“It's hard to find good people.” You've heard it. Maybe you've said it. But what if the real issue isn’t a talent shortage—it’s a development failure?

In this episode of The Eye of Power, we challenge the prevailing narrative around hiring and retention. Using the four quadrants of the Eye of Power model—Pain, Perception, People, and Purpose—we examine how leaders may unknowingly contribute to the very problem they lament.

We explore how:

• Leaders avoid the discomfort of coaching and accountability (Pain)
• Biases distort hiring decisions and potential goes unseen (Perception)
• Culture and systems either elevate or erode talent (People)
• True growth is rooted in purpose and contribution, not just performance (Purpose)

This episode sets the stage for a forthcoming series of interviews with HR professionals on the front lines. But first, we must ask the hard question:

Are we searching for ready-made excellence… or building the kind of places where it can grow?

We’re swimming in self-improvement—books, podcasts, journaling prompts, coaching programs. But what if the very tools meant to help us grow are becoming obstacles? In this episode of The Eye of Power, we confront the subtle and widespread illusion of growth: when we mistake consumption for transformation, and image for integrity.

Through the lens of the Eye of Power model, we explore the Four Quadrants—Perception, Pain, People, and Purpose—and the Four Capacities: Courage, Congruence, Consideration, and Contribution. You’ll discover how real growth often begins with seeing what you can’t see—your own blind spots—and how it only becomes sustainable with the help of others, honest reflection, and disciplined action.

If you're ready to stop performing growth and start embodying it, this episode is for you.

Do you ever feel invisible? It's not a good feeling, is it? How about the flip side? How does it feel in those special moments when you feel like another human being sees you for who you are - not what you can do for them, but as an end to yourself? Pretty terrific, right? Now, imagine the culture in your organization. How much do the people there feel truly seen? What might it be like if everyone felt seen and appreciated every day? Do you think that might make a difference in attitude? Level of engagement? Amount of energy given to the shared cause? Absolutely - it makes all the difference in the world. For people, and the organizations that provide the structure within which we serve one another, it's the difference between thriving and just surviving, or worse. That's why the Mentor Machine is designed the way it is - to put an evergreen system in place that provides a continuous gravitational pull in this healthy direction.