🎙 From Single Dad to Financial Powerhouse: Dwight’s Journey to Purpose and Prosperity

In this inspiring episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, I sat down with Dwight, a former IT consultant turned top-tier financial services and lifestyle coach, to explore his incredible transformation—from single father of five to one of North America’s most successful financial strategists.

🔥 Key Highlights:

💰 Living a Life of Purpose Through Finance Dwight opens up about his transition from tech to finance, driven by a mission to make a real difference in people’s lives. He shares how he built his personal brand around intentional living and became a bestselling author and podcast host along the way.

🧠 The Power of Critical Thinking & Mentorship We dove deep into the value of critical thinking in today’s reactive world. I emphasized the importance of the pause—that moment of reflection that creates space for better decisions and stronger boundaries. Dwight echoed this, crediting mentors and mindset shifts for his resilience and success in a new industry.

👂 Active Listening: The Missing Link in Financial Planning Dwight and I discussed how active listening, storytelling, and empathy are game changers in financial planning. By understanding a client’s full picture—goals, fears, and hopes—he helps people take control of their finances without judgment.

🌀 A Holistic Approach to Helping Clients Thrive Dwight doesn’t just crunch numbers—he helps people transform their mindset. We talked about the importance of holding space, letting go of victim mentality, and reverse-engineering your desired life. It’s about moving from “what happened” to “what’s possible.”

🧭 Self-Awareness and Small Steps Forward Financial success starts with self-awareness. Dwight stressed the importance of meeting people where they’re at, setting clear goals, and taking actionable steps. We also agreed on the need to release the grip of past failures and stay grounded in the present.

📚 Financial Education That Empowers We both believe financial literacy should be accessible. Dwight offers no-cost, no-obligation discovery calls for anyone looking to take the next step. His mission? To demystify money and help people rewrite their financial story.

📱 Social Media and the Mental Health Disconnect Lastly, we tackled the darker side of social media—keyboard courage, toxicity, and its impact on well-being. Dwight shared how he filters interactions based on value and peace, and we both agreed: It’s okay to block toxicity.

💡 This episode is a must-listen if you’re seeking financial clarity, purpose-driven success, and a reminder that your past doesn’t define your future.

🎧 Tune in now, and get ready to rethink what’s possible—financially, emotionally, and professionally.

I help educate people that life success is not just about having enough money; it is about learning what you truly want and taking ownership of where you are. Are you willing? Do you genuinely want to change? How does one figure this all out? How goal setting short- and long-term goals and learning how to live a life within your means by understanding your inflows and outflows of money is a start.

Working on a person 6 inches between their ears through understanding proper associations of people, what they listen/read, and what they do in their daily life. Getting off the hamster wheel of life takes effort, guidance, and personal accountability.

https://GiveAHeck.com

In this robust conversation, Yosi Kossowsky shares his journey from engineering to executive leadership, revealing the critical gap in traditional education regarding understanding people. He opens up about his growth path—diving deep into emotional wellness, therapy, limiting beliefs, and the neuroscience behind human behavior. Yosi challenges the long-held notion that humans are primarily rational beings, showing how emotions drive decisions and actions more than we often realize.

Decoding Communication and Team Dynamics

Yosi and I unpack how perception and communication are filtered through our personal experiences—and how those filters can cause serious disconnects in teams. I share a common leadership trap: asking “any questions?” in meetings and wondering why no one speaks up. It turns out that psychological safety and peer pressure play significant roles. Together, we emphasize that leadership today must involve creating a culture where understanding, clear communication, and cross-functional respect are non-negotiable.

Navigating Change: AI, the Pandemic & the Modern Workplace

We dive into the disruptive forces shaping our workplaces—AI, remote work, and the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Yosi and I discuss many organizations' struggles in adapting to these shifts, especially with employee engagement, turnover, and generational gaps. Yosi calls for more innovative strategies and deeper support systems to meet today’s evolving demands. I also flag a growing concern: how AI could economically destabilize regions dependent on virtual assistant roles if we don’t plan thoughtfully.

Emotional Mastery as a Leadership Tool

We explore what it takes to manage your emotions in high-stress situations. I introduce one of my favorite leadership tools—the “feeling wheel,” which helps leaders identify emotions beyond just “angry” or “sad.” It’s about using the right emotional tool for the job, not just muscling through—leaders who understand their feelings and why lead with more clarity, empathy, and purpose.

Creating Human-Centered Workplaces

Yosi and I spotlight emotional well-being at work—not as a perk, but as a performance driver. We discuss the urgent need for organizations to cultivate psychological safety, promote self-awareness, and provide authentic coaching, not just check-the-box solutions. It’s time to normalize asking for help and talking about real challenges, because strong teams are built on open communication and mutual support.

Where to Connect with Yosi

Want to learn more about Yosi’s work? LinkedIn is the best place to connect with him. He’s open to conversations and has a booking link for those wanting to explore this work further.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykossowsky/

Website: https://www.k-torconsulting.com/

Episode Title: From Gym Floor to Franchise Vision: Devan's Journey of Discipline, Impact, and Humility

Show Notes:

Redefining Career Paths: Devan’s Bold Leap into Fitness Leadership In this powerful conversation, Mike sits down with Devan to unpack his unconventional career shift—from business management to kinesiology and eventually launching his own gym. What started as a personal passion for helping others transformed into a broader mission: building a gym franchise that changes lives at scale. Devan shares the driving forces behind his leap, the courage it took to walk an uncharted path, and the resilience needed to build something bigger than himself.

Franchise Growth with Heart: Leading Without Ego Devan opens up about the evolution of his gym into a thriving franchise and the deep fulfillment that comes with seeing his vision positively shape communities. What sets Devan apart? His grounded approach to leadership. He doesn’t lead from the top down—instead, he jumps in wherever he’s needed, showing that true leadership is about service. Mike highlights Devan’s humility, noting that this mindset is often what sustains long-term success in business and in life.

Health as the Ultimate Performance Hack Mike and Devan dive into the critical link between physical health and mental wellness, especially for entrepreneurs and leaders. Mike challenges listeners to rethink their priorities—replacing scrolling time with sweat equity. Devan echoes the importance of customizing fitness to fit real lives and busy schedules, emphasizing that excuses are barriers we build ourselves. If you want high performance, health has to be non-negotiable.

The Discipline Blueprint: How to Show Up for Yourself Discipline isn’t about motivation—it’s about systems. Devan and Mike explore how developing consistent habits around health, fitness, and mindset fuels personal and professional growth. The secret? Treat your workouts and self-care as appointments that cannot be canceled. They both reflect on how discipline directly improves mental clarity, decision-making, and leadership capacity. If you want to lead others, it starts with showing up for yourself first.

Takeaway: This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, fitness lovers, and anyone looking to lead a life of purpose and performance. Devan’s story proves that success isn’t about titles or ego—it’s about impact, intention, and the daily disciplines that move you forward.

Website: http://strive11fitness.com/

🎧 Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform or at BreakfastLeadership.com.