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Financial expert Paden Squires shares powerful insights on tax planning, wealth building, and entrepreneur mindset strategies to help business owners keep more of what they earn. He explains how proper financial planning goes far beyond basic tax preparation, requiring strategic quarterly meetings and documentation of tax-saving opportunities like the Augusta rule.

• Paden's journey from corporate employee to entrepreneur driven by childhood financial anxiety
• Most entrepreneurs struggle with financial disorganization and lack clear visibility into margins
• Traditional CPAs often only prepare taxes without offering strategic planning or wealth-building advice
• The Augusta rule can save entrepreneurs $3-5K annually by renting their home for business meetings
• Documentation is crucial for any tax strategy to withstand potential audits
• Proper financial mindset requires understanding the balance between delayed gratification and growth
• Tracking weekly financial KPIs like margins and cash flow prevents reactive decision-making
• Advanced strategies like deferred sales trusts and opportunity zones can significantly reduce capital gains taxes
• "With enough time and energy put into something, you can get better at it" -

Connect with Paden at squirestaxplanning.com to book a call about your tax situation or find him on social media and his podcast "Behind their Success."

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Have you ever told yourself "I can't do this" based solely on past failures? That moment when your mind convinces you something is impossible despite how much stronger, smarter, or more capable you've become?

During a recent Strive Elite workout, I witnessed a member reach her breaking point while attempting an exercise she believed was beyond her capabilities. Tears welled up as she repeatedly told herself she couldn't do it. What followed was a powerful lesson about how our limiting beliefs—often based on outdated experiences—can create artificial barriers to our potential.

The breakthrough came from a simple pattern interrupt: standing up, taking a breath, and listening with fresh perspective. After resetting her mindset, this member not only completed the exercise but performed three full sets. The limitation existed solely in her mind, not her physical capabilities.

Sometimes we need to borrow belief from others who see potential in us that we don't yet recognize. As a coach, I frequently tell my clients: "I'm not going to ask you to do anything I don't believe you can do." This external confidence can bridge the gap between self-doubt and self-belief until you prove it to yourself through action.

This principle applies universally. My entrepreneurial journey includes what I call my "graveyard of businesses"—failed ventures that could have reinforced the belief that success wasn't possible. Instead, I maintained that success was inevitable; it wasn't a question of if, but when. Strive 11 emerged after five years of ups and downs, demonstrating that persistence eventually overcomes temporary failure.

Whatever goal you're pursuing, remember that your past performance is not your permanent truth. Set mini-milestones, celebrate small wins, and be willing to step back up to the plate and swing again. Your breakthrough is waiting on the other side of that limiting belief.

Have you been holding yourself back based on outdated beliefs about your capabilities? Share your experience or ask questions in the comments—I read every one!

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When your energy is low, support is thin, and fear is loud—do it anyways. In this live episode of The Mindset Cafe, Devan breaks down the four-word discipline reframe that turns hesitation into action. You’ll learn how to move without motivation, build identity-based habits, neutralize fear, and create systems that make consistency automatic. We’ll cover practical scripts, micro-commitments, rejection handling, and a 30‑day “Do It Anyways” challenge to hardwire momentum in business, fitness, and relationships. If you’re tired of waiting for “perfect”—this is your playbook to show up regardless and win the long game.

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Michael Rearden shares his journey from growing up in the ghetto of Connecticut to founding Revan Concepts, a mindset and personal growth company revolutionizing the coaching industry through innovative approaches. He reveals how limiting beliefs form in childhood and strategies to break free from them to achieve greater success and fulfillment.

• Growing up in poverty created a powerful drive for change and early action
• Michael's mother worked multiple jobs to provide opportunities including private school education
• Transitioned from teaching to coaching after realizing he wanted to make a broader impact
• Founded Revan Concepts in 2018 to fill educational gaps where traditional schooling falls short
• NASA study shows 94% of kindergarteners test at genius levels, dropping dramatically by third grade
• Breaking free from downward spirals requires attention and often external support from mentors
• Sometimes changing your environment completely is necessary for growth
• The "burn the bridges" approach works best for those who thrive under pressure
• Overcoming limiting beliefs starts with believing something is possible before achieving it
• Legacy message: "Never is just an option" - we always have the choice to progress or remain stagnant

Share this episode with a friend who is trying to better themselves or needs help with their mindset.

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Dr. Matt Kutz shares his journey from athletic training to leadership development, introducing his concept of contextual intelligence and how leaders can thrive in complex environments by adapting their approach to each unique situation.

• Athletic trainers work with high-performing individuals who constantly strive for improvement, creating a mindset that translates well to organizational leadership
• Leaders need multiple leadership styles and must learn to diagnose the context to determine which style is appropriate for each situation
• The 3D thinking framework helps leaders consider hindsight (past), insight (present), and foresight (future) when making decisions
• Great leaders understand the difference between excellence and perfectionism—excellence is attainable while perfectionism is paralyzing
• The EPIC framework—Excellence, Perception, Inspiration, Compassion—offers a pathway to overcome mediocrity
• Creating buy-in from team members at appropriate levels multiplies organizational effectiveness
• Leadership maturity involves giving team members decision-making opportunities appropriate to their experience and role

Check out Dr. Matt Kutz's new book "Becoming Epic: A Remedy for Mediocrity" coming out in August, and visit matthewkutz.com for articles and more resources on contextual intelligence.

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First impressions form in just seven seconds, where our brains make up to 11 decisions about others, shaping the trajectory of our interactions and opportunities. These split-second judgments serve as powerful starting points that our brains continuously seek to validate through unconscious biases, making intentional perception management essential for personal and professional success.

• Sylvie Di Giusto spent 20 years in HR before focusing on how perception influences decision-making
• First impressions are starting points, but last impressions determine if people return
• Our brains actively seek confirmation of initial judgments through unconscious biases
• People become less self-aware as they become more successful ("CEO Disease")
• Surrounding yourself with opposing viewpoints increases self-awareness
• When facing crisis, look where others aren't looking for innovation opportunities
• Sylvie developed revolutionary 3D holographic keynote presentations over four years
• True success comes from doing something nobody else is doing
• Perception management isn't about changing who you are, but becoming more of who you are

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Chancellor Jackson shares his journey from college football player to bestselling author and publisher, including his unexpected detour through a Chinese prison that changed the trajectory of his life. His story demonstrates how maintaining resilience through adversity creates opportunities for growth and success.

• Born and raised in Georgia, played football through college at Stetson University
• Moved to China after college to teach English, where he was arrested for cannabis possession
• Spent 14 days in a Beijing prison before being deported back to the US
• Turned his prison experience into his first bestselling book "14 Days in Beijing"
• Has since written three additional books, including a romance saga and a self-help book
• Founded a publishing company that has helped other authors achieve bestseller status
• Found writing to be therapeutic and a way to process challenging experiences
• Believes in embracing adversity as preparation for future success
• Uses the quote "Hills are not mountains, and bad times don't last forever" as guidance

Find Chancellor Jackson on social media and Google to learn more about his books and publishing services.

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P.S. If you’re not already a part of the The Mindset Cafe Community Page I would love to have you be a part of the community, and spread your amazing knowledge. The page is to connect and network with other like minded people networking and furthering each other on our journeys!

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Michael Levitt shares his journey from accounting to burnout expert after experiencing his own health crisis during the Great Recession. He explains the crucial differences between burnout and depression, offering practical mindset strategies to prevent prolonged stress from consuming your life.

• Burnout is officially recognized by WHO as a "workplace phenomenon" resulting from prolonged, unaddressed stress
• Unlike depression, burnout makes you feel numb rather than preventing function completely
• Most burnout stems from mindset issues - catastrophizing problems instead of approaching them pragmatically
• Write down everything stressing you out, then circle only what you can actually control
• Establish clear work boundaries, especially with technology that allows 24/7 connectivity
• Identify your personal "sweet spot" hours when you work best and schedule important tasks then
• Physical activity is one of the most effective stress relievers and mindset reset tools
• Focus on systems and processes, not just end goals, to make success repeatable
• Stop procrastinating on difficult tasks - we spend more time worrying than it would take to complete them
• Remember it's about "the journey, not the destination" - pay attention to what you learn along the way

Connect with Michael Levitt at breakfastleadership.com or find his podcast "Breakfast Leadership Show" on all major platforms.

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Connect With Devan:
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P.S. If you’re not already a part of the The Mindset Cafe Community Page I would love to have you be a part of the community, and spread your amazing knowledge. The page is to connect and network with other like minded people networking and furthering each other on our journeys!

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