In episode 466 of DREAM THINK DO, we're diving into one of my new favorite words and a concept that's been a game changer for me and my coaching clients:

OPTIONALITY.

Optionality is the intentional creation of more options.

Not waiting to get picked.

Not waiting for permission.

Not blowing up a perfectly good life just because you're ready for something new.

It's intentionally creating more possibilities so you have greater freedom to choose what comes next.

And here's the really important part:

You don't create optionality because you're expecting something to go wrong.

You create optionality because you want more ways for things to go RIGHT.

So if you've been successful but you're starting to wonder, "What's next?"...

Or maybe you're simply ready to feel a little more FIRE about your future...

Let's get after it.

If the IMPACT, INCOME, or IDENTITY pieces of this conversation got your wheels turning, I've got a specific experiment for you.

Maybe you've spent the last 15, 20, or 25 years getting really good at what you do.

Maybe people have told you:

• "You should teach that."

• "You'd be a great coach."

• "You should write a book."

• "Have you ever thought about speaking?"

Maybe you've wondered the same thing.

Not necessarily because you want to leave what you're doing...

but because you'd love to explore what ELSE might be possible with everything you've learned.

That's exactly why I created the masterclass:

OPTIONALITY IS THE NEW JOB SECURITY

It's designed for accomplished leaders who want to explore how their experience, wisdom, perspective, and reputation can become assets for creating greater impact, income, and optionality through things like coaching, speaking, consulting, and online training.

Normally the masterclass is $27.

But since you're a DREAM THINK DOer, I want you to have it for FREE.

Go to: mitchmatthews.com/options

And use the code: DTDGIFT

We're talking about:

• Why success can surprisingly make your options feel smaller
• The three "Success Paradoxes" that can quietly keep high achievers stuck
• Why you may have stopped exploring possibilities and started evaluating vacancies
• How the gravity of success can make trying something new feel increasingly expensive
• Why you don't need to leave what's working to start creating something new
• The difference between having more choices and having greater freedom to chooseFive areas where creating ONE new option could change your future
• Simple 30-day experiments that can help you start creating optionality immediatelyWhy your title is something you do, but doesn't contain everything you areThe mysterious "X Factor" that starts showing up when you intentionally create new possibilities
• Why your title is something you do, but doesn't contain everything you are

The mysterious "X Factor" that starts showing up when you intentionally create new possibilities

And most importantly...

We'll help you identify ONE small but significant experiment you can start this week that future you might thank you for.

Now I want to hear from YOU.

Where would you love to create more optionality?

And what's one experiment you're going to try?

Leave a comment at:

https://mitchmatthews.com/466

Kurt Avery didn't set out to solve the global water crisis.

He simply wanted to build great outdoor products.

But over time, the founder of Sawyer Products realized the same water filtration technology trusted by backpackers could also transform entire communities around the world.

Today, Sawyer partners with more than 140 nonprofits across 80 countries, helping provide clean water to millions of people while proving that business can truly be a force for good.

But here's what makes Kurt's story even more remarkable...

Sawyer spent 23 years becoming an "overnight success."

In this conversation, Kurt shares the mindset that kept him going, why he refuses to build "me-too" products, how faith shapes his leadership, and why every entrepreneur already has the ability to create meaningful impact.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply wondering how your work can make a bigger difference... this episode will encourage and challenge you.

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Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

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• Why it took 23 years for Sawyer to become an "overnight success"
• The incredible story of how clean water is transforming communities around the world
• Why Sawyer calls itself a "behavior change company"
• Kurt's approach to innovation—and why he refuses to create "me-too" products
• How faith and practical decision-making work together in leadership
• Why hiring people smarter than yourself is one of the best business strategies you'll ever use
• How your unique gifts and skill set can become a force for good

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Get Kurt's book Sawyer Think: https://amzn.to/4rYLPvS

Check out Sawyer Products here: https://amzn.to/4usz3aM

Connect with Sawyer Products on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerproducts/

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What's one gift, skill, or opportunity you've been given that could make a bigger impact than you realize?

Drop a comment below - we'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from this conversation.

And if this episode encouraged you, share it with another entrepreneur, leader, or dreamer who could use the reminder that business - and your work - can truly change the world.

Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything looked good... but something just felt off?

You were getting things done. The calendar was full. The projects were moving. From the outside, everything looked fine.

But underneath the surface?

Your patience was wearing thin.

Your peace was harder to find.

Your joy had quietly been replaced by pressure.

If you've ever been there... you're not alone.

In this special solo episode, Mitch shares a fresh insight from one of the Bible's most familiar passages, Galatians 5, that completely changed how he thinks about spiritual growth.

For years, many of us have unknowingly treated the Fruit of the Spirit like a spiritual report card, believing we're supposed to manufacture more love, more joy, more patience, and more peace through sheer effort.

But what if we've been reading it backwards?

What if those qualities aren't measuring your relationship with God... but inviting you deeper into it?

This simple shift brought Mitch freedom during a week when he needed it most. His hope is that it brings you the same encouragement.

• Why high achievers often mistake pressure for progress

• The surprising reason "trying harder" usually doesn't produce more peace

• How to recognize the "dashboard lights" of your soul before burnout sets in

• Why Paul intentionally uses the singular word "fruit"

• Why the Fruit of the Spirit was never meant to be a spiritual report card

• How walking with God naturally produces what we often try to manufacture ourselves

• Mitch's four favorite "dashboard prayers"

• How simple conversations with God can shift your perspective in the middle of a busy day

• Why functioning from love changes everything

• The richer biblical meaning behind kindness

• Real-life stories where choosing kindness completely changed the outcome

• Why kindness, usefulness, gentleness, and excellence are more connected than most people realize

Many DREAM THINK DO listeners are leading teams, running businesses, raising families, serving their communities, and asking God what their next chapter looks like.

Sometimes the answer isn't to work harder.

Sometimes the invitation is simply to walk closer.

This episode offers a practical, hope-filled reminder that the qualities we long for most aren't manufactured through effort.

They're produced through relationship.

• Galatians 5:22-23

• Psalm 23:6

• Mia Morris' America's Got Talent performance: click here!

This week, don't treat the Fruit of the Spirit like a checklist.

Treat it like a dashboard.

If one of those lights comes on...

Pause.

Take a breath.

Ask God:

• What do You want me to know right now?

• Where do You want to meet me today?

• How can I walk with You in this moment?

Then remember:

You don't have to manufacture the fruit.

You simply stay connected to the source.

Which "dashboard light" has been flashing for you lately?

Joy?

Peace?

Patience?

Kindness?

We'd love to hear what's resonating with you.

Share this episode with a friend, then grab coffee and talk about it together.

Sometimes one honest conversation is exactly what someone needs to remember...

They're not climbing the mountain alone.

How do you stay calm when the conversation gets hard?

Whether you're leading a team, raising kids, serving clients, or navigating conflict with someone you love, your ability to stay calm may be your greatest leadership advantage.

In this powerful return to DREAM THINK DO, bestselling author Bob Burg shares why genuine influence doesn't begin with convincing others. It begins with mastering yourself.

Drawing from The Go-Giver Influencer, Bob reveals practical strategies for responding instead of reacting, creating trust instead of pressure, and leading conversations in a way that inspires commitment instead of compliance.

If you've ever walked away from a conversation wishing you'd handled it differently, this episode will give you tools you can start using today.

___________

Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

___________

• Bob explains why influence isn't about convincing people

• The difference between compliance and commitment

• Why trust is becoming more valuable than information

• Why emotional intelligence is the foundation of influence

• Bob's "Seatbelt Principle" for handling difficult conversations

• A practical visualization exercise that helps you respond instead of react

• What "setting the frame" actually means

• How to redirect difficult conversations before they become arguments

• Practical examples for business, leadership, and everyday life

• Why most people stop at the first answer

• How asking better questions leads to better decisions

• The hidden layers behind meaningful goals

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Learn more about Bob: https://burg.com

Get The Go-Giver Influencer: https://amzn.to/4eHHF7v

Previous DREAM THINK DO conversations with Bob:

Episode 268 - Where to Focus Now! https://mitchmatthews.com/268/

Episode 78 - The 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success https://mitchmatthews.com/bob-burg-becoming-go-giver-leader-5-laws-stratospheric-success/

Episode 5 - Getting People On Board with Your Big Idea https://mitchmatthews.com/bob-burg/

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As you reflect on this conversation...

• Where do you need to move from pushing to pulling?

• What conversation could benefit from setting a better frame?

• Where might mastering your emotions change the outcome of an important relationship?

Then choose one upcoming conversation this week and intentionally practice one of Bob's principles before you walk into the room.

And if someone came to mind while you were listening, send this episode their way. Great conversations have a way of creating ripple effects.

Read the full show notes at:

https://mitchmatthews.com/463

What if everything you've been taught about mental toughness is wrong?

Most of us think confidence comes from pushing harder, being tougher, and proving ourselves. But bestselling author and elite performance coach Jim Murphy believes the opposite.

In this conversation, Jim shares why authentic confidence isn't something you force - it's something you discover when you let go of fear, ego, and the need to prove yourself.

If you're chasing a dream, navigating change, or simply wanting to live with more purpose and peace, this episode will challenge the way you think about confidence, courage, and what it really means to live with Inner Excellence. Plus, we'll get you specific strategies to develop confidence that is authentic and allows you to do more of what you were put on the planet to do.

___________

Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

___________

• Why freedom - not pressure - is the foundation of peak performance

• Jim's three pillars of Inner Excellence: Belief, Freedom & Focus

• How to overcome the three biggest internal enemies: the Critic, the Monkey Mind, and the Trickster

• Why discomfort isn't your enemy - it's often your greatest teacher

• The incredible story behind A.J. Brown reading Inner Excellence during an NFL playoff game - and how it changed Jim's life overnight

• How to define success in a way that brings both achievement and peace

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Get Jim's books - Inner Excellence: https://amzn.to/4vrPsww

The Best Possible Life: https://amzn.to/4cr57U2

Connect with Jim at https://innerexcellence.com

Clip of viral NFL moment: https://youtu.be/16Zj0Xmh2MY?si=f5BEoo6B5Uik2x4P

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After you listen, ask yourself:

Where in my life am I performing from pressure instead of freedom?

Then choose one small step you can take this week toward becoming more fully who you were created to be.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend. You never know who might need this reminder today.

Andrew Kroes joins Mitch to share the incredible story behind The Shoe That Grows - an innovative product that's now helping children in more than 100 countries.

But this conversation is about far more than shoes.

Andrew shares how one observation in Kenya sparked years of innovation, perseverance, and purpose. Together, Mitch and Andrew explore what it really takes to build solutions that last, why the best ideas often begin with messy first steps, and how meaningful work becomes even richer when it's built alongside people you love.

___________

Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

___________

• Why lasting solutions often outperform temporary relief

• What every entrepreneur can learn from years of product testing and failure

• How one unexpected viral moment completely changed Because International

• Why relationships - not just ideas - fuel long-term success

• Andrew's simple challenge that anyone can do this week to make a meaningful difference

If you've ever wondered whether your idea could make an impact - or needed encouragement to keep going when progress feels slow - this conversation is for you.

___________

Learn more about The Shoe That Grows - https://becauseinternational.org

Instagram - https://instagram.com/becauseinternational

Facebook - https://facebook.com/becauseInternational

___________

What stood out most to you?

• What's one problem you've noticed that others might simply accept?

• Where might you be settling for a temporary fix instead of building a lasting solution?

• Who could you intentionally encourage or serve this week?

Leave a comment and let us know.

And if someone came to mind while listening, send them this episode. You never know what one conversation - or one simple idea - might change.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, create, and communicate.

But here's a question most people aren't asking...

Who gets to shape what AI becomes?

This week, Mitch sits down with executive coach, bestselling author, and AI thought leader Erica Rooney for a conversation that's about much more than technology.

Together they explore why everyday users, especially women, have a unique opportunity to influence the future of AI, why you don't have to be a tech expert to make a difference, and practical ways to move beyond simply using AI... to helping shape what's next.

__________

Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

- Why AI needs more women in the room

- The surprising MIT experiment that changed Erica's perspective forever

- How everyday users are already helping shape the future of AI

- Simple ways to move beyond basic ChatGPT prompts

- Why curiosity may become your greatest competitive advantage

Whether you've been experimenting with AI for months or you're simply wondering what's next, this conversation will leave you feeling more confident, more curious, and ready to engage.

• Website: https://www.ericaandersonrooney.com
• Book: The AI Gap - https://amzn.to/4eK7NgI
• Listen to our conversation on Erica's Podcast Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors: https://mitchmatthews.com/glass
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericaandersonrooney

Go one step beyond your usual AI routine.

Ask a bigger question.

Try a new use case.

Stay curious.

Because the future of AI won't be shaped only by the people who build it.

It will also be shaped by the people who choose to engage with it.

If this episode inspired you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Read the full show notes at https://mitchmatthews.com/460

What if one of the most important skills for your next chapter isn't leadership, strategy, or even communication?

What if it's negotiation?

Whether it's asking for what you want, setting healthy boundaries, leading a team, or navigating a new season of life, you're negotiating more often than you realize.

In this episode, Mitch sits down with negotiation expert, attorney, bestselling author, and host of the Negotiate Anything podcast, Kwame Christian, to reveal why confidence in difficult conversations is a learnable skill - and how mastering it can transform your relationships, leadership, and even the conversations you have with yourself.

__________

Have you been thinking about being a Coach or a speaker… but you've been wondering whether you have the authority to make it happen?

The Authority Archetype Assessment is a free, research-based tool designed to help you identify your unique authority style and discover whether coaching, speaking, consulting, advising, or teaching might be part of your next season.

Take the free assessment at https://mitchmatthews.com/6

__________

• Kwame's book - Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life - https://amzn.to/3QZvSIB

• Check out Mitch's interview on Negotiate Anything - https://mitchmatthews.com/negotiate

• Organization: American Negotiation Institute - https://kwamechristian.com/

___________

• Why negotiation happens every single day (whether you realize it or not)

• The three core skills behind every great negotiator

• How to stay calm when emotions begin to take over

• Why curiosity is one of your greatest leadership superpowers

• A simple framework for navigating difficult conversations

• Why great negotiators "do the right thing until it works"

• How difficult conversations can actually strengthen relationships

• Why the most important negotiation you may have is the one you have with yourself

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Let's make this practical.

• What's one conversation you've been avoiding that might deserve your attention?

• Where could you replace certainty with curiosity this week?

• Which of Kwame's three core skills - listening, curiosity, or emotional management - would make the biggest difference in your life right now?

Pick one. Take one small step.

Because as Kwame reminds us, the best things in life are often waiting on the other side of a difficult conversation.

And hey... if someone came to mind while listening to this episode, send it to them. Then grab coffee and talk about it together.

You never know what might happen when compassion, curiosity, and courage show up in the same conversation.

Read the full show notes at https://mitchmatthews.com/459