Libsyn Directory

91. Finding Purpose Through Parables: A Conversation with Jeff West

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

Release Date: 01/27/2025

121. Building Something That Holds: Loryn and Edo Nalic on Partnership, Perseverance, and Belonging

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s The Point?, I sit down with Loryn Nalic and Edo Nalic, partners in life and work and the force behind Balkan Treat Box, Telva, and the Ridge Room in St. Louis. Their story isn’t just about building award-winning restaurants. It’s about displacement, resilience, trust, and what happens when two people commit to solving problems together instead of letting adversity define them. Edo shares what it was like growing up in Bosnia during war, fleeing to Germany, living with uncertainty, and eventually coming to the United States alone. Loryn reflects on a very...

120. Building Something That Holds: Loryn and Edo Nalic on Partnership, Perseverance, and Belonging from Balkan Treat Box

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

119. From Survival to Self-Respect: Jason Van Ruler on Healing Old Patterns

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I sit down with Jason Van Ruler for an honest conversation about healing, responsibility, and the quiet work of becoming someone you can respect. Jason shares parts of his story that began in instability—growing up in a chaotic environment, learning early how to survive, and internalizing beliefs about worth that followed him into adulthood. Like many of us, he found himself repeating familiar patterns, even when they no longer served him. We talk about the turning point that came when Jason realized that awareness alone wasn’t enough. Wanting change...

118. The Secure Leader: How Attachment Shapes Trust, Leadership, and Purpose with Dr. Jaime Goff

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, host Bill Ellis sits down with Dr. Jaime Goff, founder of The Empathic Leader, LLC and author of The Secure Leader, for a powerful conversation on how our earliest emotional experiences quietly shape the way we lead. Drawing from her background in psychology, higher education leadership, and executive coaching, Dr. Goff explains how attachment patterns formed in childhood influence trust, control, communication, and emotional regulation in adulthood—especially in leadership roles. She shares personal stories from her own journey, including growing up...

117. From Experiments to Empowering Creatives: Kacper Staniul on Purpose, Curiosity, and Building What Matters

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I talk with Kacper Staniul, founder and CEO of MyArchitectAI, about how purpose often reveals itself not through a single calling—but through curiosity, experimentation, and the discipline to keep building. Kacper’s journey began far from startups and artificial intelligence. As a university student in Poland studying materials science, he admits he had little sense of direction. What changed everything was exposure to the internet and the realization that learning wasn’t limited to formal education. That discovery sparked curiosity, and curiosity...

116. The Fight Within Us: Gavin Lance Topp on Purpose, Sobriety, and Becoming a Man

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I sit down with Gavin Lance Topp, a former professional boxer whose life has been shaped as much by the battles outside the ring as the ones inside it. Gavin’s story is a powerful exploration of purpose, identity, and the fight within us all. Growing up in Australia and moving often as a child, Gavin found structure and validation in boxing. What began as an outlet for rage and energy became a disciplined pursuit that carried him from amateur fights to becoming the Australian Junior Middleweight Champion and eventually earning a world ranking. But as...

115. From Struggle to Sustainability: How Purpose Takes Shape with Vanessa Thompson

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I’m joined by Vanessa Thompson, whose story is a clear reminder that purpose doesn’t usually arrive fully formed. More often, it takes shape slowly—through struggle, uncertainty, and hard-earned clarity. Vanessa shares her journey through seasons of instability and questioning, moments where the path forward wasn’t obvious, and how those experiences ultimately reshaped how she thinks about work, success, and sustainability. We talk about how easy it is to chase outcomes without pausing to ask whether the life we’re building is actually...

114. Painting the World Our Children Will Inherit: Purpose, Art, and Community with Cbabi Bayoc

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point, I sit down with artist Cbabi Bayoc, a painter, muralist, illustrator, and author whose work is rooted in one powerful idea: painting the world he wants his children—and all of our children—to thrive in. Cbabi shares how his art has always been about people. Faces. Emotion. Community. From his early days studying at Grambling State University to drawing caricatures at Six Flags, he learned to observe humanity closely, to listen, and to let people teach him through their reactions. What could have been discouraging moments became lessons in humility,...

113. Grit, Grace, and Becoming: How Tracy Spears Found Strength Through Truth, Belonging & Leadership

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

When you sit down with someone who has lived a big life, you can feel it instantly. That’s exactly what happened in today’s conversation with Tracy Spears—author, speaker, leadership coach, and co-founder of the Exceptional Leaders Lab. Her story is one of grit earned the hard way, grace discovered over time, and the lifelong work of becoming who we actually are. Tracy’s journey begins in a trailer park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where early messages about work ethic, worthiness, and performing for belonging shaped her worldview. She openly shares how one sentence from her father in third...

112. Healing Our Relationship With Nature: Purpose, Restoration, and Hope with Tim Christophersen

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point, I sit down with Tim Christophersen, one of the world’s leading voices in nature restoration and conservation, to explore what really drives us as humans and how we find meaning in our relationship with the natural world. Tim’s journey is a powerful human story of growth, purpose, and responsibility — and it’s bigger than politics, bigger than hot-button climate debates, and deeper than soundbites. Tim shares how his love of nature began as a young boy walking through forests in Germany with his grandfather, quietly building the foundation for a...

More Episodes

Hey Purpose Seekers!
Welcome to another inspiring episode of What’s the Point?, hosted by Bill Ellis. This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back Jeff C. West—an award-winning author, accomplished sales leader, and musician—to discuss the power of storytelling, finding your purpose, and the unexpected twists that shape our lives. If you loved episode 73, you’ll want to dive into this one as Jeff shares fresh insights, lessons from his latest books, and his journey from sales to celebrated author.

Meet the Guest:
Jeff C. West is the author of The Unexpected Tour Guide, Said the Lady with the Blue Hair (co-written with Lisa M. Wilber), and Streetwise to Saleswise (co-written with Bob Burg). These acclaimed parables have won multiple awards, including the Axiom Business Book Awards and the American Indie Excellence Awards. Before becoming an author, Jeff enjoyed a 30-year career in sales and leadership, guiding teams to over $150 million in recurring revenue. When he’s not writing, Jeff resides in Texas, where he plays Dixieland music—because, as he says, everyone loves the tuba player.

Episode Highlights:

Storytelling as a Tool: By weaving lessons into engaging narratives, Jeff’s parables provide actionable insights for readers while keeping them entertained.
Why Jeff’s Books Matter: Jeff’s books blend fiction and sales lessons to inspire readers and leaders alike.
Purpose Evolves Over Time: Jeff’s journey from sales to storytelling demonstrates that your purpose isn’t static—it evolves as you embrace new opportunities.
Career Pivots: The pivotal moments that shaped Jeff’s career, including his transition from sales leadership to writing.
Roots of Success: How Jeff’s upbringing in Georgia and early work ethic laid the foundation for his achievements.
Purpose and Accountability: The importance of finding your purpose and embracing accountability in all aspects of life.
Inside the Writing Process: Sneak peeks into Jeff’s creative journey and upcoming projects.
Lessons in Leadership: Strong leadership skills and integrity are transferable traits that can shape any career.

Jeff C. West reminds us that finding purpose is about embracing our strengths, learning from setbacks, and sharing our unique gifts with the world. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this episode offers invaluable lessons on leadership, storytelling, and living a purpose-driven life.

Connect with Bill:

Links for This Episode:

Email: jeff@jeffcwest.com
Website(s) https://jeffcwest.com www.fusionpoints.com and www.coauthoryourmessage.com
Speaking, Workshops and 1:1 Coaching: www.fusionpoints.com

SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcwest/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.west.330/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffcwest/profilecard/?igsh=MTVvd2RqanR5MDA2Zw==
Twitter: @‌JeffCWestAuthor
Other: http://linktr.ee/jeffcwest

CURRENT PROJECTS:

Sign up for Jeff’s free, twice-weekly, FusionPoints™ Unleashed Newsletter with behind the scenes looks at my journey as an author, sales and leadership coaching, and entrepreneur mentoring, by going to https://jeffcwest.com/#FPUNEWSLETTER

Quick Episode Summary:

0:00 Welcome back! Bill introduces Jeff C. West and sets the stage for the episode.
1:10 Jeff reflects on his childhood in Dalton, Georgia, and how early challenges shaped his work ethic.
5:00 Lessons from Jeff’s sales career, including his journey with Aflac before and after the iconic duck campaign.
10:00 Why Jeff transitioned from sales to writing and how The Unexpected Tour Guide became his first award-winning book.
15:00 The role of faith, accountability, and resilience in Jeff’s life and career.
22:00 Collaborating with Lisa Wilber and Bob Burg: Insights into Jeff’s co-authoring process.
28:00 Jeff’s latest parable: A sneak peek into a story about financial management set during a bank robbery.
35:00 Advice for listeners: How to find your purpose and turn challenges into opportunities.
41:00 Final thoughts: Jeff shares his “point”—leaving every room better than you found it.

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