In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I sit down with Lisa Nelsen, communication strategist, nonprofit leader, and founder of The Effort Gap for a conversation about what really bridges the space between knowing and doing.

Lisa’s journey through corporate marketing, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership led her to create The Effort Gap, a framework that helps people close the distance between awareness and action through clarity of mind, self-leadership, and human connection.

We explore:

• Why perfect clarity isn’t the goal—and how to move forward without it
  
• The Effort Gap: the space between knowing better and doing better
  
• How to reframe self-doubt so it pushes you instead of paralyzing you
  
• Why loneliness is rising (and what to do about it)
  
• How self-leadership helps agents, entrepreneurs, and anyone lead themselves through uncertainty
  

This conversation reminded me that real growth whether in real estate, business, or life doesn’t come from more information. It comes from learning to lead ourselves, connect deeply, and take mindful action in the moment.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:30 - The Effort Gap

05:32 - Defining Morality

08:30 - Steps to closing the gap

12:41 - Self-leadership

21:12 - Overwhelm & Bridging the gap

30:15 - Real estate is an emotional process

34:07 - Scripts vs Using your heart

37:52 - The golden mean

41:50 - You require connection

44:20 - Quick fire wisdom

46:33 - Outro

Links mentioned:

Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
• Lisa referred to it as her “Bible” for personal growth.
• Amazon link
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• Noted as a tough read, but she had gone through it.
• Amazon link
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday
• Explicitly recommended, along with his other works.
• Amazon link

The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
• Discussed as a guest recommendation, with Lisa actively reading it.
• Amazon link

Google Calendar
• Lisa described it as her go-to productivity tool, simple but reliable.
• Google Calendar

The Effort Gap (Concept)

• Defined as the space between insight and action—choosing intention over autopilot and depth over quick performance.
• effortgap.com/about/

Aristotle on Morality

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/moral-virtue

Lise Nelsen’s Socials:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/lisacoruzzi/?hl=en

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacoruzzi/

The Effort Gap

https://effortgap.com/about/

Let’s Connect!:

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindful-agent/id1782575763

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/coxengroup/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/michaelcoxen/

Website

https://www.coxengroup.com/ / https://magenta.realestate/ / https://www.joinmagenta.realestate/

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcoxen/