What if the story you've told yourself your whole life about why you weren't wanted was never the truth?

Ian Bowen sits down with Mark Steiner, CEO of GigSalad, who was adopted at birth and spent decades believing he was rejected, abandoned, and not enough. He opens up about the imaginative story he built as a child, the insecurity that bled into every relationship, and the moment a single word from an AI chatbot reframed his entire identity: he wasn't rejected—he was redirected.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 57, Mark also speaks candidly about his lifelong struggle with bulimia, body dysmorphia, and the "program" of perfectionism he ran for decades—and how he finally un-programmed it. Essential for anyone carrying a story about themselves that was never theirs to begin with.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. How being adopted at birth shaped Mark's identity and self-worth for decades.

2. The moment he found his biological mother at 25 and heard a completely different story.

3. Why he was diagnosed with ADHD at 57 and how it explained his entire life.

4. The "switch" he flipped in 2004 and why he never looked back.

5. His candid story of living with bulimia and body dysmorphia as a man.

6. Why secrets and "stuffing things down" kept him stuck for years.

7. The moment he publicly shared his eating disorder and what happened next.

8. How he built GigSalad and what "finding your gig" really means.

Key Takeaways:

1. You Were Redirected, Not Rejected. The story you tell yourself about why something happened is often not the truth. Reframing it can change everything.

2. Secrets Aren't Good. Stuffing things down is like an iceberg—you only see the tip until you finally look beneath the surface.

3. Love Yourself First. You cannot truly love others until you love yourself. That overflow is what makes real connection possible.

4. Accept Your Humanity. You don't have to be perfect, immortal, or angelic. Accepting you're human is the most freeing thing you can do.

5. Comparison Is the Thief. On the best days, Mark doesn't compare himself to others. Removing comparison and criticalness is crucial.

6. Learn Something Every Day. At 60, Mark still wakes up excited about what he'll learn. That white-belt mentality keeps life thrilling.

7. There's Always a Way. Spiritual, physical, emotional, mental—whatever holds you back, there is a way out, through, over, or around.

8. Choose the Highs. If you know both the highs and lows, choose to stick with the highs. Even if it looks manic, it beats the alternative.

Timestamps:

00:11 – Introducing Mark Steiner, CEO of GigSalad

01:25 – Adopted at birth and the story he built about being "given up"

06:13 – The destructive "program" he ran on himself for decades

07:43 – Feeling invincible: "I'm gonna do something exceptional"

08:26 – The AI prompt that changed everything: "You weren't rejected, you were redirected"

12:38 – Diagnosed with ADHD at 57 and how it explained his life

18:25 – Un-programming the perfectionism at 40

22:48 – Finding contentment and confidence at 60

30:30 – Sharing his bulimia publicly for the first time

36:29 – His message: there's a way out, through, over, or around

38:10 – What GigSalad is and how it works

42:48 – Where to find Mark and GigSalad

Connect with Mark Steiner:

Website: https://thinkupon.com/

GigSalad: https://www.gigsalad.com/

CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:

Website: https://watchmemindset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk

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