Many high achievers build success externally but feel stuck, exhausted, or unfulfilled internally. Even leaders can lose their way, unsure what the next evolution of their purpose looks like. That’s exactly what happened to James Robbins. From the foothills of the Rockies to leading ministry teams and global business audiences, James was always seen as a leader. But behind the scenes, he wrestled with self-doubt, burnout, and a longing for deeper alignment. His experience navigating leadership, storytelling, and identity helped him build two businesses—and now, a powerful new message for those ready to reclaim their calling.

In this episode, James shares the behind-the-scenes story of building a speaking and leadership company, writing Nine Minutes on Monday, and his transformational new book, The Call to Climb. We explore how storytelling drives leadership, how to lead with empathy, and why your soul is calling you to something more.

Key Takeaways:

• From Ministry to Leadership Training: How James transitioned from church leadership to corporate consulting, and how his experience with volunteers became his “PhD in people.”

• The Power of Story: Why storytelling—not statistics—is the secret weapon for speakers, leaders, and educators who want to create lasting impact.

• Nine Minutes on Monday: James breaks down his simple weekly ritual to build engaged teams using just 9 questions—still used by leaders around the world.

• Burnout and Reinvention: His journey through midlife burnout inspired his new fable, The Call to Climb—a story for those feeling stuck, restless, or called to something greater.

• Designing a Business that Supports Your Life: James shares how he’s restructuring his work, choosing simplicity over scale, and planning for the next three years with purpose and intention.

About the Guest:

James is the founder of First Ascent Leadership. He is a rare mix of management consultant, behavior-change specialist, adventurer and inspirational speaker.

He helps organizations world wide reach higher levels of performance by transforming managers into inspirational leaders.

James was named one of the top leadership speakers by INC. Magazine and regularly shares the stage with other experts in business.

He is also the author of Nine Minutes on Monday; The Quick and Easy Way to Go From Manager to Leader which was named the 2012 Business Book of the Year by Canada’s Globe and Mail.

Links:

https://www.jamesrobbins.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobbins97/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Niche down and sell what you do best—James would teach speakers how to generate leads from stage, a skill that’s brought him 70–90% of the room.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Launching a SaaS platform without understanding its complexity. The result? Bankruptcy of a partner, personal financial loss, and losing his house.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis—a deep, reflective read for anyone evaluating the “why” behind their path.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT (daily use for ideation, writing, clarity), Upgraded Camera Setup (elevated his brand presence for remote work)”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Choosing your path—and owning...

Many creative professionals feel trapped in 9-to-5 careers that drain their energy—even when they love their craft. That was Matthieu Mehuys. A gifted landscape architect from Belgium, he found himself stuck in a corporate job, staring at a screen instead of designing nature. Burned out and unfulfilled, he packed a backpack and set off on a global journey that changed everything—from eco-resorts in the Amazon to creating edible gardens in Australia.

In this episode, Matthieu shares how he built a freedom-first business by offering high-end design services and scalable online courses to clients around the world. You’ll learn how he blends regenerative design with timeless principles of nature, and how he's helping everyday people build the gardens and the lives of their dreams.

Key Takeaways:

• From Burnout to Blueprint: Matthieu shares how hitting rock bottom while traveling the Amazon led to the birth of his international landscape architecture business.

• Teaching What You Love Can Scale: By launching an online masterclass called Garden of Your Dreams, Matthieu empowers clients to build regenerative gardens from anywhere—while creating passive income.

• The Power of Nature’s Laws: His award-winning book 12 Universal Laws of Nature teaches how working with—not against—nature drastically reduces maintenance and increases garden success.

• Balancing High-End Clients with Online Education: Matthieu explains how teaching others hasn’t hurt his luxury design business—instead, it’s created more demand and global opportunities.

• Designing for Freedom: Living in the Azores, Matthieu continues to work with clients globally while surfing, traveling, and teaching—on his own terms.

About the Guest:

Matthieu Mehuys is an award-winning author and passionate landscape architect whose journey from a family farm in Belgium to regenerative farming practices has led him to believe that landscape architects can indeed change the world. His fascination with plants since childhood drove him to become a landscape architect, a role he sees as instrumental in crafting environments that marry aesthetics with positive environmental impact. Through his work, he aims to empower individuals to transform their gardens into spaces that foster biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and reverse climate change.

Links:

https://www.paulownia-la.com/

linkedin.com/in/matthieu-mehuys-64b0b5111

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Use $10 for a calling plan, reach out to personal contacts, offer services for a low rate, and reinvest only in food to keep going.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Ignoring his coaches’ advice once success hit—thinking he “knew better” and abandoning proven strategies too early.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi and How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Calendly for scheduling, Google Calendar for managing his life and ChatGPT for creating offers and course content.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “The ability to live and travel anywhere, at any time, while doing meaningful work on my own terms.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had...

You pour years into building a business and finally reach the dream exit… but what happens when the money hits your bank and nothing actually feels different? That’s exactly what happened to John Makarewicz. After scaling a real estate business to a private equity exit and leading a 9-figure team, he was left asking, “Now what?” The transition exposed deeper truths—about leadership, burnout, and why financial freedom doesn’t always equal fulfillment.

In this episode, John unpacks what truly makes a business sellable, how to build a team that thrives without you, and how he rediscovered passion through real estate investing. If you’re building with an exit in mind—or recovering from one—this conversation will shift your perspective on what success really looks like.

Key Takeaways:

• The Exit Myth: John explains why reaching a business exit doesn’t magically deliver happiness—and how to prepare emotionally, not just financially.

• Building a Team That Runs Without You: Learn the systems and hiring strategies John used to make himself replaceable and boost business valuation.

• Burnout After Success: Discover why John’s first post-exit experience led to depression—and how daily hiking and deep reflection guided his next move.

• Leadership Lessons from the Trenches: Why empathy, feedback loops, and hiring for culture are more important than flashy résumés.

• Investing in Impact: At Ferris Capital Partners, John is now focused on multifamily real estate, value-add investing, and creating great experiences for residents and investors alike.

About the Guest:

John Makarewicz is a seasoned entrepreneur, real estate investor, and Managing Partner at Faris Capital Partners, where he specializes in multifamily acquisitions, capital raising, and investor relations. Having grown up in Atlanta and lived across the United States, John’s diverse background has shaped his adaptable, people-first approach to business. His leadership style is heavily influenced by the teachings of coaching legends like John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K), reflecting his personal mantra: “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” A passionate builder of businesses, John’s expertise extends well beyond deal-making. He previously scaled a company to a nine-figure private equity exit, focusing on strong culture, operational excellence, and outstanding client experience. Now, through Faris Capital Partners, he guides investors toward lucrative real estate opportunities while maintaining a relentless commitment to transparency and integrity.

Links:

https://www.fariscapitalpartners.com/

linkedin.com/in/john-makarewicz-23589a37

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Launch a webinar series on social media offering real estate education, followed by direct outreach to his personal network to secure listings.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Failing to inspect what he expected—assuming team members had the same motivation and missing red flags that nearly cost him his leadership role.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “John Wooden on Leadership and Vivid Vision”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Screen Time – For eliminating distractions and protecting focus and ChatGPT – For deal analysis, ideation, and dramatically reducing research hours.”

5. What is your definition of...