In this snippet, Ando Eniwumide, CEO of Happening, explores the deep-seated fears that prevent individuals from stepping into their full potential. He distinguishes between the fear of potential and the fear of the demanding process required for success. Ando shares personal insights on abandoning pride, embracing "failing forward," and the real-world consequences and sacrifices, like selling houses, that come with an entrepreneurial journey. The discussion also delves into the psychological aspects of perceived versus physical reality, the profound impact of having supportive partners and networks that reinforce ambition, and the power of proximity in unlocking one's thinking.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nayOanNs6NI&t=2s

We're told to follow our dreams and "be authentic," but most of us live lives that contradict our deepest values. We work for companies we don't believe in, consume things that don't align with our principles, and wonder why we feel disconnected. So what does authentic living actually look like? How do we bridge the gap between who we are and how we show up in the world?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

Johnny J Pawlik is an award-winning communications and branding expert with over 20 years of experience, based in Yorkshire (UK) and Kyoto (Japan). He is the Founder and Managing Director of Mantra Media, an international marketing and branding firm focused on ethical and purpose-driven work. He co-founded the Japanese luxury heritage brand Atelier Japan and has worked with clients including the European Parliament, UKTI, and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Featured in Forbes as "the Ethical Marketer" and outlets like BBC and Good Morning Britain, his work emphasizes authenticity, cognitive consistency, and aligning actions with personal and organizational values—principles born from his journey from a challenging upbringing on a UK council estate to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur.

Today, expect to learn:

• Why most people experience cognitive dissonance between their values and actions
• How authentic living requires deep self-knowledge and trauma awareness
• What cognitive consistency actually means and why it matters for wellbeing
• How cultural intelligence can be developed by experiencing different worldviews
• Why ethical business practices aren't just morally right but strategically smart
• How to build resilience and curiosity as foundational life skills• What it means to create social good through business and purposeful work
• How to navigate the tension between individualism and collectivism in modern life
• And more...

Community Notes:

Cognitive dissonance occurs when our beliefs, values, and actions don't align, creating psychological discomfort. Research shows this misalignment can lead to stress, anxiety, and decision paralysis. Cultural intelligence involves understanding how different societies approach values like individualism versus collectivism, helping us develop more nuanced worldviews. Ethical branding represents a growing movement where companies prioritize purpose alongside profit, responding to consumer demand for authentic, values-driven organizations.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://www.mantrahq.com

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnypawlik/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mantra_media_ltd

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com

SUBSTACK: https://sevenjacobs.substack.com

SOCIALS: https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com/podcast

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908

Key Terms:

• Cognitive Dissonance: Psychological discomfort from conflicting beliefs and actions

• Cultural Intelligence: Ability to function effectively across different cultural contexts

• Ethical Branding: Marketing approach prioritizing values and social impact alongside profit

• Cognitive Consistency: Alignment between beliefs, values, and behaviours for psychological wellbeing

We're living through a polycrisis—climate change, inequality, migration, polarization—all interconnected and seemingly insurmountable. But what if the solution isn't top-down policy or technological fixes? What if it's about transforming how we see ourselves: from passive consumers to active citizens?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ruth is a UK-based social innovator and community builder, best known for founding The Canvas Café—a not-for-profit, vegan café and creative venue in Shoreditch, East London (2014–2022). The Canvas became a vital safe space, offering free meals to disadvantaged and homeless locals and hosting up to 60 free community events per month. When the pandemic forced The Canvas's closure, Ruth channelled her commitment into broader grassroots activism. She now serves as Programme Manager for the charity Community Organisers and oversees the growth of the Humanity Project, a bottom-up popular assembly movement. Ruth is also a mother of two young children, and her work remains rooted in the belief that humans are amazing when given the space and opportunity to connect and collaborate.

Today, expect to learn :

• Why we've evolved from subjects to consumers but struggle to become citizens.
• How disconnection breeds fear, division, and the crises we face globally.
• What happens when you create spaces that transform consumers into active community members.
• Why assembly culture and deliberative democracy might be our path forward.
• Why people will want to contribute when given the right environment.
• What it means to build "spaces" that aren't just physical but emotional and conceptual.
• How to overcome the anxiety and fear that keeps us isolated and passive.
• Why small acts of connection can build the "muscle" needed for larger civic engagement.
• How grassroots movements like the Humanity Project are creating bottom-up change.
• What it looks like to participate in popular assemblies and citizen-led democracy.
• Why we need to stop waiting for systems to solve problems and start acting as citizens ourselves.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://thecanvascafe.org

LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/ruth-canvas-cafe

COMMUNITY ORGANISERS: https://communityorganisers.org.uk

HUMANITY PROJECT: https://humanityproject.uk

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSTACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mainpage.me/seven.jacobs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SOURCES & JARGON BUSTER:

● Polycrisis: Interconnected global challenges that cannot be addressed in isolation

● Citizens' Assembly: Representative group of citizens convened to deliberate on public issues

● Third Places: Social environments separate from home and work, vital for community building

We tend to confuse empathy with sympathy, and so, fail to develop our EQ. No one wants to admit this though - and so we go around acting with low EQ, low empathy, and therefore, low leadership capability, because leadership is about people, which requires that ability to understand them. Luckily, there's something you can do about it.

Watch the full episode with Rachael here: https://youtu.be/2Ga_RRYV7pA

We're told that having smart ideas is enough to succeed. But why do so many brilliant people with great strategies still fail? What's the missing ingredient that separates those who achieve their goals from those who don't? Could it be that success isn't just about what you know, but how you connect with others and maintain focus on what truly matters?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Faris Aranki is the Founder and CEO of Shiageto Consulting, bringing over 20 years of experience in helping companies, teams, and individuals sharpen effectiveness through strategic leadership and emotional intelligence. His career began as a school teacher in Latin America and London before transitioning to senior strategy roles in global organizations. He developed a unique success formula: SUCCESS = IQ x EQ x FQ, where IQ represents smart ideas, EQ covers emotional intelligence and human connection, and FQ is his coined term for Focus Quotient - the ability to maintain focus and overcome distractions.

Today, expect to learn why most people fail despite having brilliant ideas and strategies.

• How emotional intelligence determines whether your ideas actually get implemented.
• Why focus is the most underrated skill in achieving success.
• What the multiplicative effect means for your personal and professional growth
• How to identify your true top 3 priorities in life and work
• Why conflict is rooted in ego rather than genuine disagreement.
• How to use gamification to make mundane tasks more engaging and productive.
• Why curiosity and asking "one more question" can transform your relationships.
• How to get honest feedback from trusted friends to improve your self-awareness.
• Why modern city life makes us emotionally closed and isolated.
• How to create unplugged conversations that deepen human connection.
• and more...

Community Notes:

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) research shows strong links between EQ and leadership effectiveness, team cohesion, and business success. Focus Quotient (FQ) addresses the critical need to manage distractions in our age of information overload. Gamification in learning and work has empirical support for improving engagement through dopamine release and motivation. The multiplicative model aligns with modern leadership science showing success requires balancing cognitive skill, emotional connection, and disciplined execution.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://shiageto.com

LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/farisaranki

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/farisaranki

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSTACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mainpage.me/seven.jacobs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SOURCES & JARGON BUSTER:

• IQ (Intelligence Quotient): Traditional measure of cognitive ability and smart idea generation
• EQ (Emotional Quotient): Emotional intelligence including empathy, social skills, and ability to connect with others
• FQ (Focus Quotient): Faris' coined term for the ability to maintain focus and overcome distractions
• Gamification: The application of game-design elements in non-game contexts to increase engagement
• Multiplicative Effect: The concept that success factors multiply rather than add, meaning weakness in one area severely impacts overall results

Listen in to this one, where our guest used our host as an example and DEMOLISHES how he uses his story and marketing to build a business 😅

Most founders focus obsessively on perfecting their product, but the most successful ones understand something different: their personal story is their greatest competitive advantage. Yet many struggle to authentically share their journey without feeling like they're bragging or being inauthentic. So how do you transform your founder story into content that genuinely connects and converts?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ken Ekow is the founder of Scale Story, an agency specializing in video-first personal branding that partners with scaling founders to transform their traction into content capital—helping them go from unseen to unforgettable. Originally starting Scale Story in 2015 to help businesses grow through video content, Ken pivoted after realizing founder stories resonate more powerfully than product videos alone. Scale Story focuses on creating authentic founder narratives that drive mission and impact, primarily working with founders who have raised at least a million pounds, providing personal brand coaching, video content strategies, and executive mindset coaching.

Today, expect to learn:

• Why founder stories consistently outperform product-focused marketing.
• How authenticity and vulnerability create deeper audience connections than polished corporate content.
• What the hero's journey framework teaches us about compelling storytelling in business.
• Why starting with your "why" and ideal client profile is crucial before creating any content, but even if this is cliché, you might be doing it wrong...
• How to balance confidence with humility when sharing your founder journey.
• What mindset shifts are necessary to go from product-centric to story-centric marketing.
• Why video content outperforms other formats by 3-5x on social media.
• How to iterate your messaging based on audience feedback before scaling content creation.
• Why treating personal branding as both strategy and mindset work creates lasting market differentiation.

Community Notes:

Personal branding has become essential for modern founders, with video-first content strategies showing significantly higher engagement rates than traditional marketing approaches. The hero's journey storytelling framework, which involves conflict, transformation, and insight, helps audiences emotionally connect with founder narratives, creating trust and thought leadership that converts into business growth over time.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~WEBSITE: https://www.scale-story.comLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helloekow/

HOST LINKS ~WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcastALL EPISODES (Spotify): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearchingALL EPISODES (Apple): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this snippet, Ndu Uchea, CEO of Word on the Curb and Google-sponsored 2024 Founder of the Year, dives into the motivations behind modern impatience and the critical importance of understanding people. He discusses how to cultivate this skill for improved relationships and explores the current state of media, questioning whether it intentionally fuels fear. Ndu also touches on the evolving landscape of influence and the vital need for creative energy in today's world.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXfxkxQwTcg

We're told creativity is just for artists, but neuroscience reveals it's essential for problem-solving, mental health, and human flourishing. So why do modern environments and habits systematically shut down our creative networks? What's really happening in our brains when we create—and how can we redesign our lives to unlock it?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

Saskia Wheeler is a science communicator specializing in neuroscience as applied to mental wellbeing. She translates neuroscience research into practical, human-centered tools that support healthier minds and environments. At Kyan Health, she collaborates with organizations to foster cultures emphasizing psychological safety, collective resilience, and long-term wellbeing.

Her academic background combines Neuroaesthetics and Creativity (MSc, Goldsmiths) with Philosophy of Mind and Aesthetics (MA, Trinity College Dublin), bridging neuroscience, design, and human experience to apply science-led strategies in workplace wellbeing and environmental influence on cognition, emotion, and performance.

Today, expect to learn:

• What the three brain networks involved in creativity actually do and why they rarely work together

• Why creative people have "attenuated latent inhibition" and can't filter out irrelevant information like others

• How this relates to ADHD and why neurodivergent minds often show enhanced creativity

• Why survival mode brain states completely shut down creative thinking• How AI tools might be rewiring our brains in concerning ways by reducing cognitive effort

• What "neuroaesthetics" reveals about how our physical environment affects our mental state

• Practical methods to regulate your nervous system and shift from survival to creation mode

• How psychological safety helps you to better regulate emotions and how that can support better creativity

• How to redesign your environment and habits to support your brain's creative networks

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://www.saskiawheeler.co.uk

LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/saskiawheeler

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/neuro.aesthetic

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com

SUBSTACK: https://sevenjacobs.substack.com

SOCIALS: https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908

Sources & Further Reading:

[1] Neuroscience communication research on public engagement and accurate messaging

[2] Studies on the intersection of AI and neuroscience in mental health applications

[3] Academic research on neuroplasticity, creativity networks, and environmental neuroscience

[4] Neuroaesthetics research on how design impacts brain function and wellbeing

Jargon Buster:

• Default Mode Network: Brain network active during rest and daydreaming, crucial for creative thinking

• Executive Control Network: Brain system responsible for critical thinking, planning, and decision-making

• Salience Network: Neural network that determines what captures our attention and feels meaningful

• Attenuated Latent Inhibition: Reduced ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli, common in creative individuals

• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life

• Neuroaesthetics: The study of how aesthetic experiences affect the brain and behaviour