Fierce Encouragement

Send us Fan MailYou can read every book, make the perfect plan, and still feel like nothing changes. The missing piece is often smaller and sharper than you expect: a real decision, the kind that ends negotiation and turns “someday” into “how do I take one step today?” Mark Walker unpacks why so many of us live in the soft zone of almost deciding, and how that one internal shift changes everything from boundaries to confidence to follow-through. We dig into a coaching truth that can feel uncomfortable but is wildly freeing: the coach is not the hero, you are. When you decide, excuses stop being interesting, your energy changes under the surface, and action becomes possible even without a big dramatic breakthrough. We also challenge the motivation myth and flip it around, because readiness is not a prerequisite for progress. Action comes first, and motivation tends to show up after you start moving. To make it practical, Mark shares a simple decision support tool you can use right away: FATE (Focus, Accountability, Tribe, Emotion), plus a quick look at how your reticular activating system shapes what you notice and reinforce each day. We close with one question to journal on: what have you been circling that you have not decided on yet? If this sparks something in you, subscribe for more Fierce Encouragement, share the episode with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review so more people can find the show.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailYour inner critic can sound like “realism,” but it often acts like sabotage. After a long, exhausting day of mid-year planning, I hit record anyway because that’s the real work: showing up when you’re tired, a little overwhelmed, and still committed to becoming who you say you are. If you’ve been stuck in negative self-talk, perfectionism, or that constant sense that you’re behind, this conversation offers a grounded reset. We dig into identity and continual becoming, the practice of stepping into the version of you that handles hard days with more courage and more care. One tool that landed hard for me is “arguing for yourself,” noticing when your mind rehearses everything that could go wrong and deliberately countering it with better questions. Instead of spiraling, we practice prompts like: What if it works out? What does it look like when it works out? How does it feel to finish the book, stand on the stage, become an all-star parent, or finally get organized with your money? Those questions aren’t fluff, they’re a mindset shift that changes behavior. We also get practical with goal setting for entrepreneurs and high achievers by separating outcomes from control goals. Outcomes are results you want, but control goals are the actions you can measure, repeat, and schedule. I share a simple reverse engineering exercise you can do on a note card or whiteboard to connect big goals to daily habits, without burning out. We wrap with a reminder to pull one lesson from every meeting or experience, and to build your trusted advisors and community so your aspirations have somewhere to grow. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s having a rough week, and leave a review so more people can find Fierce Encouragement.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailYour calendar says you had time. Your goals say you cared. So why do you keep snapping back to the same old patterns and then beating yourself up for it? I’ve been there, and today I’m sharing a reframe that instantly changes the way I look at procrastination, self-sabotage, and those weeks when you just don’t show up like you planned. The word is homeostasis, and it explains why your mind can act like a thermostat that keeps pulling you back to what’s familiar, even when “familiar” is frustrating. We walk through what this looks like in real life: blocking time for writing, planning, and high-impact work, then finding yourself doing low-level tasks that feel safe. I share a practical productivity tool that helps: don’t just schedule the block, define the outcome and deliverable you want to leave with. That clarity matters because vague plans invite avoidance, and avoidance is where the inner critic gets loud. Then we go deeper into mindset and identity. Instead of calling yourself lazy or incapable, I’ll challenge you to stop taking the results personally and see the pattern as a system doing what it was trained to do. We talk about why small degrees of change beat big leaps, and how identity-based habits can reset your baseline over time. If you’re into meditation, ancient wisdom, and modern science-backed behavior change, this will land. If something hits true, practice it with a journal this week and notice what shifts. Subscribe for more Fierce Encouragement, share this with a friend who’s been hard on themselves, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one small “thermostat click” you’re willing to try today?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailYou can be winning on paper and still feel like you’re quietly losing ground. That’s the tension we dig into with my friend Hank, a coach who works with high performers dealing with distraction, self-sabotage, and the weird loneliness that can show up right alongside success.We start with the “gap” between who you are and who you could be, then lay out Hank’s simple, repeatable help loop: curiosity to see what’s real, compassion to go shoulder to shoulder instead of turning it into self-attack, and leadership to take the next right action. We talk journaling as the low-cost tool that makes your growth visible, why confidence is really self-trust, and how doing what you say you will do becomes the anchor for discipline that doesn’t slide into self-punishment.We also get honest about the vulnerability of coaching, especially the courage it takes to ask for help or ask someone to “blow wind into your sails.” Hank shares a memorable breath-work frame that maps inhale and exhale to seasons, plus a grounded reminder for anyone feeling hopeless: stop staring at the story that you’re failing and go help someone else, even in a small way.If you want to connect with Hank, search “Idaho Hank,” find him on LinkedIn, or visit Idahohank.com to learn about his thousand-second coaching sessions. If this hit home, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailBurnout isn’t always about doing too much. Sometimes it’s the hollow kind, where you’re busy, tired, and still feel disconnected from your own life. Mark Walker starts from a raw social media post: a young guy stuck in a numb loop of eat, work, scroll, sleep. People pile on with labels like “lazy,” but I take it somewhere more useful and more compassionate: what if the real issue is awareness and meaning, not discipline?From there I share a moment that changed the way I hold time. I was in hospice with my friend as he took his final breaths just days before his 66th birthday. It’s heavy, and it’s real, and it cuts through the story we hide talk about all the time. Most of us can read about impermanence, listen to podcasts about mortality, and still keep it at arm’s length. Sitting with it makes it tangible, and that tangibility can wake us up.We also connect ancient wisdom practices and modern research on mortality awareness, including work I found through the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley and perspectives from Tibetan Buddhist practice. The point isn’t to scare ourselves or get morbid. It’s to stop outsourcing our lives to the next app, the next system, or the next thing to blame, and to use impermanence as a lever that pulls us back into the present. I’ll leave you with simple questions you can try today, plus small actions that rebuild purpose without pretending everything is easy.If this hit home, share it with a friend who feels stuck, subscribe to Fierce Encouragement, and leave a quick review so more people can find the message.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever thought, “I should be able to handle this on my own,” and felt a quiet shame when you couldn’t, this conversation is for you. I’m Mark Walker, and I’m naming a pattern I see constantly in coaching and in my own life: the self-punishment trap. It’s the belief that if we beat ourselves up hard enough, we’ll finally earn clarity, confidence, discipline, and a better life. It sounds like accountability, but it acts like a cage. We walk through how that inner critic gets so loud it starts stealing what matters most: your relationships, your energy, your ability to be present, and your willingness to let good people in. I share why this voice often began as protection, like an old guard dog that never got the memo that the environment changed. When pressure rises, the armor tightens, and even helpful things like honest conversation, prayer, stillness, or connection with your partner can get pushed away. That’s why leadership development and personal growth can’t be powered by shame for long, even if you look “successful on paper.” We also get practical. We talk about emotional literacy, why many high performers can talk strategy all day but struggle to name what they feel, and the shift from thinking and solving to feeling and finding. Most importantly, we replace the question “What’s wrong with me?” with “Who am I becoming?” and show how identity change is built through small, repeatable actions on ordinary days. If you’re tired of suffering in silence, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailYour mind can be brilliant at spotting problems and brutal at spotting your own worth. I’m Mark Walker, and today I speak candidly from a tender stretch of life: navigating my own ups and downs while being present for friends going through life-and-death changes. With no outline and nothing polished, I walk straight into the real question underneath so much stress and self-doubt: why does the critical voice feel so automatic, and how do we turn it down without turning off our intelligence?We dig into negativity bias through the lens of positive psychology and mindfulness. That reflex to overthink, criticize, and scan for danger helped our ancestors survive, but in an always-connected world it can start running our days. It might even get rewarded at work, where analysis and problem-spotting are prized, yet quietly push people away at home. I share how I’ve seen this show up in leaders, creators, and in my own self-image, and why pretending everything is fine can keep us stuck.The practical tool is simple but powerful: create a personal catchphrase, mantra, or “mind protector” you can use the moment your inner energy turns sour. We talk about choosing words you can actually believe, separating productive critique from self-attack, and using discomfort as an entry point for growth. I also share a Phil Stutz line that’s helped me reframe fear and pain: “I love pain. Pain sets me free.” From there, we zoom out to what I think creates the biggest change: slowing down, getting present, and learning to hear the tone of your own inner voice before you chase the next book, seminar, or self-improvement plan.If you want to go deeper, I also mention my Awareness Lab and the Sacred Leadership Lab as spaces to build grounded self-awareness and authentic leadership. Subscribe for more, share this with someone who’s hard on themselves, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the phrase you’re going to use the next time negativity bias shows up?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhat if your hardest moments were the doorway to steadier leadership and warmer relationships? Mark Walker explores how to hold real sadness beside real gratitude, using the impending loss of a dear friend as a lens for presence, appreciation, and growth. Rather than glorifying toughness, we look at simple practices, thirty seconds of noticing light, a few lines of third-person journaling, that compound like interest and quietly shift your baseline from reactive to responsive.We dig into friction as a teacher and discomfort as a kind of truth serum. When a colleague pokes a soft spot or a family member reopens an old story, the goal isn’t to win the argument; it’s to run a clean after-action report. What words hooked me? Was it tone, timing, or a slow buildup I ignored? From there, Mark lays out why good coaching is not consulting: it’s the art of asking catalytic questions that surface what matters, expand options, and restore agency. You’ll learn how to design better prompts for others, and for yourself, so you can access the creative parts of your brain and choose wiser actions under stress.We also translate this into daily conversations. Swap “How was your day?” for specific, open prompts that invite real answers: What made you laugh? Where did you feel stuck? What are you excited about next week? Presence first, then precision. Over time, these small choices change the texture of your home, your team, and your inner life. By treating troublemakers as mirrors, celebrating tiny wins, and appreciating the good on purpose, you build balance that holds when life wobbles. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find Fierce Encouragement.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhat if grief could be a compass that points you back to a life you actually want to live? Mark opens up about losing his father, a dear friend nearing the end of life, and the moments that cracked him open to Dharma teachings that changed the tone of his mind. This is not a tidy set of hacks. It’s a raw, steadying invitation to face impermanence, name the inner critic, and choose action over perfection while there’s still time on the clock.We move from Stoic reminders—memento mori and the urgency of a single day—to practical, humane tools that make a difference when the mind turns against itself. You’ll learn how to spot the critic’s script and defuse it with humor, how to make the activity the reward so outcomes stop owning you, and how simple practices like meditation, journaling, and honest conversation create room to breathe. Along the way, we explore why love and service sit beneath so much of our striving, and how asking for help is adult courage, not a confession of failure.Anchored by Oliver Sacks’s luminous words on gratitude and uniqueness, the conversation returns, again and again, to a fierce kind of encouragement: stop waiting. Write the page. Call the friend. Sit with your feelings without making them enemies. Open like a flower rather than bracing against the wind. Doubt won’t vanish, but authenticity grows when you act with a softer inner voice and a clearer sense of time’s value. If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review so others can find the show. Then tell us: what will you start before sunset?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailEver feel like your days are powered by “shoulds” instead of spark? Mark invites us to trade struggle for steady effort, bring back childlike play, and rebuild energy from the ground up... starting with sleep. We look at why joy isn’t fluff, it’s fuel: the mindset that turns work from a grind into an experiment, the simple prompts that make any task more fun, and the recovery habits that keep your best ideas alive.From there, we talk leadership. Culture is set by what leaders model and reward, not by what they post. If we glorify late-night emails and weekend hustle, the team will copy it until burnout looks normal. Mark shares concrete ways to reset norms—clear sign-off times, meeting-light focus blocks, and praise for sustainable wins—so people can do deep work without sacrificing health. We also confront a tough truth: the opposite of play isn’t work, it’s depression. Joy is not the enemy of results; it’s the path to better ones.Belonging ties it all together. Rather than contorting ourselves to fit in, we can build teams where vulnerability is safe and idiosyncratic strengths are welcome. That shift unlocks creativity, resilience, and honest collaboration. Expect practical takeaways on sleep hygiene, using naps as a reset, setting joyful targets, and catching yourself when metrics eclipse meaning. You’ll walk away with small, repeatable steps that lighten the load, sharpen focus, and make room for your real self to show up.If this conversation lands with you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs permission to rest, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Tell us: what boundary will you model this week?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhat if progress felt grounded instead of frantic? We break down the second half of the six practical commitments that turn good intentions into visible results, blending mindset, nervous system resets, and simple structure so you can move forward without burning out.We begin with a quick recap of the first three commitments: be coachable through third-person journaling, use neutral thinking when positivity feels fake, and show up on time with real calendar blocks. Then we build on that foundation with three momentum makers: inhabit the present, take deliberate action, and create follow-up that actually sticks. You’ll hear how a slow belly breath shifts your brain out of fight-or-flight, how to define steps small enough to finish today, and why a lightweight accountability loop... friend, coach, or weekly self-review... turns effort into evidence.Throughout the conversation, we share prompts and examples you can apply immediately: one-minute breath resets to re-center, methodical micro-actions that compound over weeks, and a simple check-in rhythm to learn faster and adjust without drama. The goal isn’t hype; it’s steady, human progress across work, health, and relationships. If you’re tired of overcommitting and underdelivering, this framework helps you choose what matters, do it on purpose, and keep promises to yourself.Ready to try it? Pick one commitment to practice today, then tell us what you’ll follow up on. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to let us know which commitment you’re adopting this week.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailFeeling off-balance, starting and stopping, and wondering why your best intentions keep slipping through your fingers? We dig into three grounding commitments that help you create with steadier hands: be coachable, embrace neutrality over forced positivity, and show up on time for the work that matters. The result is a simple, repeatable system you can use on a tough Tuesday, not just a perfect Monday.First, we walk through a self-coaching practice you can start today with nothing but a notebook. Writing in the third person—iliism—adds healthy distance, reduces catastrophizing, and clarifies the next step. You’ll hear how 10 to 20 minutes of private, honest writing builds presence and momentum without needing an external coach. Then we reframe positivity. Instead of chasing hype, we adopt a neutral stance: acknowledge the difficulty, recall recent wins, and move one task forward. Neutrality preserves your energy and keeps you out of the all-or-nothing trap.Finally, we turn to punctuality and time boxing as identity-level tools. When you honor your calendar, even in small, realistic blocks, you train follow-through and see progress stack up across creative projects, career goals, and family commitments. We talk calendar hygiene, combatting context switching, and how to protect a single focused block even when life is loud. Along the way, Mark shares a client story from big tech—work addiction wrapped in pride and pressure—and how boundaries, presence, and clear commitments rebuilt balance without sacrificing ambition.If you’re juggling a hyperactive mind, news overload, or the pressure to perform, these commitments offer a path back to focus you can trust. Listen, try the notebook exercise, set one neutral sentence, and defend one time box this week. If the approach resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs steady momentum, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe explore a kinder way to change by staying with discomfort for twenty seconds longer, building simple systems that don’t rely on force, and reframing identity instead of chasing perfect plans. Practical tools help anxious high achievers move from overwhelm to one small action.• discipline is not the problem, overwhelm is • the staying practice: remain twenty seconds longer • naming emotions to calm the nervous system • environmental honesty and removing escape cues • one boring daily anchor as a stabilizer • create before you consume to protect attention • reframing identity over making resolutions • letting go of perfect to practice presence • one small deliberate action after naming and stayingIf you want help building a pattern, a way, a method of working with yourself that does not rely on force or pushing too hard, the link in the show notes is a great way to have a quick strategy call with meIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhen the pressure to perform never shuts up, encouragement can sound like fluff. We go straight at that myth and make a case for fierce encouragement: a clear-eyed, grounded way to treat yourself that keeps you in the game without breaking your spirit. If you’ve ever felt capable on the outside and brutal on the inside, this conversation will feel like oxygen.We start with a restless morning at the desk and the familiar pull toward perfection, then unpack why anxiety convinces us every decision is final. Instead of chasing more productivity hacks, we lean on iteration: try, get feedback, adjust. I share why self-contempt—not fear or guilt—is the real blocker to growth, and how respecting yourself mid-mistake creates flexible, sustainable change. We talk about the hidden tax of isolation, reframing strength as a nervous system practice, and the counterintuitive truth that asking for help is often the bravest, smartest move.From there, we challenge a common escape hatch: blaming the job or the relationship when the real work is how we’re living inside it. You’ll hear practical cues to stay in the room when you want to run, and a simple prompt to identify the one truth you’ve been avoiding. Expect language you can use in the moment, reminders that most choices are reversible, and a humane approach that makes hard things doable. If you’re a high achiever juggling leadership, parenting, or creative work, you’ll find tools to untangle effort from fear and train discomfort without burning out.If this resonates, hit play, share it with a friend who needs steady courage, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Subscribe for part two, where we’ll explore systems and ways of working that align with the projects that have your heart.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailShame rarely kicks down the door. It whispers, and before we notice, our creativity tightens, our courage leaks, and our inner self-talk turns into pressure. Today we get honest about that quiet hijacker and share a grounded way to lead ourselves when it shows up... without the hype, and without abandoning our own side.We start by naming how shame binds to anger, sadness, or a sense of stuckness and then convinces us we are the problem. That belief collapses the nervous system and pushes us toward fight, flight, or freeze. Instead of mistaking anger or low mood for the root cause, we track the thread back to shame and ask a different question: what restores agency right now? From there, we unpack why positive mantras and grit often fail in the hardest moments. You can’t bully yourself into courage. Real encouragement is leadership—a steady, warm presence that refuses to punish or pretend.To make this practical, we introduce the Pause, Name, and Lead method. First, pause to create space and stop solving your life every ten seconds. Next, name the truth plainly—“I feel ashamed,” “I feel threatened,” “I feel small.” Finally, lead with one clean, honorable, achievable action that moves you forward without feeding the spiral. We also talk about containing shame—acknowledging it without letting it dominate your mental bandwidth—so you can act with intention now and evaluate later with a clearer head.If shame has been steering your choices lately, this conversation offers a way back to yourself. Try the method for one minute today and notice what shifts. If it helps, share this episode with a friend who needs a kinder form of courage, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Your feedback shapes where we go next... tell me what you named and what your next clean step looks like.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailMark explores how energy and intention do more than hacks, how shame binds to other emotions, and why systems beat self-criticism. Then we share five practical tools to change your state, spotlight micro-moments over breakthroughs, and invite you to choose the next right step.• Defining fierce encouragement as truth, responsibility, and the next right step• Energy and intention as deeper levers than motivation hacks• Quantum thinking and the tone behind words• 5 tools: frequency of feelings, set intention, move toward what lights you up, audit your circle, favor focused awareness over willpower• Systems over self-attack, boring repeatable habits, digital sunset, weekly money check-in• Micro moments that reduce entropy and build purpose• Loyalty to self and choosing small actions todaySo, if Fierce Encouragement resonates with you, please share this episode. I’d love to hear from you too. Most importantly of all, be kind to yourself, be disciplined and self encouraging where it matters and truly keep going. If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe challenge the “coaching is a scam” narrative by naming the hype, owning our imperfections, and offering a presence-first approach that trades fixes for attention. We share a simple holiday practice, swap resolutions for honest promises, and remind ourselves that doubt can signal we’re on the path.• why attention beats advice in coaching• the cost of hype and vague promises• owning wobble and naming what is real• a simple presence practice for daily life• choosing promises over rigid resolutions• making progress without overdoing it• reframing doubt as a sign of meaning• redefining accountability and competence• practical next steps for the new yearIf this stirred something in you, write it down. Get out that journal, write it down, or better yet, live it out loud today. If you're looking for more conversations like this, if you're looking for some help in strategizing your new year, check out the link, grab a free strategy session session with me.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe challenge the quiet lie that you must feel ready to lead by showing how steady leadership grows from brief pauses, simple breaths, and small, clean steps. Momentum and maintenance days both count, and presence beats hype when your team and family need you most.• naming the lie that readiness must come before action• valuing momentum days and maintenance days• using pausing and breath to reduce catastrophic thinking• choosing next best steps that do not add mess• offering presence over perfection to teams and families• practicing regulation as a daily leadership skill• closing with a simple, repeatable plan for low-energy daysShare this with a friend who might enjoy this contentIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn tech, speed is rewarded… but clarity is priceless.This episode explores how to use short, intentional pauses in virtual meetings to improve communication, reduce reactivity, and strengthen leadership presence. You’ll learn three practical techniques backed by cognitive science and mindfulness research, all tailored for high pressure roles and complex team environments.A thoughtful pause is never a weakness.It is the moment your best mind comes online.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe challenge the drive for more hacks and make the case that awareness is the most underrated leadership tool. Through a real coaching story and practical steps, we show how a simple pause can turn triggers into choices and raise the quality of meetings, decisions, and relationships.• running on autopilot versus leading from presence• the gap between event and response• self-awareness as the engine of emotional intelligence• four-part framework for awareness in leadership• myths that awareness is soft or only spiritual• practical three-breath reset before meetings• reframing triggers through journaling and breath• making intention guide outcomes, not adrenalineJoin me on December 3rd at 11 a.m. Central Time. Click the link, show up. If you can’t make the live session, it will be recorded and sent out to you. 👉 https://markwalkercoach.kit.com/315a695cb2If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Coach Mark walks, reflects, and tells the truth.The 3-breath pause sounds simple. But it’s not always easy. This episode dives into the real stories behind the practice... frustration, family chaos, angry dishes, and those rare moments when awareness changes everything.You’ll hear: ✅ Why you don’t need a perfect meditation space to train your mind ✅ The story of “angry dishes” and what mindfulness looks like in a messy kitchen ✅ How practicing the pause rewires your habits and softens reactivity ✅ What it means to build cognitive flexibility—in the real world🎙 Real talk. No fluff. Just a man, a walk, and a deep truth worth sharing.🎁 Join the Free Webinar on Dec 3 Learn the tools behind this practice—live. 🗓 Sunday, Dec 3 | 11am CST 👉 https://markwalkercoach.kit.com/315a695cb2 If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIf you feel like you’re checking boxes all day but still missing your life… this one’s for you.In this raw and honest episode, Coach Mark invites you to stop fixing, stop performing, and start waking up—to your body, your breath, your inner voice, and your actual life.You’ll hear:Why you’re not lazy or broken—just distractedA simple 3-breath practice to shift your mindset instantlyWhat happened to Mark on retreat (and 10 days flat on his back)The Awareness Lab moment that cracked a group of leaders wide openWhy going deeper isn’t harder—it’s just rarer (and more powerful)💥 Join the Free Webinar Want to practice this stuff with Mark live? Join the free 1-hour webinar first Wednesday of December. → Link to Join UsIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe trace a rough week of illness into a clear practice for staying human in fast, high-pressure tech. Breath, intention, and one small courageous act become a repeatable way to widen the gap between stimulus and response and lead with heart.• gratitude for health and the fragility of normal breath• keynote anxiety reframed as a search for heart in tech• questions for leading with courage amid uncertainty• burnout in startups and the cost of constant doing• reconnecting features and roadmaps to human outcomes• the contrast between doing and being• a micro reboot: five breaths, one word, one act• expanding the gap between trigger and response• bringing compassion into teams, families, and everyday momentsIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe challenge the belief that money equals morality and offer a clear practice to separate facts from feelings so you can make one aligned decision without shame. We share client stories, a simple audit, and a way to turn confusion into clarity and momentum.• money as math plus meaning• the hidden weight of shame and identity• how to run a two‑column audit• choosing one aligned decision and executing it• clarity versus confusion and compounding effects• treating money as a tool, not a verdict• weekly training to build momentumIf this spoke to you, please share it with a friend who might carry that same weight of money shame. Check the link in the show notes to connect with me for a complimentary session with meIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailOur nervous systems face three options when under pressure: fight, flight, or freedom—with the third being a skill we can develop through practice. Most people default to either fighting or fleeing when stressed, but freedom comes from working with our nervous system rather than being hijacked by it.• Understanding the difference between survival reactions and freedom-based responses• How to notice, name, and negotiate with your nervous system when triggered• The 90-second breath and label sequence for regulating your body's alarm system• Why treating freedom as a nervous system skill changes our relationship with stress• Simple steps to practice: breathe, label on exhale, and re-anchor with calming words• Using this technique before difficult conversations, meetings, or when doom-scrolling• Freedom comes from meeting our body's signals and choosing differentlyIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone stuck in fight-or-flight mode. To go deeper into training your nervous system, check the link in the show notes and book a free consultation.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailFamily opinions can cost us our peace of mind, especially when financial support comes with strings attached. What starts as generosity can turn into surveillance and control, leading to tension, judgment, and a constant feeling of being audited.• Q-TIP: Quit Taking It Personally - recognize that others' commentary reflects their fears, not your worth• Keep taking your life seriously and making responsible decisions while not letting others' noise affect your integrity• Use a clear, respectful boundary script when others press in with unwanted advice• Practice your boundaries like a muscle - it takes repetition to build strength• You can guard your peace without rejecting family - refuse to let opinions hijack your nervous system• Balance protecting your inner peace with maintaining open-hearted connectionsIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone wrestling with family pressure right now. If you want help building practical tools and habits to stand steady when voices get loud, click the link in the show notes to book a complimentary call with me.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailLearning to receive help without immediately feeling the need to pay it back is a crucial skill for personal growth and leadership. The strongest people don't just give well, they receive well, creating deeper connections and avoiding burnout.• Many of us feel uncomfortable receiving help without paying for it• Common thoughts include "If I don't pay, I'm a burden" or "If I don't pay, I'm weak"• Receiving is not weakness... it's actually a strategic approach to relationships• Giving keeps us in control while receiving requires surrender and humility• The "receive and return" practice: say yes to help, name your return, and schedule it• Leaders who can't receive help often can't delegate effectively• Parents who won't accept support frequently burn out• Entrepreneurs sometimes stay broke by refusing free advice• By accepting help, you train others that it's okay to share the load• This week's training rep: let someone help you and then carry that gift forwardIf you want to go deeper into this kind of training with me, check the link in the show notes to book a free consult.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe're not broken—we're in training. This episode explores how shifting our mindset from feeling "broken" to recognizing we're "in training" can transform our relationship with setbacks and challenges.• Our difficulties aren't failures—they're just reps in our ongoing training• The "finish line" mentality of being "fixed" creates impossible standards that lead to shame spirals• Training doesn't demand perfection—it demands presence and consistency• Three breaths, three times daily, three words: brave, kind, clear• Create evidence you're in training by documenting five moments you showed up differently this week• Stop prosecuting yourself and start testifying for what's good in your life• Feeling lost isn't failure—it's the signal to slow down and train harderIf this episode sparked something in you, send it to a friend who might also think they're broken or lost. You might be the lifeline they need. There's a link in the show notes to book your free consultation with me if you want to talk and create your own training plan.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailSurrendering control becomes the first step toward true growth and connection. I share how realizing "I have no control and I cannot do this on my own" applies not just to addiction recovery but to leadership, relationships, and coaching.• The importance of asking permission before steering conversations, especially when attempting to go deeper with others• Using the Tibetan practice of Tonglen to manage toxic encounters by breathing in darkness and breathing out healing light• The concept of emotional hazmat suits for protection in poisonous environments without rejecting people• Learning to let go when a coaching relationship naturally concludes, even when it affects your business• The value of support systems who "spot you when the weight gets heavy"If you don't have someone who reflects back what you need in the moment, reach out. You are not alone.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailEver felt paralyzed by the very things you need to face? That knot in your stomach before a difficult conversation, the resistance before a challenging task, or that familiar pull toward old destructive patterns?Mark Walker cuts straight to the heart of avoidance in this powerful episode, offering a transformative practice that takes just 30 seconds to implement. The "Reversal of Desire" tool provides a three-step approach to breaking through resistance and facing what we most want to avoid. Rather than complex theory, Mark delivers a practical method you can use immediately—before tough meetings, difficult conversations, or when facing addictive urges.Drawing from his own sobriety journey, Mark vulnerably shares how this tool helped him overcome a moment when relapse seemed imminent. "We think avoiding pain protects us," he explains, "but avoidance actually feeds the thing we fear." The counterintuitive practice of moving toward discomfort rather than away from it creates freedom on the other side. As you visualize facing your challenges as a black cloud and walking straight through it, you'll discover a new relationship with pain—not as an enemy, but as a doorway.This episode isn't just about absorbing information; it's about implementation. Mark challenges listeners to practice this tool three times in real situations and shares powerful mantras like "Bring it on. I love pain. Pain sets me free." Whether you're struggling with procrastination, conflict avoidance, or destructive habits, this episode offers a practical path forward. Your pain is not your enemy—it's your door. Are you ready to walk through it? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, then take that first step toward freedom today.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe dive into the darkness where a part of us called "Part X" wants us to quit permanently, exploring practical ways to work through these challenging moments. When life's jungle is roaring with grief, shame, and struggles, we need fierce encouragement - not Instagram quotes or polished hacks, but honest tools to face our saboteur.• Introducing the concept of "Part X" - the hidden part of us that wants to destroy us• Sharing personal struggles with sobriety, finances, and supporting a friend in hospice care• Exploring the distinction between wanting to die versus wanting to escape your current life• Breaking down "story work" - a four-step process to rewrite limiting narratives• Understanding how trauma lives in the body and why we need to feel our way through darkness• Distinguishing between shadow work and the deeper darkness of Part X• Recommitting to showing up for ourselves when we'd rather disappearTry the story work technique from Susan Saller's book "Small Steps, Big Wins" - write down your story, re-read it at different speeds, and notice how your body responds. Text or DM me to share what shifts for you, and remember: you're closer than you think, but you won't see it until you start walking forward.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIf you gave me just 14 minutes and 24 seconds — one percent of your day — I could help you change your year.In this episode, I share the power of short, focused practice. We break down the Dreaded Drama Triangle and introduce the Empowerment Dynamic — moving from Victim to Creator.Then we walk through a simple tool: the 5/5/5 Practice. Five minutes of breath, five minutes of journaling, five minutes of visualization.Try it for seven days. The results might surprise you.💥 Grab the free 5/5/5 tool below, just one percent of your day. (Guided recording available for download too.)If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailSometimes the most powerful insights come when we step away from our carefully planned routines. Walking through my neighborhood, surrounded by summer's cicadas and butterflies, I decided to record this episode without notes or structure—and that vulnerability became the perfect backdrop for exploring how we can transform our relationship with ourselves.We all struggle with negative self-talk. It's hardwired into our biology, this tendency to focus on what's wrong rather than what's right. But fierce encouragement offers a different path: recognizing our efforts, embracing our imperfections, and speaking to ourselves with the compassion we'd offer a dear friend. Through raw personal stories—including a painful moment when parenting overwhelmed me—I share how expanding the space between stimulus and response has transformed my ability to choose my reactions rather than be controlled by them.The most transformative question you can ask yourself is disarmingly simple: What's the most aggravating thing in my life right now? By identifying your loudest pain point, you create the opportunity for targeted growth. I introduce two powerful practices to support this journey: "collecting turnarounds" (a three-step process for interrupting negative patterns) and "targeted thinking" (maintaining focus through transition moments). These tools have helped countless clients—from corporate executives to struggling parents—claim their freedom to shape their responses to life's challenges.Whether you're wrestling with anger, procrastination, relationship difficulties, or creative blocks, remember that courage isn't about fearlessness—it's about feeling the fear and taking deliberate action anyway. I'd love to hear how these tools land for you. Check out the link to my upcoming Awareness Lab if you're ready to deepen your practice with a supportive community. How might your life change if you committed to fierce encouragement for just one week?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the stress in your relationship isn’t from the chaos around you… but the silence inside you?In this episode of Fierce Encouragement, we explore three simple but powerful practices that bring clarity, connection, and calm back into your life—even when the world feels loud, messy, or overwhelming.You’ll learn:Why clarity withheld becomes connection deniedHow to use “micro-love” to strengthen your closest relationshipsA grounding question to ask when stress, guilt, or old habits creep back inThis is not motivational fluff. It’s a field manual for showing up with more truth, love, and presence—especially when things are hard.Whether you're building a business, raising a family, or navigating a transition, this one’s for you.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailMark Walker explores how we can return to ourselves after ghosting and develop practices for staying present in our lives, even when faced with challenges that might pull us away from our authentic selves. This episode focuses on practical techniques for coming back to ourselves through awareness, breath work, and cognitive flexibility.• Ghosting ourselves happens when we give away our awareness and attention, often by numbing out to our truth• Our brains are wired to take shortcuts, creating blind spots and cognitive misframes that cause us to disconnect• Catching yourself before you ghost is a powerful practice for interrupting negative loops• Journal prompt: when was the last time you caught yourself about to ghost? What helped you stay present?• Insight feels good but is not integration - true transformation happens in our bodies, breath, and actions• De-centering by speaking about yourself in the third person creates cognitive flexibility and wider perspective• Community support is essential for transformation, not optional• Staying present isn't about perfection but about practicing coming back again and againCheck out the links in the show notes for the Awareness Lab, a community focused on putting these awareness practices into action.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailEver said you were ready for change... and then vanished? You’re not alone.In this episode, Mark Walker explores the deeper reasons we ghost our own growth. Through the story of a client who went from guilt and paralysis to love notes, fun T-shirts, and a thriving new business, you’ll learn why silence isn’t weakness—it’s often the sound of transformation trying to take root.We’ll unpack the psychology of retreat, introduce the “Love Bid” habit, and use one powerful journaling prompt from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to help you reconnect.This is for the tech leader who keeps overthinking.The parent who’s burnt out but still showing up.The builder who knows something deeper is calling.No fluff. No hype. Just fierce encouragement, grounded tools, and a real invitation to come back to yourself.In this episode:Why we ghost ourselvesThe Love Bid technique (from Love 2.0)Breathing + journaling to return to presenceClient story of transformation through micro-habit shifts[Part 2 drops next week. Follow so you don’t miss it.]If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fierce Encouragement, we dive into the brutal grip of resistance... that inner voice that says it is too late for you. Through personal stories, powerful quotes, and grounded tools, I explore how guilt, procrastination, and negative thinking can sabotage your progress. You will learn how to recognize resistance, shift toxic self-talk, and reclaim your power with clear and simple action. If you have ever felt behind or doubted your path, this conversation is for you.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Coach Mark shares a raw reflection after sitting beside a close friend during what may be his final oncology appointment. No more treatments. Just time. What follows is not a eulogy... but a wake-up call.This is an invitation to examine your habits, your hiding places, and your heart.To ask: Am I really living? Or just loitering in this life? We explore the quiet strength of courage, the gritty beauty of gratitude, and what happens when we stop numbing and start showing up. This one is tender. Unfiltered. Fierce. And it might just change how you meet the rest of your day.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIndecision keeps us stuck. In this episode, I unpack a conversation with my son, share a 5-step mental reset tool, and offer a fresh look at why slowing down — even for five minutes — can change everything.You’ll hear insights from Heroic, Phil Stutz, and Dzogchen teachings, plus a practical reminder: your clarity lives on the other side of breath, solitude, and presence.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhy we keep buying books... and still feel stuck.Ever found yourself knee-deep in new ideas—but no closer to living them? In this episode, Mark pulls back the curtain on our obsession with learning more… and the quiet art of doing something with what we already know.We explore:The neuroscience of anticipation and why it’s more addictive than actual resultsWhy our messy minds crave more tabs instead of more tractionThe simple, bold framework for turning knowledge into momentum: the 7-Day Application SprintYou’ll also get a short breathing practice to anchor one idea—and a challenge to finally ship something you’ve been sitting on.“Learning is potential energy. Application is kinetic.” — Coach Mark WalkerListen in and take the first breath toward action. Then grab your free checklist here! (No sign up required.)If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWe explore the powerful concept of "the gap" between stimulus and response—that momentary space where our freedom to choose lies. By training ourselves to notice and expand this gap through consistent awareness practices, we can transform our reactions, rewire our brains, and experience greater freedom and clarity.• Viktor Frankl's quote about the space between stimulus and response being the source of our freedom• How our modern culture causes us to miss the gap and react automatically• The neuroscience behind awareness practices: "Where attention goes, neural firing flows"• Richard Davidson's research showing we can turn states of awareness into traits of character• A four-step method to train awareness: notice the spark, name the mode, breathe and settle, ask what awareness would do• The Awareness Lab as a community to practice these skills togetherJoin the Awareness Lab where we meet live every week for practice, community connection, and coaching. For just $25 a month, you can train with others in developing greater emotional balance and clarity. Check out Episode 4 for the original meditation on this concept.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailFierce Encouragement podcast explores the revolutionary concept of "getting in the gap" – finding that space between external stimulus and our internal response where true transformation happens.• Meditation practice helps recognize the gap between stimulus and response• Creating awareness of this gap develops mental strength and flexibility• Even one minute per day of mindful awareness can create significant change• We are not our thinking mind – we are the awareness that notices thoughts• Discomfort during meditation is a sign that we're creating valuable space• This practice represents an "inner revolution" that transforms our lives• Consistency matters more than duration when building meditation habits• Scientific research confirms meditation's benefits for focus and mental healthThanks for listening!If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailFeeling distracted or off your game?In this episode, I share what helped me reset after a tough week—starting with this reminder: You’re closer than you think.We’ll talk:How resistance shows up (and why it’s not the enemy)Why simplicity matters more than hacksA journaling prompt to build self-respectPlus, I’ll invite you into the Awareness Lab—my $25/month group for folks building real meditation habits in real life.👉 Join the LabPrompt from today: What tiny act today would feel like a big moment of self-respect?If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fierce Encouragement, I break down the hidden cost of emotionally immature leadership and what true masculine strength really looks like. We explore the “1:1 Heroic Framework” to lead with presence, protection, and pause... and hear about his powerful transformation from shame to grounded clarity.If you’ve ever felt stuck in a role you didn’t choose, overwhelmed by pressure, or ready to grow past surface-level fixes, this one’s for you.You’ll Learn:How to recognize toxic leadership patternsA 3-step framework for emotional presenceA real story of healing and personal powerApply for coaching: Serious about change? I offer a few private coaching spots each quarter. DM or email to apply... I read every message. Be well.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhat are you willing to be bad at... in public?In this episode, we opens up about showing up broke, vulnerable, and still committed to the path. Inspired by a coaching question, Coltrane's jazz, and Lincoln's long game, this is a raw meditation on what it means to keep creating even when it’s messy.You’ll also learn a powerful tool that blends Phil Stutz’s Vortex with the ancient Tibetan practice of Tonglen... designed to help you breathe through discomfort and rewire your response to fear and failure.Inside this episode:The truth about being broke (and not broken)Coltrane, Lincoln, and the art of listeningThe “Vortex of Willingness” – a real-time practice for hard momentsWhy ambition isn’t enough—and what to build insteadA quiet invite into the next Awareness Lab“Freedom is not found through escaping experience but by embracing it.” – Mark EpsteinIf you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fierce Encouragement, I talk about what it really takes to shift your life... starting with your attention, your nighttime habits, and your belief in what’s possible. From frozen pizza moments to parenting in the attention economy, we explore:Why being a little “delusional” might be your smartest moveThe Digital Sunset: a simple, powerful tool to reset your mindWhy your mindset, not your money, determines your real wealthA fresh take on discipline, balance, and inner clarityWant into the next round of the Awareness Lab? A group program to help leaders create a consistent and powerful meditation habit. Click here to join the waitlist!If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailWhen someone called me “creepy” for promoting a workshop, it hit harder than I expected. In this episode, I break down why criticism sticks, how emotional fitness is not soft... and why it might be the smartest thing you ever train.You’ll learn:Why one troll can throw you off, even when 15 people cheer you onThree simple tools to reset your mindsetWhy emotional fitness is operational efficiencyHow to start trusting yourself again (even if it feels weird at first)“Away with the world’s opinion of you—it’s always unsettled and divided.” (Seneca)If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailMost high performers aren’t burnt out because of the work. They’re burnt out because of the stories they’re telling themselves about who they need to be.In this episode, I share the real conversation that inspired this theme... the executive who told me his inner dialogue feels like a horror movie. We dig into:Why your thoughts aren’t facts, and how to stop being directed by mental noiseThe real cost of waiting to fix what you know isn’t workingHow multitasking is draining your depth (and what to do instead)3 journaling prompts to help you get honest, clear, and present againIf you feel like you're living in "always-on" mode but losing yourself in the process, this one's for you.Listen in.Journal a little.And if you’re ready to talk, apply for a coaching conversation with me.What kind of movie is playing in your mind right now? Text me. Let me know. No judgment. Just curiosity.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailLonely Work, Holy Work (Finding Courage When No One's Watching)This one’s about the messy, wobbly middle.That quiet, uncertain season where you’re building something... and it feels like no one’s clapping, checking in, or watching.But what if this lonely work is the holy work?In this episode:A real conversation with a leader who said the quiet part out loud: “I’m lonely.”Why this middle part matters (especially for fathers, sons, and creatives)A tiny, powerful tool you can use today: The Friend ListAnd a reminder that how you show up here is how you show up everywhere elseWant clarity, encouragement, or support? I offer a free 1:1 session to help you find your next move. Apply hereGrab the Free Meditation Here - Three minutes envisioning your best self.That’s it. No fluff. Just Fierce Encouragement.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we smash the myth that coaching is just for people who are “broken,” and dive headfirst into the global loneliness epidemic. Discover why self-compassion is an absolute superpower. Plus a simple, 3-step framework (Notice → Name → Nurture) to ease anxiety, anger, or jealousy. We also end with a journaling prompt and micro-connection challenge you can try today.HighlightsCoaching Myth-Bust: Why coaching isn’t an ER for the shattered. It’s performance gear for the committed.Loneliness Stats: Gallup found 23% of people felt lonely “a lot of yesterday,” and loneliness can raise the risk of premature death by up to 29%.Self-Compassion Tool: A 2-minute “Notice → Name → Nurture” practice to ease negative emotions, inspired by Dr. Kristin Neff and Paul Gilbert.Personal Insight: My own struggles this week with skipped workouts and Girl Scout cookies... progress, not perfection!Action Step: A quick journaling prompt and a micro-connection challenge to transform lonely moments into opportunities for growth.Listen & ConnectFree Strategy Session: Ready to move from awareness into action? Apply here for a free strategy call.Tag & Share: Post your micro-connection experience with #FierceEncouragement.Stay in Touch: Follow me on YouTube or visit my website for more insights and resources.You’re not broken... you’re becoming. Enjoy the episode and remember to stay fierce in your self-compassion and commitment to growth. Be well.If you’re tired of doing this work alone, I offer a free conversation to help you get clear on your next steps. Apply Here when you’re ready.