Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of the loss of a child and experiences of grief. It may be distressing for some listeners. Please listen with care and take the space you need.

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build—often in the moments you’d never choose.

In this episode, Jay sits down with Julia Lashay to explore how adversity shapes leadership. From losing everything financially during the Great Recession to the unimaginable loss of her son, Julia shares how she found a way forward when life felt impossible.

Instead of pushing past pain, she learned to work through it—starting small, giving herself grace, and using simple tools like the 411 to regain momentum. Along the way, she discovered that purpose isn’t fixed. It evolves. And when you reconnect with it, it becomes the fuel that carries you through even the hardest seasons.

They also unpack the role of failure, why feedback accelerates growth, and how the people around you can either lift you higher or hold you back.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, this conversation offers a path—one step at a time.

Challenge of the Week:

Start defining your personal mission statement. If that feels overwhelming, begin with your core values. Clarity around what matters most will help guide everything else.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

[00:00] Julia Lashay's Introduction

[03:14] Losing Everything and Navigating Personal Tragedy

[10:16] The First Steps to Rebuilding Life

[15:38] Embracing Learning Lessons

[22:46] Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

[29:57] The ONE Thing Weekly Challenge

Links & Tools from This Episode:

The ONE Thing Operating System
Julia Lashay (speaker, coaching, resources)
Free Resources
Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email podcast@the1thing.com

Produced by NOVA

Don’t Waste Your Hardest Lessons: Julia Lashay’s 5 Principles of Unshakable Resilience