In Part 2 of our conversation with Haro and Mariam Setian, we pick up at a dramatic turning point—just after Haro is told he’s had a stroke. What unfolds next is an honest and moving exploration of what happens when leaders are forced to let go.

This episode dives into the unraveling of their businesses, the unexpected role Mariam steps into, and the sacred shift that happens when rest becomes non-negotiable.

Whether you’ve taken a sabbatical, are longing for one, or just feel the weight of “holding it all together”—this episode is for you.

🕒 Topics & Time Stamps (approximate):

• [01:00] Picking up after the stroke diagnosis — chaos meets clarity
• [04:00] Mariam steps into unexpected leadership and crisis control
• [10:00] Why everything fell apart before sabbatical even began
• [15:30] How peace and trust emerged in the midst of collapse
• [20:00] Leaving for sabbatical—flights booked, business unresolved
• [26:00] Practical rhythms and mindset shifts during sabbatical
• [35:00] What changed in Mariam: from regret to redemption
• [43:00] Haro’s shift: letting go of control, status, and significance
• [50:00] Redefining leadership post-sabbatical: slowing down on purpose
• [58:00] The hard return—why reentry might be harder than leaving
• [1:05:00] What it really means to live from rest—and lead from rest

💡 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What it looks like to lead through health scares, team breakdowns, and transition
• How to surrender outcomes without sacrificing purpose
• The internal and external shifts that sabbatical creates in both leadership and family
• Why saying "yes" to rest often requires a series of "no’s"—and how to discern the difference
• How rest, healing, and leadership are deeply intertwined

👉 New here? Be sure to check out Part 1 of this conversation to hear the full journey from burnout to breakthrough.

In this powerful first installment, Chris and Steve sit down with friends Haro and Mariam Setian to explore the hidden cost of high performance. Haro, a successful entrepreneur and founder of a thriving real estate businesses, shares how his relentless drive led to burnout, identity confusion, and ultimately—a stroke. Mariam offers a vulnerable and critical perspective as a spouse and leader who watched the pressure mount and felt the toll in their home and marriage.

Together, they unpack the warning signs, the spiritual convictions, and the emotional unraveling that led to the decision to step away from it all. Part 1 sets the stage for the radical leap they took into a 9-month sabbatical—with zero business interaction.

🕑 Episode Highlights

• 0:00 – 4:45 – Introductions: Who are Haro and Mariam?
• 4:45 – 11:20 – Haro’s early signs of overwork and ignoring the rumble strips
• 11:20 – 17:40 – Identity and performance: the internal drive Haro couldn’t shut off
• 17:40 – 25:05 – Mariam’s plea for connection and the cracks in their marriage
• 25:05 – 33:30 – Confirmation after confirmation: the call to surrender and stop
• 33:30 – 42:20 – Haro’s stroke and the wake-up moment he couldn’t ignore
• 42:20 – End – Preparing for the move to Tennessee and the leap into sabbatical

🔁 Don’t Miss Part 2:

Next week, we’ll pick up with Haro and Mariam’s sabbatical story—what stepping away really looked like, what happened to the business, and how the experience reshaped their faith, family, and future.

Too often, high-achieving leaders over-index competence and under-index connection. In this deeply insightful episode, Chris and Steve unpack why emotional intelligence is essential—not optional—for building trust, retaining talent, and sustaining leadership over the long haul.

You’ll hear vulnerable reflections, practical frameworks, and real-world stories that challenge the production-at-all-costs mindset. If you’ve ever wondered why good people leave, this conversation may hold your answer.

🎧 In this episode, we cover:

• [03:30] Red vs. Blue Culture: Why positivity without production (or vice versa) won’t build a lasting team.
• [06:45] What is emotional intelligence? Exploring definitions from Goleman and Bradberry.
• [13:45] Cadence in leadership: The oxen/yoke analogy and the cost of moving too fast.
• [17:00] Empathy in leadership: Why it’s hard, why it matters, and how to build it.
• [24:00] Fear disguised as anger, anxiety, or control—and how leaders can check themselves before damaging relationships.
• [34:00] Outlets, rest, and the myth of “always being useful”—what leaders must let go of to grow.
• [45:00] Practical tips to start building emotional intelligence today.

🔥 Quote of the Episode:

“People leave leaders, not jobs. Emotional intelligence may be the single most important skill a leader can cultivate.”