Misfit Entrepreneur February 2025 - 443: From Top Gun to Top Leader, How Radical Accountability Builds High-Performing Teams with Dave Rosenberg

Subscribe and Listen Today!

Inspiring and Actionable Content Weekly from Misfit Entpreneurs

Subscribe on Itunes

Subscribe on Stitcher

Subscribe on RSS

Dave Lukas Chats JJ Harling

446: The Stride Philosophy, How Small Actions Create Big Success & Unlock High Performance with JJ Harling

This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Josiah "JJ" Hartling. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the mindset and strategy behind sustained high performance, JJ is the guy to learn from. He is the author of Stride and the founder of Compel Global, where he helps leaders and organizations harness their full potential through intentional action and discipline.

But what really caught my attention is JJ’s philosophy on the power of relentless momentum. In Stride, he talks about how small, consistent actions—taken daily—are what separate the extraordinary from the average. He shares how elite performers don’t just wait for inspiration; they create it through habits and systems that keep them moving forward, no matter the obstacles. As he puts it, “Success isn’t about speed—it’s about stride. The right rhythm, maintained over time, beats raw talent every time.”

That quote alone got me fired up to have him on the show.

www.JosiahHarling.com

Don't Miss Even More Resources to Help You Each Week. Click Here and Subscribe to the Misfit Minute!

Show Notes

JJ's journey has been centered around purpose, impact, and leadership. Living in Colorado Springs with his wife and two sons, he has spent the last two decades working in the nonprofit sector, guiding organizations in their growth while helping individuals discover and embrace their calling. His expertise lies in executive coaching and leadership consulting, with a focus on creating meaningful change. Holding a master's degree in organizational leadership, JJ has dedicated his career to helping others break through limitations and align their work with their deepest sense of purpose. His book Stride captures the essence of his coaching philosophy, emphasizing how small, consistent actions over time create lasting success.

What is the Stride philosophy, and how does it work?

Stride is based on the idea that success isn’t about speed but about maintaining the right rhythm over time.
It originates from a personal jogging experience where JJ discovered that finding the right pace eliminated pain and friction.
The Stride framework consists of six core components:
- Story – Understanding how your past experiences shape your future.
- Triggers – Identifying emotional catalysts that drive you.
- Release – Letting go of limiting beliefs, fear, and past burdens.
- Identity – Recognizing your unique strengths and talents.
- Direction – Taking actionable steps even with limited clarity.
- Endurance – Embracing the long game and sustaining progress.

How does someone discover their true purpose and why?

It starts with self-reflection and looking at one’s story—the defining moments, hardships, and lessons learned.
Your past struggles often shape your values, perspectives, and resilience.
Entrepreneurs frequently question their identity and purpose.
Writing down and analyzing one’s experiences provides factual clarity instead of relying on emotions or self-doubt.
Your “why” isn’t a grand mystery—it’s often hidden in the challenges you’ve overcome and the values they instilled in you.

What role does release play in personal growth?

Many people carry emotional baggage—anger, fear, shame—that limits their ability to move forward.
Forgiveness (both of others and oneself) is crucial to unlocking potential.
Evan Money’s concept of "Return on Forgiveness" (ROF)—the immense freedom gained when you let go of past pain.
Releasing these burdens creates clarity and energy for forward momentum.

What common patterns exist among those who excel at the highest levels?

Resilience and Hardiness – The ability to navigate setbacks without breaking.
Adaptability – Willingness to pivot and adjust to changing circumstances.
Emotional Engagement – They don’t just follow logic; they pursue something deeply meaningful.
Long-Term Thinking – The best performers know success isn’t overnight; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Have you ever felt like you lost your stride? How did you regain it?

JJ shares how his nonprofit had to pivot after three years due to a business model that didn’t create enough buy-in from clients.
They had to completely restructure their pricing model and strategy, resulting in losing some clients but gaining many more.
His mindset: Everything is an experiment. If something doesn’t work, you iterate, adapt, and keep going.

What is your leadership philosophy, and how does it differ from traditional approaches?

JJ admits that one of his biggest challenges was learning to delegate not just tasks, but vision and problem-solving.
The ability to let go and trust the team is critical for scaling an organization.
He learned that great leadership creates a multiplier effect—empowering team members leads to exponential growth.
The best organizations prioritize people over bureaucracy.

What’s the first step for someone who feels stuck?

Seek a coach or mentor – Whether paid or informal, having an outside voice helps break through mental barriers.
Articulating, "I'm stuck, I need help, and I want to commit to progress" is a powerful first step.
Take small, intentional actions—momentum builds confidence and clarity.

Best Quote

Success isn’t about speed. It’s about stride—the right rhythm maintained over time. It beats raw talent every time.

Be curious. Approach life as an explorer, not just a merchant trying to sell an idea. Stay open-minded and seek to understand.

Be purposeful. You are on this planet for a reason. Even if you haven’t fully uncovered it, commit to discovering and living with purpose.

Be hopeful. Choose hope over cynicism. Perspective shapes reality, and a hopeful mindset changes how you experience life.

Show Sponsors

Misfit Entrepreneurs!

I want to tell you about an incredible resource that will have tremendous impact on your business and your revenue. I have used this solution in multiple businesses and it has made an incredible difference! Let me start by asking you something. “Do you know how much it costs your business when just one salesperson doesn’t step up to deliver? Do you really know?” The cost can easily exceed six figures for just one bad hire – not just from the time, effort, and resources in hiring, but from the lost business and downtime as well. And the last thing any growing business can afford is to have a failed hire, especially in sales, the revenue driver for the company.

But, what if there was a way to know someone checked all the boxes of a great sales hunter and closer before you ever hired them? That’s the solution I’ve found from a company called SalesDrive. They have created a solution called DriveTest®. A powerful hiring tool that separates high-performance salespeople from pretenders by measuring the most critical personality trait needed for success in sales: Drive.

Drive is composed of three non-teachable traits shared by all top producers: Need for Achievement, Competitiveness, and Optimism. And knowing who has Drive before the interview dramatically increases your chances of selecting salespeople who will produce for you, while avoiding those costly bad hires. I’ve used the solution and it works. In fact, it works so well, I have referred them to every company I work with.

And they created a special offer so you can use them as well, for FREE. You can Get a free DriveTest® assessment today at www.MisfitEntrepreneur/SalesDrive

Misfits,

If you are looking for one of the best tools to help you focus and center yourself daily, the 5 Minute Journal is the best one out there.

This short 5-10 minute daily routine will help you in all aspects of your life and success.

It is one of the simplest and easiest ways I have found to consistently improve myself and my well-being as well as ensure better results and success.

Check it out and get your copy today!

Check it out at www.MisfitEntrepreneur.com/Journal