Are you winning at the wrong things?Most high performers don't fail because of a lack of effort. They fail because of "Misdirected Excellence." You are capable of doing anything, so you try to do everything and you end up wandering a maze of "good" options instead of walking a road of great purpose.In this episode of V.I.T.A.L Office Hours, we are answering the question: "I have too many goals pulling me in different directions. How do I know which one is mine?"This is Part 2 of our 3-Part Series: "The Architecture of Discipline." We are breaking down the three pillars of sustainable high performance: Focus, Alignment, and Boundaries.📺 IN THIS SERIES:Part 1: The Focus Issue – Why you start but never finish (The Psychology of Openness).Part 2: The Alignment Issue (Current Video) – Finding the "Crux Goal" that anchors your life.Part 3: The Boundary Issue – How to say No without guilt (Coming Friday).IN PART 2, YOU WILL LEARN:Why "Misdirected Excellence" is more dangerous than failure.The difference between Transactional Goals (what you get) vs. Transformational Goals (who you become).The "Lighthouse vs. Boats" Metaphor: How to navigate urgent opportunities.The Crux Question: The single question that filters 90% of your busy work.How to use the Solar System Strategy to let your other passions orbit your main purpose.Work with Me: If you are tired of being "productive but not progressive," you need a strategy that fits your unique wiring. I take 5 private clients each month for a 90-minute Game Plan Consultation. We will identify your Crux Goal and map out your execution plan. 👉 Apply here: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultationChapters00:02 - The Trap of "Too Many Options00:42 - Misdirected Excellence01:16 - The "Lesser Goal" Warning 01:49 - The Solar System Metaphor02:03 - Defining the "Crux Goal" 02:09 - Lighthouse vs Boats Analogy02:53 - Identity: The Path to Transformational Goals03:39 - The Client will 5 goals04:42 - The Cost of Double-Mindedness05:10 - The "One Goal" Principle: Laser vs Flashlight 05:30 - How to Find your Crux Goal06:08 - "Focus doesn't reduce your Potential"06:24 - Task for the WeekSubscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Part 3 on "Boundaries & Guilt" this Friday.#CruxGoal #Focus #Essentialism #GoalSetting #HighPerformance #VITALOfficeHours #ArchitectureOfDiscipline #StrategicAlignment #PurposeDriven
Does your mind feel like a construction site with 50 projects started but none finished?If you are a high performer with a "mind that is alive," you likely struggle with the gap between your brilliant ideas and your actual results.But here is the truth: Your problem isn't laziness. It is overstimulation.In this episode of V.I.T.A.L Office Hours, we are breaking down the psychology of "High Openness"—the personality trait that fuels your creativity but often kills your consistency.This is Part 1 of our 3-Part Series: "The Architecture of Discipline."We are breaking down the three pillars of sustainable high performance: Focus, Alignment, and Boundaries.📺 IN THIS SERIES:Part 1: The Focus Issue (Current Video) – Transforming creative chaos into completion.Part 2: The Alignment Issue – How to find your "Crux Goal" when you want to do everything.Part 3: The Boundary Issue – How to stop "leaking" energy and say No without guilt.IN PART 1, YOU WILL LEARN:Why "starting" gives you a dopamine hit that "finishing" doesn't.The difference between a mind that is "Alive" vs. a mind that is just a web browser with 57 tabs open.The 10% Rule: How to expand your focus stamina without burning out.How to "close the tabs" in your brain using the Zeigarnik Effect.Work with Me: If you’ve got too many ideas and too little time, you need a game plan that fits your wiring.I take 5 private clients each month for a 90-minute Game Plan Consultation to clarify your direction and map a personalized execution plan. 👉 Apply here: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultationSubscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Part 2 on finding your "Crux Goal."
Chapters:
00:00 - The Construction Site Mindset
00:58 - Series Intro: The Architecture of Discipline
01:53 - High Openness: The Shadow Side of Creativity
02:36 - The River vs. The Flood: Re-channeling Energy
03:19 - The "57 Tabs" Brain: Why You Are Overstimulated 04:33 - The 10% Rule for Focus Stamina
07:05 - The Zeigarnik Effect: Closing Mental Loops
09:29 - Preparing for Part 2: Alignment#ArchitectureOfDiscipline #HighOpenness #Focus #CreativeFocus #BrickByBrick #VITALOfficeHours #ProductivitySeries
Does your energy crash somewhere between week three and week six of a new goal? You aren't alone.We often start with "ginger and fire"—buying the planners and making the vision boards. But when the hype fades and the real work begins, motivation quietly disappears.In this episode of the Brick by Brick Broadcast, we break down the neuroscience behind why you lose drive and how to keep building when the excitement is gone.We explore why boredom isn't a sign of failure—it’s actually proof of neuroplasticity and growth. You’ll learn how to move from being a "Grinder" (who burns out) to a "Craftsman" (who finds rhythm).In this episode, you will learn:* The Dopamine Dip: What Stanford neuroscientists say about why novelty fades and how to handle the "repetition" phase.* The Stretch Season: How to survive the gap between starting and seeing results.* 3 Types of Builders: Are you the Quitter, The Grinder, or The Craftsman?.* 4 Quick Resets: Practical tools to re-anchor your identity and reward your reps.Resources Mentioned: 📄 Download the Free Micro Momentum Tracker: https://bit.ly/micromomentumtrackerUse this one-page sheet to log small wins and rewire your motivation.🏛️ Join the Sovereign Order of Vital Architects: https://bit.ly/vitalarchitectsApply to join a community of focused life architects building fulfilled lives.📩 Join the Drafting Table Newsletter: https://bit.ly/draftingtabledailyGet short, science-based insights to keep your growth alive.About the Host: I’m Olatunde Akinwunmi. Welcome to the Brick by Brick Broadcast, where we build a life that feels like you—one principle, one habit, and one brick at a time.#PersonalGrowth #MotivationScience #ProductivityTips #Burnout #GrowthMindset #BrickByBrick #OlatundeAkinwunmi
You know that sinking feeling when you post something meaningful... and nobody reacts? That sudden mood drop isn't just about social media algorithms. It’s your brain’s chemistry reacting to a lack of "sugar." In this episode of the Brick by Brick Broadcast, we are dismantling Approval Addiction—the silent killer of authentic living.We often confuse Validation (renting your identity based on performance) with Belonging (being valued for who you are). When we can’t tell the difference, we fall into the trap of becoming Performers, Peacemakers, or Pretenders .In this episode, we unpack:🧠 The Neuroscience: Why praise triggers the same reward circuits as money and food.🎭 The 3 Archetypes: Are you the Performer, the Peacemaker, or the Pretender? .🇳🇬 The Cultural Context: Navigating the pressure to "make the family proud" without losing yourself.⭐ Case Studies: How John Legend, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Steve Wozniak chose alignment over applause to build their legacies.🛠️ The Framework: How to move from "Applause-Based" to "Alignment-Based" living using the Design Your Core™ method."Validation is meant to be feedback, not fuel. Feedback refines you; fuel defines you." 📥 DOWNLOAD THE FREE VALIDATION AUDIT WORKSHEET Identify exactly where you are performing for approval versus acting for alignment. 👉 https://bit.ly/validationauditABOUT THE SHOW: Welcome to the Brick by Brick Broadcast with Olatunde Akinwunmi. We help you build a life that feels like you, one intentional step at a time. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE INSIGHTS - https://youtube.com/@tundestone
#ValidationTrap
#ApprovalAddiction #BrickByBrick #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #PeoplePleasing #Authenticity #DesignYourLife #OlatundeAkinwunmi
Part 3 of our 3-part VITAL Office Hours series on navigating work as a high achiever.
Today: Networking & Energy Management.
Does the thought of a "networking mixer" make you want to hide?
The modern professional world feels built by extroverts, for extroverts.
But you don't need to fake a new personality to build powerful connections.
In this final part of our series, we discuss how to stop networking "horizontally" and start networking "vertically".
Learn how to protect your energy while increasing your influence.
In this video, I cover:
Why networking drains introverts (it's biochemical, not social).
The "Rechargeable Battery" concept: How to manage your social energy.
"Social Batching": A practical framework for scheduling meetings.How to show up authentically without burning out.
📺 Missed the beginning? Check out the full VITAL Office Hours playlist to catch Part 1 (Visibility) and Part 2 (Rest).
🚀 Ready for a personalized strategy?
If you want help applying these principles to your career, book a private 1-on-1 Gameplan consultation. Let's turn confusion into confident momentum: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultation
#NetworkingTips #IntrovertLife #CareerStrategy #AuthenticConnections #BrickByBrickBroadcast
Part 2 of our 3-part VITAL Office Hours series on navigating work as a high achiever.
Today: The Guilt of Rest.
"I'll rest when I'm done."
But you're never done. If you feel anxious, guilty, or unsafe every time you slow down, this video is for you.
We often mistake our nervous system's addiction to adrenaline for "work ethic".In this session, we go deep into the psychology of high achievers who struggle to pause.
We look at the Japanese concept of "Ma" and why your inability to rest might actually be loyalty to childhood patterns.In this video, I cover:
Why rest is not the opposite of work, but part of the work.
The "Stone Archway" analogy:
Why space holds the structure together.
The science of "Deloading" used by elite athletes.
How to stop feeling guilty for taking a break.
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for Part 3 on Friday, where we discuss networking strategies for people who hate networking.
🚀 Ready for a personalized strategy?
If you want help applying these principles to your career, book a private 1-on-1 Gameplan consultation: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultation
Want your question to be asked on camera? Ask Here: https://bit.ly/vitalofficehours
#BurnoutRecovery #RestIsProductivity #HighAchiever #MentalHealthAtWork #VITALSystem
Part 1 of our 3-part VITAL Office Hours series on navigating work as a high achiever.
Today: Visibility.
Does silence equal invisibility in your workplace?
If you aren't the loudest voice in the room, it’s easy to feel like your hard work is being ignored.
But being visible doesn't mean you have to be loud—you just have to be legible.
In this episode, we unpack why the workplace rewards volume over value and how you can flip the script.
We explore the "Lighthouse Strategy" and how to use documentation to extend your influence without forcing an extroverted personality.
In this video, I cover:
1. Why "keeping your head down and working hard" is a career trap.
2. The Lighthouse vs. The Microphone: A metaphor for quiet impact.
3. How to use writing and memos to amplify your voice.
4. Why visibility is actually a form of stewardship, not vanity.
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss Part 2 on Wednesday, where we tackle the guilt of resting.
🚀 Ready for a personalized strategy?
If you want help applying these principles to your career, book a private 1-on-1 Gameplan consultation.
We’ll map out your challenges and design a detailed execution report: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultation
Want me to answer your question on camera? Ask here: https://bit.ly/vitalofficehours
#IntrovertLeadership #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceVisibility #QuietPower #BrickByBrick
Do you treat exhaustion like an achievement?
In a world that glorifies hustle, many high performers are running on empty—confusing motion with meaning.
The truth is that: your next breakthrough won’t come from doing more, but from resting better.In this episode of the Brick By Brick Broadcast, Olatunde Akinwunmi, Creator of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™, unpacks The Art of Intentional Rest—why energy, not time, is the real currency of performance, and how to design your life around rhythm instead of chaos.
You’ll learn:
💡 Why burnout disguises itself as productivity
💡 The 4 energy archetypes—and how to identify yours
💡 The neuroscience of rest, creativity, and recovery
💡 How to use the Rest Formula and build your Renewal Architecture💡 Why guilt-free rest is not laziness—it’s leverage
By the end, you’ll know how to design your rhythm—to stay fully alive while fully engaged.Because music without rest is noise... and life without rhythm leads to burnout.
👉 Apply for The GamePlan Intensive™ — your 90-minute strategy session to map out your personal rhythm system and recovery architecture: https://bit.ly/thegameplanconsultation
🎯 Watch next: Subscribe and join the rhythm revolution—so you can build a life that feels like you, one brick at a time.
#PersonalGrowth #IntentionalRest #EnergyManagement #HustleCultureDetox #RestIsStrategy #DesignYourRhythm #BrickByBrickBroadcast #OlatundeAkinwunmi #VITALArchitectureSystem #BurnoutRecovery #WorkLifeRhythm #HighPerformance #MindfulProductivity #FlowState
Most people start their careers excited & proud of their first offer letter, eager to make a difference. But after a few years, that spark fades. Mondays feel heavy, and you begin to ask quiet questions: Is this really it? Was I born for something more?You’re not broken for asking. You’re growing.In this episode of The Brick By Brick Broadcast, Olatunde Akinwunmi reveals how to turn the job you already have into work you actually love, without quitting, gambling, or burning it all down.You’ll learn:🔹 The 3 mindset shifts that reconnect your paycheck to your purpose.🔹 How to use The Contribution Index™ to redesign your work from the inside out.🔹 Why meaning isn’t just philosophical — it’s biological.🔹 How to find flow, craft impact, and build legacy at work.Whether you’re a high-performing professional stuck in routine or a leader seeking renewal, this episode will help you rediscover meaning, mastery, and multiplication in your work.📘 Mentioned in this episode:The V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™The Contribution Index™The Reinvention Blueprint (Apply here 👉 https://bit.ly/thereinventionblueprint🎯 Key idea: Passion doesn’t come first — it follows impact.When your work means more, life feels different.👇 Listen till the end to learn how to build purpose into your everyday work — and apply to join the next cohort of The Reinvention Blueprint if you’re ready to redesign your contribution for the next season of your life.#MeaningfulWork #PurposeDrivenLife #CareerFulfillment #WorkThatMatters #PersonalGrowth #OlatundeAkinwunmi #BrickByBrickBroadcast #VITALArchitecture #CareerPurpose #FindingPurpose #MindsetShift #ReinventionBlueprint
Ever felt like you’re running fast but not sure if you’re actually growing?
In this episode of Brick by Brick with Olatunde Akinwunmi, Creator of The V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™, you’ll discover the three universal stages of growth that every high performer cycles through and how to recognize exactly where you are right now.
Growth isn’t random.
It follows a pattern: Spark → Stretch → Shift → Spark again.
You’ll learn why motivation alone can’t sustain momentum, how to build systems that make hard things easier, and what neuroscience reveals about discomfort and transformation.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, plateaued, or overwhelmed, this is your roadmap back to clarity.
Once you see this loop, you’ll understand that frustration doesn’t mean failure it means your brain is upgrading.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know:
1. The difference between movement and true progress
2. Why most people fizzle out after the Spark
3. How to survive the messy middle (the Stretch)
4. The mindset that turns growth from a chase into a lifestyle
5. How to identify your stage and pick one simple habit to thrive there
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or professional in transition, this episode gives you a clear, science-backed path to build a life that fits you.
👣 Watch, reflect, and share:
Comment your current stage — Spark, Stretch, or Shift — and one small action you’ll take this week.
🔗 Join The Drafting Table Daily — your morning boost to design a life that feels like you: https://bit.ly/draftingtabledaily
#selfimprovement #growthmindset #highperformance #purposedrivenlife #olatundeAkinwunmi #brickbybrickbroadcast #VITALArchitecture
You care about quality.
You hold yourself to high standards.
But somewhere along the way, excellence started to feel heavy—like no matter how much you achieve, it’s never enough.
In this episode of VITAL Office Hours, Olatunde Akinwunmi (creator of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™) answers three real questions from high performers who feel stuck inside their own success:
Perfectionism: “How do I overcome it without lowering my standards?”
Comparison: “Why do I feel behind even though I’m doing well?”
Purpose: “How do I find what I’m truly meant to do?”Through practical wisdom, real-life stories, and powerful reframes, you’ll discover:
Why perfectionism is often fear in disguise.
1. How comparison quietly steals your joy.
2. And how purpose isn’t something you find—it’s something you weave.
3. If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own ambition, this conversation will help you breathe again—reminding you that you’re not broken; you’re becoming.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts
📩 Submit your anonymous question for the next episode → https://bit.ly/vitalofficehours
📚 Get Life Building Insights Daily → https://bit.ly/draftingtabledaily
📱 Follow on:Instagram → instagram.com/tundestone
Facebook → facebook.com/olatunde.akinwunmistone
Threads → threads.net/@tundestone
YouTube → www.youtube.com/@tundestone
We design our careers, our fitness, our finances but most of us never design our relationships.
Yet nothing shapes your success and fulfillment more than the people around you.
In this episode of the Brick by Brick Broadcast, Olatunde Akinwunmi- creator of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™—shows you how to choose, nurture, and grow a circle that multiplies your growth instead of draining it.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why self-made success is a myth and how the right circle accelerates progress
✅ The 3 Pillars of Circle Design: Choosing, Nurturing, Growing
✅ How to run a “Circle Audit” to see who’s pushing you forward (and who’s holding you back)
✅ Simple daily habits that deepen trust and build authentic, life-giving connections
Backed by psychology, neuroscience, and timeless wisdom, this episode will help you build relationships that fuel your purpose and your peace.
🎧 Listen or watch anywhere you get podcasts: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music
📘 Book Your Spot for The GamePlan Action Consultation
🧭 Join the waitlist to be invited into The Sovereign Order of V.I.T.A.L Architects here
💌 Click Here to join The Drafting Table Daily for short, powerful insights on life design
Every tall building stands because its foundation can carry the load.
In this episode, Olatunde Akinwunmi—coach, mentor and creator of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™—breaks down what engineers know about life that most high performers overlook.
Discover how hidden stress points, borrowed blueprints, and lack of clarity cause burnout—and how to design a core that stands tall no matter the pressure.You’ll learn:• The physics of collapse and how it mirrors burnout• Why clarity, not hustle, keeps success stable• The 5-step “Design Your Core” blueprint for a life that lasts🔸 Join The Drafting Table Daily — your free daily insight on life design.Scan the QR code on screen or click here →qr.codes/H3KOku#LifeDesign #SelfLeadership #BrickByBrick #VitalArchitectureSystem #PersonalGrowth #Purpose #BurnoutRecovery
You’re not lazy. You’re living inside a broken model.In this episode of the Brick by Brick Broadcast, Olatunde Akinwunmi (creator of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™) reveals how frustration, emptiness, and burnout aren’t signs of weakness — they’re simply symptoms of a faulty life design.You’ll discover:🔹 The 4 Zones of Life — from Survival to Mastery — and how to locate yourself.🔹 The 5 Pillars of the V.I.T.A.L Architecture System™ that move you from chaos to clarity.🔹 Why motivation and willpower fail — and how design creates predictable momentum.Tunde shares his personal story of near-collapse and the discovery that transformed his life — from despair to design. If you’ve ever felt “something’s missing,” this video shows you how to rebuild your life brick by brick.💡 Join The Sovereign Order of V.I.T.A.L Life Architects — a community of high achievers ready to design lives that fit their values, not just their calendars.👉 —🔔 Subscribe for more insights on life architecture, clarity, and transformation.
#tundestone #learninghabits #confidence #worklifebalance #VITALOfficeHoursStruggling to learn consistently? Wondering why work–life balance never feels balanced? Or wishing you had more confidence and stronger boundaries?In this first episode of V.I.T.A.L Office Hours, I break down:✅ Why reading isn’t the same as learning—and how to build a 14-day learning habit.✅ Why work–life balance is a myth—and what to do instead (think life portfolios and seasons).✅ How confidence is actually built through action—not waiting until you “feel ready.”These aren’t quick hacks. They’re practical blueprints you can use today to get aligned, anchored, and activated.🔗 Send your own question for future episodes: tunde@tundestone.com🌍 Connect with me:Facebook: www.facebook.com/olatunde.akinwunmistoneInstagram: www.instagram.com/tundestoneLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tundestoneThreads: www.threads.net/@tundestoneWhatsapp: wa.me/2349013664985
There’s a hidden script quietly running your decisions—and it’s not written by you.
In this episode, I’ll show you how successful people break free and decide differently (and how you can too).
”Most people make decisions from pain, pressure, or popular opinion—then wonder why they stay stuck.
This episode shows a different path: making decisions from your values so your choices stop fighting your life.Inside:The four decision patterns: Drifters, Splits, Compromisers, Builders—which one are you right now?
Why “survival-mode” choices create hidden drag (procrastination, second-guessing, quiet resentment).
How your inherited values (parents, peers, culture) quietly script your choices—and how to rewrite that script.
A simple way to check any decision against your True North so you can move with clarity and conviction.
What to do when your values clash (e.g., freedom vs. security), and how to prioritize without regret.
By the end, you’ll have language for what’s been happening under the hood—and a practical lens to make fewer, better, faster decisions that actually feel like you.
This is the work that turns scattered effort into predictable progress.
Resources & Next StepsJournal prompt: “Which value does this decision align with—and which does it violate?
”Share your type (Drifter/Split/Compromiser/Builder) in the comments and what you’re changing this week.
New here? Subscribe if you want more values-first, people-first strategy you can use immediately.
SMART goals aren’t “wrong”—they’re just incomplete.
In this episode of Brick by Brick Broadcast, I debunk the famous “Yale 3%” story and the “write it down = 42%” claim, then introduce Precise Outcome Engineering (POE)—a practical way to design outcomes so action becomes automatic.
What we coverWhy SMART often measures numbers but misses momentum, identity, and context—and how that stalls real progress.
The POE lock-and-key model: your outcome is the lock; the keys are the exact conditions that unlock action.
The 8 POE qualities (with examples you can copy):
1)Specific,
2) Positively framed,
3) Personal & within your control,
4) Contextual,
5) Evidence protocol (sensory + tangible),
6) Chunked down,
7) Resource-efficient,
8) Ecological (whole-life fit).
Real-life demos: weight loss / morning walks, public speaking, and “promotion” goals rewritten into inputs you control.
Try this now -Pick one goal.
Rewrite it with the 8 POE qualities.
Read it out loud—you’ll feel the difference.
Then take the smallest next step (your first “chunk”).ResourcesGet the mini-book “Precise Outcome Engineering” (PDF + audio)—link in description; check your inbox after subscribing.