Notes for An Awesome Life with John Spence

Send us Fan MailJosh and John haven’t sat down together in a while, and there’s a good reason for that. John was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery. In this episode, he shares what the past few months have been like for him.But this episode isn’t really about cancer. It’s about what happens when your beliefs are put to the test.John talks about how his values, honesty, health, love, laughter, learning, and contribution, showed up when he was in a crisis. He and Josh get into fear, anxiety, stoicism, being uncomfortable, and the difference between feeling an emotion and letting it run the show. They also talk about the stories we tell ourselves when things go wrong, and John asks a pretty simple question: if you’re going to make up a story about what might happen, why not make up a good one?There’s also a surprising amount of laughing for a conversation involving cancer, surgery, and the complete loss of personal dignity.John is back. We’re very glad he is.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailWhat does a balanced life actually look like and is it even real?This week on Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence, Josh and John dig into the idea of balance beyond the usual “work-life” cliché. FThey examine a practical framework for living well, exploring what it really means to take care of all the parts of your life.Using the “Dimensions of Wellness” as a guide, the conversation moves through physical health, intellectual curiosity, emotional regulation, relationships, purpose, work, money, and even your environment, yes, your messy house might actually be part of the problem.Along the way, you’ll hear:Why some are afraid to compliment their teams (and why that’s a problem)A more honest definition of balance.How small, intentional decisions shape a healthier, more meaningful lifeWhy deep relationships, not success, are the real indicator of happinessPractical ways to improve your life without blowing it up completelyThis is a grounded, thoughtful, occasionally humorous conversation about how to live better...not perfectly, but intentionally.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailSometimes the most important things to change are the ones you can’t see yet.In this episode of Notes for an Awesome Life, John Spence and Josh Wilson  dive into one of the hardest challenges in personal growth: recognizing the patterns, habits, and assumptions that quietly shape our decisions without us noticing. They explore why self-reflection is so rare, why repeating the same outcomes might reveal more about you than your circumstances, and how separating your identity from your behaviors can make real change possible.If you’ve ever wondered why certain problems keep showing up in your life or how to develop the kind of self-awareness that great leaders possess, this conversation offers practical tools and honest insight to help you start looking in the right places.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Notes for an Awesome Life, global top 100 business thinker John Spence joins host Josh Wilson to unpack one of the biggest obstacles to a fully awesome life: resistance.From staring at a blank page to hitting the snooze button, resistance shows up as fear, distraction, and procrastination. John shares lessons inspired by Steven Pressfield and his book The War of Art, along with insights from Stoicism, Buddhism, and decades of personal study, including multiple rereads of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.You’ll learn:Why fear is the root of resistanceHow to “make it easy to win” by removing distractionsPractical strategies to beat procrastinationWhy discipline beats motivation every timeHow aligning with your values helps you build an awesome lifeIf you’ve ever fallen off a routine, struggled with perfectionism, or let life’s chaos derail your goals, this conversation offers practical tools to reset, refocus, and move forward with intention.Resistance never fully disappears but you can learn to outsmart it.Listen in and start building your awesome life, one intentional decision at a time.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailEver notice how overthinking feels like responsible prep while quietly draining your energy and time? We go straight at that tension with John Spence, exploring how deep thinking tips into rumination, how to spot the shift in real time, and how to break the loop with simple tools you can use anywhere.  If you’re ready to trade anxiety for action and build momentum one present moment at a time, this conversation gives you the framework and the prompts to start now.Enjoyed this conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend who overthinks, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Your feedback helps us make every minute you spend with us worth it.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailIn this special listener driven episode of Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence, John and Josh open the mailbag and tackle real questions from the audience.The discussion moves from the hidden dangers of “helpfully” putting butter away to deeper territory: mental flexibility, blind spots, wisdom, curiosity, work-life balance, honesty versus kindness, and what it really means to show up for the people you love. Along the way, John shares practical frameworks, personal reflections, and the kind of perspective that only comes from decades of experience and a willingness to keep learning.It’s an episode about unlearning, asking better questions, navigating relationships with care, and understanding that growth often happens in small, uncomfortable, human moments. This is a conversation meant to meet you exactly where you are at the start of a new year.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your circumstances, but the story you keep telling yourself?In this episode of Notes for an Awesome Life, John Spence and host Josh Wilson explore how personal narratives shape identity, behavior, relationships, and growth. From childhood conditioning and self-talk to reinvention, boundaries, and the courage to change, this conversation digs into why some stories linger long after they stop serving us.Together, they unpack how early experiences influence adulthood, why self-improvement can strain friendships, and how intentional action can help rewrite limiting beliefs. Along the way, they discuss philosophy, vulnerability, compassion, and the difference between aspiration and authenticity.This episode is a thoughtful reflection on identity, personal growth, and what it really means to live an intentional, meaningful life, especially when the old version of you no longer fits.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailThe Importance of Human Connection - Busyness, anxiety, and introversion are real, but they don’t change a foundational truth of being human: we are wired for connection. John and Josh dig into what happens when we ignore that need and why loneliness has become one of the defining challenges of modern life. Blending research, lived experience, and small daily practices, this conversation offers grounded insights and doable ways to create closeness that sticks.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailFailure sits at the center of every meaningful life change, yet most of us meet it with fear, shame, and avoidance. In this conversation with John Spence, we explore how to turn losses into leverage by focusing on what we can control and what we can learn. John grounds the talk in his own rock‑bottom college experience and the arc that followed: disciplined learning, better habits, and a deliberate mindset that trades rumination for reflection. The result is a practical framework for handling setbacks while gaining ground.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailIn this week’s episode of Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence, John and Josh break down what effective goal setting really looks like. John shares how to use SMART goals without overcomplicating them, how checklists create reliable progress, why imposter syndrome shows up even for high performers, and how a simple “two letter” exercise can radically increase your motivation.If you want practical tools to start the new year with clarity, purpose, and a plan you can stick to, this episode is for you.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailWhat if the most powerful change you could make is only a breath wide? We dig into the “gap” between stimulus and response, the tiny pause where you can trade impulse for intention, and show how gratitude and presence turn that pause into a lifelong advantage.John Spence shares how he went from breaking things in anger to asking himself one question: what would the ideal version of me do right now? We talk about the idea of the second arrow and other simple stoic principles that help you stop adding extra suffering to tough moments. Gratitude runs through all of this. Whether you write it down in the morning or just notice small good things around you, appreciation trains your mind to see what is working. That calm foundation makes it easier to pause, breathe, and respond with more grace when life gets loud. If you practice a simple personal mantra while you are calm, it will be ready when you need it and can turn triggers into chances to act with poise and self respect.If this connects with you, tap follow, share with a friend who could use a little calm, and leave a review with the mantra you plan to use this week. Your next steady choice might spark someone else’s.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence, Josh and John dive into one of the foundations of a truly “awesome” life: self awareness. John explains why emotional intelligence, especially self awareness and self regulation, is the starting point for better relationships  and better mental health. John shares practical habits like daily reflection, values-based self-assessment, and rating different areas of your life on a 1–10 scale to stay aligned with the future you want to create. If you’re ready to build a more intentional, emotionally intelligent, values driven life, this conversation is a powerful place to start.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailJohn and Josh explore how our areas of daily focus shape our future and how small, deliberate choices can compound into a massive change of course towards a life of success and joy. John shares personal stories, practical tools, and a two-list homework exercise to align your time, relationships, and self-talk with your values.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailEpisode 5 - Envisioning Your Ideal Life What does your ideal life actually look like and how do you get there? John and Josh unpack a practical visioning process, talk about why “hope is not a strategy,” and then talk about maintaining boundaries, how to say no without guilt, all in the service of much needed self-care.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailWhat is your mission, your reason for bounding out of the bed in the morning? John and Josh look at the importance of setting a direction for your life that aligns with you values and abilities.  We explore purpose as a living, practical force, something you can define, test, and build into your day.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailJohn and Josh explore why clear personal values make hard decisions simple and how to align daily behavior with what matters. John shares the pitfalls of borrowed values, how safety and fear and recognizing what you can control play a roll in getting started, and an exercise to define, score, and live your core beliefs.Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailWhat if “success” isn’t rich, famous, powerful but values lived daily and relationships that last? In this episode, John and Josh talk about defining a successful life, résumé vs. eulogy virtues, the importance of relationships and a deceptively simple definition of success: when your values and your actions match. Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).

Send us Fan MailAbout this episode: John Spence is one of the world’s top thought leaders but he almost wasn’t.Before the accolades, before lecturing at MIT and Stanford, before helping people and businesses around the world…he failed out of college with a 1.6 GPA, was cut off from his family, and found himself sitting on a Gainesville curb realizing that no one else was coming to save him.That was the moment he decided to change everything.He took responsibility, rebuilt from the ground up, and started studying what it really means to have an AWESOME life.That journey became the foundation of his life’s work: helping businesses succeed. Along the way, he has also been helping people build lives of purpose, gratitude, and joy.Now, we’re bringing that conversation to you."Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence" is a podcast about living intentionally, facing yourself honestly, and making small, steady choices that lead to a life you love.Homework (try these this week)Write two letters: If I don’t change… and If I do the work… Read both every morning.Start a journal: What did I do today that helped me build an AWESOME life?Email us: [email protected] more about John: JohnSpence.comFamiliar Wilsons Media: FamiliarWilsonsMedia.comAbout John Spence: John is a globally recognized business thought leader, former owner/CEO of five companies, and advisor/coach to organizations from startups to the Fortune 10. He’s lectured at more than 90 universities and was named by the American Management Association as one of “America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.”About the show: Notes for an Awesome Life with John Spence focuses on personal growth, happiness, clarity, and the everyday habits that compound into an AWESOME life.Credits: Hosts John Spence and Josh Wilson • Produced by Josh Wilson for Familiar Wilsons Media • Special thanks: Amanda Wilson (writing and production), and Domingo Jimenez (writing and marketing).