The Power of Pillars: Why Your Foundation Matters

This podcast is a sanctuary for the curious , the ambitious and the introspective . It's for those of you who , like me , are captivated by the champion mindset and driven by an insatiable hunger for growth and knowledge .

Whether you're just beginning your journey or you're well along your path , you're going to find stories here that resonate with your experiences and aspirations . Over the last two years , we've shared countless stories of triumph and challenge , of resilience and transformation . We've laughed , we've reflected and we've grown together .

And as we've evolved , so too has this podcast . Remember , no matter what chapter you're on in your own story , you belong here . This community we've built together is a place of support , inspiration and shared growth . Where intention goes , energy flows , and the energy you bring to this space elevates us all .

So , whether you're listening while commuting , working out or enjoying your morning coffee , perhaps from one of those motivational mugs I'm so fond of , know that you're a part of something special . Thank you for being here . Thank you for your curiosity , your openness and your commitment to personal growth .

As we embark on year three , I invite you to lean in , to listen deeply and to let these stories resonate with your soul . I believe that a rising tide raises all ships , and I invite you along in this journey to evoke greatness . Hey everybody , welcome back to another episode of Evoke Greatness . Happy Friday .

Today I want to share something with you that literally stopped me in my tracks the other day . It's pillars . Before you think I've lost it , hear me out , because I'm really hopeful that this just might change the way you're thinking about building anything meaningful in your life .

So I had to take a trip across town and as I'm headed back , I'm driving down the street and I see this beautiful home with a patio that catches my eye . It's not your typical patio . It's not your typical setup .

Instead of those classic stone or wooden columns holding up the roof of the patio , the homeowners had used actual tree trunks , Thick , sturdy trees that had been specifically prepared for this purpose . That's when it hit me you see those tree pillars . They weren't just supporting a patio , they were telling a story about authenticity and purpose .

Nature had spent years growing those trees , making them strong enough to bear the weight of an entire structure , and isn't that exactly what we're doing in our lives and businesses ? I hope I can break this down in a way that really resonates with you . Think about your life right now . What are the pillars holding up your personal roof ?

I say that with air quotes , right ? Maybe it's your core values that are holding that up . Maybe it's your relationships , your health routine , your professional skills , Just like those tree pillars , these elements weren't created overnight . They took time to develop , to mature , to strengthen and to become reliable supports for everything else you're building .

Now let me share something from my professional journey . I am in the business of end-of-life care and let me tell you , when your mission is to be rock solid , there's no room for weak supports . So picture your business or project as that patio . Each pillar represents a critical element . You've got your people . Pillar Every single hire , every team member .

They're not just filling a position , they're one of your load-bearing supports . One week hire doesn't just affect their role . It creates the opportunity to send ripples throughout your entire structure . Think about your operations . Pillar those day-to-day processes .

They're not just procedures , they're the reinforcement that keeps everything stable , and when they're clunky or they're inefficient , it disrupts the whole structure . It can make the whole structure start to shake and you've got your leadership pillar . This is like your central support beam right .

If it is not perfectly aligned with your mission and values , everything else starts to tilt . It can create everything else to be off course . I'll give you a real example .

Last month , we were facing a challenging situation with one of our care protocols and I'll tell you , the easy route would have been to make a quick fix and move on , but we had to ask ourselves would this solution align with our pillar of providing world-class care ? Would it support our mission long-term ? That's a question that you have to ask yourself .

Against any big process , any big move , any big decision that you make , Is this going to align with our pillar of providing world-class care ? That's what we're asking ourselves . We ended up spending extra time and resources to develop a more comprehensive solution . And was it harder ? Yes , Was it more expensive initially ? Was it harder ?

Yes , Was it more expensive initially ? But here's the thing about pillars they're not about quick fixes . They're about creating long-term stability , sustainability . So here's what I want you to do after this episode I want you to take a walk around your own building site . Again , air quotes right .

Look at your personal life or your business and identify your pillars . Think about a couple of these questions , and I would ask you to kind of get a little introspective on these . Are these pillars strong enough to support my dreams ? Are they strong enough to support my really big mission that I'm working on ?

Am I giving each pillar the attention it needs to grow and strengthen ? And this one is one that I don't think people ask themselves often enough when was the last time I inspected these pillars for cracks or wear ? Sometimes we get so used to doing something that we just keep doing it for the sake of doing it .

But how often are you inspecting how well that's working , what kind of outcomes it's producing ? So what shape are your pillars in ? Remember , whether you're building a patio , a business or a life , the strength of your structure will never exceed the strength of its pillars .

So you've got to choose them wisely , nurture them consistently and never underestimate their importance . At the end of the day , we're all architects of our own futures , and the pillars that we choose today , they're going to determine what we can build tomorrow . So if there's one thing that I want you to take away from this episode .

It's this your pillars aren't just support structures . They are the embodiment of your values , your decisions and your commitment to excellence , so make sure you're treating them that way . So that's it for today's episode . Just wanted to hop on and kind of share this perspective that I got when driving down the road and taking a look at a fascinating patio .

I've had pillars on my mind a lot as I'm in the process of working with an amazing team building something really big , really meaningful . So if this resonates with you , I hope you'd share it with someone who's building something meaningful in their life . Until next time , keep building strong .

Thank you so much for listening and for being here on this journey with me . I hope you'll stick around If you liked this episode . It would mean the world for me if you would rate and review the podcast or share it with someone you know Many need to hear this message .

I love to hear from you all and want you to know that you can leave me a voicemail directly . If you go to my website , evokegreatnesscom , and go to the contact me tab , you'll just hit the big old orange button and record your message . I love the feedback and comments that I've been getting , so please keep them coming .

I'll leave you with the wise words of author Robin Sharma Greatness comes by doing a few small and smart things each and every day . It comes from taking little steps consistently .

It comes from making a few small chips against everything in your professional and personal life that is ordinary , so that a day eventually arrives when all that's left is the extraordinary .