Becoming UnDone, Episode 137

Transforming Adversity into Purpose: Shaun Murphy's Journey to Empowerment

Host: Dr. Toby Brooks
Guest: Shaun “Mr. Motivation” Murphy
Date: September 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Shaun Murphy, known as "Mr. Motivation"—an artist, educator, veteran, and transformational speaker. Shaun discusses his journey from growing up under challenging circumstances in Brooklyn, through transformative military service, to becoming a voice of empowerment. The conversation centers on reframing adversity as fuel for growth, the power of exposure, intentional fatherhood, overcoming identity crises after leaving the military, and using creativity and service as pathways to personal and communal breakthrough.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Upbringing and Vision Beyond Circumstance

• Origin Story (00:10 – 09:11)

  • Shaun describes growing up in Brooklyn, enduring poverty, the absence of his father, and environmental negativity.
  • Despite these setbacks, he remained grounded in gratitude, inspired by his mother’s resilience (strict, Barbados roots).
  • Early dreams included being a firefighter or a soldier, heavily influenced by military advertisements.

    “I grew up coming into this world with three strikes, right? Black dude born into poverty, born without a father, but super grounded in gratitude.” — Shaun (00:15)

  • Watching shows like "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" showed him “there’s more” to life, sparking ambition.

• Exposure as a Catalyst

  • Shaun highlights how seeing different realities fundamentally shifts possibility:

    “Exposure is everything. … When your mind's expanded or exposed to a thing or idea or concept, it can never go back." — Shaun (10:24)

2. Military Experience, Transition, and the Search for Identity

• Growth in the Military (11:02 – 14:33)

  • The military shaped Shaun as a leader and a man; gave him empathy and responsibility over others.
  • Transitioning out of the military left him in a “blue funk”—without a plan, support, or tribe, encountering an identity void:

    “I left the military prematurely...and when I write the book about my life, this is going to be the blue funk chapter.” — Shaun (11:02)

• Lessons and Service

  • He credits the Army’s values (selfless service, integrity, honor) for grounding him through all life roles, especially as a parent and educator (19:35).

3. Fatherhood without a Blueprint

• Intentional Parenting (14:33 – 18:48)

  • Growing up without a father, Shaun was initially afraid of becoming one (“How do you become a dope dad if you haven't seen one?”).
  • He deliberately modeled the elements he wished he’d had, “10x”-ing that vision for his kids.

    “I just dreamed what I wish I had, and I 10x'd that.” — Shaun (14:33)

  • Reverse engineered outcomes for his kids—prioritized presence, adaptability, and limitless potential:

    “My present to them is being present. … Have no limitations. Zero.” — Shaun (17:07)

• Mentorship and Breaking Cycles

  • Teaching in all-boys’ middle school reinforced the importance of male role models and contributed to his growth as a father and mentor.

4. The Power of Failure and Resetting

• Resilience and Mindset Shifts (29:28 – 32:17)

  • Discusses the hardest resets in life: leaving college, repeatedly struggling and dropping out, eventual return and triumph as a college professor.
  • Advocates for a mindset of seeking out discomfort and failure:

    “You have to get to a place where you are sick and tired of being sick and tired.” — Shaun (29:05)

  • Break big goals into smaller, digestible pieces, celebrate progress to build momentum.

• Chasing Failure as Growth

  • Attributing progress to failing often and big, citing the book “Go For No”:

    “I chase failure. I chase the storms, I chase the setbacks, I chase discomfort. Because nothing grows in comfort.” — Shaun (33:54)

5. Embracing Creativity: Motivational Speaking through Hip-Hop and Storytelling

• Unique Presentation Style (36:30 – 44:12)
  • Infuses motivational speaking with hip-hop cadences, spoken word, and storytelling to connect with diverse learners and audiences.
  • Emphasizes vulnerability—starting music with no background, learning in public, modeling perseverance for his kids:

    “Daddy don't know nothing about music, but I'm about to go down this rabbit hole. … You don’t have to be smart or talented to be successful. Focus and effort, you can do anything you want.”— Shaun (36:43)

  • The importance of modeling “practice makes improvement, not perfection.”

6. The Breakthrough Bunker: Building Community

• Vision for Transformation (47:47 – 51:30)
  • Launching a “bunker”—a transformational space for growth-minded people: a no-judgment, collaborative, service-first community, online and interactive.
  • Anchored by the principles in the book "The Go Giver," focusing on giving as a path to success.

    “Proximity is power, right? Who's in your space? And if I can be one of those people that help you go next level…I'm all for it.” — Shaun (50:38)

7. Personal and Musical Legacy

• Soundtrack of His Life (51:30 – 58:27)
  • Shares a personal anthem: his song “Why,” focused on purpose, legacy, and honoring sacrifices.
  • The mission is to leave it all on the field:

    “Who loses if I don't win? There's someone in Japan, Australia, Africa that needs to hear why, that needs to hear Murphy's Law, that needs to hear my next song that I ain't even put out yet.” — Shaun (53:36)

  • Inspired by Les Brown's story about dying with untapped gifts and the importance of giving everything to the world before you are gone.

8. What Remains Undone?

• Pursuit of Self-Mastery (58:55 – 62:14)
  • Continues seeking wisdom, unearthing hidden potential, and applying lessons to serve at a deeper level.

    “I’m on this quest for self-mastery...seeking wisdom, seeking knowledge. And then once I understand the knowledge, applying what I understand. … Just uncovering me.” — Shaun (58:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Exposure is everything.” — Shaun (10:24)
• “You have to get to a place where you are sick and tired of being sick and tired.” — Shaun (29:05)
• “I chase failure. I chase the storms…Because nothing grows in comfort.” — Shaun (33:54)
• “I just Dreamed what I wish I had, and I 10x’d that.” — Shaun (14:33)
• “Practice makes improvement.” — Shaun (41:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-------------| | 00:10 | Shaun’s early life and vision beyond poverty/absence | | 10:24 | Role of exposure in developing ambition | | 11:02 | Military experience, leadership, and post-service “blue funk” | | 14:33 | Fatherhood and building what he never had | | 17:07 | Parenting approach/philosophy | | 19:35 | Military values in all life roles | | 29:05 | Hitting rock bottom and mindset for change | | 32:17 | Persisting with education—dropping out to college professor | | 33:54 | Philosophy on embracing failure as growth | | 36:43 | Innovation: motivational speaking via music/spoken word | | 47:47 | Launching “Breakthrough Bunker” community | | 51:56 | Personal anthem: The song “Why” | | 58:55 | What remains undone: the pursuit of self-mastery |

Connect with Shaun “Mr. Motivation” Murphy

• Website: mr-motivation.com
• Instagram: @mistermotivation (‘O’s are zeros: m1ster.m0tivation)
• Music: “Why” & other releases available on Spotify, Apple Music
• Book: Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of Resilience
• Breakthrough Bunker: Free weekly transformational community calls (info via website)

Final Thoughts

In this candid, energetic episode, Shaun Murphy models what it means to turn pain into purpose—through gratitude, intentional action, a relentless drive to improve, and a passion for serving others. His message is clear: You are more than your circumstances, setbacks can fuel breakthroughs, and pursuing your “why” doesn’t just change your life—it creates a legacy for others.

“For those listening and watching: Don’t worry about the people. Don’t worry about family and friends. … Even if it doesn’t work out right, wherever you are, that’s where you’re supposed to be.” — Shaun (27:38)