In this powerful, no-nonsense episode, Tom and Adam pull back the curtain on the real reason behind all the business-building activities like podcasting, content creation, and networking. They tackle a question every entrepreneur eventually asks themselves: "Why am I doing all this?"

From social media posts to podcast episodes, newsletters, and networking events, this episode explores what actually moves the needle in business—and what doesn't. Spoiler alert: It’s not just about the content. It’s about consistency, connection, and authenticity.

Topics Covered

• The Real Role of Content in Business

o Why content is NOT your lead magnet but your trust library

o How it supports the buyer journey before and after the sale

o Why new content creators often mistake visibility for authority

• The Power of Intentional Networking

o Why meeting people must come before creating content

o How First M Club fosters genuine connection through purposeful questions

o The difference between performing at networking events vs. showing up authentically

• Building a Trustworthy Brand

o Why consistency across platforms and in-person interactions is essential

o How being the same person in all spaces builds long-term credibility

o The pitfalls of having “multiple brands” for different settings

• Newsletter Strategy That Works

o How providing value without selling builds top-of-mind awareness

o Why their newsletter is pitch-free—and more effective because of it

• Creating From Experience, Not Just Ideas

o Why content must come from real work and life experiences

o The fear of being “phony” in content and how to overcome it

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💬 Key Quotes

“Content supports your authority—it doesn’t create it.”

“Your first 100 pieces of content will suck. And that’s okay.”

“Consistency builds trust. And trust builds your business.”

“Networking is about being intentional. Help first. Always.”

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🤝 The First M Club

This episode is also a deep dive into the First M Club—a mastermind and networking community built for business owners striving for their first million. Tom and Adam break down:

• Why it’s different from traditional networking groups

• How it fosters authenticity and collaboration

• The intentional framework that makes it simple yet powerful

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🚀 Take Action

🎯 Ask yourself:

What’s your real intention when creating content or attending networking events?

If you don’t have one, start with this: “How can I help someone today?”

🌐 Explore First M Club:

Check out the First M.club

or join the community—online or in person on Long Island.

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🙌 Connect With Us

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s grinding it out, wondering what the hell it’s all for. Help them find clarity, community, and purpose.

In this deeply insightful and candid episode, Tom and Adam explore the emotional and strategic challenges entrepreneurs face when standing at the threshold of “what’s next.” The conversation organically weaves through the realities of coaching, the trust-building process, how hesitation and fear block business moves, and why intuitive action is often more powerful than rigid planning.

They share how the First M Club is designed to support entrepreneurs navigating pivotal transitions, offering not just tactical advice but also emotional grounding and peer validation. You’ll hear real stories and reflections that will encourage you to listen more deeply to your intuition, embrace micro-movements over massive leaps, and most importantly, take that next step with confidence.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

1. Coaching Isn’t Always Linear—And That’s the Magic

• Real coaching happens when you meet people where they are, not just where your program is going.
• Listening and adjusting in real-time leads to more powerful breakthroughs than sticking to rigid agendas.

2. Emotional Baggage Delays Action

• Many entrepreneurs carry invisible weight—especially emotional burdens that were never released.
• Men in particular struggle with emotional release, which can delay business progress.

3. The Fishbone Approach to Root Cause Analysis

• Coaching is like a fishbone diagram: the “main spine” is the core goal, but all the smaller contributing factors (the “bones”) must be explored and resolved.
• This perspective allows clients to understand that seemingly unrelated issues are all connected to the larger goal.

4. The Fear of Messing Up Either Side

• Many clients delay their next move because they fear disrupting what’s working and fear failure with the new idea.
• The solution? Take small, intentional actions—“one more thing” at a time.

5. Business Moves Unlock Life Moves

• Most people wait for the business to improve before changing their life. But it’s often the other way around.
• Helping clients make incremental business moves can radically enhance their life quality.

6. Validation Comes from Community

• The First M Club provides a mastermind-like environment where people feel seen, heard, and validated.
• That validation builds trust—not just in others, but in themselves.

7. Trust Over Evidence

• High performers often seek evidence before acting, but many decisions must be based on intuition and trust.
• Action builds clarity. Clarity doesn’t always precede action.

8. You Already Know the Answer

• Clients often come knowing deep down what to do—they just need support, space, and permission to act.
• Success is not only about what you’re doing, but about who you are becoming.

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🛠️ Resources Mentioned

• Fishbone Diagram – A visual tool from quality management used for identifying root causes.
• PDSA Cycle – Plan, Do, Study, Act method for implementing small, strategic changes.

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💬 Memorable Quotes

“Information comes from action, not the other way around.”

“You don’t need a new idea—you need the courage to trust the one already inside you.”

“Coaching is the art of listening, not programming.”

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🚀 Join the Conversation

Interested in taking your next step with support?

Explore the First M Club — a mastermind community designed to help entrepreneurs confidently pursue their first million while creating a life they love.

🔗 Visit atomicbusinesscoaching.com for more...

In a world full of change, how do we evolve with intention—and not get swept up in noise? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Tom Marino and Adam Thomas Hurd (yes, he’s officially using his full name now!) take you inside the journey of transformation that led to the launch of the First M Club.

They share how superficial networking and unintentional business moves are holding entrepreneurs back, and reveal the formula they’ve discovered for cultivating authentic relationships, real momentum, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re trying to reach your first million in revenue or just crave deeper connections with like-minded go-getters, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why opportunity often follows change, but how to become ready for both.
• The morning meeting model: 3 powerful questions that unlock connection and collaboration.
• Why most communities fail—and how the First M Club is structured to stay small in execution but big in value.
• How intentional networking beats transactional encounters (and why it leads to better clients and collaborators).
• The mindset shift from chasing leads to attracting the right ones through service.
• Why authenticity, vulnerability, and shared experiences are the secret weapons to growth.
• How limiting beliefs and saboteurs like the restless saboteur block business potential—and what to do about it.
• Adam’s transition from “Adam Thomas” to “Adam Thomas Hurd” and what it symbolizes for the journey ahead.

Key Quotes:

“You have to start to change to see the opportunities.”

“It’s not about networking for the sake of networking—it’s about networking with intention.”

“A club thrives when people show up authentically and want to help each other.”

“We’re not building a community. We’re building a club—because clubs have standards and real connection.”

“I’m not excited. I’m nervous. And that means it matters.”

What Is the First M Club?

The First M Club is a private club for business owners and entrepreneurs working toward their first million dollars in revenue. Rooted in collaboration over competition, the club brings together small groups (8 or fewer) for meaningful networking, peer coaching, and real-time support. It’s about belonging, growth, and building business momentum—together.

You’ll be part of:

• Monthly Morning Meetings asking: What’s going right? What’s going wrong? What do you need help with?
• Targeted intentional networking sessions with immediate, actionable results.
• A vetted network of business owners serious about helping and supporting one another.
• A culture of service-first, where leads are attracted, not chased.

Resources & Mentions:

• Free Crash Course on improving networking, prospecting, and defeating limiting beliefs
• Success stories from Project 2740 and pilot members of the First M Club

Join the Movement:

If you’re done with empty networking and want to be part of a high-trust, high-impact environment, the First M Club may be your new business home.

🟢 Visit