I.N.S.P.I.R.E.

Coach Drew Lawson

Life & Leadership Conversations That Go Deeper Featuring Coach Drew Lawson

  1. 2d ago

    Episode #3 of Season 2: Morning Routine

    INSPIRE | Season 2, Episode 3: Navigating Your Day with a Morning Routine Episode description How do you start the day as the person you want to be? In this "Navigate" episode, Drew Lawson and Steve Nadig unpack the SAVERS morning routine, plus the daily shutdown that bookends it. They cover what to do, what to avoid, and how to build a deluxe version and a 15-minute version that fits your real life. Steve also shares his personal anthem and commits to a 30-day experiment. In this episode Why a morning routine matters for decision-making, presence, and leading from calm rather than a triggered state (0:02) The big don'ts: no news, email, or social media first thing (4:28) Deluxe vs. compact routines, and why you shouldn't "should" on yourself (6:32) Bookends: the daily shutdown ritual and "parking your stressors" (7:14) S: Silence and solitude, including prayer, gratitude, grace, stillness (10:57) A: Affirmation and anthem, with Steve reading his anthem (14:48) Praise and positivity: catching people doing something right, and Gottman's ratios (22:06) V: Visualization of encounters, courage, and values in action (24:03) E: Exercise and energy, including water, walking, delayed caffeine, and light exposure (27:20) R: Reading, including why reading aloud matters (31:20) S: Scribing, now officially "scribbling" (37:51) Non-negotiables and the permission to experiment (40:15) Key takeaways Start the day analog and unplugged. Save news and email for later. Build two versions of your routine: a luxurious one and a roughly 15-minute minimum. Exercise, silence and solitude, and avoiding the news are the non-negotiables. How you do them is flexible. Bookend the day. A shutdown ritual helps you leave the day's stress behind. Praise generously, for yourself and your team. Brains default to negativity. Don't get overwhelmed. Experiment, have fun, and give yourself grace. Try it this week Say a short anthem or affirmation out loud, ideally in a mirror Take a 5-minute walk in morning light with water before caffeine Write for one page, or just scribble, by hand Design your shutdown ritual: a clothing change, a song, a garage-door moment Homework and 30-day challenges Steve: daily anthem and SAVERS for 30 days Drew: shorten his anthem and test a 10,000 lux morning light Books and resources mentioned Soundtracks, John Acuff (the anthem structure) Protocols, Andrew Huberman (energy, caffeine timing, light) The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron (morning pages) The Relationship Cure, John Gottman Atomic Habits, James Clear (Steve's reference point) The SAVERS author:  Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning

  2. Jan 28

    Episode #9: Bringing It All Together: Your True Self ToolKit

    Episode Notes: Season 1 Finale - Identity (I in INSPIRE) Drew and Steve wrap up Season 1 by providing practical tools to consolidate all the identity work covered in previous episodes. After exploring unwanted identities, false identities, and true self through values discovery, this episode offers multiple metaphors and frameworks to keep your authentic leadership front and center. Key Frameworks Discussed: Three Circles Diagram - A simple visual separating unwanted identities (middle ring), false identities (outer ring), and true self (center) that clients use daily for self-awareness checks The House of Me / Boardroom Metaphor - Creating a mental space where your true self leads from the "kitchen table" while other parts of you have their proper place in different "rooms" Captain & Crew - Your true self as the captain directing all other parts of your internal team with structure and consistency Constellation of Me - A visual mapping exercise showing the relationship between all your parts and where you position yourself among them Me Manual - A shareable document containing your DISC profile, strengths, values, and how you want to show up as a leader Practical Takeaways: Create vulnerability and awareness in your leadership by naming when false identities show up Choose one metaphor/tool that resonates and make it visible (poster, band, desktop image) Before your next leadership moment, pause and ask: "Who's showing up in me right now?" Start small - practice with a few decisions before running every choice through your framework Quote of the Episode: "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues or values have not been discovered." Coming in Season 2: Navigate (N in INSPIRE) - Taking your identity work into practical application, including creating your leadership anthem, defining your brand, and crafting a purpose statement.

  3. 12/22/2025

    Episode #8: True Self, Final Discussion about Values Clarification Exercises

    Episode #8: Identity, Values, and Returning to What Matters Most In this episode of INSPIRE, Drew Lawson and Steve Nadig continue their deep dive into identity and the True Self, focusing on the practical work of values clarification—not as an abstract exercise, but as a lived, daily practice. Using a simple yet powerful metaphor of weeds and plants, Drew and Steve explore how many of us spend years trying to eliminate our "weeds" (saboteurs, false selves, unwanted identities) without ever discovering the unique plant we're meant to grow. The invitation is not self-improvement, but self-discovery. Together, they walk through two core values exercises: Identifying values through energy, frustration, heroes, stories, and what moves us Distilling long lists of values into one to three core anchors that can actually guide daily decisions Steve shares how values like altruism, good character, and agape love show up in leadership, sports, and relationships, while Drew reflects on his own core values of Inspire, Embrace, and Whimsy—and the tension that arises when values are deeply held but not fully expressed. A key insight emerges: Values are not goals to achieve; they are anchors to return to. The conversation also explores: What it means when a value is high in importance but low in expression How grace matters more than guilt when we drift from our values Why judging others' values limits our own growth How rituals like value bands, reflection, and daily intention-setting help keep the True Self front and center The episode closes with a look ahead to what's next in the INSPIRE journey: building the "House of Me," clarifying purpose, creating a personal anthem, and eventually integrating strengths and Sage powers—moving from insight to embodiment. This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask a simple question: What values do I want to return to—again and again—in the life I'm living right now?

  4. 10/21/2025

    Episode #6: True Self: Discovering The Values That Shape Our Leadership

    Excavating the True Self: Discovering the Values That Shape Our Leadership Show Notes In this episode of the INSPIRE Podcast, Drew Lawson and Steve Nadig continue their exploration of Identity and Not Identity by turning inward—to the heart of our True Self. After unpacking false and unwanted identities in earlier episodes, they now focus on the inner circle: clarifying the core values that define who we are and guide how we lead. Drew introduces his decades-in-the-making Values Clarification Framework, a set of reflective exercises designed to surface the words and energies that bring us most alive. Together, Drew and Steve model the process in real time—sharing candid stories, honest self-reflections, and even a few laughs as they rediscover what matters most. Steve shares how altruism has shaped his life and leadership, while Drew reveals his distilled values of inspiration, whimsy, and embrace—and how they serve as antidotes to his "hyper-rational" saboteur. Their dialogue highlights the tension between our protective patterns and our authentic energy, showing that the key to growth isn't perfection but awareness. From Viktor Frankl to Brené Brown, from traffic metaphors to Japanese proverbs, the conversation is both practical and deeply human. As Drew reminds us, quoting Daniel Harkavy: "Leadership is the decisions we make and the influence we have. When those decisions come from our true identity, that's our calling." 🔑 Key Takeaways Slowing down to speed up: Reflection fuels authentic action. Values as a lens: Clarity brings alignment to choices and relationships. Energy matters: Fear drains, love replenishes. Less is more: Focus on one to three guiding values. Authenticity over activity: True leadership flows from identity, not image. Memorable Quotes "To unearth buried treasure, we have to dig deep into our soul." — Drew Lawson "You can't lead authentically until you've done this work." — Steve Nadig "One is fear and me; the other is love and we." — Drew Lawson   Reflection Prompt What's one value that energizes you when you live it—and drains you when you ignore it?   Resources Mentioned Daniel Harkavy — Becoming a Coaching Leader Brené Brown — Dare to Lead Viktor Frankl — Man's Search for Meaning Building Champions Values Clarification Tool

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Life & Leadership Conversations That Go Deeper Featuring Coach Drew Lawson