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When emotions run hot, one choice can change everything. Gary Wise lays out a clear, battle-tested way to slow the moment, tell the truth about what you feel, and make a response you won’t regret tomorrow. Drawing on decades of Navy leadership, teaching, fatherhood, and faith, we unpack why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in a world of constant comparison, instant judgment, and phones that never sleep.

We break down a simple playbook you can use under pressure: name the emotion with honesty, create a pause through prayer or reflection, and move through What happened, So what it changes, and Now what you’ll do. Then we add the Navy’s Plan, Brief, Execute, Debrief loop to turn hard moments into learning cycles you can repeat. Along the way, we tackle the difference between grief and pity, how to set a time limit on self-pity, and how to build inner reasons that keep you moving when the cheering stops. Expect practical stories, tough-love encouragement, and tools you can try the same day.

We also get real about boundaries and trust, especially around phones and social media. Clear expectations reduce drama; unclear ones multiply it. Support lands better when we listen first, ask better questions, and offer advice by permission. The goal isn’t to feel less—it’s to feel wisely, act with courage, and protect your future from impulsive choices. If you’ve been looking for a grounded, faith-forward approach to emotional intelligence, perseverance, and better conversations at home, school, and work, this one’s for you.

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The best leaders don’t start with perfect test scores or spotless plans—they start with a clear why. Gary sits down with Chelsea James, a first-generation student at Florida State, to unpack how a COVID-era freshman became a campus leader anchored by discipline, mentoring, and relentless self-advocacy. She shares the real tools that moved the needle: a paper planner, firm boundaries, and the willingness to ask for help early and often.

Chelsea takes us inside JROTC’s impact on her leadership voice, from learning to command a field to navigating high school transitions with grit. We follow her into FSU’s CARE Summer Bridge, where community and structure smoothed the leap to college-level workload. From dorm dynamics and scooter thefts to presidents list wins and e-board funding victories, her stories show how persistence beats the initial no—especially when you prepare, document, and communicate.

We dig into academics without the fluff: turning an F from a misgrade into an A trajectory, leveraging AP writing for discussion boards, and choosing mastery over busywork. Chelsea’s roadmap includes teaching, certifications, and a long-term aim of superintendent—plus a parallel interest in educational law to advocate for teachers and students. She’s leveling up perspective through study abroad in London and an internship in South Africa, chasing lived context that textbooks can’t offer.

If you’re a student, parent, or educator seeking practical advice on planning, setting boundaries, and leading yourself, this conversation delivers a usable playbook. Bring your goals, your questions, and your courage to start now—not later. Do it for you.

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The difference between a fragile follower and a future leader often comes down to one habit: perseverance built on safe, real-world reps. We dig into how parents, mentors, and teens can trade helicopter control for a clear framework that creates strength, not dependence. From setting boundaries around effort and rest to knowing when to step in and when to let natural consequences teach, this conversation is a practical guide to raising resilient people who plan ahead, communicate early, and own the outcome.

We start with the pressures today’s teens and adults face—always-on feedback, social scrutiny, and the fear of public failure—and then map out tools that actually help. You’ll hear why perseverance beats simple resilience, how to use a “safe to fail” check before intervening, and what micromanage-then-release looks like when skills are new. We share real stories from the NJROTC classroom and field: tough workouts that build confidence, uniform days that sharpen standards, and debriefs that turn bad grades into better habits. Along the way, we tackle device accountability, the role of faith and purpose, and the courage it takes to ask for help before the deadline hits.

By the end, you’ll have a straightforward loop to use at home, school, or work: plan, communicate, execute, debrief, adjust. Validate emotions but refuse to be led by them. Create space for kids to try, stumble, and try again while signaling exactly when leaders must step in for safety, bullying, or irreversible consequences. If you’re a parent ready to step back or a young person ready to step up, this playbook shows how to build the muscle of perseverance—one honest rep at a time.

If this resonated, subscribe, share it with someone who needs the nudge, and leave a review with the one habit you’ll put into practice this week.

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