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Jerry Colonna is a world-renowned and highly sought-after executive coach. After a successful early career in venture capital and private equity, he found his calling in coaching. Known in some circles as “the CEO whisperer” or “the Yoda of Silicon Valley,” he brings a depth of soul-rooted presence, love, and fierce advocacy for the disinherited and the unseen.

How did he get this way? Through a long journey of meeting his own fear and trauma with love, of course (see his book Reboot for that story). And through decades of personal work and dedicated spiritual practice (primarily Buddhism).

There’s also a lesser-known aspect of Jerry’s journey, which I personally see as vitally important: he traveled the nature-based journey of soul initiation. I believe the tremendous contribution that Jerry is making to the building of a better world — including his groundbreaking books and his work with leaders and teams — is largely empowered by the journey he went on to find and embody his soul’s true purpose.

I was really excited to get to draw out more from Jerry about his experience of that journey in this podcast.

He describes it as going from being “dismembered” and “a complete mess” (as a financially successful investor in his 30s) to becoming “re-membered.” To remembering himself.

Jerry shares how at one point the Earth literally pulled him down and swallowed him whole, initiating a wakeup call that brought him into contact with his deeper self and eventually led him onto a vision quest.

Jerry's story is a deeply moving example of what’s possible through self-discovery and self-healing in nature. We discuss how the part of himself he discovered on that quest — the essence of his soul’s unique gift — has informed and empowered his life and work since.

Jerry and I also unpack how the lessons learned from what helps us make it through our own personal dark times in a good way can also inform how we collectively approach the current dark times we are witnessing on the global stage right now.

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Links & Resources

Connect with Brooks on Instagram or LinkedIn

Soulful Impact: soulfulimpact.co

Check out Jerry’s coaching firm, Reboot

Read Jerry’s two books, Reboot and Reunion

Connect with Jerry on Instagram or LinkedIn

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Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: A Journey of Remembering

02:30 - Early Years: Disconnection and Depression

07:30 - Wakeup Call: Falling into the Crevasse

11:45 - The Meaning of Soul

16:30 - Vision Quest: Purging Pain, Finding Purpose

24:30 - Integration: An Ongoing Process

28:15 - Non-Directive Coaching: Allowing Emergence

32:00 - Reunion: Belonging and Our Ancestors

38:30 - Navigating the Dark Times

44:15 - The Work That Is Never Done

48:45 - Finding Joy Amidst the Darkness

54:00 - Remembering Our Role in the Symphony

59:30 - Final Reflections: Be Excessively Gentle With Yourself

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Exec Coach Jerry Colonna Shares His Soul Story