GET PEOPLE UNSTUCK | The Stuck State — CLEAR Performance Coaching Podcast #15

Are you standing in your own way?

In this episode, the co-founders of CLEAR Performance Coaching — Sam Bracken, Rick Timlick, and Kent Vaughn — break down what happens when people get stuck and how coaches can help them find their way out.

We dig into Card 41 of the CLEAR coaching system: The Stuck State. You'll learn the five questions that cut through blame and get to the real barriers holding people back — from circumstances and systems to thinking and self-esteem.

In this episode:

- The breakthrough funnel: how to move someone from stuck to clarity
- Why the first obstacle someone tells you is rarely the real one
- "We judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intent" — and - - why that keeps you stuck
- Anson Dorrance's 21 national championships and what he knew about accountability that most leaders miss
- The Mercedes-Benz leader who discovered she was the barrier
- How Dolly Parton turned a personal crisis into "Jolene" — the power of reframing
- Three watch outs: don't get paralyzed, use challenges as stepping stones, reframe to ignite hope
- Why letting people "gripe it out" before problem-solving actually works
- The coaching secret: stop giving advice and start asking better questions
- "A problem well-defined is half solved" — what that really means in practice

Key takeaway: When someone brings you a blocker, don't fix it right away and don't accept it. Ask one more question. The first obstacle is usually the story they're telling themselves — the third one is probably the truth.

Next episode: Breakthroughs — how to help people move from stuck to action.

Upcoming Events:
Tue Sep 29 Podcast #16 1-min clip
Thu Oct 1 Podcast #16 Full version
Thu Oct 1 Workshop 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM (Mountain Time)
Wed Oct 14 Webinar 12:00 – 1:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Thu Nov 5 Workshop 8:30 AM – 12:45 PM (Mountain Time)
*Contact info@clearperformancecoaching.com for details*

Meet the hosts:

🎙️ Sam Bracken | Co-Founder and Author
Sam brings a coaching-first approach to performance improvement, combining extensive experience in behavioral change with deep expertise in organizational dynamics.

🎙️ Rick Timlick | Co-Founder
Rick specializes in translating coaching principles into practical, implementable frameworks that drive immediate organizational impact.

🎙️ Kent Vaughn | Co-Founder
Kent focuses on leadership and team dynamics, helping organizations build commitment around behavioral change initiatives.

Like, subscribe ⁨@CLEARPerformanceCoaching⁩ and hit the bell for new episodes every week.

#coaching #leadership #accountability #personaldevelopment #mindset #unstuck #clearperformance #podcast #breakthrough #growthmindset

Coaching Podcast Teaser | CLEAR Performance Coaching

"We judge other people by their actions, and we judge ourselves by our intent."

Get a sneak peek at an upcoming conversation with the co-founders of CLEAR Performance Coaching — Sam Bracken, and Rick Timlick, and Kent Vaughn — as they break down what it really takes to help people move past their own barriers.

In this teaser:

- Why most people default to blame instead of accountability
- How the stories we tell ourselves become our first obstacle
- The coaching principle: "A problem well-defined is half solved"
- Why asking one more question matters more than jumping straight to solutions

Full version coming soon!

🔗 Learn more about CLEAR Performance Coaching: ⁨@CLEARPerformanceCoaching⁩
👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for the full episode drop.

#coaching #leadership #personaldevelopment #accountability #mindset #podcast #clearperformance

Podcast #14 — CLEAR Performance Coaching: Getting People Unstuck — The Desired Future State

In this episode of the CLEAR Performance Coaching podcast, hosts Sam Bracken, Rick Timlick, and Kent Vaughn dive deep into one of the most powerful coaching tools in the "Getting People Unstuck" toolkit: Card 40 — The Desired Future State. Building on last episode's conversation about assessing the current state, this episode explores how to help people paint a compelling, actionable vision of where they want to go — and why so many of us struggle to answer the simple question: "If you could do anything, what would it be?"

In this episode, we cover:

• Why understanding your current state is the prerequisite to defining a future state — and why most people skip this step and jump straight to "solutions"
• The blind spot most people share — they can list what they don't want in 10 seconds, but go silent when asked what they do want
• How to use facts, feelings, and emotions as "rocket fuel" to pull people toward their vision — not just push them with KPIs
• The power of declaring your intention out loud: turning private dreams into public commitments
• Plan A, Plan B, Plan C: helping at-risk youth (and anyone facing big gaps) build achievable visions grounded in reality
• The importance of writing down your goals and reviewing them daily
• Why coaches must never be the dream buster

Why this matters:
Whether you're a coach, a leader, or someone feeling stuck, this conversation offers a practical framework for moving from where you are to where you want to be. The hosts share deeply personal stories — from leaving a 24-year corporate career at 57 to overcome a traumatic childhood — and show that the path forward is always available, even when the gap seems impossible. As Kent says: "No one can go back and make a brand new start, but anyone can start now and make a brand new ending."

Meet the hosts:

Sam Bracken (Co-Founder, CLEAR Performance Coaching) is a bestselling author, speaker, and resilience expert. His book My Orange Duffle Bag chronicles his journey from a traumatic childhood to a life of purpose. He is the founder of the Orange Duffel Bag Initiative, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of at-risk youth change the trajectory of their lives through coaching. His upcoming books include Harder Life, Better Life on resilience and a new book on getting unstuck. Sam brings 40 years of lived and learned resilience to every conversation.

Rick Timlick (Co-Founder, CLEAR Performance Coaching) is a seasoned leadership and performance coach with nearly 20 years of experience helping individuals and teams get unstuck. He specializes in bridging operational excellence principles with human behavior, applying tools like root cause analysis and mental contrasting to personal and professional growth.

Kent Vaughn (Co-Founder, CLEAR Performance Coaching) is a former corporate executive who spent 24 years leading organizations before becoming an entrepreneur at 57. He is an author and a passionate advocate for helping people pursue what they truly want — even when it means changing seats on the bus. His practical wisdom and storytelling make complex coaching concepts accessible and actionable.

Subscribe for more episodes from CLEAR Performance Coaching, where leadership meets performance — grounded, practical, and purposeful.

#PerformanceCoaching #Leadership #Resilience #GettingUnstuck #Coaching #PersonalGrowth #DesiredFutureState #CLEARPerformanceCoaching