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SFIO 207-Story, Identity, and 30 Years Together

Still Figuring It Out

Release Date: 06/10/2025

SFIO 312 - Side Quests and Story Arcs - Season 3 Review show art SFIO 312 - Side Quests and Story Arcs - Season 3 Review

Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this warm and reflective season finale, Marc and Emily close out Season 3 by looking back at the conversations, surprises, and throughlines that emerged. From getting their first live Christmas tree in two decades to reflecting on the grief and growth that shaped their year, they offer a candid behind-the-scenes look at how the season unfolded. They talk about the intention behind creating a story arc, the joy of unexpected episodes, and how Concord Leadership Group is more than just a name—it’s a shared vision of harmony and wholehearted leadership. Plus, they...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this thoughtful conversation, Marc and Emily reflect on the deeper dimensions of rest—not just as sleep or downtime, but as intentional recovery, play, and emotional repair. They share how this past year of travel, loss, and transition reshaped their understanding of what it means to truly rest. From the importance of daily routines to the power of letting go of urgency, they invite listeners to reconsider their own rhythms and how grief, joy, and presence all play into real restoration. With humor and candor, they explore how play can be a portal to healing, how...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this spontaneous episode, Emily surprises Marc with a question about 90-day goal planning. What unfolds is a layered conversation about timelines, personal wiring, vision vs. focus, and the often overlooked practice of celebrating accomplishments.  Together, they explore how goal setting and pacing intersect with neurodivergence, business rhythms, and the real-life complexity of working toward big things while juggling many. They challenge productivity myths, question quarter-based planning, and offer a more compassionate, flexible model for building momentum—one...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this episode of Still Figuring It Out, Marc and Emily Pitman reflect on how the holidays have shifted over the years—from childhood traditions to parenting young adults, and from being nonprofit staff with year-end intensity to running a coaching practice with more margin. They discuss how working from home affects their ability to truly pause, how their values show up in how they decorate and celebrate, and how they now approach holidays with more intentionality, spaciousness, and flexibility. It’s a conversation about embracing change, honoring rest, and...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary Marc and Emily explore the nuanced and personal decision of when (and whether) to get help—whether that’s in business, around the house, or in life. From their early years of hiring vacuuming help as new parents to their experiments with cleaning services, virtual assistants, and administrative support, they reflect on how each decision is shaped by values, seasons of life, and evolving clarity. They share candid lessons learned about identity, strengths, outsourcing too soon, and the surprising ways “help” can either support or strip away joy. 🔑 Key Takeaways ...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this episode, Emily and Marc sit down with fundraising consultant and bow tie enthusiast Chris Baiocchi to explore how a career rooted in journalism led to a calling in philanthropy. Chris shares candidly about the leap from nonprofit staff to self-employed consultant, and what it’s taken to redefine success, stability, and service in his work. They unpack the nuances of donor relationships, alignment, and the importance of momentum—and toss in a few great sci-fi references for good measure.   🔑 Key Takeaways Fundraising is about alignment—doing the right...

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Still Figuring It Out

  📋 Episode SummaryMarc and Emily take on their favorite recurring theme: goal setting. But this time, they dive deeper into their wildly different upbringings, internal narratives, and current practices around goals—from poker chips and chore lists to Scrum boards and morning routines. They explore why goals can feel like punishment for some and purpose for others, and how they’ve each shifted their relationship to goals in ways that feel more personal, flexible, and free. This episode offers an honest, layered conversation that blends coaching insight with lived...

info_outline SFIO 305 - Relationship-Based Sales that Don’t Suck with Andrea Ferry Daniels show art SFIO 305 - Relationship-Based Sales that Don’t Suck with Andrea Ferry Daniels

Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode SummaryAndrea Ferry Daniels joins Emily and Marc for a candid conversation about sales, coaching, and showing up with purpose. As CEO of Rookie to Rainmaker, Andrea shares how she built a six-figure business from a South Jersey apartment, turned her gift for connection into a scalable model, and now helps others build confidence and close deals—with authenticity and heart. They talk about what it means to speak with impact, the power of letting go of familiar goals, and how to keep showing up even while you're still figuring it out.   🔑 Key Takeaways Sales doesn’t...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary In this vulnerable and insightful episode, Marc and Emily open up about the evolution of their working relationship—and how their personal growth has shaped their professional path. They reflect on what it’s meant to co-create a life and a business, especially as Emily stepped more visibly into roles of leadership, coaching, and authorship. From sacred cows and shared systems to spontaneous pivots and solo retreats, this episode explores what it really takes to work together as equals—when the brand once felt like an extension of just one person, and when your growth...

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Still Figuring It Out

📋 Episode Summary Marc and Emily get candid about what it’s been like to build a life, family, and work in close proximity for more than 30 years. This episode dives into what it means to “work together now,” unpacking the realities of sharing space, parenting, making intentional choices—and growing up alongside each other. From early dreams of connection and community to unromantic but essential rituals (like coffee at 6 a.m. and cereal in low cupboards), they reflect on what’s helped them stick together through different seasons, even when things got messy. Not as advice—just...

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📋 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 development, exploring why so many people—especially leaders—discredit or downplay their own stories. They share practical insights about helping clients recognize the narratives they repeat (both helpful and limiting), and how stories become mirrors for values and identity.

This episode also includes a reflection on where they’ve been and where they’re going next. From international travel that didn’t happen to the possibility of RV adventures ahead, Marc and Emily keep it honest, reflective, and lighthearted. Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary of your own or simply thinking about how your story shapes your path, this one is full of warm wisdom.

 

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Stories shape identity—and that’s true for individuals, families, and organizations.
  • We often undervalue our own stories because we’re too close to them.
  • Leadership coaching can help surface patterns and narratives clients may not even realize they’re repeating.
  • There’s power in asking, “Is this story still serving me—or my team?”
  • Permission to share your story is sometimes the most transformational part of coaching.

 

🗣 Quote Highlights

“It’s just my life. It’s not my identity.” – Emily
“Story is how we wire the brain—and how we invite others to understand us.” – Marc
“One of the most important things we do in coaching is help people recognize the stories they’re living in.” – Emily
“We’ve said yes to almost every adventure.” – Emily
“I’d rather say I’m sorry than spend a lifetime asking ‘what if?’” – Marc

 

🔗 Resources & Mentions

  • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
  • The Surprising Gift of Doubt by Marc A. Pitman
  • United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) leadership session
  • Books mentioned: The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time, Anne of Green Gables
  • Coaching references: Co-Active Coaching, story-based tools from Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification