465: How One Entrepreneur Is Bringing Clean Water to Millions (And What Every Leader Can Learn From It) - An interview with founder and president of Sawyer Products Kurt Avery
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
Release Date: 08/12/2026
465: How One Entrepreneur Is Bringing Clean Water to Millions (And What Every Leader Can Learn From It) - An interview with founder and president of Sawyer Products Kurt Avery
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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...
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464: How to Find More Joy, Peace & Patience (Without Trying Harder)
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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 Your joy had quietly been replaced by pressure.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,...
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463: How to Stay Calm and Authentically Influence Others - An interview with bestselling author Bob Burg
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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...
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462: Is Mental Toughness a Myth? | The Truth About Authentic Confidence & Inner Excellence - An Interview with Bestselling Author & Performance Coach Jim Murphy
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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,...
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461: What One Pair of Shoes Can Teach Us About Changing the World - An Interview with CEO of Because International Andrew Kroes
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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...
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460: AI Needs More Women in the Room - Why You Don't Have to Be a Tech Expert to Help Shape the Future - An Interview with Entrepreneur, former Chief People Officer, and bestselling author Erica Rooney
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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. __________...
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459: Finding Confidence in Conflict - How to Negotiate Anything (Including With Yourself!) An Interview with Negotiation Expert, Attorney & Bestselling Author - Kwame Christian
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
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,...
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458: Start With a Win: Redefining Success, Reinventing Yourself & Building Your Next Chapter - An Interview with former CEO of RE/MAX Holdings & Best Selling Author Adam Contos
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
What do a Marine, SWAT leader, entrepreneur, CEO, bestselling author, investor, and podcast host all have in common? In this episode, you'll find out... because they're all the same person. This week, Mitch sits down with Adam Contos, former CEO of RE/MAX Holdings and host of the Start With A Win podcast, for a conversation about success, purpose, reinvention, and why your best chapter may still be ahead of you. Adam's career has taken some fascinating turns. From law enforcement to entrepreneurship to leading one of the world's most recognized real estate brands, he's learned that while the...
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457: What's Next? How to Find Real Clarity for Your Next Season - A Simple Exercise to Find Clarity, Purpose & Direction for What's Next: a Deep Dive with Mitch Matthews
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
Ever feel like something is shifting… but you can't quite explain it? Not because anything is wrong. Not because you've failed. Not because life is falling apart. In fact, maybe the opposite is true. Maybe you've built a good life. You've worked hard. You've accomplished meaningful things. You're grateful for what you've created. And yet… lately you've felt a tug. A pull. A tension. A whisper that keeps asking: "What's next?" If that's you, this episode is for you. In this powerful DREAM THINK DO Deep Dive, Mitch explores a fascinating idea from renowned Swiss...
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456: You’re Successful…So Why Does It Feel So Empty? An interview with author, speaker & founder of Headbands of Hope Jess Ekstrom
DREAM THINK DO | Motivation, Encouragement & Strategy
What if the dream you worked so hard to build… is now also the thing slowly draining you? DREAM THINK DO favorite Jess Ekstrom returns to the podcast for her THIRD appearance - and this might be our deepest conversation yet. You probably know Jess as the founder of Headbands of Hope, the company she launched out of her dorm room that went on to impact millions of lives around the world. Since then, she’s launched other successful businesses, become a bestselling author, and sought-after speaker. But this conversation goes beyond business growth, productivity hacks, or hustle culture....
info_outlineKurt 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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In This Episode, We Cover:
- 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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Resources
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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Ready to Take Action?
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.