Podcast Summary: Becker Business
Episode: Coach by Day and Coach by Night with Chris Papin of Papin Speaks
Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Chris Papin – Attorney, CPA, Professional Speaker, Author (“168 Hours”), Coach
Episode Overview
In this engaging episode, Scott Becker welcomes Chris Papin, a multifaceted professional who operates at the intersection of law, business, coaching, and public speaking. Together, they explore the keys to effective leadership, how to clarify objectives in both life and work, strategies for mastering time management, and the habits that set high performers apart. Chris shares actionable insights from his experience advising small businesses, drawing from his book “168 Hours,” and provides analogies and frameworks for optimizing performance under pressure.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Chris Papin's Background & Philosophy (00:00–03:58)
- Chris introduces his background as an attorney and CPA with a focus on supporting small businesses through advisory and coaching, not just compliance.
- Growing up in an entrepreneurial family informed his approach to aligning client objectives with actionable discipline.
- Integrated approach: Chris describes his varied roles (attorney, CPA, speaker, coach) as “a customized template,” where each facet reinforces core business principles.
Memorable Quote:
“It’s not six or seven or 10 different businesses as it might feel. It's the same types of conversations. It's the same discipline.”
— Chris Papin (02:27)
2. Clarity vs. Chaos in Leadership (03:58–06:47)
- Scott asks: What separates high-achieving leaders from those who struggle?
- Chris emphasizes clarity: Successful clients proactively execute long-term plans rather than constantly reacting to daily emergencies.
- Firefighter analogy: “Are we reacting on Monday or are we executing on Monday? That's really the key.”
Memorable Quote:
“Successful business owners... when they show up on Monday, they're executing the list that they put in place oftentimes 18 months before.”
— Chris Papin (05:11)
3. Maintaining Clarity Amidst Overwhelm (06:47–10:05)
- Scott probes further into regaining focus when distractions or setbacks occur.
- Chris’s Two-Part Framework:
- Know your “why”: Reconnect with your larger purpose (citing Simon Sinek’s concepts).
- Bridge vision to action: Connect daily tasks to long-term goals. Reverse-engineer milestones, but allow for infrastructure and adaptability.
- Turn the question to Scott, who agrees that clarity can ebb and flow, stressing the challenge of executing plans consistently.
Memorable Quote:
"You have to remain rigid in the execution towards the why, but flexible enough that you’re able to achieve the objective despite obstructions.”
— Chris Papin (10:18)
- Grocery store analogy: “Did you stop and go home or did you figure out how to get the stuff you needed?”
4. Managing 168 Hours: Time, Balance, and Burnout (11:06–14:10)
- Scott raises time management: Citing Chris's book "168 Hours," asks how top leaders structure their week for productivity and wellbeing.
- Chris outlines: Prioritize essentials (sleep, family) and rigorously time-block business hours.
- Flexibility is crucial: Adjust hours based on seasons or demands (e.g., CPAs during tax season).
- Recognize fatigue: It’s okay to “check out” when overwhelmed—knowing when to rest is as vital as discipline.
Memorable Quote:
“It’s not always about doing more. It's really about being effective and kind of knowing when to flex those different things.”
— Chris Papin (12:44)
5. Resilience and Handling Setbacks (14:10–17:18)
- Scott asks about recovery after mistakes in high-pressure environments.
- Chris uses F1 racing analogy: Pit stops are mandatory; sometimes slowing down allows you to go faster later.
- Slow down to manage risk: Mistakes and changes are opportunities to reassess and adapt rather than charge ahead blindly.
Memorable Quote:
“Sometimes you need to slow down to go faster.”
— Chris Papin (16:40)
6. Mindset Shifts of High Performers (17:18–20:51)
- Two core habits:
- Self-reflection: High performers objectively assess past actions to learn and improve.
- Strategic risk-taking: Example of a client who took on more debt to make their business more valuable at exit—even when it contradicted their initial goal.
Memorable Quote:
“If you have the ability to... do a real assessment about what worked and what didn’t, oftentimes you can adapt in a different way than other folks can.”
— Chris Papin (17:54)
7. Actionable Steps to Improve Leadership (20:51–22:41)
- Scott: “What one thing?”
- Chris’s dual advice:
- Rest and reflect: Prioritize time to recharge; creativity requires mental space.
- Intentionality and discipline: Block one hour daily to work on the business, not just in it. Consistency—even if it requires flexibility—leads to incremental progress.
Memorable Quote:
“Set an intentionality to work on my business, one hour a day, time block it, and then hold the discipline true... you'll start to see that incremental change.”
— Chris Papin (21:29)
8. Sustaining Core Principles Amid Flexibility (22:41–24:03)
- On discipline vs. adaptability:
- Chris notes the importance of having anchor points (e.g., notes, discussions with thought leaders) to return to, so goals don’t get “swept under the rug.”
- Creative approaches—like leveraging stimulating conversations—can be considered productive, as long as you keep sight of overarching objectives.
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
-
“Are we reacting on Monday or are we executing on Monday? That's really the key.”
— Chris Papin (06:42) -
“At the end of the day, you got to get yourself in the store and figure it out. And that's the key. Can you stay disciplined enough to figure it out?”
— Chris Papin (10:49) -
“You must sleep or you will die. So 168 hours gets narrowed real, real fast because we have to rest.”
— Chris Papin (11:50) -
“Sometimes you need to slow down to go faster.”
— Chris Papin (16:40) -
“The ability to reflect... is key.”
— Chris Papin (17:48) -
“Rest and reflect. Sometimes people in this space will not carve out the time for that. And you need to.”
— Chris Papin (20:56)
Resources & Where to Find Chris Papin
- LinkedIn: Search “Chris Papin”
- Website: papinspeaks.com — Access to "168 Hours," the podcast, and additional resources
- Book Availability: Directly via his website, Amazon, and in Audible/e-reader formats
Final Thoughts
Chris Papin provides a unique, holistic perspective on leadership, self-management, and coaching. The episode is filled with practical analogies (sports, grocery store, F1 racing) and concrete tools for business owners and leaders aiming to clarify their goals, maximize their time, and build resilience in challenging environments. The conversation underscores the importance of connecting daily action to long-term purpose, maintaining flexibility within discipline, and never underestimating the power of rest and reflection.