My son Bo returned last week from two years of missionary service in northwest Washington State. As you might imagine we were thrilled to see him for the first time in two years. Bo is a character. He loves people, he loves to joke... Here I have a candid conversation with him about his service and about his future. I made this for recording so we might always remember this moment. 

If you like this, I also interviewed him 2 days before he left for his mission. You can listen here 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bos-childhood-exit-interview/id1450351797?i=1000571625946

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XNj88GbnJ1UsWgg33cYVD?si=ldQ-VMxJT5upbdkJa3eI2Q

Payton Van is a freshman defensive back at Brigham Young University. This interview caught him just before the official practices began. Payton was in full training mode... running, lifting, and studying. But the part I wanted to focus on was his mental and emotional preparation. Payton shares his methods for acheiving clarity. He emphasizes that intense preparation helps him feel "peace" in high pressure situation. 

We focused on football for most of the interview and then at the very end, Payton disusses his approach to life outside of football... and it puts everything back in perspective. 

Enjoy! 

Welcome to another episode of "Thought Design." Today, we are honored to have Dr. Dennis Deaton as our guest. Dr. Deaton is a distinguished thought leader in the realm of personal development and mindset transformation. With over three decades of experience, he has dedicated his life to helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential through the power of intentional thinking.

Dr. Deaton co-founded Quma Learning Systems, where he developed groundbreaking programs on mind management and personal leadership. His innovative approach has been instrumental in shaping the lives of thousands, guiding them toward greater productivity, resilience, and overall well-being. As an author, his acclaimed works, including "Ownership Spirit: The One Grand Key that Changes Everything Else," have resonated deeply with readers, offering practical insights into mastering one's mindset.

In addition to his written contributions, Dr. Deaton is a sought-after speaker, captivating audiences with his profound wisdom and engaging delivery. His expertise spans various fields, from corporate training to educational seminars, making a significant impact across diverse platforms.

Join us as we delve into Dr. Deaton's remarkable journey, exploring his philosophies and uncovering valuable strategies to enhance our thinking and transform our lives. In this episode, we'll pay special attention to his most recent book, "Looking Unto Christ in Every Thought," and discuss its profound insights. You can find more about Dr. Deaton and his work at www.quma.net. Welcome, Dr. Dennis Deaton, to "Thought Design."

Full song included here! I challenged chat gpt and Suno to make a rap out of Eric Sogards message on my podcast!!! It smashed. Stream it here... I guess. 

Eric Sogard played at the highest level of Major League Baseball for twelve years. In that time his batting average was .246. For perspective, that is right around the league average. 

Throughout his career Eric was focussed on mindset He says, "baseball is a game of failure." Because a player only succeeds 3 out of 10 at bats, it takes perspective and discipline keep getting back up and performing. 

Eric talks about the evolution of his mindset from the the time he was young, through college at Arizona State University, and into the Major Leagues. 

On a tacticle level, Eric spends a while talking about the positive effects of breathwork on his performance at the plate. 

Eric is retired from MLB. He, his wife Kaycee, and their 5 kids live on a ranch in middle Tennessee. 

Enjoy. 

Dr. Dale Hull was an OBGYN in the middle of a successful career when he failed to complete a backflip on his backyard trampoline 

this resulted in neck-down paralysis and a four month hospital stay 

during this time, he was fortunate to have a significant amount of neurological recovery 

however, despite this progress he still had very little functional ability, remained wheelchair-dependent, and needed assistance for almost all activities 

Spoiler alert... He learned to walk again. 

In the process, he and his business partner, therapist Jan Black, pushed the known boundaries of neuroplasticity

and founded Neuroworx, a 501C3 providing specialized physical therapy for individuals with spinal cord injuries 

charitable donors make it possible for paralyzed adults and children to receive the prolonged care that insurers refuse 

In this episode Dr. Hull talks about dealing with the mental and spiritual paralysis that 

must be overcome if someone is to experience physical progress

Dale's thought process was pragmatic, patient, and effective 

"what's the next step?" and "I'm willing to work hard" 

Today Neuroworx and Dr. Hull effect thousands of lives including injured individuals and everyone involved in their lives 

https://neuroworx.org/

The only thing we can control is the thought in our head right now. 

Really it's the only thing. 

So will you be intentionally about it? 

Or will you let the other voices in your head run your life? 

Thought Design is the deliberate choosing of your thoughts based on experience, research, and instinct. 

If your thoughts really do determine your destiny, shouldn't you be a little interested in them? 

Yes. 

On Thought Design with Mark Mabry, we'll speak with high acheivers about their thought processes. We'll hear their dominant thoughts. 

And you'll be inspired to choose thoughts of your own. 

This is Thought Design with Mark Mabry. 

Thank you 

Before my kids leave home, I sit them down for an exit interview. What did we do right? What did we do wrong? Regrets? Things we're proud of. What do you think about your brothers and sister? 

Bo is a beautiful kid and the last 18 years have been absolutely wild. Something new every day. 

Next week he'll get on a plane and fly across the country to be a missionary in the Everett Washington area. We won't see him for 2 years. It's heart wrenching, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I love you Bo. 

Have you ever had a "rough patch" in your marriage? For me, the functionality of my marriage is directly proportional to my ability to function anywhere else. When I'm sideways with my wife, my mind is preoccupied by it, and I cannot achieve joy or peace. No joy, no peace, if that's not hell, then I'm not sure what is.

In my opinion, a person CANNOT compartmentalize their marriage and separate it out from the rest of their life. That type of commitment is too close to our soul. Too sacred. 

I invited renowned Marriage and Family therapist, Janay McInnes to help me explore how we can life our marriage out of Hell and into Heaven... today. We talk about Sex, Safety, How to stop a fight, and how to basically change the culture of your marriage. 

Enjoy! 

Mark

I'm afraid of stagnation... especially in my relationships... more especially in my relationship with my wife. Nothing scares me more than a situation where we find that the spark is so gone that neither one of us has the energy to reignite it. So I'm preemptively giving myself self-improvement projects that pertain to her. If you're wondering, "what does this have to do with Jesus?" In my opinion, how we love our spouse is the first way that "by this shall men know, ye are my disciples." I believe in marriage into eternity. And even there, I never want it to get stale. So I surprised Tara with an interview. Really, she had no clue this was coming. Enjoy! Mark

How can we build unity with someone who isn't aware that a relationship even exists yet? 

First, we need to understand that a "Relation" is the basic unity of unit. 

As soon as you're aware of someone, you have formed a relation. 

Your choice to love someone, or hate someone, is YOUR CHOICE. Their choice of how they respond is their business. You can't control whether they love you or not. Hopefully they respond to how you are, but it's not a guarantee. 

This is Essentials of Unity lesson 1. 

thank you, 

mark