Episode Summary:

Podcast: Earn the Right to Live Your Dreams
Episode: The FIST "5 Finger" Philosophy | Leadership Expert Ken Hubbard on How to Live with Purpose and Passion
Host: Dr. Coyte Cooper
Guest: Ken Hubbard, Lead Pastor of Radius Church
Date: July 2, 2018

Overview

This episode dives deep into creating a purpose-driven and passionate life, led by core values. Guest Ken Hubbard shares his personal journey from a tumultuous upbringing to a life anchored by his personal “FIST” philosophy—a framework of five key values he credits with his sustained energy, resilience, and impact as a leader. Host Dr. Coyte Cooper and Hubbard reflect on habits, goal-setting, and the profound difference between living reactively versus intentionally.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ken Hubbard’s Origin Story and Motivation

• Ken’s Difficult Upbringing:

  • Born into a broken home—young parents, instability, poverty, parental absence ([01:12]).
  • Desire to “get out of that rut” came from seeing what he did not want to replicate ([03:09]).
  • “Where you're at is not where you have to stay.” – Ken Hubbard [03:10]

• Breaking the Mold:

  • Faced discouragement from those afraid he’d “move beyond” their shared circumstances ([04:09]).
  • The drive to help others avoid his struggles became a foundational motivation.

Finding and Sustaining Passion

• Energy and Purpose Connection:
  • Ken explains that real energy springs from working within your “sweet spot”—your purpose ([05:17]).
  • “If you don't have a reason to get up out of bed in the morning, who wants to get up out of bed?” – Ken Hubbard [05:17]

The FIST “5 Finger” Philosophy

• Origins and Inspiration:

  • The FIST model evolved over two decades as Ken sought to be different than the examples he’d seen ([06:58],[07:48]).
  • Inspired by a Peanuts comic where Lucy’s organized fist protects Charlie Brown—a metaphor for living with organized values ([08:07]).

• The Five Pillars:

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Fitness
  4. Finances
  5. Friends ([09:12])
  • These are the filters for every major decision—time, money, energy.
  • Career is not on his list; Ken believes fulfillment in these domains lets “everything else flow out of that” ([09:13]).

• Organizing Life by Values:

  • Ken used to physically schedule time for each value on his calendar ([09:42]).
  • “Anytime I'm going to say yes or no to something…it’s going to be towards one of these five things.” – Ken Hubbard [08:51]

Real-Life Examples: Saying No to Opportunity

• Turning Down Mel Gibson ([12:06]):
  • Ken recounts declining a private pre-release screening with Mel Gibson due to his commitment to family night.
  • “Hanging out with Mel Gibson was not one of the values in my life. So it was easy for me to decide what to do.” – Ken Hubbard [12:06]
  • His son, then 11, remembered and took inspiration from this choice, underscoring the power of value-driven decisions ([13:09]).

Aligning Goals with Values

• Natural Passion Over Arbitrary Goals:

  • Ken only sets goals around what he’s genuinely passionate about or what offers real return.
  • “When you're passionate about something, it's not a chore.” – Ken Hubbard [14:35]
  • Arbitrary goals, or those not rooted in authentic values, become a “grind” and are unlikely to succeed ([15:17], [16:09]).

• Stats on Goal Failure:

  • 97% of New Year’s resolutions are never met—because they’re not supported by real values ([15:11]).

• Habits Shape Us:

  • “Once we form a habit, then the habit forms us.” – Ken Hubbard [16:41]

Challenges in Living by the FIST Philosophy

• Difficulties:
  • Early challenge: learning to say no to attractive but misaligned opportunities ([21:47]).
  • As a leader: balancing the desire to help everyone with realistic capacity and boundaries ([23:11]).
  • Learning to delegate and trust others’ strengths—control, not ego, was his struggle ([25:31]).

Practical Leadership and Life Advice

• Ken’s Top 3 Tips: ([26:43])
  1. Determine Your Values:
     • Don’t live haphazardly; know what you’re “shooting at.”
     • “Values helps me to live my life instead of life living me.” – Ken Hubbard [27:36]
  2. Constantly Pour Into Yourself:
     • Seek coaching or mentorship in each value domain—even informally ([28:14]).
     • “Not every coach knew they were my coach.” – Ken Hubbard [28:21]
     • Regularly consume content that inspires and stretches you ([29:16]).
  3. Keep Visual Reminders:
     • Keep images of where you’ve come from/what you aspire to—for humility and focus ([29:32]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Getting Stuck:
  • “Where you're at is not where you have to stay.” – Ken Hubbard [03:10]
• On Passion & Energy:
  • “If you don't have a reason to get up out of bed in the morning, who wants to get up out of bed?” – Ken Hubbard [05:17]
• On Saying No:
  • “Family is a value. So hanging out with Mel Gibson was not one of the values in my life.” – Ken Hubbard [12:06]
  • “Mel Gibson wouldn’t remember me, but my son, it made an impact on him…” – Ken Hubbard [13:09]
• On Goals:
  • “Goals are not a grind… when you love it, it’s no problem.” – Dr. Coyte Cooper [16:09]
  • “Once we form a habit, then the habit forms us.” – Ken Hubbard [16:41]
• On Living Intentionally:
  • “We usually get out of life what we put into life. It’s really a biblical principle. We reap what we sow.” – Ken Hubbard [21:07]
• On Leadership Delegation:
  • “Control was my issue… but then I began to watch other leaders do things…and see them either end up with the same results or better.” – Ken Hubbard [25:31]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ken’s Early Life & Motivation – [01:12] to [03:55]
• Overcoming Limiting Beliefs – [04:05] to [05:02]
• Passion and Energy Sources – [05:17] to [06:38]
• FIST “5 Finger” Philosophy Explanation – [06:58] to [09:42]
• Value-Driven Decision Making (Mel Gibson Story) – [11:07] to [13:30]
• Aligning Goals with Values – [14:14] to [16:41]
• The Challenge of Saying No & Leadership Delegation – [21:47] to [26:02]
• Ken’s Top 3 Tips to Increase Quality of Life – [26:43] to [30:15]

Final Thoughts

Ken Hubbard’s “FIST” philosophy offers a practical, memorable way to anchor your life in what truly matters. His conviction: only by living in alignment with your deepest values will you maintain the drive, focus, and joy required not just for personal achievement, but for meaningful impact on those around you. The conversation—rooted in humility, stories, and real talk—shows how a simple framework can steer both everyday choices and lifelong direction.

Find more about Ken Hubbard and his messages at RadiusChurch TV.