In this powerful conversation with coach and entrepreneur Peter Awad, Erik digs into what happens when high-achieving people drift through life without a clear why. Together, they explore the subtle decay that comes from comfort, the courage it takes to pursue voluntary discomfort, and why most people wait too long to ask the deeper questions. This isn’t a surface-level chat about purpose—it’s a raw, practical breakdown of what real transformation demands.

👤 About the Guest

Peter Awad is the founder of White Stone Coach, a coaching organization dedicated to helping leaders uncover their deeper purpose and align their actions with their true identity. A man of faith, grit, and clarity, Peter brings decades of entrepreneurial experience and a fierce commitment to growth through discomfort. His work is grounded, compassionate, and full of challenge—exactly the kind of presence you want when you’re ready to stop coasting and start becoming.

🧭 Conversation Highlights

• Why comfort is so dangerous for a competent leader
• The power of identifying your unconscious vs. conscious competencies
• Why discovering your superpowers isn’t about ego—it’s about stewardship
• How “cutting the ends off the ham” became a metaphor for unexamined life choices
• Why old dogs can learn new tricks (but only if they’re willing to suck first)

💡 Key Takeaways

• Coasting is not neutral—it’s decay in slow motion
• Your natural gifts don’t exempt you from the hard stuff
• Voluntary discomfort is the gateway to personal and spiritual evolution
• Self-awareness starts with noticing your “knee-jerk no”
• Growth requires doing things you’re bad at—on purpose

❓ Questions That Mattered

• What happens when someone is highly competent but disconnected from their purpose?
• Why does it take hardship for us to wake up to the life we actually want?
• How can leaders distinguish between inherited expectations and their true calling?
• What’s the role of discomfort in discovering your why?
• How do we discern when to stay in the fight versus pull the ripcord?

🗣️ Notable Quotes

• “It’s terrifying when people are just doing what they’ve always done. Is that your calling—or just your conditioning?” — Peter Awad
• “You don’t stumble into your next tier by coasting. Growth lives in friction.” — Peter Awad
• “We’re never better salespeople than when we’re convincing ourselves not to do something uncomfortable.” — Erik Berglund
• “Your vision has to be greater than your dissatisfaction.” — Peter Awad
• “Some things you’re avoiding are the exact doorway into your next level.” — Peter Awad

🔗 Links & Resources

• Learn more about Peter's work at White Stone Coach
• Text White Stone to 55444 to get Peter’s Free Resource!