KPHRED Work - Life Balance Radio

Mary Farias & Mark A. Dulaney
Economy Creators

How many things do you already know you should be doing—but still aren't doing?

Mark Dulaney isn't interested in giving you more information.

He wants you to eliminate the excuses and execute.

In this episode of Economy Creators, Mary Reiss Farias sits down with Mark, author of Eliminating Excuses: Eliminate Your Excuses First, Then Model It for Those You Love and Lead, for an energetic conversation about decisions, discipline, self-imposed limitations, personal culture—and what it really takes to create the life you want.

At 65, Mark describes himself as “going on 23.”

Why?

Because when he looked back at his life, he recognized a striking difference. He had consistently applied discipline to his physical health—but hadn't applied those same principles to his career, finances and relationships.

Then came a major turning point.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 and going through treatment, Mark made a declaration in April 2025 that changed how he saw himself and his future.

It wasn't simply a decision made in the moment.

It was a committed decision about his future.

That distinction sits at the heart of this conversation.

Mary and Mark explore:

• Why motivation alone is fleeting
• Inspiration, desperation and the forces that move us to act
• The difference between deciding and committing
• Why immediate consequences often overpower long-term desires
• Moving beyond the comfort zone and fear of rejection
• Turning knowledge into bold, consistent and effective execution
• Applying discipline from one area of life to another
• How parents can unintentionally pass their limitations to their children
• Protecting and encouraging children's dreams
• Choosing your own future instead of inheriting someone else's
• How our environment helps shape our personal culture
• Why the people around us matter

They also uncover a fascinating example of the Economy Creators principle that every book needs a job.

While writing Eliminating Excuses, Mark didn't simply sit behind his computer and wait until publication to find an audience. He recruited people to participate in case studies around the ideas in the book—allowing him to test his concepts, create accountability, generate income and begin putting the book to work before it was even published.

Now he's taking the idea further with his next project, Your Personal Culture.

Mark's premise is simple but powerful: much of our “personal” culture wasn't personally chosen at all.

Our thoughts, choices, actions, words and questions are influenced by our parents, experiences and the people around us.

But we can choose differently.

As Mark puts it, the goal is to decide your own future—and intentionally create the culture capable of producing it.

His final challenge?

Stop spending so much time thinking about what you could do.

Go do it.

🎙️ CONNECT WITH MARK DULANEY

Website: EliminateExcuses.com
Book: Eliminating Excuses
Book website: EliminatingExcuses.me
LinkedIn: Mark Dulaney

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Continue Your Economy Creators Journey on Substack: https://economycreators.substack.com/

Join the Economy Creators Workshop

Discover where you are in your journey to Lead Yourself → Lead Your Economy → Lead Others, and identify your next steps toward building a YOU-shaped economy.

https://www.magnetminddevelopment.com/economy

Download The Economy Creators Framework

Learn how to build an economy around your unique interests, talents, experiences, and purpose.

https://www.economycreators.live/ec-framework-ebook

Take the Economy Creators Diagnostic Quiz

Identify the opportunities, strengths, and gaps in your personal economy.

https://www.economycreators.live/quiz

About Economy Creators™

Economy Creators™ is a podcast and radio show featuring entrepreneurs, authors, coaches, leaders, and visionaries who are building lives and businesses around who they are—not just what they do.

Because when you sto

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It’s a practical, engaging conversation about leadership, judgment, strategy, and staying grounded while moving forward.

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Together, they explore the profound impacts of separation from birth mothers, the complexities of attachment, and the often-unseen scars that linger in our bodies. You'll discover how adoption is not merely a legal process but a deeply emotional experience that can leave lasting effects on an individual's psyche.

Julie shares her insights on critical topics, including:
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This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in the adoption journey—whether you're an adoptee, adoptive parent, or simply curious about the nuances of identity and belonging. Failing to address these issues can lead to a lifetime of unanswered questions and emotional distress.

Join us for an enlightening conversation that not only sheds light on the challenges faced by adoptees but also provides hope and healing. Tune in to understand why knowing your story matters, and how it can transform lives. Perfect for anyone looking to foster understanding and compassion in the adoption community.

Jim Pehkonen, Dr. Natan Verkhovsky
Out On the Skinny Branches
In this episode of Out on the Skinny Branches, Jim Pehkonen sits down with Dr. Natan Verkhovsky to explore the power of men’s groups and what can happen when men have a place to show up without titles, judgment, or the need to perform. They talk about brotherhood, vulnerability, accountability, and the value of being surrounded by men who are willing to listen, ask meaningful questions, and support one another through both challenges and growth.

The conversation dives into what makes groups like The Freedom Forge different: men are not there because something is necessarily “wrong,” but because they want to keep growing. Jim and Natan discuss the value of reflection, perspective, and allowing the right question to stay with you long enough for your own answer to emerge. It is a conversation about connection, progress, accountability, and the surprising weight that can lift when a man realizes he does not have to carry everything alone.

To join the Freedom Forge:
A men's group on Thursday evening.
7:50 pm ET, 6:50 pm CT, 5:50 MT, 4:50 PT

Google form to register:
https://forms.gle/2d5ntUp7t3GkKYZk6

Jim Pehkonen
Out On the Skinny Branches
In this episode of Out on the Skinny Branches, Jim Pehkonen sits down with Curtis, the founder of a long-running men’s group in Park City, Utah, to explore what really happens when men gather in a confidential, judgment-free circle. Curtis shares how the group began, why healthy masculine connection matters, and how practices like listening, breathwork, meditation, and honest conversation can create a space where men feel safe enough to speak about relationships, work, childhood wounds, and the things they may have carried silently for years.

Jim and Curtis dive into the deeper value of brotherhood: being heard without being fixed, receiving thoughtful questions instead of unsolicited advice, and experiencing the relief that can come from finally bringing difficult things into the light. They also talk about confidentiality, vulnerability, accountability, and the unexpected gift of simply learning to listen better. For any man who has wondered what a men’s group is really like, this conversation offers a grounded look at why sitting in circle with other men can become such a powerful part of healing, growth, and connection.

Would you like to join an online mens group:
Freedom Forge … a men's group on Thursday evening.
7:50 pm ET, 6:50 pm CT, 5:50 MT, 4:50 PT

Google form to register:
https://forms.gle/2d5ntUp7t3GkKYZk6