Start Ugly: What 275 Episodes Taught Us About Getting Started and Finding Your People
play Play pause Pause
S10 E78

Start Ugly: What 275 Episodes Taught Us About Getting Started and Finding Your People

We've got a new course, Awareness to Action, launching May 27. Text MTM to 33777 or hit this link to stay in the know: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest Episode notes: We almost didn't make it past the first few episodes. Jon was...
play Play pause Pause


We've got a new course, Awareness to Action, launching May 27. Text MTM to 33777 or hit this link to stay in the know: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest


Episode notes:

We almost didn't make it past the first few episodes.


Jon was filming from a yellow Fiat with black racing stripes in a Starbucks parking lot, stealing their wifi. Will was in his old apartment. The dogs walked through every shot. The phone overheated so badly Jon would drop off and Will would carry the show alone. We had no plan, no audience, no producer, and no idea what we were doing.

275 episodes later... we're still figuring it out. And that's kind of the whole point.


Today's episode is about two things. Starting before you're ready, and why community is the thing that actually keeps you going once you do.


We talk about the moment Will convinced Jon not to quit the show. The gold mine story... how close we came to stopping right before things broke open. Why Gene Roddenberry was embarrassed by the first episode of Star Trek (and why that's a good sign). What we've learned from 275 conversations with people like Jocko Willink, John Eldredge, Sean Fargo, James Nestor, Dr. James Doty, Nir Eyal, Steven Kotler, Howard Behar, Stanley Cup winners, SEALs, Special Forces, Olympic athletes, monks, psychologists, and guys who rebuilt their lives from scratch.


Every single one of them started before they were ready. Every single one of them had somebody in their corner.

If you've been sitting on something... a project, a business, a conversation, a creative thing you keep putting off... this one's for you. The timing will never be perfect. You will never feel ready. Start anyway. Start ugly. And find your people.


We also talk about our new course, Awareness to Action, launching May 27. Text A2A to 33777 or hit this link to stay in the know: https://focusnowtraining.com/a2a-course-interest


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.



Check out our Awareness-to-action Self Mastery COURSE & COMMUNITY:
12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Work at your own pace plus a community built for Inspiration and connection.
1.  www.focusnowtraining.com/a2a-Course

JOIN US IN PERSON — Future Events and Retreats.
1.  Live in-person event: Warrior Defined.
We will be in Charlotte, NC, September 25, 2026 more info HERE
Or mentalkingmindfulness.com

GET MORE FROM MTM:
Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletter
1.  Subscribe: mentalkingmindfulness.com
2.  FNT: focusnowtraining.com

BRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:
1.  focusnowtraining.com/contact


Produced by Robert Lopez | https://www.cratesaudio.com/

Creators and Guests

person
Host
Will Schneider
Mental Fitness Teacher helping people & companies to master their minds, CoHost-Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast, Stanford Ambassador of Compassion, Top Mindfulness Teacher NYC