Think in Cursive

Now more than ever, choosing to actively participate in your own life is essential to thriving in a world that constantly demands your attention.In This Episode...Clark Crosby joins Brandon in the Think in Cursive podcast for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it means to "participate" in life. Clark first talks about the idea of him being the "rabbit" instead of the "turtle" which eventually leads into a bigger conversation about participation: getting off the sidelines, creating instead of consuming, spending time with people, and being intentional about how we use our attention.The discussion moves into real estate and lending, where Clark shares what he's learned from working in mortgages for the past two decades, what people don't see behind a real estate transaction, and why experience and relationships can make such a difference when a deal gets complicated. Clark also talks about the current Atlanta housing market and mortgage rates.Clark also opens up about losing his grandmothers, wrestling with faith and atheism, finding a deeper sense of connection, and how he actively seeks to participate actively in many aspects of his life such as in work, family, community, and his country.Key TakeawaysBe an active participant in life. Stop rotting in front of the TV and waiting for life to happen. Actively engage in your relationships, business, profession, community, and that things that matter to you.You can always reinvent yourself. Part of Clark's story is that he has not threaded a straight, steady path to success. He went through some rough times, especially during his teenage years. He tried many things, including managing a tattoo shop, getting into music, moving to different locations, and working in the corporate world. His willingness to reinvent himself and experiment has opened doors to new opportunities.You can't control every outcome. Real estate, as with other industries, is full of moving parts, unexpected problems, and emotional reactions. Often, the best thing you can do is to stay calm and do your part, while letting the rest unfold.Define success in your own terms. Be a famous band member and sing for a huge crowd? Or build a business that allows you to work from home with your family? Success means different things to different people. Define what success means for you and pursue it.Don’t let fear run your life. Fear often keeps people from starting something new, but taking the first uncomfortable step can create clarity along the way.This Week’s Guest Bio: Clark CrosbyClark Crosby is a mortgage broker and loan officer with Success Mortgage Partners. His job is mostly about helping homebuyers and real estate agents figure out the ins and outs of getting a mortgage. Originally from Florida, Clark eventually made his way to Georgia, where he now lives with his wife and kids. He first entered the mortgage industry in 2007 and has spent years working through the many changes in real estate, lending, and the broader housing market. Outside of mortgages, Clark is a husband, father, musician, and someone deeply interested in personal growth, faith, creativity, and living an intentional and engaged life.  In this conversation, Clark brings the perspective of a guy who has tried different paths, changed his mind, taken some wrong turns, but kept moving.MentionsGuest: Clark CrosbyBook: The Ruthless Elimination of HurryCultural References: Fight Club, The Tortoise and the HareFinancial Institutions: Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), Dodd-FrankPeople: Kevin Warsh, Jerome Powell, Siamese Dream, Peter Gabriel, Wim Hof, Meister Eckhart, Bob Goff, Brian JohnsonMusic: Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese DreamKeywordsreal estate, mortgage, intentional living, meaningful life, reinventing yourself, entrepreneurship, how to let go of control, hustle culture, slowing down, phone addiction, eliminating hurry, music, relationships, fatherhood, creativity, playClick here to watch a video of this episode.

In this episode of Think in Cursive podcast, two realtors sit down for a light-hearted, genuine, and fun conversation about much more than real estate. Stacey shares lessons from his years in the industry, from investing and building a team, to learning about taxes, wealth creation, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.  The conversation also gets personal as we talk about raising kids, family, travelling and the little things that can get pushed to the side when you're busy building a career. We also ponder about the idea of not retiring, but rather rewiring...that is, to keep on working, learning, and making room for new experiences that make life worth living. There’s real estate. There’s wealth-building. There’s a little talk about Costa Rica. There’s plenty of joking around. This one's a good one!This Week’s Guest: Stacey WyattStacey Wyatt is an engineer, real estate investor, team leader, father, husband, and entrepreneur who has spent years building businesses, investing in real estate, and learning what it takes to build long-term wealth. In this conversation, Stacey shares some of what he’s learned along his journey: from growing a real estate business and building the right team to investing, taxes, wealth creation, legacy, health, family, and why he doesn’t really want to “retire” so much as rewire. Think in Cursive PodcastThink in Cursive explores the role of play in daily life and what it can teach us about how we work, lead, create, connect, and live. Because life is about more than work, achievement, and checking the next box. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and come hang out with us.

In this episode of Think in Cursive, Brandon Leonard sits down with Pastor Ross Wiseman of Momentum Church in Woodstock, Georgia, for an honest conversation about faith, success, marriage, parenting, leadership, burnout, and the slow work of becoming.Together, they explore...The three things that can destroy a man's life: gold, glory, and girls. Ross opens up about the dangers of money, recognition, power, and sexual temptation, and why success without character can become dangerous.Why your family shouldn't be your fan base. Ross and Brandon talk about marriage, conflict, staying grounded, and the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with the closest people in your life.Why slow growth might be exactly what you need. Ross reflects on building Momentum Church, the frustration of watching something grow more slowly than expected, and how the years of slow growth were also years of becoming - slowly becoming a better pastor, leader, husband, and person. This Week’s Guest: Ross WisemanRoss Wiseman is the pastor and founding leader of Momentum Church in Woodstock, Georgia. He has spent more than three decades in ministry and has experienced the highs and challenges that come with building something from the ground up. His story includes running from his calling as a young man, finding his way back to ministry, planting a church, navigating leadership and success, and learning what it means to build a life and character strong enough to carry the responsibility that comes with influence. About Think in Cursive PodcastThink in Cursive podcast explores what it means to build a meaningful life while staying curious, playful, and fully engaged in the process. Through honest conversations with thinkers and doers, Brandon explores the questions underneath work, success, relationships, identity, and the lives we're trying to build.

What happens to creativity when we have more to consume than ever before?In this episode of Think in Cursive, Brandon sits down with longtime friend Russ McLaughlin for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, music, parenting, attention, technology, and the art of staying curious in a world that never seems to slow down.They talk about what happens when we spend more time consuming than creating, and how smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence are changing the way we listen, think, make music, and experience the world around us.The conversation gets personal as they talk about artistic identity, the fear of failure, learning to listen, raising kids in a distracted world, and finding ways to keep creativity and play alive when life starts feeling more like work. This Week’s Guest: Russ McLaughlinRuss is an Atlanta-based music producer, musician, songwriter, teacher, and studio owner. He is the founder of Galaxy Music and Arts Academy, where he teaches private music lessons and group classes while helping students develop their skills and find their own creative voice.His experience spans live performance, songwriting, music production, teaching, and the business of making a living as a working musician. You can learn more about Russ and his creative work at itsruss.com. About Think in Cursive PodcastWe spend so much of our lives working, achieving, building, and chasing the next thing. But somewhere along the way, we can forget how to slow down, stay curious, and actually enjoy the life we're building.Think in Cursive explores the role of play in daily life and what it can teach us about how we work, lead, create, connect, and live.Through honest conversations with thinkers and doers, we go deeper than the usual success stories and explore the questions underneath them:What makes a meaningful life?How do we stay curious?Who are we when our work is no longer our identity?And why does play matter more as we get older?

What happens when you finally achieve the things you thought would make you happy, career success, financial security, recognition, influence, and still find yourself asking, “Is this it?”In this episode, we take a deeper look at the uncomfortable side of success: what happens when your career becomes your identity, when chasing the next goal becomes a way of life, and when the things you worked so hard to achieve no longer feel as meaningful as they once did.The conversation goes beyond money and career. We talk about purpose, retirement, fear, leadership, relationships, vulnerability, and the importance of play and curiosity and why successful people can become so focused on winning that they forget how to actually live.We also explore what it means to step outside the roles and expectations that define us, create deeper connections with the people around us, and stop measuring our lives solely by what we accomplish.🎙️This Week's Guest: Von WrightVon Wright is a husband, father, grandfather, longtime business leader, coach, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience across technology, consulting, strategy, and large-scale IT operations. He has been a partner in a Global Five consultancy and has spent much of his career helping organizations navigate change and rethink what's possible.Today, Von focuses on Second Half Coaching and Lifters of Men, an initiative dedicated to helping men strengthen their hearts and souls so they can positively impact the lives of others. His perspective on success, purpose, leadership, and what it means to live a meaningful life comes from years of experience and from learning to question the rules rather than simply follow them.🎙️About Think in Cursive PodcastWe spend so much of our lives working, achieving, building, and chasing the next thing. But somewhere along the way, we can forget how to slow down, stay curious, and actually enjoy the life we're building.Think in Cursive podcast explores the role of play in daily life and what it can teach us about how we work, lead, create, connect, and live.Through honest conversations with thinkers and doers, we go deeper than the usual success stories, exploring the questions underneath them: What makes a meaningful life? How do we stay curious Who are we when our work is no longer our identity? And why does play matter more as we get older?