Sage Solutions

David Sage
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Advice and insight about personal growth, personal development, and becoming your best self. 

  1. Jun 30

    Build a Black Belt Mindset With The Tenants of Tae Kwon Do

    We connect the 5 tenets of Tae kwon do to modern personal growth and show how they build real self-worth through daily choices. We translate martial arts discipline into practical tools for confidence, emotional control, resilience, and better relationships.  • courtesy as intentional respect and a calming pause in social moments  • integrity as values aligned with actions and the foundation of self-trust  • small promises that compound into quiet confidence  • perseverance as resolve that outlasts changing motivation  • lowering the barrier to entry to stay consistent  • self-control as emotional regulation and the space before reacting  • the 90-second rule for riding out intense emotions  • indomitable spirit as courage, resilience, and freedom from fear of failure  • combining the tenets to stay strong, grounded, and kind  Subscribe and share this podcast with them.  If you haven't already, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on more Sage advice. We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  2. Jun 16

    5 Life Hacks That Actually Work

    We cut through gimmicky productivity advice and share five small changes that build real momentum without demanding a perfect routine. We focus on lowering friction, protecting your energy from decision fatigue, and turning insight into daily practice.   • why many popular “life hacks” backfire and create stress   • using mise en place to set up your environment ahead of time   • applying Mel Robbins’ five-second rule to beat hesitation   • doing a mental offload to clear anxiety and find priorities   • using the five-minute limit to make starting feel doable, especially with ADHD   • anchoring decisions to your core values to avoid people pleasing and simplify “no”   • the mindset shift from understanding to consistent practice   If you haven't already, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on more Sage Advice.   We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  3. Jun 2

    Self Awareness

    You probably think you’re self-aware. Most of us do. But once you look at what self-awareness really means and what research says about how rare it actually is, it gets a lot harder to stay casual about your blind spots. David Sage and recurring co-host Hannah Sage dig into why self-awareness is not a static trait, but a living skill that updates moment by moment, especially when your emotions spike and your ego wants to take the wheel.  We break self-awareness into clear, usable parts: internal self-awareness (values, motives, emotions, self-talk) and external self-awareness (how people experience your tone, energy, and impact). We talk through why those two can be totally disconnected, drawing on Dr. Tasha Eurich’s work, and what that means for leaders, partners, and chronic people pleasers. We also explore in-the-moment awareness versus retrospective awareness, plus how personality tendencies like the Big Five shape what comes naturally and what takes deliberate practice.  Then we get practical. You’ll learn three proven tools for building emotional intelligence and closing the intention behavior gap: mindfulness and meditation, therapy, and journaling. We also share three simple daily habits you can start today: the two-word check-in to name feelings without a story, a no-defensiveness feedback loop to uncover blind spots, and a 60-second evening review to spot triggers before they repeat. We close with the nuance people skip: the difference between self-awareness and self-consciousness, and how over-monitoring can turn into analysis paralysis.  If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves personal growth, and leave a review so more people can find the show. We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  4. May 19

    The Power Of Listening

    Most communication problems aren’t caused by “bad speaking.” They’re caused by attention that keeps slipping away. Today we slow everything down and get brutally practical about a skill that sits at the center of relationships, leadership, and self-confidence: active listening. We unpack the difference between hearing (your brain’s automatic sound intake) and listening (a deliberate focus that takes real energy), and why modern sensory overload trains us to hear constantly while understanding less and less.  We also call out one of the biggest silent killers of connection: listening to reply. The moment your mind starts building a counterpoint, a fix, or a story of your own, you stop receiving the person in front of you. We walk through what it looks like to listen to understand instead, including how to tolerate silence, stay curious, and track what’s being said beneath the words.  Then we take it deeper with social neuroscience. Feeling heard can activate the brain’s reward circuitry, which helps explain why genuine presence lowers tension and builds trust fast. From there, we give you concrete tools you can use immediately: tactical silence, open-ended questions, supportive body language, nonverbal mirroring, and emotional paraphrasing that reflects meaning without absorbing someone else’s emotional weight.  If you want stronger communication skills, better relationships, and more influence without forcing your point, press play. Subscribe, share the show with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  5. May 5

    Decisiveness: What If Indecision Is The Real Risk

    Standing in a grocery aisle, rewriting the same email line, or sitting in your driveway wondering if you should change careers can feel like three totally different problems. We argue they share the same root: indecision drains your cognitive energy and quietly steals your agency. If you have ever felt that behind-the-eyes mental fatigue, we connect the dots to the “open tabs” of unresolved choices and explain why waiting for 100% certainty keeps your life stuck in park. We redefine decisiveness in a way that actually helps: not a loud, hyperconfident personality trait, but the courage to make a choice, accept uncertainty, and commit to handling the outcome. From there, we lay out the compounding costs of choice paralysis, including cognitive drag, opportunity cost, and the erosion of self-trust that can sabotage confidence over time. Then we pivot to what changes when you train decisiveness, including time savings, faster learning through feedback, and real psychological peace from closing mental loops. To make it practical, we dig into decision fatigue and the neuroscience of executive function, including a famous study on parole judges that shows how depleted brains default to the safest status quo. You will also hear two high-leverage mental models for better decision making: one-way door versus two-way door choices, plus the 10-10-10 framework for short-term emotion vs long-term alignment. We close with a step-by-step plan to build decisiveness like a muscle: reduce low-stakes decisions, use the 45% to 70% information rule, run micro decisive drills, and get crystal clear on your values. If this helps, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What is the one decision you are ready to make today? We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  6. Apr 21

    Perfectionists Anonymous: A Guide To Setting You Free

    Perfectionism can look like a badge of honor, but it often behaves like a 20-ton suit of armor that keeps us stuck at the starting line. I’m David Sage, a self-worth and confidence coach, and I’m digging into the real reason so many smart, capable people freeze when it’s time to begin: perfectionism isn’t mainly about excellence, it’s about avoiding pain. When “doing it wrong” feels unsafe, your brain treats a mistake like a threat, kicks you into survival mode, and drains the willpower you think you’re missing. We unpack the difference between the pursuit of excellence and perfectionism through the lens of approach vs avoidance motivation, plus the high-achiever paradox of pressing the gas and the brake at the same time. I also share why this problem feels so loud right now, including research on socially prescribed perfectionism and how comparison culture can widen the gap between our taste and our current skills, fueling burnout and anxiety. From there, we get practical. I walk you through tools to break paralysis by analysis, make decisions without chasing a mythical “perfect” option, and build momentum with meaningful, messy action. You’ll hear about the 80% rule for “good enough,” how to reframe failure as necessary friction for growth and mastery, and why self-compassion is a proven performance tool, not a free pass. We close with a simple weekly challenge: do one thing badly, on purpose, to break the seal and get moving. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s stuck, and leave a review so more people can find the show. We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  7. Apr 7

    Moral Licensing: Why Being “Good” Can Wreck Your Goals

    You know that moment when you do something disciplined and instantly feel like you “earned” the right to blow up the rest of your day? A brutal workout turns into donuts, a big savings win turns into a spending spree, a focused work block turns into hours of scrolling. That pattern isn’t a lack of character. It’s a powerful cognitive bias called moral licensing, and it quietly drains willpower, derails habit change, and delays the goals you care about most.    We walk through what moral licensing actually is, why the brain creates a hidden moral ledger, and how treating self-control like a moral test makes progress backfire. I break down a landmark psychology study that shows how quickly “proving you’re a good person” can lower your guard, then we bring it back to everyday life: dieting and fitness goals, budgeting and personal finance, productivity and procrastination, even “good intention” traps where planning a healthy future makes you indulge today. If you’ve ever said “I’ve been so good” right before a choice you later regret, you’ll recognize yourself here.    To help you break the cycle, I share four practical shifts you can start using immediately: dropping good vs bad language, reconnecting to your why, changing identity from “forcing discipline” to “becoming the person,” and the tomorrow-is-today rule that crushes the fantasy of a magically perfect future you. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest “I earned it” trap you’re working on. We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

  8. Mar 24

    Curiosity Conversation #2: Role Models

    We challenge the idea of a single perfect role model and trade it for something more useful: picking specific traits we want to emulate without putting anyone on a pedestal. We connect role models to creativity, ADHD focus, and practical time management so admiration turns into real behavior change.  • role models as traits and compartments rather than whole people  • fandom and idolization versus grounded admiration  • aggressively creative people and the pressure to match their output  • creativity, depression, motivation, and giving yourself credit  • ADHD hyperfocus as a strength and a liability  • directing attention with reframes and “mental tricks”  • habit stacking by pairing enjoyable media with chores  • reward systems versus pairing strategies for activation energy  • the urgent important quadrant method for prioritizing tasks  • learning the “how” behind someone’s growth and skill  • becoming the role model you would have wanted  Take action, subscribe, and share this podcast with them  We'd love to hear your feedback, so click the link in the description and let us know what you think  If you haven't already, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on more Sage advice  We would love to hear your feedback! Click here to tell us what you think. https://sagesolutions.buzzsprout.com  If you are interested in one-on-one coaching, email us at: sagecoachingsolutions@gmail.com **Legal Disclaimer** The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.

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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Advice and insight about personal growth, personal development, and becoming your best self. 

Information

  • Creator
    David Sage
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sage Solutions
  • Show Website
    Sage Solutions