging yourself, you prevent sabotaging behaviors that hold you back.

❤️ No Limiting Beliefs?

Adam reveals something surprising — he’s never had limiting beliefs. He shares how optimism, curiosity, and problem-solving have guided his success.

Tom reflects on how different upbringings shape beliefs, and how exposure to the real world challenges the beliefs we inherit. Together, they explore how awareness and reflection turn limitations into learning opportunities.

💬 Final Takeaway

Tom and Adam remind listeners:

“You’re not stuck. You’re just entering a new phase of life or business that you haven’t experienced yet.”

Being the CEO of your life means constantly evolving — through commitment, effort, and obsession — and challenging every belief that stands in your way.

Resources &...

In this episode of Be the CEO, Adam Thomas Hurd and Tom Marino dive deep into two powerful ideas that define what it really means to be the CEO of your business, your time, and your life.

They tackle the long-debated concept of work-life balance versus work-life harmony, revealing why striving for balance can actually hold entrepreneurs back. The conversation then flows into embracing failure, why “failing faster” accelerates success, and how ego often stands in the way of growth.

Packed with humor, insight, and personal stories, this episode is a reminder that being the CEO isn’t about perfection — it’s about intention, leadership, and courage to evolve.

🧠 Key Takeaways

1. Be the CEO — Don’t Just Do, Lead.

Starting a business takes courage, but sustaining one requires stepping out of constant “doing” mode and stepping into leadership. CEOs direct their focus and energy intentionally rather than reacting to every demand.

2. Work-Life Balance Is a Myth.

Tom explains why balance implies a rigid, equal division that doesn’t work for entrepreneurs. Instead, aim for work-life harmony — a fluid rhythm where attention and intention shift throughout the day based on priorities and energy.

3. The Employee vs. Entrepreneur Mindset.

Employees strive for balance through strict boundaries — clocking in and out. Entrepreneurs must instead orchestrate harmony through flexibility, discipline, and conscious time management.

4. Fail Faster, Learn Faster.

Adam shares a post from Brad Lea that sparks a conversation about missed opportunities and the power of failure. Growth happens when you take risks, fail forward, and apply lessons quickly.

5. Ego Blocks Evolution.

Many entrepreneurs stay stuck because they refuse to fail or take advice. True CEOs embrace feedback, detach from ego, and stay open to change — even when it’s uncomfortable.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“It’s not about balancing work and life — it’s about directing your attention with intention.” – Tom Marino

“You have to be willing to fail. The faster you fail, the faster you learn.” – Adam Hurd

“Harmony enhances your life — balance restricts it.” – Tom Marino

🛠️ Resources & Links

• Connect with Adam Thomas Hurd on LinkedIn
• Connect with Tom Marino on LinkedIn
• Explore the Be the CEO community: bethe.ceo

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode inspired you to be the CEO of your business and your life, leave a review, share it with your network, or message Adam and Tom on LinkedIn to tell them what resonated most.

Turning Fear Into Fuel & The Power of Listening

In this episode of Be the CEO, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd explore two of the most

overlooked yet powerful drivers of success for self-employed people: fear and listening.

Whether you’re running your own business, trying to scale, or just struggling to get unstuck,

this episode dives into how to transform the very things that scare or hold you back into

tools for growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

 Fear is not the enemy – staying stuck is.

Tom shares a post from Dan Sullivan on how fear signals growth, not danger, and

why entrepreneurs should view it as a guide instead of a roadblock.

 Uncertainty & self-employment.

Why self-employed people often misinterpret fear as a sign to retreat—and how to

use it to push forward into your next level of success.

 Adam’s parenting story.

A powerful anecdote about letting his son do “dangerous things carefully” (inspired

by Jordan Peterson) and how that applies to taking risks in business.

 The secret weapon: honest listening.

Adam highlights a Simon Sinek post on listening and explains how his Sandler

training transformed his ability to hear clients, not just talk at them.

 Why Atomic’s dual-coach model works.

Tom and Adam explain how having two coaches in the room gives clients “four ears”

instead of two, enabling deeper listening, multiple perspectives, and faster

breakthroughs.

 Healthy disagreement as a growth tool.

How modeling disagreement and differing perspectives helps clients build

confidence, set boundaries, and communicate effectively.

Key Takeaways:

 Fear shows up when something matters—use it as proof you’re on the right path.

 Uncertainty is a cue to learn, not a reason to retreat.

 True listening requires reflection, patience, and curiosity—skills you can develop.

 Multiple perspectives accelerate growth. Don’t fear disagreement; embrace it

Boundaries and honest communication are assets, not liabilities.

Links & Resources:

 Register for upcoming free events: bethe.ceo

 Connect with Tom & Adam at Atomic Business Coaching

In this episode, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd dive deep into what it really means to step out of self-employment and into true CEO leadership—at work and at home.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The trap of self-employment: Why so many business owners simply create a new prison for themselves instead of finding freedom.
• Gary Vee’s challenge: “If you want it so bad, how are you not doing everything you can?” Adam and Tom unpack the meaning behind this mindset and how it applies to entrepreneurs.
• All in or in the way: The philosophy that has fueled Atomic Business Coaching and why commitment is non-negotiable.
• The power of clarity: Tom shares a Tony Robbins insight—“Clarity creates power”—and explains how values, beliefs, and behaviors shape both life and business success.
• Beliefs vs. values: Why unexamined beliefs create frustration and misalignment, and how choosing your beliefs leads to intentional values and sustainable growth.
• Certainty and decision-making: Adam stresses the importance of not just having clarity but pairing it with certainty and agency to take decisive action.

Key Takeaways:

• Commitment means doing everything you can—but it doesn’t mean doing it alone. Getting help is part of being all in.
• Obsession fuels commitment. If you’re not obsessed, it’s going to be hard to stay consistent.
• Your beliefs dictate your values, and your values dictate your behaviors. Examine them regularly.
• Clarity without action is useless. You need certainty and agency to translate clarity into growth.
• Sustainable business success comes from alignment, consistency, and purpose—not just one big win.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Learn more and register for free events and sessions: bethe.ceo
• Explore ways to work with Tom & Adam through Atomic Business Coaching