A $700 car payment feels normal.

An $800 payment feels normal.

Two vehicles costing a household $1,500+ every month? Somehow, we've normalized that too.

But what is that car actually costing your future?

In Season 3, Episode 35 of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam Lang and Benjamin Adams challenge the way we think about one of the biggest expenses in the average household: our vehicles.

This isn't about telling everyone to drive an old beater forever. It's about understanding the difference between being able to make a payment and truly being able to afford the purchase.

We break down:

• Why shopping based on monthly payment can be a financial trap
• The true cost of owning a vehicle beyond the payment
• How long auto loans and negative equity can keep you stuck
• The massive opportunity cost of an extra $300–$500 every month
• How car debt can affect your ability to qualify for a home
• Looking wealthy vs. actually building wealth
• How to turn an old car payment into a wealth-building payment

There's nothing wrong with eventually buying the dream car.

But build the wealth first. Let the lifestyle follow.

Before buying your next vehicle, ask a different question:

“What is this vehicle costing my future?”

🎙 The Pursuit of Progress — Season 3, Episode 35

What can a 61-year-old potato farmer teach us about success?

A lot more than you might think.

In 1983, Cliff Young showed up to compete in a grueling 544-mile ultramarathon from Sydney to Melbourne. He didn't look like an elite runner. He didn't run like one either.

He shuffled.

Yet five days later, Cliff crossed the finish line ahead of the competition.

In Season 3, Episode 34 of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam Lang and Benjamin Adams unpack the incredible story of Cliff Young—and the lessons it can teach us about business, money, personal growth, and staying in the race when everyone else seems to be moving faster.

We talk about:

• Why looking less qualified doesn't mean you don't belong
• How your perceived weakness can become an advantage
• Why consistency can beat short bursts of intensity
• The danger of assuming there's only one "right" way to succeed
• Why comparing your progress to someone else's can make you quit too early
• The incredible power of simply refusing to stop

You don't need to be the fastest.

You don't need to have everything figured out.

Sometimes you just need to keep shuffling.

🎙 The Pursuit of Progress — Season 3, Episode 34

How many times have you made a decision… only to talk yourself out of it later?

You’re going to wake up early. Work out. Save more money. Make the calls. Start the business. Finally take that next step.

Then the moment arrives—and suddenly, the negotiation begins.

In Season 3, Episode 33 of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam Lang breaks down why some of our most convincing excuses don’t sound like excuses at all—and how constantly renegotiating with ourselves can quietly destroy discipline, confidence, and momentum.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why excuses often sound completely logical
• The difference between motivation and discipline
• How to create a few powerful non-negotiables
• Why keeping promises to yourself builds real confidence
• How making a decision once can eliminate daily mental battles
• Why one bad day doesn't have to become one bad week

The challenge is simple: pick ONE thing you've been negotiating with yourself about and make it non-negotiable for the next seven days.

When the excuses start, remind y

ourself:

“I already decided this.”

Because progress doesn't require perfection. It requires learning to trust yourself to do what you said you would do.

🎙 The Pursuit of Progress — Season 3, Episode 33

“Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. They sink because of the water that gets inside them.”

That idea from Ed Mylett is the starting point for this episode of The Pursuit of Progress.

Because there will always be “water” around us.

Criticism. Rejection. Failure. Stress. Comparison. Other people’s opinions. Somebody doubting you. A business idea that doesn’t work. A relationship that struggles.

The question is: How much of it are you letting inside?

In this episode, Adam and Ben dig into self-talk, self-belief, and what it actually takes to build real confidence.

We talk about:

• How other people’s voices can slowly become our own
• Why negative self-talk can turn temporary setbacks into permanent identities
• The difference between “I failed” and “I’m a failure”
• Why confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself
• The idea of a “confidence bank account”
• How small actions can rebuild trust in yourself

It’s being able to say:

“Even if I fail, I’ll be okay. I’ll learn. I’ll adjust. And I’ll keep going.”

There will always be water around the ship.

The goal is to stop letting it inside.

🎙️ The Pursuit of Progress — Season 3, Episode 32

What if the biggest change in your life doesn’t require a perfect plan?

What if it starts with just one decision?

In this episode of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam and Ben explore the idea that one choice can become the first domino that changes everything that follows.

A new job. A move. Starting a business. Buying your first home. Getting serious about your health. Making the phone call you’ve been putting off. Walking away from something that isn’t working anymore.

The problem is, we often wait because we think we need to have the entire path figured out before taking the first step.

But you don’t need the whole map.

You just need to make the next decision.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How one small decision can create a domino effect
• Why you don’t need to know the next 20 steps
• The hidden cost of avoiding a decision
• How decisions can change the way you see yourself
• The difference between strategically waiting and simply being afraid to act
• One question that might reveal exactly where you’re stuck

And we’ll leave you with a challenge:

What’s one decision you’ve been putting off that could change the direction of your life?

You don’t have to change everything today.

Just find your first domino — and knock it over.

🎙️ The Pursuit of Progress — Season 3, Episode 31

What happens when you've built a life that looks successful on the outside…but something still doesn't feel right on the inside?

In Season 3, Episode 30 of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam sits down with longtime friend Chris Palasz, founder of Peak State, for a conversation about success, identity, relationships, purpose, and learning how to become the author of your own life.

Adam and Chris first met years ago while they were both living in Aspen, Colorado. Since then, Chris has built a coaching practice focused on helping high-performing professionals around the world, who have achieved many of the things they thought they wanted—but still feel like something is missing.

Chris believes the answer isn't another productivity hack, a bigger goal, or simply working harder. It's developing what he calls “internal authority”—learning to trust yourself, understand what you actually want, and stop allowing outside expectations to write your story for you.

In this episode, Adam and Chris dive into:

• Why external success doesn't always create internal fulfillment
• How expectations from family, society, and other people can quietly shape our lives
• What “internal authority” means—and why it matters
• The connection between identity, relationships, and personal growth
• Why high performers can struggle even when everything looks great on paper
• How to reconnect with what YOU actually want
• What it means to become the author of your own story
• Practical ways to start building a life that feels as good as it looks

If you've ever checked the boxes, achieved the goals, and still wondered, “Is this really the life I want?”—this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Connect with Chris Palasz & Peak State

Email: chris@peakstate.coach
Website: www.peakstate.coach
Instagram: @Chris_Palasz

🎧 The Pursuit of Progress Podcast

Real conversations about personal growth, business, relationships, mindset, and becoming a better version of yourself—one step at a time.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it, and make sure to follow The Pursuit of Progress so you don't miss the next episode.

We've all met people who seemed to have every natural advantage—yet never reached their potential. We've also seen ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things through perseverance and determination.

What's the difference?

In this episode of The Pursuit of Progress, Adam explores one of Zig Ziglar's most enduring principles: "Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude."

You'll discover what aptitude really is, why attitude is one of the greatest predictors of long-term success, and how your response to adversity can shape your future more than your circumstances ever will.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between attitude and aptitude
• Why talent alone isn't enough
• The power of resilience and perseverance
• Real-world examples of people who refused to give up
• Simple daily habits to cultivate a winning mindset

No matter where you are on your journey, this episode is a reminder that while you can't always control your circumstances, you can always control how you respond—and that choice can make all the difference.

Success isn't just about working harder or learning more—it's about surrounding yourself with the right people.

In this episode of The Pursuit of Progress, I share the five types of people that have had the biggest impact on my own growth in business, real estate, investing, and life. From mentors who shorten the learning curve to coaches who hold you accountable, peers who push you forward, people you can teach, and those rare individuals who love you enough to tell you the truth—each plays a unique role in helping you become the best version of yourself.

You'll learn why no single person can fill every role, how to identify what's missing in your own circle, and practical ways to build relationships that accelerate your personal and professional growth.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why relationships matter more than information
• The difference between a mentor and a coach
• Why high performers intentionally build their inner circle
• How teaching others accelerates your own growth
• Why honest feedback is one of the greatest gifts you can receive
• A simple exercise to identify who's shaping your future

The next breakthrough in your life may not come from another book, podcast, or course—it may come from one conversation with the right person.