17 Apr Forget the Grind: The Secret to Sustainable Success GUEST: Joe Byerly – Writer, Podcaster & Creator of “From the Green Notebook”
Today’s guest is Joe Byerly. He’s a rising voice in leadership and the founder of: “From the Green Notebook” — a podcast and blog that’s been inspiring leaders inside and outside the military for over a decade.
Joe spent 20+ years in the U.S. Army, earning prestigious honors like: the Legion of Merit, multiple Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award… all while leading teams in high-stakes environments.
But what sets Joe apart is his philosophy: leadership isn’t about grinding harder or always pushing to extremes.
Instead, Joe believes in AND teaches self-awareness, daily habits, and lifelong learning as the keys to real… sustainable growth.
In 2013, Joe started the “From the Green Notebook” as a blog about military-oriented leadership lessons… and he certainly wasn’t trying to be an “influencer.” He started it because he saw a need.
Well… it quickly became popular inside and outside military… attracting over two million visitors. Then… in 2020, Joe launched the “From the Green Notebook” podcast and it’s now in the top 1% of all podcasts.
Joe interviews top military and world leaders, bestselling authors, Super Bowl-winning athletes, and Grammy-nominated recording artists. You’ll want to check it out!
Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just getting started, Joe’s down-to-earth, actionable approach will inspire you to lead with empathy, resilience, and intention. Let’s dive in!
IN THIS EPISODE:
Whether you’re leading teams, navigating a transition, or just looking to grow personally and professionally, Joe’s practical insights on reading, writing, and reflection will inspire and equip you to lead with empathy, resilience, and intentionality.
In this episode, we cover:
- What the Green Notebook symbolizes — and why it matters so much for leaders
- Why Joe believes leadership starts with self-leadership
- The simple (but uncommon!) daily practices that fuel sustainable growth
- How to build a life (and career) around your purpose, not your title
- Joe’s tactical tips for reading 40+ books a year without burnout
- His daily journaling practice that boosts self-awareness and leadership performance
- How From the Green Notebook grew from a personal blog into a global leadership movement
RESOURCES & MORE ABOUT JOE:
- FromTheGreenNotebook.com — Joe’s blog and podcast
- Instagram: @fromthegreennotebook
- Podcast: From the Green Notebook — wherever you listen to podcasts: https://fromthegreennotebook.com/podcasts/
We Want to Hear From YOU!
What’s one small but powerful step you can take TODAY to take your leadership and life… to the next level? Write it down and make it happen!
Comment below and let us know what resonated most with you from this powerful convo!
If this episode spoke to you… PLEASE leave a review!
It encourages me and my guests AND it helps more Dream Think Doers find the show!
THANKS SO MUCH! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS:
Remember… you can now check out Mitch’s OTHER podcast called “ENCOURAGING THE ENCOURAGERS” anywhere you listen to podcasts.
It’s specifically designed for Coaches, Speakers and Content Creators and provides a quick dose of inspiration, strategy AND… of course… encouragement!
Find it on Apple Podcasts: Click here
Find it on Spotify: Click here
Find it on Anchor: Click here
Find it on Google: Click here
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 0:00 Introduction to Joe Byerly and the origin of From the Green Notebook.
- 2:00 Joe shares his military background and how journaling leadership lessons sparked a global movement.
- 5:00 The meaning behind the “green notebook” and why it became a tool for reflection and growth.
- 7:00 Joe talks about blogging not to teach, but to start conversations around leadership.
- 9:00 A life-defining exercise leads Joe to realize his purpose: helping others lead with the best version of themselves.
- 12:00 The challenge of untangling identity from titles—and how reflection helped Joe step away from the military.
- 13:00 Joe contrasts his leadership philosophy with louder military voices, emphasizing quiet growth.
- 14:00 The “Read, Write, Reflect” method explained—starting with Joe’s strategy for reading 40+ books a year.
- 18:00 Why Joe reads multiple books at once and rotates them for deeper learning and engagement.
- 22:00 The importance of retaining insights by actively highlighting and journaling key takeaways.
- 24:00 Joe breaks down his journaling practice, starting with simple metrics like sleep and steps.
- 26:00 Writing down daily decisions, accomplishments, and struggles to track patterns and personal growth.
- 29:00 Journaling builds resilience by showing how past struggles were overcome.
- 31:00 Joe explains how journaling helped him through counseling, self-awareness, and leadership challenges.
- 33:00 Introducing The Leader’s 90-Day Notebook—a journal format designed for busy leaders to build the habit.
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