There is a difference between being kind and constantly giving pieces of yourself away.

For a lot of us, saying yes became automatic. We took on more at work, more at home, more for friends, and more for everyone else until we couldn't remember what we actually wanted anymore. Somewhere along the way, being dependable quietly turned into feeling responsible for everything.

In this episode of Under the Surface, I talk about why saying no became one of the hardest and most important lessons I have ever learned. We explore where that fear comes from, why so many of us struggle to set boundaries, and how constantly trying to keep everyone else happy can slowly wear us down.

This isn't about becoming selfish or pushing people away. It's about recognizing that every yes costs something. Sometimes protecting your peace, your time, and your health starts with one simple word.

Because the people who care about you should never require you to disappear.

🔗 More from me:
🎙️ Podcast & episodes: https://www.bradhhill.com/podcast
📖 Book: https://a.co/d/06CoAtVF
🎧 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/No-One-Is-Normal-Breaking-Free-from-Normal-Audiobook/B0GJFWBSBZ
🛍️ Merch: https://www.bradhhill.com/merch

Life rarely asks whether you're ready before it changes the plan.

Bart Merrell knows that better than most.

In this episode of the No One Is Normal Podcast, I sit down with Bart, known as The Side Hustle Samurai, to talk about resilience, entrepreneurship, financial security, and what happens when the future you expected suddenly disappears.

Bart once planned to join the FBI and chase serial killers. One unexpected decision ended that dream before it started. Years later, several business deals collapsed after 9/11, costing him hundreds of thousands of dollars and bringing him dangerously close to bankruptcy. Then came another major turn when he learned his lower left leg would need to be amputated.

Each time, Bart had a decision to make about what came next.

We talk about the fear he experienced walking into the hospital on the morning of his amputation, the humor and mindset that helped him adjust, and how he eventually turned that experience into an opportunity to help other amputees facing the same uncertainty.

But Bart's story is also about preparation.

He believes relying on a single paycheck can leave people far more vulnerable than they realize. We explore how skills, hobbies, experiences, and even some of life's hardest chapters can reveal opportunities that are easy to overlook. Bart explains why a side hustle does not have to mean chasing somebody else's business idea. Sometimes the opportunity is already sitting inside something you know how to do.

This isn't a conversation about getting rich quickly.

It's about being prepared when life changes the plan, recognizing what you already bring to the table, and having the willingness to act when an opportunity appears.

As Bart puts it:

What happens when what happens, happens?

🌐 Connect with Bart Merrell, The Side Hustle Samurai:

Website: https://thesidehustlesamurai.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bartmerrell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartmerrell/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-merrell-2440148/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BartMerrell-SideHustleSamurai

🔗 More from me:
🎙️ Podcast & episodes: https://www.bradhhill.com/podcast
📖 Book: https://a.co/d/06CoAtVF
🎧 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/No-One-Is-Normal-Breaking-Free-from-Normal-Audiobook/B0GJFWBSBZ
🛍️ Merch: https://www.bradhhill.com/merch

Most people don't wake up one day and intentionally build a life they don't want.

It usually happens one small decision at a time.

We put things off. We tell ourselves we'll deal with it later. We hope life somehow organizes itself while we stay busy reacting to whatever shows up next. Before long, months or even years have passed, and we're still wondering why nothing seems to change.

In this episode of Under the Surface, I talk about why planning has nothing to do with controlling the future and everything to do with being honest about where you want your life to go. We look at the small choices that shape our finances, careers, relationships, and goals, and why direction is more important than perfection.

Life will always throw surprises your way. A plan won't eliminate them. But it can keep you moving forward instead of constantly starting over.

Because hope is important.

Direction is what turns hope into progress.

🔗 More from me:
🎙️ Podcast & episodes: https://www.bradhhill.com/podcast
📖 Book: https://a.co/d/06CoAtVF
🎧 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/No-One-Is-Normal-Breaking-Free-from-Normal-Audiobook/B0GJFWBSBZ
🛍️ Merch: https://www.bradhhill.com/merch