The Mindset Forge

We sit down with marketing leader Howard Schaefer to unpack what long-term success looks like when you trade hype for consistency, relationships, and real measurement. We connect lessons from Sears and the CMO seat to parenting, fitness, and longevity so you can make better decisions with less ego and more truth. • childhood nicknames and the moment “Howie” becomes “Howard” at work • Sears at its peak and what sports apparel teaches about customer behaviour • relationship building as a career advantage and a leadership habit • choosing curiosity over competition to learn faster • data-driven decision making and why regional performance changes everything • avoiding ego-led calls and using the right metrics for the goal • hockey as a lifelong training ground for teamwork and resilience • parenting around sports without turning it into pressure or debt • why unstructured pickup play matters for joy and skill • the 529 reminder and playing the odds with money and expectations • shifting from heavy cardio to strength training for longevity • setbacks, injury risk, and the value of walking as a baseline habit • the metrics Howard watches most: sleep, HRV and training zones, bloodwork Listeners can Follow Howard Schaffer on LInkedinSupport the showEmail:  [email protected]:  http://bartonguybryan.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartonguybryanYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindsetforgechannelMy 3 Top Episodes of the first 100: 7 Essentials to Building Muscle after 40 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Brendan Hansen MMA Strength and Conditioning Coach Phil Daru 

We sit down with Mark to connect strength training, aging well, and the mindset it takes to keep showing up when progress feels slow. We also trace the same “support plus accountability” approach through parenting a child with type 1 diabetes and leading teams in high-stress tech. • Moving from cardio-only fitness to structured strength training • Learning strength for fall prevention, balance, and resilience with age • Prioritising workouts by scheduling them like non-negotiable appointments • Stepping up as parents after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis • Supporting independence without drifting into overprotection • Leading like a coach through clear expectations and accountability • Building trust by remembering people and showing you care • Using straight talk and root-cause thinking to learn from mistakes • Rebuilding confidence after a shoulder injury through warm-ups and patience • Noticing the biggest payoff as feeling better in daily life Support the showEmail:  [email protected]:  http://bartonguybryan.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartonguybryanYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindsetforgechannelMy 3 Top Episodes of the first 100: 7 Essentials to Building Muscle after 40 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Brendan Hansen MMA Strength and Conditioning Coach Phil Daru