In this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, host Amos McCoy welcomes Martin Salama, creator of the Warrior's Life Code, for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and authentic leadership. Martin shares his journey from losing everything in the 2008 financial crisis—his business, home, and sense of self—to rebuilding his life through coaching, self-discovery, and a new perspective on personal responsibility. He introduces the concept of “things happen through me,” discusses the importance of self-reflection during difficult times, and explains how the Warrior’s Life Code can help leaders and individuals shift from worrying to living fully every day. The conversation also covers practical strategies for balancing work, self-care, and family, the difference between reacting and responding as a leader, and actionable advice for school administrators and business professionals alike. Tune in for valuable takeaways on personal growth, leadership, and creating a meaningful and fulfilling life.

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00:00 Five-Year Health Club Project

05:17 Discovering Leadership Through Coaching

08:27 Reframing Life's Challenges

10:22 Rationalizing Against Personal Values

15:23 Overcoming Divorce and People-Pleasing

19:13 Leadership Shapes Business Culture

21:46 Balancing "Me Time" Effectively

25:01 Prioritizing Personal Time vs. Relationships

29:04 Self-Improvement's Impact on Leadership

31:15 Manager vs. Leader Dynamics

32:50 Transformative Self-Reflection Journey

36:52 Self-Reflection Scorecard Technique

41:15 Work-Life Balance Debate

44:23 Advice for Future Leaders

46:06 "Transformative Insights: Four Agreements"

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Here are my top 3 takeaways from this episode:

🔹 Transformation Begins with You: Martin emphasizes that real change in any organization starts at the top. As leaders, our own mindset, self-care, and willingness to evolve have a direct impact on company culture and team morale.

🔹 Live Incredibly Full Every Day: Martin’s LIFE acronym (“Live Incredibly Full Every day”) is a game-changer. He recommends dividing your day into “you time,” work, family/friends, and sleep—not necessarily in equal parts, but with intention. Balance isn’t about perfection, it’s about purpose and flexibility.

🔹 From Worry to Warrior: Reframing setbacks is essential. Martin encourages us to move from “Why is this happening to me?” to “Things happen through me.” It’s about taking responsibility, celebrating small wins, and choosing progress over perfection.

Highly recommend you check out the episode for a boost of motivation and practical leadership tips! And if you want to dive deeper into Martin’s work, his “Warrior to Warrior” book and resources are available at connectwithmartin.com

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Links

Martin's Website

connectwithmartin.com

Martin's Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-salama-cpc/

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

https://a.co/d/9MRCArV