Discipline, doing hard things, fitness, confidence, and personal growth drive Episode 69 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Jay Jones, a Marine Corps officer, endurance athlete, and performance coach, to break down why doing hard things on purpose changes how you show up in every area of life.

The conversation explores how physical discipline builds mental resilience, why confidence starts with keeping promises to yourself, and how fitness habits spill directly into business performance, leadership, and family life. Jay shares his journey from collegiate football to the Marine Corps, endurance running, and coaching athletes of all levels — from high performers to everyday people who just want to feel better and live longer.

They discuss why comparison kills progress, how starting small creates momentum, and why consistency matters more than motivation. From running in freezing temperatures to finishing races without medals, the episode reinforces a core belief: confidence is built by proving to yourself that you can do hard things, even when no one is watching.

The episode closes by connecting physical fitness to business success — explaining how confidence, discipline, and self-accountability directly impact leadership, decision-making, and the ability to inspire others by example.

TAKEAWAYS

• Doing hard things builds confidence that carries into business and life
• Comparison slows progress; consistency accelerates it
• Fitness discipline strengthens emotional control and decision-making
• Small daily habits create long-term momentum
• Confidence grows from keeping promises to yourself
• Motivation fades — systems and discipline remain
• Physical resilience builds mental resilience
• Leadership improves when you lead by example
• Comfort is the enemy of growth
• Progress compounds when you stay consistent

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Doing Hard Things Becomes Addictive
00:58 Growing Yourself to Grow Your Business
01:55 Setting the Stage for a Big Year
03:18 Fitness Background & Early Sports
04:59 Transition to the Marine Corps
06:18 Learning to Run Under Pressure
07:40 Why Running Builds Mental Strength
09:03 Keeping Promises to Yourself
10:11 Building Next Level 360
12:10 Training Mental Toughness
13:08 Pikes Peak & Embracing Discomfort
14:23 Finishing Without a Medal
15:31 Doing Hard Things Removes Panic
17:40 How to Start Without Burning Out
18:56 Small Daily Goals Create Momentum
21:11 Be Where Your Feet Are
22:21 Starting the Day with Small Wins
23:02 Fitness Rapid-Fire
27:06 Why Most People Set Fitness Goals
28:54 Fitness Spillover Into Business
29:14 Confidence Changes Performance
31:04 Leading by Example
32:12 Helping Others Become Better
33:14 Training Athletes vs Everyday People
35:04 Setting a Date Creates Accountability
36:27 Embracing the Pain of Earning It
38:09 Why Hard Things Feel Different
40:05 Mental Strategy in Endurance Events
41:08 Confidence Under Pressure

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Goal setting, discipline, consistency, and long-term success are at the center of Episode 68 of Crossroad Conversations. Drawing on more than 80 years of combined business experience, the Lewis Brothers break down why 92% of people fail their goals every year—and why it has nothing to do with intelligence, money, or opportunity.

They explain the real difference between resolutions and goals, why vague goals always fail, and how writing goals down and sharing them with the right accountability partner immediately puts you ahead of the majority. The conversation walks through the critical first two weeks of January, how momentum is built through small daily actions, and why discipline must replace motivation once the excitement wears off.

The episode also dives into flow state, time discipline, and why most people design plans around perfect days instead of their hardest ones. Real stories—from endurance training to decades of disciplined business reinvestment—highlight how long-term success is built through boring, repeatable habits that compound over time.

This conversation is a reminder that progress is slow, uncomfortable, and often invisible—but those who stay consistent, protect their focus, and refuse to quit after one bad day separate themselves from the 92%.

KEYWORDS
goal setting, discipline, consistency, long-term success, leadership, accountability, business growth, habits, focus, motivation, flow state

TAKEAWAYS

Most people fail goals because they rely on motivation, not discipline
Writing goals down dramatically increases follow-through
The first two weeks determine long-term success
Small daily actions beat big inconsistent efforts
Accountability must come from people who’ve been where you want to go
Flow state improves productivity and clarity
Plans should work on your hardest days, not perfect ones
One bad day doesn’t erase progress
Discipline compounds over years, not weeks
Long-term success is built when no one is watching

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Why 92% of People Fail Their Goals
01:27 Resolutions vs. Real Goals
05:12 Why Goals Must Be Written Down
08:06 Accountability Changes Everything
11:10 Beating People With More Resources
15:46 The Critical First Two Weeks
17:18 Why Vague Goals Fail
20:16 Small Wins and Daily Discipline
23:04 Breaking Goals Into Action Plans
24:20 Designing Goals for Hard Days
26:13 Consistency Over Intensity
28:42 Flow State and Time Discipline
31:35 Protecting Focus at Work
35:19 Motivation vs. Discipline
41:15 The Two-Day Rule
43:01 Start Now, Not Monday
47:03 Discipline Over Decades
51:37 Success Is Built in the Dark
55:57 Final Thoughts on Long-Term Growth

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!

Leadership blind spots, customer service, communication, and emotional intelligence are at the center of Episode 67 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers break down the blind spots leaders don’t see—but everyone else does and how those blind spots quietly damage culture, customer experience, and long-term growth.

They discuss how success itself can create blind spots, why leaders often believe they’re being clear when they aren’t, and how assuming silence means agreement leads to breakdowns in execution. Through real-world stories—from customer service failures to internal meetings—they explain why nonverbal communication, follow-up, and emotional control matter just as much as what’s actually said.

The conversation also explores how outdated processes survive simply because “that’s how it’s always been done,” why customers are really looking for solutions (not explanations), and how failing to evolve pushes customers—and employees—away without complaints or confrontation. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: blind spots don’t disappear on their own. Leaders must slow down, seek feedback, compare themselves honestly, and take responsibility for the tone, clarity, and energy they set every day.

KEYWORDS
leadership blind spots, customer service, communication, emotional intelligence, business growth, culture, accountability, leadership development, feedback, management

TAKEAWAYS

• Blind spots often grow during periods of success
• Silence does not mean agreement
• Nonverbal communication shapes how messages are received
• What worked in the past may limit future growth
• Customers want solutions, not explanations
• Avoiding conflict creates hidden problems
• Emotional reactions from leaders damage trust and culture
• Teaching requires repetition, practice, and follow-up
• Leaders receive less honest feedback as authority increases
• Culture declines when blind spots go unaddressed

CHAPTERS

00:00 Leadership Blind Spots Explained
01:38 Why Success Creates Blind Spots
03:24 Customer Service and Evolving Expectations
08:22 Behaviors Leaders Don’t Notice
09:25 Why How You Say It Matters
10:27 Reading the Room After Meetings
11:46 Depth Over Agenda Completion
12:38 When Business Is Up vs. When It’s Down
14:09 Avoiding Conflict as a Blind Spot
15:17 Proactive Customer Communication
17:56 “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”
21:53 Customers Always Have Options
25:26 Why Blind Spots Are Hard to See
27:14 Reviewing Your Own Performance
29:07 Comparing Outside Your Industry
30:50 Honest Feedback as a Gift
36:03 Thinking You’re Clear When You’re Not
37:34 The Learning Pyramid Explained
41:27 Teaching vs. Lecturing
43:24 Silence Isn’t Agreement
46:17 How Leaders’ Reactions Travel
49:33 Pausing Before Emotional Decisions
52:31 Blind Spots That Hurt Culture
56:24 Final Leadership Reflection

Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.

Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!