Lead Well. Live Whole

What if the ordinary days aren't happening between the important parts of your life?
What if they are your life?
On a headstone, we see two dates, the year someone was born and the year they died. Between them is a tiny dash representing everything that happened in between: the people they loved, the work they did, the mistakes they made, the laughter, the heartbreak, the celebrations, and thousands of ordinary days that probably didn't feel important while they were happening.
In S2 E27 of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael Sirmon explores how easily we can spend our lives waiting for "someday."
Someday when things slow down. Someday when we have enough money. Someday when the kids are older. Someday when we retire. Someday when we finally have time.
But someday isn't where your life happens.
Your life is happening while you're trying to get to someday.
This episode is an invitation to stop sleepwalking through the ordinary, become more present with the people and moments already around you, and remember that the little things are going into the dash too.
Life Happens in the Dash - Stop Waiting for Someday.
michaelsirmon.com 

What does it mean to truly see someone—not for what they do, what they accomplish, or the role they play, but for who they are?
In this episode of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael sits down with his wife, Tammy, for a warm and personal conversation inspired by something he recently watched her do with three of their grandchildren.
Tammy spent one-on-one time with each of them and told them three simple words: “I see you.” Then she told them specifically what she saw in their character, personalities, strengths, and the people they were becoming. Michael noticed the difference afterward. They walked a little taller, their faces were brighter, and there was a little more spring in their steps. Nothing in their circumstances had changed. Someone they loved had simply taken the time to really see them.
That experience opens a much larger conversation about how easily people can begin to feel invisible. Michael and Tammy talk about children getting lost in the crowd, spouses disappearing into their roles, successful people being known only for what they produce, and older adults wondering whether anyone still values what they have to offer.
They also reflect on nearly forty years of marriage, communication, listening, being present, the assumptions we make about the people closest to us, and why thinking something good about another person isn't enough. Sometimes we need to actually tell them what we see.
This conversation continues the theme of “disappearing” that emerged during Michael and Tammy's recent episodes with Dr. Susan Babbitt and marks the transition into the second half of Season 2—from conversations about Leading Well toward conversations about Living Whole in our marriages, families, relationships, faith, identity, purpose, and changing seasons of life.
Maybe someone in your life needs to know they haven't disappeared.
Stop. Slow down. Tell them.
I see you.

The first half of this conversation asked how we grow older without disappearing. Part 2 asks an equally important question: What are we going to do with the years still in front of us?
 
Dr. Susan Babbitt joins Michael and Tammy Sirmon again to talk about planning the next decade, redefining productivity, continuing to serve, leadership, faith, friendship, loss, and the wisdom that only comes from having lived through a lot of life.
 
Susan remains actively involved in fundraising for Ward-Wiseman Animal Haven and continues to pursue opportunities to speak and contribute. For her, productivity today isn't simply staying busy. It's doing something meaningful that benefits other people.
 
The conversation also explores what older generations still have to offer. Susan's answer is experience, the accumulated perspective that comes from everything they've lived through.
 
Her final message may be the most important of all: growing older is not simply something to tolerate. It is a privilege, a reward, and a gift.
 
Embrace the new chapters.
 
To schedule as a guest or speaker, Dr. Babbitt can be reached at sbabbitt@swbwll.net or send a message to leadwelllivewhole@gmail,com and we will forward to her. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, identity, purpose, faith, relationships, and living a whole life. More resources available at https://michaelsirmon.com

At what point do you realize you're getting older—not because of the number on your birthday cake, but because the world begins treating you differently?
 
Dr. Susan Babbitt joins Michael and Tammy Sirmon for Part 1 of a special conversation about growing older without disappearing.
 
At 80, Susan speaks candidly about accepting help, changing family dynamics, physical limitations, downsizing, possessions, independence, and the realization that some of the roles that once defined us inevitably change.
 
There is plenty of laughter along the way, but underneath it is an important conversation about identity and purpose. Growing older may require us to release some things, but it doesn't require us to release ourselves.
 
To schedule as a guest or speaker, Dr. Babbitt can be reached at sbabbitt@swbwll.net or send a message to leadwelllivewhole@gmail,com and we will forward to her. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, identity, purpose, faith, relationships, and living a whole life. More resources available at https://michaelsirmon.com

What does courage actually look like?
We often picture courage as something heroic, a soldier facing danger, a firefighter running into a burning building, or the larger-than-life courage we see in superheroes. But what if some of the most courageous moments in life look much more ordinary?
This episode was sparked by a conversation Michael and Tammy had with their 12-year-old granddaughter after she was nominated by her chorus group to speak in front of high school students. When they told her how courageous she had been, she disagreed for one simple reason: she had been scared.
But maybe that's exactly the point.
In this episode of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael explores the difference between confidence and courage, why fear doesn't disqualify us from being courageous, and the quiet forms of courage we see in classrooms, workplaces, leadership, families, serious illness, and everyday life.
Maybe courage isn't about becoming fearless. Maybe it's about deciding what you're going to do even while the fear is still there.
Stay through the end of the episode for “Going Anyway” by Red Dirt Kisses: a song that captures the heart of this conversation in a completely different way.
Website: michaelsirmon.com

We like to believe we know what influences us. We see the risks, understand the warning signs, and convince ourselves we’re strong enough to remain in control.
But what happens when the thing we thought we were controlling begins influencing our direction?
In this episode of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael begins with the political calculation that helped Adolf Hitler become chancellor of Germany in 1933. The leaders involved weren’t unaware of the danger. They believed they could manage it. Their mistake wasn’t simply underestimating Hitler, it was overestimating themselves.
From there, the conversation becomes personal. Using the biblical picture of being unequally yoked from 2 Corinthians 6:14, Michael explores the relationships, ambitions, habits, expectations, wounds, and voices that can slowly acquire influence over our direction.
He also shares personal stories about criticism and approval, searching for identity through titles and success after growing up without his father, and occasions when he has walked away from opportunities because accepting them would have required choices inconsistent with his character.
Maybe the question isn’t simply, “Can I handle this?”
Maybe the better question is, “Where is this taking me?”

Are you still teachable?
Most of us would answer that question with a quick "yes." But what if the greatest obstacle to becoming the person you're capable of becoming isn't your circumstances at all? What if it's the quiet belief that you've already learned enough?
In this episode of the Lead Well. Live Whole. Podcast, Michael Sirmon explores one of the most overlooked qualities of great leaders, healthy relationships, and growing faith—a teachable heart.
Success, experience, and even good intentions can slowly replace curiosity with certainty. Without realizing it, we can become more committed to defending what we know than discovering what we still need to learn.
Together, we'll explore why humility and growth always travel together, how defensiveness quietly limits our potential, and why God often teaches us through the people and circumstances we'd least expect.
Whether you're leading a business, raising a family, serving in ministry, or simply trying to become more like Christ, this conversation will challenge you to ask one simple but powerful question:
Am I still teachable?
If this episode encourages you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need the reminder.
Learn more at MichaelSirmon.com

They're Hearing More Than Your Words | S2 E20
Have you ever walked away from a conversation convinced everything went well, only to discover the other person had a completely different experience?
Communication is about far more than the words we choose. Our tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and even our silence communicate messages long before we ever speak. The people closest to us often know exactly how we're feeling before we've said a single word.
In this episode of the Lead Well. Live Whole. Podcast, Michael Sirmon explores why communication is really a reflection of the heart. Together we'll examine how stress, fear, impatience, and peace all reveal themselves in our conversations, why people experience us before they understand us, and how becoming the right person is more important than finding the perfect words.
Whether you're talking with your spouse, raising children, leading a team, encouraging a friend, or simply interacting with strangers throughout your day, every conversation leaves something behind.
You'll discover:
Why people hear much more than your words.
How tone and non-verbal communication shape every relationship.
The connection between your heart and your communication.
Three questions to ask before every important conversation.
How Christ modeled both truth and grace in every interaction.
Because the most important thing you communicate may be the one thing you never intended to say.

The Prison You Built for Yourself | S2 E19
Some prisons don't have bars.
They exist in our hearts through bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.
In this episode of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael Sirmon explores what Scripture teaches about forgiveness and why letting go is one of the most courageous decisions we'll ever make.
This isn't a conversation about pretending the hurt never happened. It's about discovering the freedom that comes when we stop allowing yesterday's wounds to define today's life so that we can become the authentic leaders we were called to be.
You'll learn:
Why forgiveness is for your freedom
The difference between forgiveness and trust
Why healthy boundaries still matter
How Jesus modeled forgiveness
Practical first steps toward healing
Whether you're wrestling with family conflict, broken friendships, betrayal, church hurt, or disappointment, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical wisdom to help you move toward peace.
Visit michaelsirmon.com for coaching, books, articles, and additional resources.

Season 2 | Episode 18
When Life Changes, Your Rhythms Change
Finding Steady in the Seasons of Transition
Why do even positive life changes leave us feeling exhausted?
A promotion.A new job.Retirement.Moving.Starting a business.An empty nest.
Sometimes nothing is wrong yet everything feels harder.
In this episode of Lead Well. Live Whole., Michael Sirmon explores a powerful but often overlooked truth: it's not always the change itself that overwhelms us, it's the loss of the rhythms that quietly grounded us every day.
Discover why your brain craves predictable routines, how disrupted rhythms increase stress and decision fatigue, and why rebuilding a few simple habits may be the key to navigating life's biggest transitions with confidence.
Whether you're leading an organization, beginning a new chapter, or simply wondering why life feels heavier than it should, this conversation will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface.
Because sometimes the first step toward leading well... is learning how to live steady.
In this episode you'll discover:
Why routines are more powerful than you realize
The difference between schedules and rhythms
Why positive changes can still create stress
How leaders create stability during uncertainty
Practical ways to rebuild healthy rhythms after transition
Visit www.michaelsirmon.com to learn more about leadership coaching, speaking, and additional resources.
Lead Well. Live Whole.