“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.

Have you ever been amazed by how smart people do dumb things? Maybe you're a smart person who has done a silly thing once or twice! In this week's episode, we take a look at seven traps that can turn our very intelligence against us. If you'd like to harness more of that intellect to make wiser decisions and manifest a higher quality life experience, it's a good idea to apply the solutions for these seven traps - just to be sure you're not falling into them now! We draw from the wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche, Carl Jung, and other important psychological thinkers to light the path to greater wisdom - whether you consider yourself smart or not!

I happened upon the Netflix series Sirens knowing nothing about it. Well, I was drawn in by the sophistication of the story, along with the acting and production. The story is a modern myth, complete with the lessons that mythology offers. To get a good look at some of those lessons, we use the Eye of Power model to analyze the story's elements and distill some wisdom nuggets. When we keep these in mind, we can avoid some of the big traps that can shipwreck us on the rocks of life.

The shortest, and hardest path to a better life - meaning better relationships, better associations, better work conditions, and more peace of mind and fulfillment - is to be impeccable with our word. Don Miguel Ruiz teaches this in his seminal book The Four Agreements. In this episode, we look at what this means both psychologically and in practice. We identify ways to be more impeccable with our word. A more valuable investment in energy there is not.

This week Tom is joined by career guru Donovin Lindsay. Donovin helps those preparing to begin a career with educational choices, career path guidance, resume preparation, interview coaching, and job search strategy. He is also a dynamic speaker who can inspire young people to strive to fulfill their potential. Tom and Donovin talk about his path and discuss some of the ways people can improve their professional experiences.

It's hazardous to talk politics these days. It shouldn't be this way. Not and continue with representative self-governance. What are we supposed to do to avoid the vitriol? In this episode, Tom explores the things that go wrong, and right, in political discourse. It's a powerful episode that many should hear and heed!