If you think leadership is just about performance, this conversation will challenge you.

In this episode, Sean sits down with executive leadership coach Tim Hawkins to unpack a truth most leaders overlook: your ability can grow faster than your character — and that gap can cost you everything.

From childhood lessons in a broken home to college basketball, from pastoral failure to suicidal ideation, Tim shares candid stories about identity, feedback, and what real transformation looks like.

They explore:

• Why high performance doesn’t equal high character
• The dangerous gap between capability and integrity
• How ego blocks growth
• Why leaders must intentionally invite feedback
• The difference between competency failures and character failures
• How to anchor vision to identity
• Why slowing down may actually accelerate your growth

If you want to move beyond doing more and start becoming more, this episode is for you.

00:00 – When Ability Outpaces Character
00:30 – Meet Tim Hawkins: Coaching for Transformation
01:17 – Leadership Lessons from a Broken Home
02:52 – The “Black Hole” Point Guard Mentality
05:00 – From Self-Centered Athlete to Team-Oriented Leader
06:35 – Learning to Receive Feedback in College
09:28 – Why Business Leadership Often Ignores Character
11:33 – Capability vs. Character: The Dangerous Gap
12:17 – When Power Without Character Causes Collapse
15:08 – Becoming the Leader You’re Capable Of
16:45 – Why Character Conversations Feel Uncomfortable
20:24 – Vision as a Gateway to Character Growth
21:49 – Competency Failure vs. Character Failure
23:25 – Character Is Always Being Developed
24:30 – The Plagiarism Story: The Belief Beneath the Behavior
27:48 – Small Compromises and Leadership Drift
29:04 – Putting Away Childish Ways of Leading
31:17 – How to Invite Real, Meaningful Feedback
35:30 – The Marathon Analogy: Slow Down to Grow
36:50 – Depression & The Power of Honest Feedback
40:13 – If You Don’t Want Feedback, Check Your Character
41:53 – Ego, Survival Patterns, and Self-Deception
43:16 – How to Connect with Tim

🔗 Connect with Tim Hawkins

Website: https://knowgrowgo.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-hawkins-thm-cplc-acc-9232192a0/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timhawkinscoaching/

🎙 Connect with Sean Patton & No Limit Leadership

Website: https://seanpatton.me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanpattonspeaks/

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.

What happens when the identity you built your life around is suddenly taken away?

In this powerful conversation, Army veteran, health coach, and Ever Forward Radio host Chase Chewning joins Sean Patton to unpack identity, trauma, resilience, and what true self-leadership actually looks like.

After being medically retired from the Army at just 24 years old, Chase found himself navigating not only career loss—but a complete identity shift. What followed was years of striving, building, achieving… all while avoiding the deeper wounds beneath the surface.

This episode explores:

• The hidden identity crisis veterans (and high performers) face
• Why “ever forward” became both a strength and a crutch
• The role of safety in healing trauma
• Fear as a teacher—not just an obstacle
• The difference between achievement and alignment
• Fatherhood, protection, and redefining masculine leadership

Chase shares vulnerably about losing his father, suppressing trauma, navigating PTSD, and ultimately redefining what it means to move forward.

If you care about self-leadership, resilience, protecting your peace, and becoming the kind of person your family can rely on — this conversation will challenge how you define strength.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Why This Conversation Matters
02:00 – Army Intelligence & Medical Retirement at 24
05:00 – The Identity Shift After the Military
12:00 – Who Am I Without the Uniform?
18:00 – Curiosity as the Voice of Your Soul
24:00 – Fear, Safety & Trauma
30:00 – When “Ever Forward” Becomes a Crutch
35:00 – Fatherhood & Protecting Your Peace
37:45 – Redefining Strength & Leadership

🔗 Connect with No Limit Leadership

Website: https://www.seanpatton.me/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanpattonspeaks/?hl=en

🔗 Connect with Chase Chewning

Ever Forward Radio (available on all major platforms): https://www.everforwardradio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chase_chewning

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.

Most companies don’t have a culture problem — they have a comfort problem.

In this episode, Sean sits down with Mike Krupit — former CTO, COO, and CEO turned leadership advisor and founder of Trajectify — to unpack what really happens when companies scale.

They dive into the uncomfortable transitions founders must make, why delegation is emotional (not tactical), how to manage up, and what CEOs should actually spend their time doing. Mike also breaks down why culture must evolve and how high-growth companies avoid stagnation by embracing discomfort.

If you’re leading a growing organization — or becoming the leader your company needs next — this conversation is for you.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Comfort vs. Culture
Why most companies misdiagnose their real growth problem.

03:00 – From Individual Contributor to Leader
The mindset shift that derails new managers.

07:00 – Managing Up & Owning Your One-on-Ones
How to take control of your growth at any level.

12:00 – Leading in a Remote World
Overcommunication, systems, and preserving humanity.

16:30 – Founder Mode vs. CEO Mode
Why scaling requires letting go — emotionally and strategically.

19:30 – The CEO’s Four Real Jobs
Visionary, fiduciary, talent architect, and external voice.

25:00 – Evolving Culture Through Discomfort
Why hiring people “like us” limits growth.

30:00 – Vision vs. Mission
Why your mission should change more often than your vision.

33:00 – The Quadrant That’s Killing Leaders
Escaping urgency and investing in long-term growth.

🔗 Connect with Mike Krupit

🌐 Trajectify: https://www.trajectify.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkrupit/

🔗 No Limit Leadership

🌐 Website: https://www.nolimitleadership.com

🎙️ Podcast: https://www.nolimitleadership.com/podcast

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.