What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

Bill Ellis; Brand Architect
  • 4.9 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Have you ever asked yourself What's the Point? What's the point of your work, your hobbies, your life? What's the point of what you do? What's the Point? is a question that can't be asked too often. It's a question that ultimately uncovers your purpose professionally, personally - in life as a whole. Join Brand Architect Bill Ellis as he pursues the answer to this question, and more, with people who have discovered their purpose, fuel it with their passion, and drive it through persistence. You'll be familiar with many of Bill's guests, while others you won't know but should. Each episode will be filled with learning, laughter, and inspiration which you can incorporate into clarifying your own purpose and moving closer to the success and fulfillment you desire. Listen and subscribe now so that you don't miss a single episode of awesomeness.

  1. 5d ago

    134. The Life You Learn to Believe Is Possible | Damaris Melo-Gyasi on Possibility, Purpose, and Making Your Way

    What makes a life possible before we can even see the route? Sometimes it begins because someone shows us a version of life we never knew existed. For Damaris Melo-Gyasi, that moment came at seven years old when a female architect sat at her family's dining table in São Paulo. Damaris didn't really understand architecture yet, but she understood what she saw: confidence, leadership, strength, and possibility. She decided she would become an architect. The route was anything but simple. Damaris grew up in a low-income family, and the highly competitive University of São Paulo was one of the only realistic paths available to her. She failed the entrance exam badly the first time, narrowly missed it the second, and tried again. On her third attempt, she was accepted—an opportunity that eventually led to Arizona State University and a career in architecture in the United States. Her story is about grit, but it is also about influence. Damaris talks about learning to distinguish between people who are trying to protect us and people who are trying to limit us. She also challenges the idea that another person's success takes something away from our own. Instead of guarding the "pie," why not help make it bigger? That philosophy became increasingly important as her career progressed. After years of success in Phoenix, Damaris moved to Minnesota and found herself in environments where she felt overlooked and unable to contribute at the level she knew she could. Success, for her, was never primarily about salary. It was about impact, influence, and having a seat at the table. When she couldn't find that opportunity, she created it. Damaris founded Design by Melo, building the kind of workplace she had wanted for herself and intentionally giving others room to lead, grow, and develop autonomy. That same philosophy shapes her approach to architecture. Rather than designing for communities, Damaris believes in designing with them. She asks deeper questions: What do families want for their children? What makes people feel safe? What can this building make possible for the neighborhood? That approach can be seen in Opportunity Crossing, an affordable housing development created with Project for Pride in Living. Damaris describes it as a "love letter to community," shaped by listening carefully to the people who would actually live there. And then her story comes full circle. Years after seeing that first architect in her childhood home, a young Somali girl recognized Damaris in a restaurant and asked, "Are you the architect?" The girl had seen Damaris working on Opportunity Crossing. Seeing a Black woman with an accent serving as the architect made something new feel possible for her—just as another woman had done for Damaris decades earlier. That is one of the larger ideas in this episode: We rarely know who is watching us. Sometimes we intentionally mentor, open doors, or create opportunities. Other times, influence happens simply because someone sees us living a life they did not know was available to them. Damaris' book, Making My Way, reflects on that journey and the many people who helped her along the way. She reminds us that while obstacles and unfairness are real, we shouldn't become so focused on the fight that we miss the people trying to open the next door. For Damaris, possibility itself became fuel. Once she saw what could be possible, she couldn't unsee it. And when Bill asks, "What's the point?" Damaris' answer is to fulfill your destiny and not leave anything unlived. We may not receive the same opportunities, but each of us has something unique to offer—and pursuing that potential is worth it.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters—their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do. Links for This Episode: Design by Melo: https://www.designbymelo.com/ Instagram: @damarismelospeaks Facebook: Damaris Melo TikTok: @damaris.melo.speaks   Opportunity Crossing Documentary Project for Pride in Living is the nonprofit developer, with Design by Melo serving as architect: https://youtu.be/4nyBhrxAcPs   Making My Way  Amazon: https://a.co/d/05mvvGlz Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-my-way-damaris-melo-gyasi/1149679731?ean=9798218878528 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/making-my-way-a-story-of-grit-and-grace-damaris-melo-gyasi/020c8b140d42b02f?ean=9798218878528&bkshp-astro=t   Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – What makes a different life feel possible? 02:00 – The woman who changed what Damaris could imagine 06:00 – Growing up low-income in São Paulo 11:00 – Being told architecture school wasn't realistic 13:00 – "I just need to be the one who gets in" 20:00 – Supportive advice vs. limiting advice 26:00 – Why successful people should share what they know 28:00 – Failing twice before getting into architecture school 29:00 – The opportunity that brought Damaris to America 31:00 – When her career stopped giving her room to grow 32:00 – Why success meant influence—not salary 34:00 – Gender and racial barriers in architecture 38:00 – What to do when you still feel overlooked 40:00 – Making your own way 41:00 – Designing with communities instead of for them 44:00 – Opportunity Crossing 47:00 – Helping young people see themselves in architecture 49:00 – The girl who recognized Damaris as "the architect" 50:00 – Why she wrote Making My Way 53:00 – The responsibility that comes with influence 58:00 – Understanding her own story differently 1:00:00 – What kept her going before she had proof 1:02:00 – Damaris answers: "What's the point?"

  2. Sep 9

    133. What We Carry, What We Choose | Nahum Vizakis on Fear, Survival, and Surrender

    What does fear look like when it doesn't look frightened? Sometimes it looks like toughness, control, self-reliance, stubbornness, or the need to keep moving no matter what is happening underneath. In this episode of What's the Point?, Bill Ellis sits down with Nahum Vizakis, whose life has taken him through foster care, military bomb disposal, bodybuilding, addiction, recovery, family reconciliation, faith, and a continuing search for a different way to live. Nahum grew up surrounded by instability and fear, moving through difficult home circumstances, foster homes, homelessness, and unfamiliar schools. Chaos became familiar, and many of the habits he developed were ways of coping with a world that rarely felt safe. After September 11, 2001, Nahum joined the military and eventually entered Explosive Ordnance Disposal—military bomb disposal. In Iraq, his first mission forced him to confront the possibility of death in a way training never could. That moment planted a deeper question: how much of what he had called strength was actually fear and a need for control? After losing a close friend, leaving the military, and struggling with the emotional impact of his experiences, bodybuilding became another outlet for his intensity. What began constructively eventually became tied to obsession, external validation, substance use, and another identity he felt compelled to maintain. Nahum describes addiction as a response to emotional overwhelm. Fatherhood and a painful custody battle eventually forced him to confront fears about repeating his own father's mistakes and question what strength, leadership, and identity really meant. A major turning point came when he returned home and began reconnecting with his family. Through difficult conversations, forgiveness, and vulnerability, he began letting go of his need to understand and control everything. One of the central ideas in this conversation is that acceptance does not require agreement. Nahum shares how moving from control toward surrender changed the way he approaches family, conflict, faith, and himself. He also discusses journaling and writing as tools that helped him revisit his story without blame, victimhood, or projection and instead ask what his experiences had taught him. Toward the end of the episode, Bill and Nahum discuss the bodywork, fitness, and biohacking practices that are now part of Nahum's work and personal philosophy. These portions reflect Nahum's own experiences and views and are not medical advice. Underneath it all is a simpler question: What are we carrying because it once helped us survive—and what are we now willing to choose differently? For Nahum, the point is evolution: continuing to move through pain and fear toward greater love, acceptance, and alignment rather than allowing old survival patterns to dictate the rest of the story. CONNECT WITH BILL bill@billellis.com www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com Instagram: @wcellis Facebook: @CoachBillEllis | @bill.ellis LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE Websites: www.optimizinghuman.com www.spiritualbodybuiler.com Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551701597490 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_bodybuilder/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBmmf1OpYLL7JrD2ExMQLA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nahum-vizakis-596092266/ Books: https://a.co/d/05v2e9kW https://a.co/d/0epfv42G What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters—their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do. QUICK EPISODE SUMMARY 00:00 – What does fear look like when it doesn't look frightened? 03:00 – When chaos starts to feel normal 07:00 – Why Nahum joined the military after 9/11 10:00 – Entering EOD: military bomb disposal 11:30 – His first mission and confronting death 13:00 – How fear became a need for control 14:00 – Losing a friend and unraveling in Iraq 19:00 – Bodybuilding, obsession, and external validation 23:00 – Fatherhood, fear, and questioning his identity 25:00 – Returning home and reconnecting with family 27:00 – How family healing began 29:00 – Letting go of the need to know everything 30:00 – Vulnerability, forgiveness, and acceptance 32:00 – Moving from control toward surrender 36:00 – The bodybuilding moment that forced an identity shift 38:00 – Realizing the armor was hiding insecurity 41:00 – Writing his story and seeing it differently 42:00 – Journaling as a tool for self-reflection 46:00 – Nahum's current bodywork and wellness philosophy 48:00 – What he means by "biohacking" 54:00 – Nahum answers: "What's the point?"

  3. Sep 2

    132. Starting Again Without Starting Over | Dr. Ann Marie Peters on Returning to Work After a Career Pause

    What happens when you step away from a career you worked hard to build? And when you're ready to return, are you truly starting over—or are you bringing years of experience, growth, caregiving, problem-solving, and perspective with you? In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Dr. Ann Marie Peters, executive coach, leadership strategist, and author of the forthcoming book We'll Be Right Back. Ann Marie stepped away from paid work for five years before finding her way back through entrepreneurship and eventually researching the experiences of other women navigating similar career pauses. Her story begins with a successful corporate career and an unusual work arrangement that was decades ahead of its time. When her first daughter was born in 1995, Ann Marie expected she might have to choose between full-time work and staying home. Instead, her manager asked what it would take to keep her—and agreed to let her work part-time and from home, long before remote work became commonplace. For years, that flexibility allowed her to keep growing professionally while spending meaningful time with her family. But eventually, with three children, increasing travel, relocations, and growing responsibilities at home, the balancing act stopped working. Ann Marie made the difficult decision to step away completely—a choice that brought relief, but also an unexpected loss of professional identity. She describes the discomfort of being asked, "What do you do?" and realizing how much of her sense of self had been connected to her career. Without performance reviews, professional feedback, promotions, or even the simple recognition that comes with being valued at work, confidence can begin to erode. And as the years pass, people may begin to question whether their skills are still relevant—or even forget how accomplished they once were. But a career pause is not empty time. Ann Marie explains that caregiving, parenting, community involvement, volunteering, and managing a household can develop significant skills—time management, negotiation, budgeting, mediation, leadership, delegation, event planning, fundraising, and more. One of the most important parts of returning is learning how to recognize those experiences and translate them into language that employers understand. We also discuss what employers need to understand about people returning after a pause. Some barriers are structural, including résumé systems that may automatically filter out applicants with employment gaps. Others are cultural, including assumptions about mothers, caregivers, or candidates whose careers haven't followed a traditional linear path. Ann Marie argues that employers who look beyond the gap may find highly experienced, motivated people with proven track records and valuable new skills. For anyone considering a return, Ann Marie offers practical advice: remember what you accomplished before the pause, identify what you learned during it, get support updating your résumé, reconnect with career resources and your network, identify the real barriers standing in your way, and begin taking small steps. Returning does not have to mean immediately jumping back into a 50-hour workweek. A part-time role, volunteer position, returnship, or entrepreneurial project can become an experiment—and an important first step. The larger lesson extends beyond career pauses. Starting again does not mean erasing everything that came before. It means remembering who you were, recognizing who you became during the pause, and deciding what fits the person you are now. As Ann Marie says at the end of the episode: your story is never over. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won   Links for This Episode: Website: https://www.annmariepeters.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariepeters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576489996830 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amp_is_back Pre-order We'll Be Right Back: https://www.annmariepeters.com/book-well-be-right-back What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters—their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.   Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Are you starting over or picking up where you left off? 01:00 – Meet Dr. Ann Marie Peters 02:00 – Building a career and professional identity 03:00 – Confidence, mentorship, and early career development 05:00 – Working remotely and part-time in 1995 10:00 – The career risk of flexible work before it was normal 15:00 – When the balancing act became too much 16:00 – Making the scary decision to step away 17:00 – Losing part of your professional identity 18:00 – What happens when professional feedback disappears? 20:00 – Can you love staying home and still miss your career? 23:00 – Why previous experience still matters 24:00 – Mentorship and becoming the mentor yourself 26:00 – Rebuilding confidence when you don't feel ready 32:00 – Who this conversation applies to beyond corporate careers 33:00 – Remembering who you were before the pause 35:00 – How to reconnect with your professional confidence 36:00 – What happened during the career pause matters too 39:00 – The pushes and pulls behind leaving work 41:00 – What employers misunderstand about career gaps 43:00 – The hidden skills employers may overlook 46:00 – Three places to start when you're ready to return 48:00 – Why small steps count 49:00 – Treating your return as an experiment 52:00 – Dr. Peters answers: "What's the point?"

  4. Jun 24

    131. The Hidden Stories Behind How We Spend, Save, and Struggle | Tari Vickery the Emotional Side of Money

    Why can someone earn well, save responsibly, and still feel anxious every time they open their bank account? That question is at the heart of this conversation with Tari Vickery, financial wellness coach, founder of Life Matters Financial Group, and author of The Emotional Side of Money. We aren't talking primarily about budgets, investments, or how to earn more. We're exploring the memories, fears, relationships, and inherited beliefs that shape how we spend, save, and struggle. Tari's own money story began with fear. Her mother was only 19 when Tari was born, had limited education, and was left to raise two children without financial support from their father. Tari describes growing up in a family where generations of women became the providers and survivors. The message wasn't simply that money was scarce. It was that they were people who would always have to struggle—but would somehow find a way through. Those lessons reached Tari long before she had money of her own. She remembers being four years old, hearing an advertisement for a loan company, and asking why her mother couldn't simply call and borrow the money they needed. Her mother explained the realities of debt and repayment, giving Tari an unusually early awareness of financial pressure. It was one of many experiences that connected money with survival, security, and fear. Tari's adult life brought dramatic financial extremes. She and her husband built a successful wholesale carpet business and achieved significant wealth at a young age. Then economic forces beyond their control caused them to lose the business, their home, their retirement, and the life they had created. Tari went from living in a 6,000-square-foot home to cleaning houses for income before making the unexpected decision to apply to Stanford. Her story shows that rebuilding after financial loss is rarely just about rebuilding a bank account. It is also about rebuilding identity, confidence, and trust in yourself. Tari explains that the financial recovery often follows the personal recovery—not the other way around. We also explore why reaching a certain number rarely makes anxiety disappear. Tari shares the story of a friend who believed having $100,000 would finally make her feel safe. Once she had it, the money suddenly "didn't count," and the target moved again. When we are chasing a feeling of safety rather than a specific financial need, there may never be a number that feels like enough. The same hidden stories often surface in relationships. Tari describes couples who believe they are fighting over credit cards, furniture, or spending decisions when they are really arguing about the completely different financial worlds in which they were raised. One person may believe money must be earned through effort, while another grew up with easy access to a parent's credit card. One may believe in buying the best and keeping it forever, while the other believes in stretching limited money across everything the household needs. Money becomes the surface-level disagreement, but underneath it are beliefs about safety, responsibility, control, love, worth, and what a successful life should look like. Ultimately, this conversation is about the difference between having enough and believing you have enough. Tari's journey from scarcity toward abundance did not mean pretending that financial hardship wasn't real. It meant developing the confidence that whatever happened, she could respond, adapt, and find a way forward. Financial freedom may not begin with a number. It may begin with understanding the stories we inherited, deciding which ones still serve us, and learning to trust that we can create a life aligned with who we are and what we value. What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters - their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: CONTACT INFO: Name - Tari K. Vickery Email - tari@tarikvickeryauthor.com Website(s) - https://www.tarikvickeryauthor.com/   SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tari-k-vickery-09027a2/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561349842621 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tarikvickeryauthor/ Threads - https://bsky.app/profile/tarikvickeryauthor.bsky.social BOOK: "The Emotional Side of Money" Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242974806-the-emotional-side-of-money Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Side-Money-Financial-Wellness/dp/B0FWZY5J8H/ Bookshop - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-emotional-side-of-money-a-roadmap-to-financial-wellness-tari-k-vickery/9fb9475edf7fe89f   Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Why money is rarely just about money 01:00 – Meet Tari Vickery and The Emotional Side of Money 02:00 – Growing up with money, fear, and survival 03:00 – Three generations of women, work, and financial struggle 04:00 – Do we inherit a financial mindset? 06:30 – Asking for a loan at four years old 08:00 – Understanding her mother and releasing the past 09:30 – What financial instability really threatens 11:00 – Tari's first childhood business 12:00 – Working through high school and becoming a high achiever 14:00 – Building wealth through a family business 15:00 – Losing the business, home, retirement, and lifestyle 17:00 – Cleaning houses and deciding to apply to Harvard 18:00 – Applying to Stanford and changing the family's future 20:00 – From a 6,000-square-foot house to campus housing 21:00 – Reinvention driven by survival 22:00 – How different childhoods affect financial hardship 24:00 – Rebuilding personally before rebuilding financially 25:00 – Why reaching a financial goal doesn't always bring safety 27:00 – Feeling financially secure but emotionally unsafe 28:00 – What children learn by watching their parents 30:00 – Why the goalpost of "enough" keeps moving 31:00 – Spending $1,000 and feeling nothing 34:00 – Why money is so difficult to talk about 35:00 – Two completely different childhood money stories 37:00 – What couples are really fighting about when they fight over money 40:00 – Why successful people still avoid opening bills 42:00 – How to begin changing a painful relationship with money 44:00 – The difference between having enough and believing it 45:00 – Scarcity versus abundance 46:00 – What financial freedom really means 48:00 – Money, identity, gratitude, and loving your life 49:30 – Tari answers: "What's the point?" What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters - their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

  5. Jun 10

    130. Why Getting Organized Isn't Really About Being Tidy | Lisa Woodruff on Overwhelm, Systems, and Self-Trust

    Most people think getting organized means having a cleaner house, a tidier desk, or a color-coded planner. But what if organization isn't really about tidiness at all? In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize 365 and author of The Paper Solution and the upcoming book Escaping Quicksand. Our conversation explores a question that resonates with almost everyone: Why do capable people feel so overwhelmed by ordinary life? Lisa argues that the problem isn't laziness, lack of discipline, or personal failure. The real issue is that most of us were never taught how to manage the operating system of everyday life. We learn how to do jobs, earn degrees, and build careers, but very few people ever learn how to manage the invisible work of running a household. From bills and calendars to appointments, paperwork, meals, planning, and decision-making, there's far more happening beneath the surface than most of us realize. One of the most eye-opening moments in the conversation is Lisa's estimate that maintaining a household requires roughly 28 hours of work each week—and much of that work is invisible. Because we don't see it, we often fail to account for it, which creates guilt and frustration when we inevitably feel behind. We also explore the difference between organizing visible clutter and organizing life itself. Lisa explains that piles of paper, overflowing inboxes, and unfinished tasks aren't usually the real problem. More often, they're symptoms of larger systems that haven't been designed to handle the ongoing projects and responsibilities of everyday living. The conversation also dives into executive function, ADHD, procrastination, discipline, and why systems create freedom rather than restriction. Lisa shares her own late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and explains how creating structures that fit her strengths allowed her to build a successful business while managing a complex household. Rather than viewing organization as a personality trait, she sees it as a learnable skill that helps people trust themselves more. Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes organization as something much bigger than keeping things neat. It's about reducing overwhelm, reclaiming mental bandwidth, and creating enough space to focus on what truly matters. In other words, getting organized isn't about becoming perfect. It's about building a life that works for you. What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters - their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won   Links for This Episode: Email: customerservice@organize365.com Website(s) http://organize365.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff Instagram http://instagram.com/organize365 BOOK: https://organize365.com/escapingquicksand Quick Episode Summary:    00:00 – Why getting organized isn't really about being tidy 01:00 – Meet Lisa Woodruff and Organize 365 02:30 – The invisible work of running a household 04:00 – Why organizing your pantry isn't enough 06:00 – What people think organization is vs. what it actually is 07:30 – Why piles of paper become emotional burdens 10:00 – The hidden projects behind everyday clutter 11:00 – Running a household like a business 13:00 – The surprising economic power of households 14:30 – Planning, supply chains, and invisible labor 16:00 – Lisa's entrepreneurial upbringing and early lessons 19:00 – Is overwhelm caused by invisible work? 20:00 – Digital overwhelm vs. paper systems 23:00 – A forgotten $123,000 account and why paper still matters 26:00 – Why households need systems too 28:00 – The grocery shopping story that changed everything 30:00 – Executive function explained simply 32:00 – Why knowing what to do isn't enough 33:00 – Productive procrastination and small tasks 35:00 – Why organization isn't about willpower 37:00 – Systems for different personalities and learning styles 39:00 – Lisa's ADHD diagnosis and what it changed 43:00 – ADHD, entrepreneurship, and adapting to life 46:00 – Why structure creates freedom 47:00 – Ownership, responsibility, and self-trust 48:00 – Feeling permanently behind? Start here. 50:00 – Discipline, habits, and consistency 52:00 – Escaping Quicksand: the idea behind the new book 53:00 – What's the Point? Lisa's answer

  6. May 27

    129. The Versions of Ourselves We Learn to Become | Femi Corazon on Identity, Adaptation, and Change

    How much of who we become is actually ours? That question sits underneath this deeply thoughtful conversation with Femi Corazon, a senior creative leader whose life has moved across cultures, industries, storytelling, leadership, and behavior change. Her story begins in Iowa, stretches through the Philippines and Nigeria, and eventually lands in New York advertising, technology, and creative strategy. But underneath all of it is a deeper thread: identity. Femi talks openly about growing up feeling visibly different in every environment she entered. In the Philippines, her Blackness stood out. In Nigeria, her mixed identity made her feel foreign. Returning to the United States as a teenager brought another layer of cultural adaptation. Yet what stands out most in her story is the distinction she makes between difference and rejection. She never felt unloved by her family or communities, but she became deeply aware of how much human beings adapt in order to belong. That lifelong process of adaptation eventually became the foundation of her work. Femi explains that storytelling wasn't simply creative expression for her — it was survival. Stories helped her understand people, navigate unfamiliar environments, and make meaning out of change. That same curiosity later shaped her career in advertising, coding, user experience, and behavioral strategy. Whether she was building software systems at BBDO or leading creative teams years later, the underlying question remained the same: What makes people move? One of the strongest themes in this episode is that information alone does not change people. Human beings change when a new version of themselves feels emotionally survivable. Femi describes behavior through the lens of narrative: the unhealthy habits, fears, or limitations people hold onto are often rooted in stories that once kept them safe. Meaningful change only happens when people can imagine a different story that feels possible for them. We also spend time discussing leadership, empathy, creativity, and the emotional burden leaders sometimes carry. Femi speaks candidly about learning boundaries, avoiding burnout, and understanding that leadership is not about sacrificing yourself for others, but about creating environments where people can safely do their best work. Again, the conversation keeps returning to meaning, purpose, and the stories human beings live inside every day. Toward the end of our discussion, Femi reflects on technology, artificial intelligence, and the fear that humanity may slowly lose touch with what makes us human in the first place. But she also shares what gives her hope: the belief that despite all our flaws, people are still driven by connection, meaning, and the desire to understand one another. Ultimately, this episode is about identity — not as something fixed, but as something continually shaped through story, culture, adaptation, and choice. And maybe the most important question isn't simply Who am I? but Is the story I'm living still helping me become who I'm meant to be? What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: CONTACT INFO: Name: Femi Corazon Email: femi@femicorazon.com Website(s): femicorazon.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/femicorazon Instagram: @‌femicorazon   Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Introduction + "The Versions of Ourselves We Learn to Become" 01:00 – Growing up between Iowa, the Philippines, and Nigeria 03:00 – Feeling different in every culture 05:00 – Difference vs. rejection: an important distinction 07:00 – Being visibly "other" and adapting to survive 10:00 – Family, belonging, and multigenerational influence 13:00 – Learning English and adapting in Nigeria 15:00 – Creativity, imagination, and storytelling as survival 17:00 – The stories we inherit vs. the stories we choose 18:00 – Why acting and advertising both mattered to Femi 20:00 – Moving to New York to become an actress 21:00 – Coding at BBDO and learning human behavior 24:00 – Storytelling, software, and influencing adoption 26:00 – Why behavior change starts with curiosity 29:00 – Understanding the stories people tell themselves 31:00 – What actually makes people change? 33:00 – Safety, fear, and emotionally survivable change 36:00 – Leadership, meaning, and motivating teams 40:00 – Leadership boundaries and avoiding burnout 42:00 – Pitching ideas and understanding human psychology 46:00 – Why information alone doesn't change people 48:00 – Curiosity, learning, and stepping into uncertainty 49:00 – What worries Femi most about the world today 51:00 – Humanity, connection, and what gives her hope 52:00 – "What's the point?" + Femi's final answer

  7. May 20

    128. When It's Time to Change, Even If It's Working | Julian Lighton on Progress, Purpose, and Navigating Your Next

    Have you ever found yourself in something that works on paper… but doesn't really feel right anymore? That's the question at the center of this conversation with Julian Lighton, executive coach, strategist, and author of Navigating Your Next. Julian has spent decades helping leaders and organizations navigate change, but this conversation isn't just about career strategy — it's about identity, growth, and learning how to recognize when something no longer fits. Julian's own path has been anything but linear. Trained originally in law at Oxford, he realized early that he didn't want the life attached to the career he had prepared for. That decision began a journey across startups, consulting, Cisco, McKinsey, and executive leadership roles — each step driven less by title and more by what he calls "progress over progression." In other words, focusing on becoming better rather than simply climbing higher. One of the most compelling parts of our conversation centers around competency versus passion. Julian challenges the modern obsession with "following your passion," arguing instead that confidence and fulfillment are often built through becoming deeply competent at something meaningful. Passion can fuel us, but discipline, consistency, and learning are what sustain long-term growth. We also explore the emotional side of change: fear, identity, risk, and the uncomfortable realization that success doesn't always equal happiness. Julian shares stories of leaving environments that no longer aligned with who he was becoming, including a major move from London to San Francisco that completely reshaped his career and life. He talks openly about failure, why learning requires discomfort, and why some of the most successful people he knows are also deeply unhappy because they pursued progression without questioning what they actually wanted. Throughout the episode, Julian returns to three key questions: Am I learning? Am I in the right context? Am I surrounded by the right people? Those questions become a framework not just for career decisions, but for life itself. This episode is ultimately about responsibility — understanding that no one is coming to rescue you, and that meaningful change begins the moment you decide you're no longer willing to stay where you are. It's a conversation about growth, risk, purpose, and the realization that the point may not be the destination at all… but the journey itself.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won   Links for This Episode: https://www.julianlighton.com Navigating Your Next: https://amzn.to/4eV8CVU  Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Introduction + "When It's Time to Change, Even If It's Working" 01:00 – Julian's background in law and choosing not to become a barrister 04:00 – Joining a startup before startups existed 08:30 – How early career experiences shaped everything that followed 09:30 – Progress vs. progression explained 13:00 – Why these ideas apply far beyond business careers 14:00 – "What discussion should never happen without you in the room?" 16:00 – Competency vs. passion: what actually creates success? 20:00 – Why expertise is more accessible today than ever before 22:00 – Discipline, identity, and "doing is being" 24:00 – Taking opportunities before feeling fully ready 27:00 – Recognizing when leadership or culture no longer fits 30:00 – Learning, context, and culture: Julian's framework for change 31:00 – Moving from London to San Francisco in the 1990s 37:00 – Fear, risk, and deciding what you're no longer willing to tolerate 40:00 – Why change begins with personal responsibility 42:00 – Choosing the right work, context, and people 45:00 – Career success vs. balanced life 49:00 – Failure, learning, and why growth requires discomfort 54:00 – "It's about the journey, not the destination" 56:00 – Closing reflections + final thoughts  What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.

  8. May 13

    127. The Long Game: Susan Friedmann on Purpose, Publishing, and Staying Excited About Life

    In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Susan Friedmann, founder of Aviva Publishing and Marketing, to talk about longevity — not just in business, but in life. What does it take to stay engaged with something over time without becoming stale, stuck, or disconnected from yourself? Susan has spent decades helping nonfiction authors bring their books into the world, but what stood out most in our conversation wasn't simply publishing. It was her honesty about passion, reinvention, and recognizing when something no longer fits. She reflects on starting in the trade show industry, building expertise there for more than two decades, and eventually realizing she had lost the excitement that once fueled her work. That recognition led her toward publishing — first for her own books, then eventually for more than 1,200 titles through her company. Throughout the episode, Susan shares what authors often misunderstand about success. Many believe publishing the book is the finish line, when in reality it's only the beginning. Marketing, she explains, is a long game built on consistency, clarity, and understanding exactly who you're trying to help. The same principle applies far beyond books: meaningful work requires ongoing attention and adaptation. We also explore identity — how difficult it can be to let go of the version of yourself you've spent years building. Susan speaks candidly about the fear of starting over later in life, losing the title that once defined her, and realizing that excitement and curiosity mattered more than simply maintaining familiarity. It's a conversation many listeners will recognize, especially anyone wrestling with whether to stay in something that no longer feels alive. Another recurring theme is learning. Susan talks about travel, exposure to different cultures, communication in long relationships, and even the role AI now plays in creativity and publishing. Rather than resisting change, she looks for ways to stay curious. Her belief is simple: if something feels stale, explore it from another angle. Find new perspectives. Keep learning. Ultimately, this conversation is about paying attention — to your work, your relationships, and yourself. Longevity isn't passive. It requires honesty, adaptation, communication, and the courage to ask whether what once fit still does. Susan reminds us that staying engaged is less about holding onto one identity forever and more about continuing to grow into the next version of yourself. What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters — their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do.   Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com  www.billellis.com www.brandingforresults.com IG - @wcellis Facebook - @CoachBillEllis Facebook - @bill.ellis  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis Book: Women Who Won   Links for This Episode: Email: susan@avivapubs.com Website(s) https://avivapubs.com SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanfriedmann Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.marketer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avivapubs PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-marketing-mentors/id1053995420 BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-A.-Friedmann/author/B001ILM7BA Quick Episode Summary:  00:00 – Introduction + "Staying Engaged: The Point of Longevity" 01:00 – Susan Friedmann's work helping nonfiction authors 02:00 – What authors really want from writing a book 03:00 – Why marketing to "everyone" never works 05:00 – Editing, attention spans, and book covers that matter 08:00 – Passion, confidence, and believing in your work 10:00 – Being honest about what you can and can't do 11:00 – The biggest mistakes authors make 13:00 – Why publishing is only the beginning 15:00 – The long game of marketing and consistency 18:00 – Susan's early career and trade show expertise 20:00 – Getting rejected three times before success 22:00 – How Aviva Publishing unexpectedly evolved 23:00 – Losing passion and recognizing it was time to change 25:00 – Identity, reinvention, and starting over later in life 27:00 – Adapting to technology, AI, and publishing shifts 31:00 – Staying excited instead of becoming stale 33:00 – Creativity, AI, and finding fresh perspectives 35:00 – What makes something truly "work" 37:00 – Learning from people, travel, and different cultures 39:00 – The secret to long relationships: communication and honesty 42:00 – Feeling like you don't belong and what travel teaches us 46:00 – Knowing when something no longer fits 49:00 – Being brave enough to change your life 52:00 – "What's the point?" Susan's answer on gratitude and purpose

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Have you ever asked yourself What's the Point? What's the point of your work, your hobbies, your life? What's the point of what you do? What's the Point? is a question that can't be asked too often. It's a question that ultimately uncovers your purpose professionally, personally - in life as a whole. Join Brand Architect Bill Ellis as he pursues the answer to this question, and more, with people who have discovered their purpose, fuel it with their passion, and drive it through persistence. You'll be familiar with many of Bill's guests, while others you won't know but should. Each episode will be filled with learning, laughter, and inspiration which you can incorporate into clarifying your own purpose and moving closer to the success and fulfillment you desire. Listen and subscribe now so that you don't miss a single episode of awesomeness.

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