In this episode of Greatness From Small Beginnings, Keith L. Callaway dives into the power of gratitude, contentment, and intentional awareness—sharing nine everyday blessings that quietly shape a life of greatness.

Through personal stories, Scripture, and hard-earned wisdom, Keith explores why gratefulness is the key to growth, how awareness must be matched with responsibility, and why disciplined living matters more than opinions.

Discover practical insights on overcoming procrastination, controlling distractions, practicing your values daily, and learning to be content while still striving for more. This episode is perfect for listeners seeking personal growth, spiritual depth, leadership development, and a grounded path to greatness.

In this solo episode, Keith L. Callaway takes listeners on a reflective journey through the challenges, temptations, and internal battles that often reveal our deeper calling.

Drawing from personal experience, spiritual insight, and practical wisdom, Keith outlines five core temptations that many people face—and reframes them not as weaknesses to hide but as indicators of what we’re meant to do.

1. Opening Reflections & Setting the Stage

Keith shares that this episode was recorded ahead of time during a difficult week, where he became freshly aware of the areas he struggles with—sarcasm, self-control, and emotional response. He grounds the episode in the belief that small beginnings are where greatness starts.

2. The Five Temptations as Indicators of Purpose

Keith walks through five temptations and what they might signal about your calling:

1. Voice & Expression:

Temptations that harm your voice—physically or reputationally—may indicate you’re called to speak boldly, worship, or encourage publicly.

2. Self-Doubt & Insecurity:

If you battle internal insecurity, it may be because you were made to inspire others, and the enemy’s strategy is to diminish your confidence.

3. Distraction & Procrastination:

Those who avoid tasks may actually carry heaven-born vision, and distraction is simply an attack on their ability to bring ideas to life.

4. Lust & Misdirected Desire:

This temptation often distorts a deep, God-given capacity for intimacy, covenant, connection, and healing.

5. Fear of Rejection or Abandonment:

Those who fear being excluded may actually carry a calling to gather, reconcile, and bring belonging to others.

3. The Think → Be → Do Model

Keith explains that transformation starts with thinking, which shapes being, which ultimately produces doing. Many of our temptations persist because our thinking is misaligned with who we’re meant to become.

4. The Power of Spoken Words

A compelling example illustrates how speaking interrupts thought patterns—showing why praying out loud, reading Scripture aloud, and verbal affirmations are powerful tools for renewing the mind.

5. Gratitude as a Healing Practice

Keith shares research showing that daily, intentional gratitude produces chemicals that help the body heal—spiritually and physically—showing how gratitude can fortify us against temptation.

6. Closing Encouragement

Keith circles back to the message of the show: we all begin small, but God designed us for greatness. He quotes Zig Ziglar:

“You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”

In this powerful solo episode of Greatness From Small Beginnings, Keith Callaway dives into a deeply personal and spiritually grounded exploration of masculinity. Drawing from his own childhood, spiritual awakening, life experience, and a thought-provoking Q&A from Charlie Kirk, Keith outlines six defining characteristics of a true man—all rooted in the pursuit of godliness and self-mastery.

1. Self-Control Over Fleshly Desires

Keith shares candid stories from adolescence and adulthood, highlighting how the battle against distraction, temptation, and comfort is lifelong. True masculinity begins with discipline and denying the impulses that weaken us.

2. Courage & Defending the Vulnerable

Keith unpacks his lifelong instinct to protect—whether in a restaurant, at home, or in society at large. Masculinity requires stepping into danger for the sake of others, especially those who cannot defend themselves.

3. Leading a Family Toward Godliness

Keith discusses the measurable impact of a father’s influence—spiritually, emotionally, and morally. He explains why a godly father sets the tone for generations to come.

4. Choosing the Right Fights

From confronting evil to advocating for the vulnerable, Keith reminds listeners that men must step into hard spaces—whether cultural, moral, or physical—to right wrongs.

5. Reason Over Feelings

As a self-described emotional person, Keith speaks directly to the challenge of choosing reason, calculation, and biblical truth over emotion-driven reactions. Thinking deeply is an act of maturity.

6. Pursuing God Through Integrity

Keith emphasizes eliminating sinful habits and distractions—alcohol, endless scrolling, and comfort-driven choices—that cloud the mind and drive us away from God.

Scripture & References Mentioned

• Genesis 12 – God’s call to Abraham as a model of purpose-filled adventure.
• Influences: Charlie Kirk Q&A session, Jacksonville sermon reference.

Major Takeaways

• Masculinity isn’t about bravado; it’s about responsibility.
• Your feelings matter, but they shouldn’t lead your life.
• The pathway to greatness is paved with small, consistent choices rooted in godliness.
• Love requires action—and disciplined action reveals character.
• You can't get closer to God while indulging the things that separate you from Him.

Quote of the Episode

“You were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”