FINE is a 4-Letter Word

Lori Saitz

Wasn’t it just a couple years ago you were sitting on the beach at spring break in Ft. Lauderdale – listening to the Pet Shop Boys, U2, and Def Leppard - with your entire life ahead of you? Now you’re looking back 30 plus years and wondering what the hell happened. Not that it’s been all bad. Of course, there’ve been highs and lows. And today, everything’s fine. It’s just fine. That’s the problem. You don’t really feel like you have anything to complain about. Lots of people might envy what you have. But you’re feeling a deep undercurrent of suck. Like, there must be something more. And you don’t know what to do about it. Welcome to Fine is a 4-Letter Word, with host Lori Saitz. Each week, you'll hear inspiring stories of self-discovery and courage from people who have said F*ck Being Fine and have transformed their lives and businesses. Plus, get practical tips and takeaways to move you from spinning in place - to forward action - so you can create a life of joy. None of us knows how much time we have here. So we have to make the most of it. We have to do the things that light us up and bring us joy. This show will give you hope, help you find your passion and purpose, and dare you to see the life that’s waiting for you. You’ll never hear - or say - the word “fine” in the same way again.

  1. Valuing Yourself Equally with Others In Friendships: A Special Episode With Lori

    21 AGO

    Valuing Yourself Equally with Others In Friendships: A Special Episode With Lori

    By the time you see this episode, I’ll be in Tanzania, petting lions and riding zebras. (Ok, I KNOW, that’s not likely to happen, but I wish it could!) This week marks a lot of milestones. It’s the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing, and part of my reason for visiting Tanzania is to honor his memory and express gratitude for making sure he left behind the funding I’d need for the trip. It’s also the 200th episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word – and as I was doing my last-minute packing and thinking about what I’d share, what immediately came to mind are the many valuable friendships and connections I’ve made through interviewing our amazing guests, working with our production team, and having the chance to dialogue with you – the listener – about what we share here. Thus the topic of this very short (just 12 minutes and 50 seconds) episode, which is all about valuing yourself equally in friendships. I’ve been around long enough to see friendships come and go – and stay – and am convinced of the validity of the saying “Some are for a season, some are for a lesson, and some are for life.” In today’s episode, YOU are the subject. When you tune in now, you’ll discover a simple but powerful blueprint that helps you determine which of your friendships serve you equally with the other person, which don’t, what you may be able to do to correct it, and what happens if you can’t. At the very end, I have two very short “asks” of you – one is about the podcast, and one is about the status of your friendships. I only ask if you could please give each one of them their due – it will take but a couple minutes – because the benefits you gain may astound you. Lori’s hype song as she records this special episode is “Raise Your Glass” by Pink. Resources: My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/     LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/ Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/ Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events. But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community. That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?! If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade...

    13 min
  2. Heart Work, Not Hard Work with Shaun Murphy

    14 AGO

    Heart Work, Not Hard Work with Shaun Murphy

    If you’re having difficulty finding what you’re looking for in life, have you thought about looking in a completely different place? One that might require walking away from what you have? Of course you can say that’s a lot easier said than done, especially if it feels like there’s not a whole lot out there for you. For Shaun Murphy, known internationally as Mister Motivation, the idea of staying in place, settling, and subsisting never really worked for him. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and at every step of the way, standing still has never been “fine” for him. His father was murdered when he was six years old. His mother, an immigrant from Barbados, was poverty-stricken yet resourceful and would go through walls to make sure the family had enough – not much, for sure, but enough – with about $100 per month to spare. And yet, if she was down to her last $20 and met a starving stranger on the street, she’d buy them a good meal. So showing up, working hard without complaining, staying grounded in service, and helping other people – these were the core values the experience imprinted on Shaun. After high school, he briefly went to college then dropped out to serve in the military for eight years. But when he got out, he discovered three unpleasant truths. One, there is not nearly enough support for military servicepeople transitioning to civilian life. Two, after eight years of active duty and living well, all of a sudden he was back to not knowing for sure where his next meal would come from. And third, he found that as a man in his community, a man just couldn’t talk about it when things aren’t fine. Even if his buddies gave him an understanding ear in the moment, they might embarrass him over it a few weeks down the road. And women would see him as soft. Shaun’s next job was working in the mailroom at NYU, where he learned a priceless lesson I’ll let him tell you about. Next it was off to Iraq, working as a combat civilian working the postal mission. And then he was introduced to Teach for America and realized this was his calling. By now, he had a good-paying steady job and career prospects. “Impact over income”, Shaun tells us – so he got the degree he needed and took a huge pay cut for the opportunity to spread wealth into the lives of others. Fast-forward a bit, and Shaun found himself a former college dropout who had become a college professor teaching college students how to succeed in college. There’s so much more to this story, as I’m going to let Shaun tell you in his own words. Now, he’s an accomplished motivational speaker, musician, author – and sports team owner. I can’t wait to share. Shaun’s hype song is "The Bunker" by Mister Motivation. Resources: Shaun Murphy’s website: https://mister-motivation.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492 Claim your copy of Shaun Murphy's book, Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of...

    45 min
  3. Leading With Humanity Over Hustle with Christian Agulles

    7 AGO

    Leading With Humanity Over Hustle with Christian Agulles

    A lot of companies use positive-sounding cliches like “people over profit” and “work-life balance”. This sounds good, until somebody pulls the sales reports and says “we need more revenue and profits”. Then, the bottom line becomes the bottom line. This is sometimes served with a side of “you come to work to do work, change the world on your own time”. Now, picture a model where putting people over profit actually increases profits. Where work-life balance is not measured using number of hours worked or percentage of time in the office vs. working remotely. Being involved with a company that breaks the rules and norms for its industry, where coming to work to do work means doing your part to change the world. Christian Agulles has created all of these things in an industry known for squeezing its engineers like getting that last drop out of the toothpaste tube. Born and raised in College Point, a little town in Queens, Christian was a devout Catholic who went to church, went to Catholic school, and had the whole Catholic experience that, as he describes it, formed him and scarred him at the same time. His father, a police officer, was shot in the line of duty when Christian was seven. Even being able to retire on three-quarters pension, that money didn’t go far supporting a family including Christian and his two younger brothers. His mother went to work in the school cafeteria so she could align her schedule with her sons, and cleaned houses on weekends. By example, she taught Christian to not be afraid to do hard things and to do them with grace. While starting his family, Christian spent the first 20 years of his career with an engineering firm that moved him around the country to open new offices. But over those 20 years, his employer was repeatedly acquired and evolved into company that focused more on acquisition, revenue, and EBIDA. It was right around this time he was recruited to join PAE. Everything worked out fine, yes? Well, Fine is a 4-Letter Word. Did his moment of realization come from a coaching session at PAE with Sandy Lindstrom, known for the “polishing the diamond” principle, where he found out they did not feel he was very good at delivering feedback? Was it discovering that his foundational values around doing hard work with grace could be merged with volunteerism, altruism, and contribution? In a moment, when I bring Christian on, he’s going to guide us through his experience leading a Certified B-Corporation and how he’s taken one of their metrics – utilization – and redefined it to build PAE into a company that has a net positive impact not only on its employees, but on society as a whole. If, up until now, you’ve seen your best-laid plans get trumped by “the bottom line” when bills are due, this could be what you need to hear. Christian’s hype songs are "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke and "Right to Be Wrong" by Joss Stone. Resources: Christian Agulles’ website: https://www.pae-engineers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-j-agulles/ Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of...

    54 min
  4. Leading Magnanimously with Andrew Brummer

    31 JUL

    Leading Magnanimously with Andrew Brummer

    What if the secret to a peaceful, impactful life is simply refusing to live by anyone else’s rules?” Then imagine what would change if you stopped living for a legacy and started living like today is all that matters. As you get to know Andrew Brummer and his journey toward self-actualization, you’ll discover the seeds harvested with him were planted early. He had a difficult childhood for various reasons, but his parents provided a sound upbringing. His father taught him to be a “multiplier”. This means, to not only enhance others, but to be skilled in many areas rather than have a narrowly-focused specialty. Add his mother’s teaching that nobody is going to make things better for you and you alone choose how to live, and you combine resourcefulness with resilience. His mother also taught him to accept people as they are and love them the way they want to be loved. Over time, this liberated Andrew to be of better service to his employees, his teammates, and his community. It also helped him find his own True North and build a solid foundation for himself. All in all a good package, and on the surface it looked fine. But Fine Is a 4-Letter Word. We all wear what Andrew calls “the Facebook mask”, where we make it seem like everything is great and watch everyone else do the same. Andrew admits here he’s gone through many tough times, including in his relationships, work situations and immigration challenges. Plus, he’s had a lifetime of medical issues that have required numerous surgeries. But what did he discover? Ultimately, nobody is going to put their nose to the grindstone and do the work for you. It’s up to you to make it happen. And, like his mother taught him, it’s up to you to decide what kind of day you’ll have when you wake up in the morning and get moving. Today, Andrew is not only a fractional COO, he’s also either leading or launching several other companies, including one that’s building a firearms training system that can even teach kids to use them safely. He is a coach and a mentor. Plus, he has a radio station that has a 200-song playlist. And that’s when he’s not doing woodwork or decorating his house with 35,000 Christmas lights. Skilled in many areas, as his father taught him. Sounds like an interesting guy, yes? In a moment, when you hear from Andrew, you’ll discover a lot more about his journey. One key lesson was finding his own truth and coming to embrace that each of us has our own truth. There are so many more in his new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, which you’ll hear more about. Andrew’s hype song is "Kiss Off" by Violent Femmes. Resources: Andrew Brummer’s website: https://ardunan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbrummer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrummer X: https://x.com/andrewbrummer Claim your copy of Andrew’s new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, at https://ardunan.com/village/books/land-lm Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication....

    44 min
  5. My Conversations With God with Neale Donald Walsch

    10 JUL

    My Conversations With God with Neale Donald Walsch

    Do you believe God talks with you? In fact, God is never not talking with you! Depending on your background, beliefs, and point of view, this might sound crazy. If you’re actively involved in any of the 4,223 religions currently practiced around the world today, the elders of whatever your formal congregation is called will probably say you ARE crazy. They might also call you a sinner, a heretic, a blasphemer, or worse. So imagine a man who’d seemingly had it all going for him. He was a former radio broadcaster who then made a name for himself as a newspaper reporter, rising to managing editor of a weekly newspaper in Annapolis, MD. He made good money. He had a wife and kids. Everything was fine – more than fine. But one day his wife decided she wanted a divorce. It was amicable, but still difficult. Five days after the end of his marriage, he was downsized out of his job. His boss gave him a glowing recommendation though and he was off to another job interview faster than it took to brew some coffee… and on the way there he got in a car accident that broke his neck and left him lucky to be alive. After he got out of the hospital, the job interviews kept coming, but nobody would hire him. Like it or not, he was told, that neck brace he was wearing scared employers because if anything happened to him while he was at work, they’d be paying his medical bills for the next five years. He lost his apartment because he couldn’t come up with rent money. He ended up living on the street for a year. Moving back in with his ex-wife even temporarily was out of the question – fair enough – but she wouldn’t even let him come in the house. He had to visit the kids in the garage. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, indeed. Well, eventually he found some work and was able to rent a tiny studio apartment. This man, who had grown up religious, woke up at 4:23 one morning and wrote an angry letter on a yellow notepad to God, asking in essence, “What do I have to do to make it in the game of life?” Then he heard a voice… God answered. (Or was that God?) For Neale Donald Walsch, that was a good question. But then these conversations became a regular thing. He was writing, or channeling, everything he heard. Eventually, God told him he would publish his writings, and the answers, as a book. Neale’s publisher told him it would never sell 500 copies since nobody would believe God spoke directly to anyone who wasn’t a pope, patriarch, preacher, rabbi, or imam. Turns out, his publisher was right – it didn’t sell 500 copies. It sold FIVE MILLION. Conversations with God, Book 1 was published in 1995 and I’m pretty sure I have one of the first copies, which I devoured cover to cover. It all made so much sense to me. But back then, and even up until a couple months ago, I would never have imagined having an hour-long conversation with Neale. But now that I have, you don’t have to imagine it either. You get to hear it. Resources: Neale Donald Walsch’s websites: http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/ and https://CWGconnect.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NealeDonaldWalsch/ Also, check out Episode #190, Study That Which You Desire To Become with John Morris - it was John who introduced me to Neale! Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving...

    1 h y 14 min
  6. Generals Eat Last with Tony Crescenzo

    3 JUL

    Generals Eat Last with Tony Crescenzo

    How many battles are you fighting without even being aware you’re in the arena? It might seem like everything is “fine”. Sure, you had struggles, some hard times and bad luck, and things that didn’t quite go your way. Many people have a story or two about the time they got f****d over BECAUSE they were doing the right thing. That boomerang can spin around and hit you when you least expect it, like it did for Tony Crescenzo. Tony grew up in a family of mechanics. Really, all the men in his family were mechanics, except for one grandfather who retired relatively young and bought a farm. They all lived in that same South Philadelphia neighborhood where the Rocky Balboa character trained for his fights with Apollo Creed. So young Tony worked Saturdays as a mechanic and Sundays on his grandfather’s farm, learning the value of good, honest work. Tony’s parents divorced. His mother remarried to a Navy officer and they moved to Hawaii. His stepfather’s friend was an old-school Marine whose John Wayne-esque tales of service and heroism inspired young Tony to join the Marines. That’s where he learned priceless lessons about teamwork, being part of something greater than yourself, and the importance of service. That’s until he was assigned to NIS (which is what it was before NCIS), working in criminal investigations to bring down a paycheck scam. As the only witness for the upcoming court-martial of the accused, he soon found himself being court-martialed – and convicted – for a plethora of exaggerated charges, one of which was that he was UA (think AWOL) even though he was on an approved leave! So much for Semper Fi, right? Well, not exactly. Tony did get the conviction reversed, along with a commendation for his service and $20 for his trouble. But he decided to pivot to the private sector, working for, leading, and owning various companies and becoming a sort of “Clint Eastwood” of corporate restructuring. The thing is, his penchant for fighting was affecting every aspect of his life. Both his first and his second wives were used to Tony waking them up in the middle of the night screaming in his sleep. In his own words, he was was one of those people who goes from zero to fuck you in 10 seconds. So things weren’t “fine”. It’s a four-letter word. And then everything changed when he mis-Googled directions to the CIA. In a moment, when we meet Tony, he is going to give us a master class in accountability, vulnerability, and leadership including the power of meditation and an innovative method he is bringing to market for treating PTSD. As you listen, reflect on the fact that PTSD is not limited to those who have seen death and destruction on the battlefield. It comes in many different forms from triggers you might not even know. Tony’s hype song is “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra. Resources: Tony Crescenzo’s websites: https://peakneuro.com/ and https://intelligentwaves.com/. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrescenzo Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of...

    54 min
  7. It’s Time We Talk About Money with Anders Jones

    26 JUN

    It’s Time We Talk About Money with Anders Jones

    Ever heard the phrase “may you live in interesting times?” Seems applicable these days. And it’s causing a lot of people to live with a constant feeling of anxiety that nags at you, sapping at your energy throughout the day, so by bedtime, you're exhausted but still can’t sleep. Financial stress is a primary source. According to an April 2025 survey, fewer than 45% of Americans say they’re in better than fair shape financially. Which means more than 50% are not ok. Well, there's a good chance that it’s not your fault. Because many Americans did not grow up with the family support to develop financial literacy from a young age. Maybe you were told family finances were “none of your business.” Layer on top that often parents and grandparents didn’t have a strong financial foundation of understanding to start with either. Anders Jones has been taking matters around this topic into his own hands ever since a series of twists and turns brought him into what he and his mother jokingly call "the family business", even though the family doesn't have a business and they never worked together. Growing up, Anders was fortunate to not really want for much of anything. His mom worked at Fidelity and helped millions of Americans prepare for retirement. His stepdad was a British guy who gifted him his first car, complete with a single CD disc changer and two requirements. Graduating college in 2009, at the height of a financial crisis, he didn't have a whole lot of prospects for becoming an investment banker or going into private equity. So he joined a Web 2.0 company owned by a serial entrepreneur whose method was to hire young, promising talent and empower them to figure things out. After a while, they sold the company. Since then, he's become involved with several ventures, including co-founding a financial planning firm called Facet. Now, Anders says that he feels so fortunate that if he were to die and be reincarnated, he'd want to come back as himself. That’s not something many people would say. So at what moment did the boomerang whack him in the face and show him why Fine Is a 4-Letter Word? Well hang on, because when you meet Anders, you'll find out that this time, it's you, the listener, for whom things are not "fine". Up until now, you've been told that money is a taboo topic. Up until now, you've been told to trust your gut, then gotten lambasted when you did and things didn't work out as planned. It's time for new conversations on a lot of topics. Anders is going to get us started on three - gratitude, mindfulness, and financial literacy. There's a reason he picks three, which you'll also find out. Anders’ hype song is “Riding With The King” by B.B. King & Eric Clapton. Resources: Anders Jones’ website: https://facet.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-jones/ Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events. But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to...

    48 min
  8. Fighting A Bear In The Cave with Eddie Sand

    19 JUN

    Fighting A Bear In The Cave with Eddie Sand

    If the self-help industry was actually effective, the world would be full of people in perfect health with boundless wealth, always succeeding at everything they set out to do. They'd have perfect relationships, be surrounded by nothing but love and harmony, and know the definition of paradise! The first time things seem a little off, you'd just buy one book, read it, and voila! You'd never need another book because the stars would align like some freaking celestial rapture put at your service personally. Alas, that's not the case. Eddie Sand started reading one of those books. Rather than solve his problem instantly, it put him in such a tailspin that he ended up spending five months going through hell. Even his wife couldn't say much that would help him along or make him want to get out of bed. Raised by his grandparents, lack showed him how different people had different things in their lives, which made him want to become better. And contributed to what’s become one of his biggest values - being genuine. After several failed attempts to join the Army, he enlisted in the Marines because he noticed a Marine recruiter at his high school who seemed to have a bunch of girls crushing on him. What guy doesn’t want that? I *may* have had a thing for a few Marines myself 😊 So he served four years honorably, then got out because... he met a girl, now his wife and the mother of his daughters. So far so good, yes? Well, he went out to find a job. What he found - a job selling cologne and perfume in the streets of Newark, New Jersey - made him yearn to go back to the Marine training where recruits are required to stand in containers full of tear gas without masks. One thing led to another, and he found a career in sales. Then he discovered his religious faith. But the initial draw was how the preacher issued a call to action to become better as a person - in a way, another form of sales. Eddie found his niche, and everything seemed fine - but Fine Is a 4-Letter Word. A client gave him a book to read about Ego, and it tore him up. He found himself, as he describes it, in a cave he had to struggle through - a journey that took five months and that he's about to share with you. In a moment, when you hear from Eddie, you'll discover the key piece of self-growth that a lot of personal development training misses. As part of the process, Eddie tried to feel multiple negative emotions all at once. Then it all sort of went away. You'll find out what happened and why. Right now, Eddie is leading a group to teach people how to better approach their sales conversations. And working on how to share his struggles as a means for helping other men know they’re not alone. What does this mean? You're about to find out. Eddie’s hype song is "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. Resources: Eddie Sand’s website: https://stan.store/EddieSand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddievsand/ Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events. But...

    52 min
5
de 5
29 calificaciones

Acerca de

Wasn’t it just a couple years ago you were sitting on the beach at spring break in Ft. Lauderdale – listening to the Pet Shop Boys, U2, and Def Leppard - with your entire life ahead of you? Now you’re looking back 30 plus years and wondering what the hell happened. Not that it’s been all bad. Of course, there’ve been highs and lows. And today, everything’s fine. It’s just fine. That’s the problem. You don’t really feel like you have anything to complain about. Lots of people might envy what you have. But you’re feeling a deep undercurrent of suck. Like, there must be something more. And you don’t know what to do about it. Welcome to Fine is a 4-Letter Word, with host Lori Saitz. Each week, you'll hear inspiring stories of self-discovery and courage from people who have said F*ck Being Fine and have transformed their lives and businesses. Plus, get practical tips and takeaways to move you from spinning in place - to forward action - so you can create a life of joy. None of us knows how much time we have here. So we have to make the most of it. We have to do the things that light us up and bring us joy. This show will give you hope, help you find your passion and purpose, and dare you to see the life that’s waiting for you. You’ll never hear - or say - the word “fine” in the same way again.

También te podría interesar