017: Ike Ubasineke
A better way Grow or Die
Welcome to 100 Atlanta Coffees, where I highlight Atlantans taking the adventurous route to making a better way in our city.
In this inaugural interview-style podcast, I sit down with Ike Ubasineke, founder of Grow or Die, to explore the counter-cultural practice of taking a long-term approach to vitality, flourishing, and growth.
Ike shares his insights on cultivating healthy habits, finding purpose in the private sector, and navigating leadership development in a community of like-minded individuals.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts:
Ike’s Bio:
Ike began his career in the ministry before transitioning to the private sector where he found a calling through ‘missional entrepreneurship.’
Ike transitioned from his first job to become a full-time leadership development coach. He’s worked 1:1 with clients, served companies across their executive teams, and also created the ‘Reflect Daily’ journal series to help people cultivate healthy habits of reflection & prioritization.
He currently leads Grow or Die, a club focused on helping leaders achieve sustainable growth in a community of like-minded people. Iron sharpens Iron. The Grow or Die experience includes a gamified set of challenges that enable members to set goals, develop winning habits to achieve those foals, and celebrate milestones along the way.
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What you’ll learn from the conversation with Ike:
The power of a keystone habit - what’s yours?
Ike focuses on reflection and prioritization as key habits for growth.
Still, he encourages us to find what works best for us rather than following a prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to development.
The role of a coach in a leadership development journey
Ike shared the role of a coach or mentor in helping us process our reflections and translating learnings into actionable takeaways.
He shared the first steps he would take if trying to get started with a coach for the first time - get clear on your ‘why,’ and seek our friends/colleagues who have worked with a coach to understand the range of options that are out there.
The importance of celebrating progress
We’re reading this in Q2; how many of us took time to celebrate milestones, wins, and incremental progress made in Q1?
Ike believes we’re missing a crucial component of the growth cycle when we don’t internalize the progress we’re making. It robs us of fuel to keep pursuing our longer-term goals.
Navigating a mission-oriented role in the private sector
Ike finds great purpose through his work. He’s a devout Christian, but doesn’t discuss faith openly in his coaching practice unless he’s asked explicitly by clients.
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Questions for reflection as we seek the better way:
Do you have a foundational habit that’s crucial to enabling your growth and development? If so, what is it? If not, what habit might serve you well?
Think back on Q1 - what were some incremental wins and milestones you could celebrate?
Listen to the full episode:
I will never forget you standing in the Seattle airport parking lot surrounded by a circle of (pretty angry) Uber drivers holding curiosity about their experience and meeting them where they were.
Thanks for the inspiration and the reflection
Not a habit, but a quality: curiosity.
Maybe it started as a quality and was fostered to be a habit? I have fed my curiosity my whole life. I allow open doors to tempt me. I ask questions, seek answers, and love to be surprised. I believe that this curiosity creates discomfort and discomfort creates growth.
I have said yes to opportunities that were not part of a plan that shifted my life for the better, moving to Seattle without an idea of what would happen next was one of those curiosities that paid off. 😜 I was curious about Yoga and did Yoga Teacher Training, that has paid back for me personally and I am excited to see how else it moves me forward.