What does it really mean to pursue excellence over success?
In this fired-up episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Ryan Hawk—host of The Learning Leader Show, best-selling author, and leadership coach to top performers worldwide.
With over 600 episodes under his belt and years of experience working with leaders across all walks of life, Ryan has refined a simple but profound truth: your internal clarity shapes your external impact. He unpacks his personal purpose statement, explains how to define your own values, and offers a practical roadmap to living them out every single day.
Ryan opens up about how fear and curiosity fuel his growth, how to battle mediocrity with high standards, and why consistency is the ultimate trust builder. You’ll hear how he built an 11-year streak without missing a single podcast release and what that says about his commitment to excellence.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
How to define your purpose and values—and actually live them
Why excellence beats success every time
A framework for linking daily behaviors to core values
How to use curiosity to push your limits
Why fear can be productive (if used wisely)
The mindset that drives consistent, meaningful impact
Whether you're leading a company, a family, or just trying to lead yourself better, this conversation will equip you with the tools to align your purpose, values, and daily behaviors to leave a meaningful dent in the world.
0:00 Intro
1:28 Learning from 600+ Top Performers
4:22 Clarity Through Purpose and Values
6:45 Ryan's Personal Purpose Statement
10:18 From Concept to Daily Action
14:00 Excellence vs. Success
18:02 Fear, Curiosity, and Courage
23:40 Using Prompts to Live in Alignment
28:29 High Standards in a Mediocre World
34:12 Why Most People Quit
37:07 Process Goals > Outcome Goals
41:30 The Power of Consistency
44:20 Living a Life That Leaves a Dent
Resources Mentioned:
🌐 Ryan's Site: https://www.learningleader.com
📚 The Score That Matters by Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps
📚 Welcome to Management by Ryan Hawk
📚 The Pursuit of Excellence by Ryan Hawk
📘 Great by Choice by Jim Collins
📘 The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
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