Ep273. Stop Playing Defense: Go on Offense and Start Living (Buyer's Club Speaking Engagement).

Send me a some feedback! How much of your life is organized around avoiding judgment, failure, or loss? Playing defense can keep you repeating familiar patterns while the experiences you want stay out of reach. Going on offense starts with getting honest about what you want and becoming willing to move through the discomfort of pursuing it. In this episode of the Inner Wealth Podcast, Mike shares his live Buyers Club talk, Stop Playing Defense, Go on Offense. Through stories about Marine Corps boot camp, skydiving, facing body shame, and rebuilding his marriage, he explores the courage it takes to be seen and create something different. He also answers audience questions about writing a vision, choosing the next step, and finding people who challenge you to grow. Key Takeaways Recognize the Patterns That Keep You Playing Defense. Avoiding criticism, hiding your wins, and feeling guilty about wanting more can shape your decisions. Mike calls these learned patterns adaptive protective programs, or APPs. Start noticing which ones show up when you’re about to do something unfamiliar. Practice Moving Through Discomfort. Mike’s stories about boot camp, skydiving, and confronting body shame show what going on offense looks like in practice. Notice what you’re feeling, explore what’s behind it, and give yourself room to respond. Courage includes taking a meaningful step while fear is still present. Get Honest About What You Want. Your wants and needs matter, and asking for them begins with knowing what they are. Mike shares the written relationship vision he created during a painful chapter of his marriage. Sit down without distractions and describe the life you want to experience, even if it feels far from where you are today. Use Your Vision to Choose the Next Step. You don’t need every detail worked out before you begin. Ask whether an opportunity moves you closer to your vision, and identify one small action you can take. During the audience Q&A, Mike also explores the difference between discomfort around growth and a choice that doesn’t fit what you want. Keep Your Vision Present and Build Support Around It. Revisit your vision daily and practice visualizing and feeling the life you’re working toward. Surround yourself with allies who encourage you, challenge you, and notice when you’re backing away from what matters. Keep taking action as your vision develops. Notable Quotes “We were born to go on offense. And it takes feeling things that you'd rather not feel, saying things that you'd rather not say, doing things that you'd rather not do.” “Courage is not the absence of fear. It's the presence of fear and the ability and the willingness to go into the fear.” “But at the end of the day, your needs and wants matter too.” “And in order to be different, in order to have different, you gotta do something different. Because if you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.” “The vision is the greatest tool that I know of to get you out of defense. To get you focused back on to your intentions.” Go on Offense. Where are you ready to take up more space in your life? Grab a pen and paper, get honest about what you want, and choose one step you can take today. Give yourself permission to ask for what matters to you. Get the free Choose Your Destiny: Start Playing Offense video course: https://learn.innerwealthglobal.com/chooseyourdestinystartplayingoffense Explore the Choose Your Destiny Live Virtual Intensive: https://learn.innerwealthglobal.com/chooseyourdestinyvirtualintensive For private coaching, the Inner Wealth Mastermind, and upcoming events, visit InnerWealthGlobal.com or email [email protected]. If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who’s ready to go on offense. Subscribe to the Inner Wealth Podcast and leave a rating or review to help more people find the show. Mike’s Media Website: https://www.innerwealthglobal.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekitko Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_kitko TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikekitko Subscribe to my YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikekitko