Episode Details
December 24, 2024
30 minutes
- The Struggle to Slow Down – Doug and Jeremy discuss their busy schedules and how the daily hustle makes it challenging to practice gratitude.
- The Power of Appreciation – Why taking time to appreciate others, even in digital communication, can strengthen relationships.
- Defining Contentment – Doug shares his perspective on contentment and how road trips help him reflect and appreciate life.
- Work-Life Balance Challenges – Jeremy opens up about how his relentless drive created tension in his family life.
- Successful Contentment – Jeremy introduces his idea of recognizing achievements while still maintaining gratitude.
- Giving Without Expecting – Lessons from Doug’s father on generosity and leaving a positive legacy.
Featured Quotes
"I was so focused on the next achievement that I didn’t realize I was creating distance with the people who mattered most."
Jeremy Axel
"Contentment is about having the time to truly appreciate what you have sometimes, a simple road trip is all it takes."
Doug Cox
Episode Transcript And Overview
Being content can be difficult when you are constantly taking on new projects. In this episode of Never in Reverse, Doug Cox and Jeremy Axel discuss gratitude and contentment. Listen to their journeys towards more consistent gratitude and contentment and learn how to build these practices into your own life.
Beginning by discussing gratitude, Jeremy and Doug explain that they were not always the best at remembering to show appreciation. In their work and in their families, they have both learned to express gratitude consistently and sincerely. Similarly, finding contentment did not come naturally to Jeremy and Doug. Both had busy childhoods and had to work hard for everything that they have, and because of this they feel that they have to keep moving. Doug explains that contentment is all about slowing down to appreciate the things that you have – whether it is going on a road trip, spending time with your family, or just giving yourself a quick break.
Timeline Notes
Jeremy and Doug talk about their busy weeks ahead. The hustle and bustle of their day-to-day lives makes it difficult to slow down and practice gratitude.
Showing appreciation is important, even if it is sometimes lost in digital formats. Slowing down to appreciate the people around you can make a significant difference in your relationships.
It is also important to slow down and take ownership and accountability instead of just moving on to the next thing.
What is contentment? Doug says that it is about having time to appreciate the things you have – he takes time for this on road trips.
Jeremy had trouble slowing down to find real contentment. He found that his constant work ethic and drive caused tension and disconnect in his family.
Jeremy strives for something he calls “successful contentment.” This has to do with taking time to recognize your achievements and appreciate the work that contributed to them.
Jeremy is learning how to give unconditionally instead of expecting reciprocity. Doug’s father used to challenge him to name good things that he did for others, and Doug does the same with his kids.
Doug knows that one day he will need help from his loved ones. When he reaches that point, he does not want the people around him to think he never did anything for them.
Sometimes Jeremy is too busy to express his gratitude. He is working to find time to express gratitude sincerely and give credit to his teammates.
Notable Guests
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
A best-selling author, national speaker, and serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience in mortgage banking.
Over the years, Bill has worked closely with hundreds of high-net-worth individuals, helping them strategically grow wealth as a Fund Manager for more than 13 years.
He’s also a trusted voice in the industry, serving on the Government Relations Committee of the American Association of Private Lenders.
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
I'm the founder of StaffHero, where we help growing businesses scale without the chaos connecting them with skilled remote assistants and automation systems that save time and cut costs.Before this, I spent over ten years in healthcare and business development, constantly spotting the same problem: amazing teams burning out under the weight of busywork. That’s what pushed me to build StaffHero.
Now, I focus on helping business owners get their time back and build systems that let them grow with freedom and focus.
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover is No B.S. Executive Coach, whose mission is to Challenge the Best to Become Better.
He is also:
• An Ex- White-Collar Felon.
• A “Recovering” Federal Trial Lawyer.
• A Subject Mater Expert on failing and recovery.
• Who is a TEDx speaker, Vintage Speaker, Forbes contributor, and an author whose book, WorkQuake™, is endorsed by Marshall Goldsmith, a Top 10 Business Thinker.
• An Executive Coach With 30 years of experience who advises and coaches executives in organizations with up to $1 billion in annual revenue.
• A Starbucks addict, and
• A Chicago Bears fanatic.
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit is the Founder of Business Success Consulting Group and the host of the Systems Simplified podcast. With nearly three decades of experience as an industrial engineer and process consultant, she has helped hundreds of growth-focused companies systematize their operations to scale successfully.
Known as “The Process Guru,” Adi specializes in designing and implementing turnkey systems that reduce dependence on the owner, empower teams, and increase profitability. Her clients range from fast-growing trades businesses to multi-location professional service firms, and she is a trusted advisor to CEOs across the U.S.
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe is a pioneer in divorce mediation who has been helping couples navigate the end of their marriages with dignity and financial wisdom for over 17 years. As co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, Joe combines his MBA in Finance with specialized training from Harvard, MIT, and Northwestern University to guide couples toward agreements that protect both their emotional wellbeing and financial futures.
Joe pioneered virtual divorce mediation in 2011, nearly a decade before others adopted online practices during the pandemic. His results speak for themselves: Equitable Mediation Services maintains a 98% case resolution rate, significantly higher than the industry average of 70%.
