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1.10 Quarterly Questions, Part 2

Still Figuring It Out

Release Date: 03/03/2025

SFIO 209 Hardwired: How Knowing Yourself Changes Everything show art SFIO 209 Hardwired: How Knowing Yourself Changes Everything

Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily explore the concept of hardwiring—those patterns, instincts, and tendencies that shape how we show up in life, work, and relationships. From Enneagram types to Gallup Strengths to late-in-life ADHD diagnoses, they reflect on how assessments can help us understand ourselves more clearly—and when labels might actually get in the way. With humor, vulnerability, and a lot of real-life examples, they explore: The usefulness and limitations of personality profiles How deeper self-awareness can reframe past stories What it means to take...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Marc and Emily sit down with Thu Hue Nguyen, a nonprofit founder, Obama Fellow, and leadership coach based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Together they explore the realities of leading through challenge, the evolution from founder to coach, and why investing in leadership development is essential—especially in resource-scarce sectors. Thu Hue shares how she transitioned from law into ocean and fisheries work, and how crisis moments taught her that leadership is not innate—it can be learned. With refreshing honesty, she talks about learning to let go,...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, recorded on their anniversary, Marc and Emily reflect on 30 years of marriage—and use it as a lens to explore the role of story and identity in leadership, coaching, and everyday life. They revisit their shared love of children’s books, read-alouds during 2 a.m. nursing sessions, and the way stories have always been a thread in their family, work, and lives. From The Giving Tree to Anne of Green Gables, storytelling was how they passed on values, built imagination, and created connection. The conversation moves into coaching and leadership...

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In this episode, Marc and Emily welcome their longtime friend and colleague Cherian Koshy—a nonprofit leader, AI entrepreneur, international speaker, and one of the earliest champions of the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification. They reflect on how their friendship started during early-pandemic Zoom happy hours and evolved into shared coaching, learning, and laughs across years and time zones. Cherian shares his take on identity, career shifts, and curiosity—from his time pioneering AI use in fundraising to his deep appreciation for the Iowa State Fair (yes, it’s serious). He...

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Still Figuring It Out

In this episode, Marc and Emily explore their very different relationships with goal setting. What starts as a reflection on abandoned international travel dreams quickly turns into a candid conversation about how goals can serve—or burden—us. Marc shares his long history of goal-setting (and the ways it still trips him up), including his yearly list of 100 “magnet goals” and the mental gymnastics involved in sticking to goals like “visit one brewery a month.” Emily reflects on how her earliest experience with goal setting was punitive and tied to shame—shaping a lifelong tension...

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Still Figuring It Out

Episode Summary (Long) In this episode, Marc and Emily kick off a new part of Season 2—interviewing some of the people they deeply admire. Before bringing on guests, they decided to run through the questions themselves to see what comes up. They each share how they’d describe themselves, what three words capture their work, what they love most about what they do, and what they’re still figuring out. Topics range from email list management and marketing fatigue to physical health, faith, aging, and what it means to start a new career in your 50s. There’s plenty of laughter and honest...

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Still Figuring It Out

Episode Summary In this episode, Marc and Emily walk through the major events of the last year—from career milestones to health recovery, quiet moments to chaotic ones. They talk about their kids moving across the country and overseas, their experience during a regional hurricane, and the slow return to rhythm after a tough year. They also share what’s changed in their work: growing the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification, launching Exactly What to Say® Coaching, and figuring out how to support others while still building new systems themselves. Along the way, they talk about...

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Still Figuring It Out

Episode Summary In this heartfelt and idea-packed episode, Marc and Emily Pitman reflect on the messy inner journey of leadership. As they prepare to graduate a new cohort of certified coaches from their Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification (Q3LC), they explore the deeper meaning behind their work—and the cost of leadership that relies too much on external validation. Marc explains the origins of the “Quadrant 3” framework, first developed through years of executive coaching and later popularized in his book The Surprising Gift of Doubt. Emily adds perspective on how growing up as a...

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Still Figuring It Out

Episode Summary Welcome to Season 2! In this honest and often humorous episode, Marc A. Pitman, CSP, and Emily Pitman, ACC, CPCC, reflect on their journey from the launch of their podcast to now. They talk about the initial tech struggles (hello, 18-minute setup delays), learning new tools like Hindenburg Pro, and the unexpected joy of growing together through the messiness of podcasting. You’ll hear about their commitment to showing up imperfectly, lessons from editing and production, and the evolving way they think about their message, their marriage, and their work in leadership and...

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Episode Summary In this enlightening episode of "We're Still Figuring This Out," hosts Marc and Emily Pitman dive into the intricacies of podcasting, sharing personal insights, and reflections on their journey as podcast creators. They explore the themes of intentional living, relationship dynamics, and the balance between humor and respect. Join them as they navigate the challenges and rewards of creating content that is both meaningful and engaging. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction: The origins of "We're Still Figuring This Out." [00:21] Meet Emily Pitman: Leadership coach, creative, and...

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Hosts:

🎤 Marc A. Pitman, CSP – Speaker, coach, and visionary wall demolisher
🎤 Emily Pitman – Systems and spaces designer, master planner

Episode Summary

In this milestone 10th episode of We’re Still Figuring It Out, Emily and Marc Pitman continue the quarterly questions conversation with four guiding questions for the quarter. They reflect on leadership, personal growth, and the importance of making intentional space for what truly matters—whether it’s supporting coaches, embracing creativity, or finding time for nature.

Expect honest conversations filled with insight, humor, and a touch of playful banter (including debates on the necessity of bugs and dirt). They also discuss balancing administrative roles with creative work, the power of deep questions in coaching, and how simple reminders—like “What do I want?”—can be unexpectedly challenging.

⏳ Timestamps & Key Topics

🔹 Introduction

  • [00:00:03] Welcome to We’re Still Figuring It Out!
  • [00:00:35] Marc almost spits coffee all over his computer ☕💻
  • [00:00:51] Introducing Marc’s work with The Nonprofit Academy & Quadrant 3 Leadership Coaching Certification

🔹 The Power of Deep Questions

  • [00:01:46] Emily’s unique coaching style & why her “weird” questions land perfectly
  • [00:02:30] The impact of feeling seen and how Emily’s approach makes that happen
  • [00:02:53] Kicking off the 4 Questions for Quarter 2

🔹 Balancing Roles & Leadership

  • [00:04:00] Are we honoring Emily’s role as COO at Conquer Leadership Group?
  • [00:05:26] Finding the balance: administrative tasks vs. creative coaching
  • [00:06:10] Sticky notes, whiteboards, and cats as project managers 🐱

🔹 Supporting & Celebrating Coaches

  • [00:06:45] How can we support Q3LC coaches beyond certification?
  • [00:07:58] Emily’s idea for a quarterly coaching community update

🔹 The Hardest Question: "What Do I Want?"

  • [00:09:29] Marc’s daily reminder: What do I want?
  • [00:10:48] Why answering this question feels uncomfortable
  • [00:11:50] Marc’s dream of getting a PhD in Leadership 🎓

🔹 Self-Care & Making Space for Joy

  • [00:14:33] Emily’s goal: “When will I go to state parks?” 🌲🏕️
  • [00:15:03] The need for nature, fresh air, and a break from screens
  • [00:16:50] Marc and Emily debate bugs, dirt, and the proper footwear for hiking 🦶🪲

🔹 Looking Ahead: The Power of Reflection

  • [00:17:40] Why quarterly reflection matters
  • [00:18:10] Creating visual reminders to stay accountable
  • [00:19:20] Inviting listeners to share their own quarterly rhythms

💡 Key Takeaways

✅ Making Space for Creativity – It’s easy to get lost in admin work. We have to be intentional about carving out space for our passions.

✅ Quarterly Reflection Questions Matter – They help keep us aligned, grounded, and focused on what we truly value.

✅ Supporting Others = Supporting Ourselves – Leadership and coaching aren’t just about giving. It’s also about receiving and growing together.

✅ Nature Is a Reset Button – Whether it’s a local park or a road trip, getting outside can be healing and clarifying.

✅ Asking "What Do I Want?" Feels Hard, But It’s Worth It – The journey to self-awareness and growth starts with this question.

💬 Join the Conversation!

We want to hear from you!
📩 What questions guide your own quarterly reflections?
📩 How do you make space for creativity and self-care?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or email us at [your email here].

 

✨ Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, keep asking great questions—because we’re all still figuring it out. 🚀

 
Thank you Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass