Are you performing at a high level — but feeling emptier inside? You’re not alone.

In this solo episode of Connecting with Purpose, Mark Griffin breaks down 5 subtle signs that high performers, founders, and leaders often miss on the way to burnout — what he calls the Performance Precipice.

Drawing on the PurposeFused Leadership and Leadership Aperture frameworks, Mark reveals how to recognize these patterns early and re-align from the inside out.

If you’re feeling constantly “on,” rescuing others, juggling busyness, or carrying dysfunction — this conversation is your wake-up call to pause, re-center, and lead with clarity and purpose again.

Subscribe to Connecting with Purpose for more insights on how to align your performance with purpose and wellbeing.

💡 Learn more: www.PurposeFused.com

📲 Follow Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgriffinpurposefused/

#CaptainYourLife #PurposeFusedLeadership #EmptyAchievers #ConnectingWithPurpose

In this episode, host Mark Griffin sits down with Naveen Khugputh, Co-Founder & COO at APiRO and Co-Founder & COO at Werqwise, for a powerful founder-first conversation on resilience, leadership, and reimagining the future of work.

From his start in private equity to launching multiple ventures across London, New York, Hong Kong, and San Francisco, Naveen shares three defining “magic moments” that shaped his entrepreneurial journey:

— Business school in the south of France expanded his worldview, unlocked ambition, and sparked belief in what’s possible.

— A decade in private equity taught the toughness, intensity, and constructive conflict of elite teams—skills that built lasting discipline.

— Leading a flexible workspace company through the COVID-19 pandemic tested his grit, forced risk-taking, and validated a breakthrough technology that now powers APiRO.

These experiences underpin Naveen’s purpose: building scalable, people-centered solutions that create lasting impact—from sustainable office design to digital skill programs for underserved communities.

What You’ll Learn:

—How to reframe problems as opportunities that simply need attention

—Why authentic energy is the secret to avoiding burnout and leading sustainably

—How purpose (passion × impact × application) acts as a founder’s compass

—The future of work: flexible, tech-enabled, sustainable spaces designed for collaboration and community

Whether you’re a founder, leader, or change-maker, this episode offers practical takeaways on resilience, purpose-driven leadership, and creating meaningful impact.

👉 Subscribe to Connecting with Purpose for more conversations with leaders and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future through clarity, resilience, and purpose: https://www.youtube.com/@connectingwithpurpose-est2021

👉 Connect with Naveen here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naveen-khugputh-6740292/

#ConnectingWithPurpose #NaveenKhugputh #APiRO #Werqwise #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfWork #Resilience #Leadership #PurposeDriven #StartupLife #WorkplaceDesign #RealEstateInnovation #FoundersFirst #PurposeFused

Welcome to Season 4 of Connecting with Purpose! 🎙️

This season, we’re putting founders first—exploring the human stories behind the businesses, from their magic moments and entrepreneurial roller coasters to the possibilities ahead. In this solo kickoff episode, host Mark Griffin sets the stage by answering the same questions he usually asks founders:

• Magic Moments – the deeply personal story of his son’s birth and how it reshaped his perspective on pressure and presence.
• Entrepreneurial Spark – how rugby, banking, and purpose combined to inspire the founding of Play Rugby USA.
• Purpose – breaking down passion + impact + application, and sharing his own purpose statement.
• Possibilities Ahead – supporting founder-led businesses and leadership teams to unlock growth and impact.
• Bridging the Gap – the challenge of making authentic human connections in a noisy world.
• Playing Advantage – a call to action: why every leader should create their own One Page Purpose. 💡

Mark also shares his own One Page Purpose and invites listeners to connect directly if they’d like to explore theirs. 👉

Tune in for a powerful kickoff to Season 4, and join us weekly for founder conversations and short, sharp solo episodes designed to help leaders live and lead with purpose.

In this powerful episode of Connecting with Purpose, Jacob Brown shares his transformative life story of overcoming adversity and developing a "fail forward" mindset.

From being cut from the NFL to battling personal challenges including alcoholism, Jacob demonstrates how resilience and intentional living can turn setbacks into stepping stones. Highlights include:

—His emotional moment at 25 when his father first expressed love and pride

—The life-changing decision to become sober on August 25, 2021

—Writing his book "Fail Forward" as a way to inspire others

—The importance of understanding your "why, who, and how" in goal setting

—The power of speaking positively and taking action on your goals Jacob's key message is that failures are not destinations, but opportunities for growth.

By maintaining intensity, practicing empathy, and staying committed to personal development, anyone can transform challenges into meaningful success. With 100 inspirational quotes and deeply personal stories, Jacob's book and message offer a roadmap for resilience that can help individuals in their personal and professional lives.

Enjoy!

Connect with Jacob and follow his inspirational work here:

Website: https://failforwardbrown.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobaaronbrown/

In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Don Yaeger—hailed as one of America’s best storytellers, a twelve-time New York Times bestselling author, nationally recognized keynote speaker, and host of the top-ranked Corporate Competitor Podcast, which I’ve been hooked on since hearing Don speak in person just two months ago.

Don’s career spans decades of interviewing and working alongside extraordinary leaders and teams. From his time as Associate Editor at Sports Illustrated and Storyteller in Residence for National Geographic, to his current work as a coach helping executives build cultures of greatness, Don’s insights are rooted in deep curiosity and real-world experience.

In this conversation, Don shares three powerful “10 out of 10” life moments—from surviving cancer and embracing fatherhood later in life, to witnessing the radical power of forgiveness. He reminds us that life happens in seasons, and purpose is found not just in what we achieve, but in how we connect and contribute. We explore what it means to lead with intention, tell stories that matter, and make each day your masterpiece.

Key Takeaways:

— The Magic of Perspective: How a health crisis reframed Don’s entire outlook on life, purpose, and legacy.

— Forgive the Unforgivable: A powerful true story of healing through forgiveness—and the freedom that comes with letting go.

— Purpose in Storytelling: Don shares his framework of “story, lesson, application” and how storytelling builds trust, meaning, and connection.

— Living Your Legacy: Why intentionality, curiosity, and helping others share their story are key to lasting impact.

— Identity & Reinvention: What Don learned through major transitions—and how letting go of titles helps us step into new seasons of purpose.

🔗 Connect with Don:

— Website: donyaeger.com

— LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donyaeger

— Podcast: CorporateCompetitorPodcast.com

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more purpose-fueled conversations about meaning, leadership, and impact.

#ConnectingWithPurpose #DonYaeger #StorytellingWithImpact #MakeEachDayAMasterpiece #PurposeFusedLeadership #Curiosity #Perspective #Forgiveness #LegacyBuilding #EliteAthletes

In this episode of Connecting with Purpose, we’re joined by Gina Tucci, founder of Beyond the Scoreboards, licensed counselor, and mental performance coach. With a lifelong passion for sports and athletic competition, Gina helps athletes, coaches, executives, and teams overcome mental roadblocks and elevate their performance.

Drawing from her background in sports psychology and mental health counseling, Gina creates customized programs that build resilience, shift mindsets, and enhance peak performance. She specializes in equipping high performers with mental fitness tools to manage pressure, navigate transitions, and gain a competitive edge.

As the former Director of MindCode at Resilience Code in Denver, Colorado, Gina developed a program to address clients’ mental health and performance challenges. She holds a certificate in sports psychology from Seton Hall University, along with Master’s and EdS degrees in counseling.

Her own journey—overcoming performance anxiety, learning to detach from expectations, and developing resilience—has profoundly shaped her work. She believes in the power of visualization, self-awareness, and a growth mindset to help individuals thrive in sports, business, and life. With years of experience working with elite athletes, coaches, and corporate leaders, Gina is the perfect guest for Season 3 of Connecting with Purpose, where we explore the intersections of sports, business, and personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

— Visualization & Mental Strength: How Gina’s early experiences with deep breathing and visualization shaped her career in sports psychology.

— Shifting from a Fixed to Growth Mindset: The importance of embracing discomfort, pushing limits, and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

— Resilience & Adaptability: Why high performers must detach from expectations and stay present to overcome challenges.

— Navigating Transitions: How purpose and self-awareness can help athletes and professionals successfully pivot into new roles.

Gina’s insights offer a roadmap for developing mental toughness, embracing change, and transforming pressure into a tool for success—whether in sports, business, or life.

Connect with Gina:

—Website

— LinkedIn

🔗 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more conversations about purpose, performance, and creating lasting impact.

#MentalPerformance #SportsPsychology #Resilience #GrowthMindset #AthleteTransition #HighPerformance #MindsetMatters #EliteAthletes #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDriven #MentalFitness #SelfAwareness #Coaching #PurposeFusedLeadership #PeakPerformance