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Chasing Common Ground: Lifestyle Conversations with Chris LiddleThe Lifestyle Chase is a Podcast featuring people who have found ways to be high performers while taking care of their family, friends and their wellness. Author: Chris Liddle
Formerly known as "The Lifestyle Chase", Chasing Common Ground is a purpose-driven podcast that doesn't fit into one box or category. The mission is to help listeners find common ground with a variety of guests and solo topics and progress in life year over year rather than simply staying the same. chrisliddle.substack.com Language: en Genres: Education, Self-Improvement, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why High Performers Burn Out (And How To Fix It) | George Pagan III
Thursday, 2 April, 2026
Most coaches don’t burn out because they’re lazy.They burn out because they care too much — and they never learned where to draw the line.In this conversation, I sit down with George Pagan III to talk about what it actually looks like to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process.George describes it as a tug of war between two versions of the same person — the ambitious coach and the guy who just wants to hang out with friends, make time for his wife Nikki, and paint something that has nothing to do with work.We get into:→ How journaling keeps him grounded (without overthinking it)→ Why he’s building a hybrid coaching model — and refuses to become “just a business manager of coaching”→ What clients actually value (and why your fancy programming isn’t it)→ Why going to conferences alone is the whole point→ A handwritten note he left me at Real Coaches Summit that I still keep in my closet→ His closing advice: challenge what you think your limits are — they’re set way too lowThis episode is for anyone who’s trying to build something — while still trying to live a life that feels like their own.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 — Intro: why most people don’t change1:00 — Reconnecting after years and how fast life moves2:00 — George opens his own facility (2023) and major career milestones3:00 — Time slipping away and making space for life outside work4:00 — “It’s like playing tug of war with two versions of the same person”5:00 — Goal setting and journaling to stay on the path6:00 — Why journaling works when you drop the pressure to be perfect7:00 — Using a journal to slow down vs. staying productive8:00 — Taking emotion out of decisions and thinking in terms of capacity9:00 — Running a training business and Fitletes simultaneously10:00 — Separating main hustle from side hustle to dose your energy11:00 — Curbing ambition for speed and making room for patience14:00 — Sharing goals publicly and enrolling people in your vision15:00 — George’s hybrid coaching model: local training + online programming16:00 — “I like coaching. I don’t wanna just be this business manager of coaching.”17:00 — What clients actually talk about vs. what coaches think matters18:00 — People need people — even in fitness19:00 — Group vs. 1-on-1 coaching and how service models evolve20:00 — Growing beyond yourself: when your client base fills a bigger room21:00 — George attends a neuroscience conference and meets Dr. Katie Debrowski22:00 — Healthspan and lifespan: coaching with a 20-30 year lens24:00 — Why coaches get stuck: absence of inter-industry connection25:00 — Competition mindset at conferences vs. collaboration mindset26:00 — Learning from the person next to you, not just the presenter27:00 — The energetic shift of in-person vs. online education28:00 — The handwritten note: George’s letter to Chris at Real Coaches Summit30:00 — Small anchors that keep people in the industry long-term31:00 — Why Real Coaches Summit specifically: cost, access, and community32:00 — Removing friction: flights, accommodations, and international reach34:00 — The real value of in-person events: it’s all people-related35:00 — George on living in your own bubble and finding blind spots36:00 — Being helpful as a form of growth, not just networking37:00 — “I’m still just this goofball who’s 14 on the inside and almost 40 on the outside”40:00 — Going to events solo: George usually travels alone to conferences41:00 — Nobody is judging you the way you think they are42:00 — “I don’t know anyone” — that’s the whole point of going44:00 — The only difference between knowing a lot of people and not: showing up45:00 — Rising tides lift all ships: why sharing knowledge helps everyone47:00 — George’s personal goal: making more time for art and creativity48:00 — Blending art with work: digital designs, paintings for the gym49:00 — Chris’s Don Cino character and the creative side of coaching51:00 — Painting, Lego, music — meditative practices that help you think53:00 — George’s closing advice: “Challenge what you think your limits are”54:00 — Applying that advice to the area of your life with the biggest deficit👤 Connect with George Pagan III🌐 https://fitletes.com/social/📸 https://www.instagram.com/fitletenation/🔗 Work With Me / Explore More🎙 Podcast: https://podcast.invigoratetraining.com💪 Training: https://invigoratetraining.com🎥 Media Consulting: https://christianliddle.com🧠 Podcast Course: https://portal.christianliddle.com/courses/offers/8151e768-82e3-4800-aa7b-0f718de40144🛍 Store: https://store.invigoratetraining.com Get full access to Insight by Chris Liddle at chrisliddle.substack.com/subscribe
