In this deeply insightful and candid episode, Tom and Adam explore the emotional and strategic challenges entrepreneurs face when standing at the threshold of “what’s next.” The conversation organically weaves through the realities of coaching, the trust-building process, how hesitation and fear block business moves, and why intuitive action is often more powerful than rigid planning.

They share how the First M Club is designed to support entrepreneurs navigating pivotal transitions, offering not just tactical advice but also emotional grounding and peer validation. You’ll hear real stories and reflections that will encourage you to listen more deeply to your intuition, embrace micro-movements over massive leaps, and most importantly, take that next step with confidence.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

1. Coaching Isn’t Always Linear—And That’s the Magic

• Real coaching happens when you meet people where they are, not just where your program is going.
• Listening and adjusting in real-time leads to more powerful breakthroughs than sticking to rigid agendas.

2. Emotional Baggage Delays Action

• Many entrepreneurs carry invisible weight—especially emotional burdens that were never released.
• Men in particular struggle with emotional release, which can delay business progress.

3. The Fishbone Approach to Root Cause Analysis

• Coaching is like a fishbone diagram: the “main spine” is the core goal, but all the smaller contributing factors (the “bones”) must be explored and resolved.
• This perspective allows clients to understand that seemingly unrelated issues are all connected to the larger goal.

4. The Fear of Messing Up Either Side

• Many clients delay their next move because they fear disrupting what’s working and fear failure with the new idea.
• The solution? Take small, intentional actions—“one more thing” at a time.

5. Business Moves Unlock Life Moves

• Most people wait for the business to improve before changing their life. But it’s often the other way around.
• Helping clients make incremental business moves can radically enhance their life quality.

6. Validation Comes from Community

• The First M Club provides a mastermind-like environment where people feel seen, heard, and validated.
• That validation builds trust—not just in others, but in themselves.

7. Trust Over Evidence

• High performers often seek evidence before acting, but many decisions must be based on intuition and trust.
• Action builds clarity. Clarity doesn’t always precede action.

8. You Already Know the Answer

• Clients often come knowing deep down what to do—they just need support, space, and permission to act.
• Success is not only about what you’re doing, but about who you are becoming.

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🛠️ Resources Mentioned

• Fishbone Diagram – A visual tool from quality management used for identifying root causes.
• PDSA Cycle – Plan, Do, Study, Act method for implementing small, strategic changes.

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💬 Memorable Quotes

“Information comes from action, not the other way around.”

“You don’t need a new idea—you need the courage to trust the one already inside you.”

“Coaching is the art of listening, not programming.”

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🚀 Join the Conversation

Interested in taking your next step with support?

Explore the First M Club — a mastermind community designed to help entrepreneurs confidently pursue their first million while creating a life they love.

🔗 Visit atomicbusinesscoaching.com for more...

In a world full of change, how do we evolve with intention—and not get swept up in noise? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Tom Marino and Adam Thomas Hurd (yes, he’s officially using his full name now!) take you inside the journey of transformation that led to the launch of the First M Club.

They share how superficial networking and unintentional business moves are holding entrepreneurs back, and reveal the formula they’ve discovered for cultivating authentic relationships, real momentum, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re trying to reach your first million in revenue or just crave deeper connections with like-minded go-getters, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why opportunity often follows change, but how to become ready for both.
• The morning meeting model: 3 powerful questions that unlock connection and collaboration.
• Why most communities fail—and how the First M Club is structured to stay small in execution but big in value.
• How intentional networking beats transactional encounters (and why it leads to better clients and collaborators).
• The mindset shift from chasing leads to attracting the right ones through service.
• Why authenticity, vulnerability, and shared experiences are the secret weapons to growth.
• How limiting beliefs and saboteurs like the restless saboteur block business potential—and what to do about it.
• Adam’s transition from “Adam Thomas” to “Adam Thomas Hurd” and what it symbolizes for the journey ahead.

Key Quotes:

“You have to start to change to see the opportunities.”

“It’s not about networking for the sake of networking—it’s about networking with intention.”

“A club thrives when people show up authentically and want to help each other.”

“We’re not building a community. We’re building a club—because clubs have standards and real connection.”

“I’m not excited. I’m nervous. And that means it matters.”

What Is the First M Club?

The First M Club is a private club for business owners and entrepreneurs working toward their first million dollars in revenue. Rooted in collaboration over competition, the club brings together small groups (8 or fewer) for meaningful networking, peer coaching, and real-time support. It’s about belonging, growth, and building business momentum—together.

You’ll be part of:

• Monthly Morning Meetings asking: What’s going right? What’s going wrong? What do you need help with?
• Targeted intentional networking sessions with immediate, actionable results.
• A vetted network of business owners serious about helping and supporting one another.
• A culture of service-first, where leads are attracted, not chased.

Resources & Mentions:

• Free Crash Course on improving networking, prospecting, and defeating limiting beliefs
• Success stories from Project 2740 and pilot members of the First M Club

Join the Movement:

If you’re done with empty networking and want to be part of a high-trust, high-impact environment, the First M Club may be your new business home.

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In this episode, Adam and Tom dive deep into the fogginess that entrepreneurs experience when they lose clarity in their businesses. They explore how to clear that fog — not with Benadryl, but with truth, intention, and aligned action. The conversation is a powerful reflection on the importance of letting go of excuses, embracing reality, and fully stepping into who you are right now, rather than waiting for the “perfect moment.”

🔑 Key Takeaways

🌫️ 1. Business Allergies and the Fog of Confusion

• Just like seasonal allergies, entrepreneurs often go through “foggy” seasons in business.
• Lack of clarity stems from resistance to change or trying to force solutions that don’t fit.
• The remedy? A dose of honest reflection and intentional action, not more noise or tactics.

🧭 2. Submit to Your Reality

• Success lies in recognizing what actually works for you, not what’s trending or “supposed to work.”
• Adam shares their journey of discovering that relationship-building, not advertising, is their strength.
• For many relationship-style businesses (like coaching or consulting), personal connection is the foundation, not flashy marketing.

❌ 3. Stop Making Excuses

• Excuses become self-imposed obstacles. The more you repeat them, the more you believe them.
• Instead of blaming external conditions, face the reality: if something isn’t working, fix it or change it.
• Tom emphasizes that success requires iteration, not perfection.

🔁 4. Shift From Have-Do-Be → Be-Do-Have

• Common mindset trap: “Once I have money, I’ll do more work, and then I’ll be successful.”
• New approach: “Be the productive, helpful person now, do the work, and you will have the results.”
• Flip the script — identity first, then action, then outcomes.

🔥 5. Be the Coach — Even Without the Client

• Waiting for sales before stepping into your role keeps you stuck.
• Don’t wait to be the coach, creator, or service provider — start being it now.
• Genuinely help people first; the business will follow naturally.

🧠 6. Set the Right Intention Based on Who You Are

• Intentions change based on the role you choose to embody: coach vs. salesperson.
• Focus on the main thing you want to be, even if you wear multiple hats.
• Your roles should serve your purpose — not distract from it.

🌟 7. Live and Express Your Purpose

• Tom shares how his life purpose (helping others live better lives) has stayed consistent, even as his roles have changed.
• Purpose fuels intention, and intention drives results.
• When you veer away from your purpose, you lose energy and clarity.

💬 Quote of the Episode

“Be your purpose. Because if you be your purpose, you will be the intention. You will be the result of everything that you're trying to do.” – Tom

🔄 Next Steps for Listeners

• Reflect: What role are you trying to be in your business right now?
• Identify: What excuses are keeping you stuck?
• Act: Choose one way you can be the person you want to become — today.