Brent Long’s story reads like a movie: farm-kid grit, two back surgeries, getting hit by a car during recovery, and a zig-zag through college that included funding tuition in an…unusual way—before God reoriented his identity and calling. Today, Brent coaches leaders and sales teams to grow principled revenue without the “slimy” stuff—anchored in Scripture and heart-level behavior change.

We unpack how John 5 reframed his work: Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?” Brent translates that into sales as service—questions that cut through noise, clarify commitment, and lead to real solutions. He breaks down his S.A.L.E.S. framework—Seek, Ask, Listen, Excel, Solidify—and his S.A.L.T.Y. questioning—Straightforward, Aimed at the heart, Leading to a solution, Timely, Yielding a result—so teams stop clogging their pipelines and start creating outcomes.

Brent also talks ideal clients (yes, many aren’t people of faith), why assessment and coaching beat tips & tricks, and how leaders can simplify metrics, coach the few behaviors that matter, and start stacking wins. We close with the book that almost didn’t get finished—and why his weekly class and periodic intensives keep teams practicing, not just reading.

Highlights

• From injury, setback, and identity crisis to calling and clarity
• Why “faith-based” selling ≠ pressure; it’s service + commitment
• S.A.L.E.S.: Seek → Ask → Listen → Excel → Solidify
• S.A.L.T.Y. questions that unstick pipelines and surface real commitment
• Case studies: doubling output in 10 months; $3.5M → $20M in ~5 years
• Assessments that say who shouldn’t be on the team (and why that’s loving)
• Weekly sales class (3-month minimum) + bootcamps/intensives

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Links:

• FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com
• MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Guest Links:

• Book Signing Event Recap.mp4
• brent@longonlife.com
• www.longonlife.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 Intro & show setup
• 03:15 Meet Brent: family of 14 (!), grandkids
• 05:30 Farm roots → work ethic
• 07:40 Ohio State, injuries & surgery #1
• 11:40 “I got hit by a car” → surgery #2
• 14:30 Extreme accountability & heart change
• 17:15 Funding college, the unexpected way
• 19:30 Integrity in unlikely places
• 21:00 From sports agency to revenue coaching
• 24:10 Why 90s sales training felt “slimy”
• 27:00 Turning to Scripture for a better way
• 29:20 John 5: “Do you want to be made well?”
• 32:00 Ideal clients (many not faith-based)
• 35:10 S.A.L.E.S.: Seek, Ask, Listen, Excel, Solidify
• 37:30 S.A.L.T.Y. questions & unclogging pipelines
• 41:00 Who should call Brent (and why)
• 42:45 Case studies: doubling output; $3.5M → $20M
• 44:50 Assessments & saying “no” to bad fits
• 47:00 Accountability, humility, growth mindset
• 49:10 Finishing the book (thanks to his wife!)
• 51:10 Where to get the book
• 52:00 Weekly class, intensives, bootcamps

If there’s one truth I’ve seen time and time again in leadership, it’s this: habits and routines will beat discipline every single time…As leaders, we make over 35,000 decisions a day. That decision fatigue is real, and by the time the evening rolls around, our willpower is shot. That’s when poor choices sneak in—when the Cheetos look good and Netflix starts calling. The solution isn’t to push harder; it’s to automate success through intentional habits and rhythms that keep you moving toward your goals without draining your mental energy

In this solo episode of The Inspiration Podcast, I’m breaking down the difference between discipline and habit, and why the latter is the true secret weapon of high-performing leaders. Discipline is like a muscle—it gets tired. Habits, on the other hand, run quietly in the background, freeing up energy for big decisions, creative thinking, and visionary leadership. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. And that starts by starting small. Build one new habit at a time, stack it onto an existing routine, and create daily wins that compound over time.

One of the keys I share is to focus on identity over outcome. Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” say, “I’m the kind of person who takes care of my health.” Shifting your language shapes your neural pathways and reinforces the habits you want to build. Technology can also be your ally here—set daily reminders, use location-based prompts, and color-code your calendar so you’re visually cued to follow through. And don’t forget to protect your most productive hours. Schedule your highest-value work when your energy is strongest, and guard that time like it’s gold

We also dive into practical tools for designing your environment to support your habits. If you want to drink more water, keep a bottle on your desk. If you want to work out in the morning, lay your clothes out the night before. These small tweaks reduce friction and make it easier to follow through. Evening routines, in particular, set the tone for the next day—prepare your journal, prep your breakfast, and make tomorrow’s decisions today. It’s about simplifying so you can focus your mental energy where it matters most

Finally, I share one of my favorite leadership mindsets: “100% is easier than 95%.” When you commit fully, there’s no debate. And when you stumble (because you will), the key is to get back on track quickly—never miss twice. Plan for obstacles, use the two-minute rule to make habits approachable, and keep your comeback strategies ready. Leaders who thrive aren’t the ones with the most discipline; they’re the ones who design their days with intention. And that’s how you build a life—and a legacy—on purpose

Links:

• FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com
• MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – Welcome to The Inspiration Podcast
• 01:20 – Why habits matter more than discipline
• 03:00 – 35,000 decisions a day: the case for automation
• 04:30 – What habits do that willpower can’t
• 05:30 – The truth about “21 days to build a habit”
• 07:00 – Start small and build momentum
• 08:15 – Habit stacking: create rhythm and cadence
• 09:00 – Focus on identity, not just outcomes
• 10:30 – Using technology to reinforce habits
• 12:00 – Calendar hacks: time blocking, color coding, and reminders
• 14:00 – Habit-tracking apps and dopamine hits
• 15:30 – Consistency beats perfection
• 16:30 – Environmental design: make habits obvious
• 17:45 – Evening routines that set up success
• 20:00 – Protecting your keystone hours
• 21:30 – Give yourself grace and expect obstacles
• 22:00 – Reduce distractions: the 21-minute focus rule
• 23:00 – The two-minute rule for habit building
• 24:30 – Recovery strategies: never miss twice
• 25:00 – Leaders plan with intention, not chance
• 26:00 – Morning, weekend, and quarterly routines for success
• 28:00 – Final thoughts and invitation to join the Resilience Lab mastermind

In this episode of The Inspiration Podcast, Stan sits down with Lauren Sisler—ESPN and SEC Network sideline reporter, former collegiate gymnast, and Emmy Award–winning journalist. Known for her infectious “sideline shimmy,” Lauren brings both energy and authenticity to her work, but her story goes far deeper than what fans see on game day.

Lauren opens up about her early days in sports, the adrenaline of gymnastics, and how her signature sideline dance became a tool for grounding herself amid nerves and chaos. She shares the joy of unexpected friendships, including her unique connection with Nick Saban and Charles Barkley, as well as the quiet strength of Saban’s wife, Ms. Terry.

But this conversation isn’t just about career highlights. Lauren vulnerably shares the devastating loss of both of her parents to opioid addiction within five hours of each other. With honesty and courage, she recounts the shame, grief, and resilience that shaped her healing journey. Her story reflects the power of telling the truth, confronting pain, and ultimately finding freedom in authenticity.

Lauren explains how her faith played a pivotal role, even when anger and doubt crept in. She describes her choice to step back into community, lean into therapy, and begin writing her book Shatterproof—a process that helped her fall in love with her story and reclaim her voice. Through tragedy and triumph, Lauren embodies the resilience of the human spirit.

If you’ve ever felt crushed by life’s hardships or struggled with shame, Lauren’s journey is a reminder that you can pick up the pieces, discover your own “sideline shimmy,” and create joy and purpose no matter what you’ve been through.

• Finding joy in the chaos: How Lauren’s “sideline shimmy” became her grounding ritual on live television.
• The cost of opioids: Her raw account of losing both parents to addiction—and the decades-long journey to speak the truth.
• Resilience is not linear: Healing often means two steps forward and ten steps back, and that’s okay.
• Faith in the fire: The role of community and belief when anger and doubt creep in.
• Falling in love with your story: Choosing not to be defined by tragedy, but by how you rise and live with purpose.

Links: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com

Links For This Episode:

• https://www.laurensisler.com/about
• https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s_XfoIKF2TU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PO6zgSNBFU

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – Welcome & introduction with Stan and Lauren
• 02:00 – The story behind Lauren’s “sideline shimmy”
• 06:00 – Joy, nerves, and finding grounding on live TV
• 08:30 – Earning three regional Emmys and career highlights
• 10:00 – Producing a special with Nick Saban & Charles Barkley
• 13:00 – The influence of Ms. Terry Saban and her quiet leadership
• 15:30 – Shifting into the harder part of the conversation
• 17:00 – Losing both parents within hours: Lauren’s tragic story
• 20:00 – The opioid epidemic’s impact on her family
• 23:00 – The non-linear path of grief and resilience
• 26:00 – Writing Shatterproof and facing shame
• 29:00 – Falling in love with her story and embracing authenticity
• 32:00 – The role of therapy and self-discovery
• 41:00 – Wrestling with faith through loss and anger
• 44:00 – Anchoring in community and rediscovering purpose
• 46:00 – How to connect with Lauren and find her book Shatterproof
• 47:00 – Closing reflections and SEC football talk