As a child, Segun Olagunju prayed for wisdom, which is the only thing that can explain a 20-something recognizing that if he’s going to make a difference in the world (Nigeria, in particular), he’s going to work backwards from being a 50-something changemaker in 2035. 

Setting out on a 30-year journey to learn business, leadership, French and return to his home country strategically, Segun realizes the path is anything but straight. 

Worse, it’s anything but *forward.* 

Through a series of humbling experiences (“only out of humiliation comes humility,” he says), Segun learns that if you’re pursuing a meaningful purpose in life, these setbacks are minor blips—and even laughable rabbit trails—in a life with a clear direction.

Upon second thought, it makes sense that a life following a North Star will occasionally take you down from mountains that you climbed and through muddy bogs in your way— and this is to say nothing of the inevitable trips and falls that come with going somewhere and doing more than just staying put. 

 But how do we even find our North Stars? Segun has wisdom to offer for that as well. As a leadership coach for individuals and organizations, Segun offers a few exercises we can do to find out what might be our purpose in life. We hope you’ll listen and give his tips a try.

LinkedIn

Unison Solutions (formerly eFacil)

African Leadership Academy

What’s one of your most embarrassing moments that led to you feeling proud of your resolve to overcome it?

*tell us in the comments or email us at info@ilnppod.com

Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks

The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson

Homo Deus by Yuval Harari

Grit by Angela Duckworth

[9:57] -  Story of failure

[24:52] - What is happiness?

[29:10] - When a job finds you and humbles you

[38:35] - When searching, write a letter to your friends and family and tell them what you’re looking for

[42:30] - What is the African Leadership Academy (ALA)

[44:40] - Segun and Fin met in Narnia

[46:40] - Writing and sharing your manifesto, leaping forward in an organization

[56:00] - Segun influences schools around the globe

[58:12] - Finding your next purpose work

[67:45] - When your purpose shifts away from your vocation and to your family 

[1:13:33] - Tools

- Transition Email

- Manifesto

-Work Backward Press Release

-Strategic Outcomes Worksheet

Most of the time on the Interesting Lives of Normal People, we try to dig into the stories of our guests to find out what they’re all about, what’s been on their mind, and what they ‘just need to get out into the world.’ This podcast turned out to be a bit of the reverse.

In this episode with Dr. David Burke, mentor and friend of Jake’s, and a long-time pastor, it’s as though we were the ones doing the sharing. Especially about the church and American Christianity today. 

Surprise, surprise: talking about Christianity and the church (*during COVID*) struck some nerves and David opened up the space for us to share some thoughts, concerns, and hopes--holding all of them with grace and aplomb.

It was clear in our conversation that David is no stranger to opening up space for others. Opening his schedule for his wife’s budding midlife painting career. Opening up a grocery store where low-income residents could shop in the middle of their food desert, Opening up his home and heart for his adopted twins *on top of his 4 other kids*. 

We hope this conversation opens up something for you--maybe even something unexpected.

You can find the transcript for this episode here. Find transcripts for all episodes here.

Have you felt a deep calling to something in your life? 

Where have you found deep gladness in your life?

When have you acted on your deep gladness and found it to positively impact others?

Who would be your greatest supporter if you were to step out and risk pursuing a passion?

Visit this episode on our website at ILNPpod.com and share your responses

Kelsey Burke Art

Anything by Dallas Willard

Books by John Perkins

[2:55] David’s life story in 5 minutes

[9:30] The Son of a UW Professor (who was an atheist)

[20:00] Helping his wife start her passion project: painting

[28:20] David’s passions: college students, Ethiopia, Basketball

[34:00] What makes passion projects successful?

[36:46] Starting a grocery store in a food desert

[50:20] Christianity, today

[58:02] Where desire to do “passion projects” comes from

If you’ve ever seen a music video from the band OK Go, that’s basically what it’s like hanging out with Brandi Shigley. Over there is the flamethrower, in this corner is a family of ferrets dressed in matching outfits, in walks a mailman with a green mohawk who is also her tattoo artist, and here you are sitting on a giant hand-shaped chair that smells of funnel cake.  The whole thing is L-I-F-E, turned up to 11. 

When you listen to Brandi’s story, you’ll understand; she eeks her way through college but becomes the hottest purse-maker circa Y2K (literally #3 on AOL), such that she has her bags showcased in Paris. Then, she becomes the de facto Fashion Queen of Denver by uniting, inspiring, and coaching dozens of CO-based fashionistas to take the plunge and “do what they love and love what they do” by becoming fashion entrepreneurs themselves. And then, she gave all these newly minted fashion entrepreneurs their first big breaks by selling their wares at her store (which she wrapped up like a burrito for customers).

But her life also smacks of realness and...even normalcy. She grapples with understanding how being an adopted orphan continues to shape her; she remembers her now-past mother through videos of her on Facebook; she experiences the questions of God’s character.

Enjoy Brandi and the authentic, whole-hearted joy she brings to every moment of life--and this episode.

Transcript

What is a time in your life when you tried something, it didn’t go as expected, and you let it be the ending rather than a lesson? What would it take to revisit that moment, to reframe it as a step forward in the form of a lesson, and to transform it into something to be grateful for instead of a flop?

BrandiShigley.com

FashionDenver.com

The Bible

The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

The Hiding Place  by Corrie ten Boom

Naked by David Sedaris

[3:58] Born in Manila, Philippines

[15:36] Sold everything but a sewing machine and a skateboard to move and grow the business

[32:07] Purpose in your work beyond passion

[42:05] Viewing flops as lessons rather than bad endings

[47:51] Advice for folks starting a podcast

[50:29] Self-confidence from vulnerability

[52:10] Honoring a lost loved one