In this paradigm-shifting conversation, Jason Rigby interviews Max Stephens—renowned personal development coach to CEOs, Hollywood elites, and pro athletes. Together, they dismantle the illusion of success as a goal and reveal a radical new model for leadership development based on purpose, not performance.
If you’re an executive, founder, or high performer feeling stuck, this episode delivers the truth bomb you didn’t know you needed: your success isn’t the problem—your strategy is.
“You’re not chasing success. You’re chasing completeness—and they’re not the same.” – Max Stephens
🧠 About Max Stephens
Max Stephens is a globally recognized executive coach and author with over a decade transforming the psychology of high-achieving leaders. From venture-backed founders to top athletes, Max helps elite performers trade toxic ambition for authentic contribution.
Expertise Areas:
Executive coaching & performance psychology
Trauma-informed leadership
Purpose-driven transformation
Authority Markers:
Author: What the Fck Do You Really Want?*
Speaker: Leadership forums, CEO roundtables
10+ years coaching C-suite executives and creatives
📚 Visit Max’s site for 100+ leadership articles
⏱ Key Topics Covered
1. Why Success Leaves Leaders Empty (00:01)
Challenge: Achievements don’t fill the inner void
Framework: Axioms & assumptions
Action: Ask “Why do I want this?”—not “What do I want?”
2. The Hidden Cost of Ambition (03:30)
Childhood trauma fuels success
“Fake fuel” creates burnout
External goals ≠ internal peace
3. Tribal Contribution > Individual Achievement (08:00)
Insight: We’re wired to contribute, not consume
Fix: Identify your gifts and use them to serve others
4. The “I Do It for My Family” Lie (13:00)
Call your loved ones—they want your time, not your money
You’re performing an outdated provider script
5. Forgiveness: The Leadership Superpower (15:00)
Unhealed pain = puppet strings
Max’s transformation began with forgiving his dad
Framework: Heal → Decide → Lead
6. Max’s Purpose Framework (24:00)
Forgiveness
Mortality awareness
Radical honesty
📊 Leadership Framework: Contribution Alignment Model
What It Solves: Disconnection, burnout, purpose drift
Steps:
What breaks your heart? (empathy)
What are your gifts? (self-awareness)
Who can you serve? (impact)
Use Case: For founders, execs, and coaches rebuilding meaningful purpose
Time Investment: 4–6 weeks
Outcomes: Motivation, clarity, joy from contribution
✅ Takeaways for Leaders
This Week
Ask a spouse or child: “What do you really want from me?”
Identify your false motivation (“I need $X to feel safe”)
In 30 Days
Start a daily forgiveness journal
Revisit unprocessed wounds (with a therapist or coach)
In 90 Days
Redesign your career around service and contribution
Apply the Contribution Alignment Model in leadership decisions
🔍 Questions This Episode Answers
How do I become a better leader without burning out?
What’s the real reason leaders self-sabotage?
How can I stop chasing goals that don’t fulfill me?
Why do most executive coaches fail to create lasting change?
What’s the link between forgiveness and leadership effectiveness?
🔗 Resources
📘 What the Fck Do You Really Want?* by Max Stephens
🌐 maxstephenscoaching.com – 100+ leadership psychology articles
📞 Free Strategy Call with Max https://maxstephenscoaching.com/life-coaching/
🧭 Final Thoughts
This episode is a wake-up call for any leader stuck in the cycle of more. Max Stephens reveals that leadership excellence starts with internal alignment, not external accolades. You’ll leave with a renewed compass for purpose, fulfillment, and legacy-building.
🎧 Subscribe to The Self Aware Leader for more no-BS conversations on emotional intelligence, executive coaching, and how to lead from within.
👇 Share in the comments: What illusion are YOU chasing?
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