In this episode of Speaking, Get What You Want, Chad talks with Joe Mardesich about the courage it takes to start a new path later in life. Joe shares how, as a young man, he set a goal to become a millionaire by age 30 and accomplished it through written goals, affirmations, visualization, and disciplined belief.
But the heart of the conversation is Joe’s decision at 64 to leave a successful lending career and start over in the concrete business. He explains that courage does not mean the absence of fear. It means working through fear, relying on faith, getting clear on what you want, and being willing to do what is necessary.
Joe talks openly about family responsibilities, special-needs adult children, financial pressure, and the realization that his current path would not provide the future his family needed. Rather than wait until it was too late, he chose to “burn the boats” and fully commit.
A major theme is that God often gives us the “IKEA box,” not the finished dresser. The blessing comes, but we still have to build it. Joe also emphasizes the importance of a daily morning routine to reset faith, mindset, attitude, and courage.
The episode closes with a powerful lesson: get rid of pride. Sometimes the vehicle that gets you where you want to go is not glamorous. For Joe, it was concrete. But if it works, serves your goals, and creates the future you want, get in the car and drive.
Core message:
You are never too old, too successful, or too afraid to start again. Clarity, faith, humility, and commitment create courage.
