The Five F's of Life: Faith, Family, Fitness, Finances, and Future Possibility with Jerry Dugan

Seek Go Create - The Leadership Journey for Christian Entrepreneurs, Faith-Based Leaders, Spiritual Growth, Purpose-Driven Success, Innovative Leadership, Kingdom Business, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Christian Business Practices, Leadership Development, Imp

Does it feel like something is missing in your life, despite your efforts to improve it? Have you been told to work harder, longer hours or focus on one area at a time to achieve success? But still, you feel like something's not right? The pain of this disconnect can be frustrating, leaving you feeling unfulfilled and incomplete. But what if there is a better way to approach life? Join us in this episode as we explore the Five F's of Life: Faith, Family, Fitness, Finances, and Future Possibility with Jerry Dugan. Discover how you can prioritize your values and relationships to achieve fulfillment and true success on your own terms.

"Ultimately, a lot of these guys are following somebody else's definition of success." Jerry Dugan

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About Our Guest:

Jerry Dugan is a multifaceted individual with a passion for helping others achieve balance and fulfillment in their lives. As a leadership consultant, training facilitator, and public speaker, he's dedicated to guiding individuals in their pursuit of success in faith, family, fitness, finances, and future possibilities. In addition to hosting the insightful podcast Beyond the Rut, Jerry has also authored a book of the same name that further explores these foundational topics. With a unique perspective drawn from a diverse background, including being a skilled tuba player, Jerry's expertise and genuine enthusiasm for helping others make him a truly engaging and inspiring guest.

Reasons to Listen:

• Discover the art of balancing vital life aspects and nurturing relationships.
• Uncover the transformative potential of the Five F's for a rewarding life.
• Learn how to identify and attain personal success on your own terms.
• Gain insight into fostering a workplace where your team can excel.
• Explore the benefits of confronting challenges and venturing beyond your comfort zone.

Episode Highlights:

00:00:00 - Knowing Yourself and Defining Success,

Jerry suggests that identifying values and beliefs is key to defining success. He emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in one's life.

00:01:36 - Jerry's Work,

Jerry is a consultant, coach, and public speaker. He helps leaders become servant leaders by finding clarity and alignment in their work and personal lives. He bridges the gap between career success and faith-based values.

00:05:25 - Alignment with Seat Go Create,

Jerry and Tim discuss how both podcasts aim to redefine success. They highlight the importance of finding meaning and purpose in one's life, rather than following someone else's definition of success.

00:07:54 - Jerry's Tuba Days,

Jerry shares a hilarious story about how he became a tuba player in middle school.

00:10:53 - The Importance of Identifying Passions,

Jerry explains how he quit band in high school to pursue football, but eventually returned to band because playing the tuba was his true passion. He emphasizes the importance of identifying and pursuing one's passions in life.

00:12:06 - Pursuing Passions,

Jerry talks about how he pursued his passion for playing the tuba and how it led him to join the army. He reflects on how he gave up his passion to pursue something that wasn't his dream.

00:17:32 - The Comparison Trap,

Jerry discusses how we compare ourselves to others and get into a rut by following someone else's path. He believes it's important to examine our passions and understand what we want to accomplish in our lives.

00:19:39 - Defining a Rut,

Jerry defines a rut as a pattern of unproductive behavior. He believes that when we don't have a grounding in who we are, who we want to be, and who we're becoming, we can fall into somebody else's path, which becomes a rut for us.

00:21:14 - Ruts Are Relative,

Tim and Jerry discuss how ruts are relative, and what might be a rut for one person might not be for another. They also discuss how the world we live in today makes it easy to compare ourselves to others and get into a rut.

00:22:36 - Grind It Out,

Tim and Jerry talk about how sometimes it's necessary to grind it out and stick with something for a long time, like Moses did for 40 years. They recognize that ruts are relative and that it's important to understand what we want to accomplish in our lives.

00:24:57 - Work-Life Balance,

Work-life balance is different for everyone, and it's important to find the right balance according to individual priorities. The apostle Paul was content in whatever situation he found himself in. However, modern society tends to lean towards discontentment.

00:26:18 - Pursuing Goals,

It's important to determine if a goal is something we truly want to pursue or something someone else told us we should do. If it's the latter, it may lead to self-sabotage. Knowing what we truly want and what our priorities are can help us make better decisions.

00:30:01 - Five F's,

The five F's are faith, family, fitness, finances, and future possibility. These are the areas in which we should focus our attention to create a fulfilling life. By prioritizing these areas according to individual values, we can make decisions that align with our goals.

00:34:48 - Leaving a Job,

Leaving a job is a tough decision, but it's important to prioritize our mental health and well-being. Choosing to leave a job that goes against our values can lead to a more fulfilling life and a happier self. Trusting in our financial security and in God's provision can make this transition smoother.

00:35:35 - Prioritizing Family,

Prioritizing family over work and friends can be a difficult decision, but it's important to maintain healthy relationships with those closest to us. Building a strong relationship with a spouse

00:37:18 - Getting out of a Rut,

Jerry shares how he got out of a rut by focusing on the five areas of his life: faith, family, fitness, finances, and future possibility. He talks about how he quit his job, lived off of savings for a few months, and started his own business, which led to the creation of his book.

00:41:19 - Struggles with the Five F's,

Jerry talks about how he's doing well in the areas of faith, family, and future possibility, but struggles with finances and fitness. He explains how he and his wife have been working on talking about money more effectively, and he's realized the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits.

00:42:33 - Impact of Family,

Jerry explains how family impact has been the biggest thing he's heard from over 300 interviews on his podcast. He talks about how many people pursuing success in their career or business have neglected their family, leading to divorce or strained relationships. He emphasizes the importance of being present and engaged with family members.

00:43:14 - Prioritizing the Five F's,

Jerry discusses the order he prioritizes the five F's in his life: faith, family, fitness, finances, and future possibility. He explains how his faith and family are top priorities, and how his focus on future possibility drives him forward. He acknowledges the need to work on finances and fitness.

00:49:58 - Introducing Gertrude

Tim shares how he uses an AI tool called Gertrude to come up with conversation topics for his podcast. While Gertrude provides some good questions, there is a question about being a Proverbs 13 man that they don't understand. They discuss whether Gertrude is trying to manipulate them.

00:54:18 - Pursuing Dreams

Jerry talks about pursuing his dream of being a speaker and starting his own company called BTR Impact. He wants to inspire leaders to be servant leaders and help companies retain their talent. His vision is to travel the world and speak at events while being an empty nester living in a big city.

00:57:27 - Beyond the Rut

Jerry discusses his Beyond the Rut brand, which includes a podcast and book of the same name. He shares how the brand has evolved and how he wants to help people get out of their ruts. Jerry also talks about his company BTR Impact, which focuses on leadership development.

00:59:47 - Create

Jerry chooses "Create" as his word from the Seek, Go, Create trio. He is currently in create mode, taking all the ideas he has sought and making them happen. Jerry encourages listeners to identify their five F's (faith, family, finances, fitness, and future possibilities) and get out of their ruts.

Key Lessons:

• Prioritize your values and make time for the things that matter most to you, such as faith, family, fitness, finances, and future possibilities.
• Be mindful of the impact of pursuing wealth and career on your family and relationships.
• Seek guidance from God and family before making important decisions.
• Continuously examine your life and make adjustments to avoid falling into unproductive patterns of behavior.
• Recognize when you are following someone else's path and identify your own passions and goals.

Resources & Action Steps:

• Check out Jerry Dugan's podcast, Beyond the Rut.
• Purchase Jerry Dugan's book, also titled Beyond the Rut.
• Consider hiring Jerry Dugan as a leadership consultant or training facilitator.
• Define what success means to you and align your work and personal life accordingly.
• Take time to know yourself and your values to live a life of meaning and purpose.

Thank you for listening to Seek Go Create!

Our podcast is dedicated to empowering Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking to redefine success in their personal and professional lives. Through in-depth interviews, personal anecdotes, and expert advice, we offer valuable insights and actionable strategies for achieving your goals and living a life of purpose and fulfillment.

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