Life Switch: A Conversation with Joel Steele on Progress, Purpose, and Living “ON”

What if the life you’ve been hoping for… isn’t out of reach?

What if it’s already within you—waiting for one decision, one shift, one moment of clarity to bring it to life?

In this powerful and energizing conversation, I sit down with Joel Steele to talk about what it really takes to move from feeling stuck to building a life filled with purpose, momentum, and meaning.

Joel’s journey is anything but ordinary. Before the age of twenty-five, he faced jail, bankruptcy, and moments that could have ended his story altogether. But instead of staying there, he made a decision—to change direction, take ownership, and create something different.

That decision became the foundation for Life Switch, a blueprint for transformation centered on one powerful idea: you are either living “ON” or “OFF.”

Together, we explore what it means to flip that switch, why progress is one of the most powerful forces for change, and how small, consistent wins can create momentum that transforms your life.

Because sometimes, the biggest shift doesn’t come from doing everything differently.

It comes from choosing to begin.

Joel, your message centers around the power of progress. For someone

new to your work, what do you most want them to understand about Life

Switch?

Everyone is making the conscious or unconscious choice to live "on" or "off." When you realize that it's you who is most in control of how your life turns out, it shines light on a massive opportunity. Living on means having a purpose and living with passion to see how high your potential really is. You're excited to find out what each day can bring because it's another chance to make progress towards the life you want to create. You're making things happen! When you're living off, you're merely seeing what happens, and you might not like what you see. Life Switch is about realizing you're in control of the power to flip the script in your own life and make your story start to look the way you imagined it...or even better!

You’ve said that “progress is addictive.” What does that mean, and why is it such a powerful force for change?

So many people don't have deep belief they're going to make progress so they usually give up right before they do. When you commit to making progress and don't stop until you see it, that's when it happens. Even a small glimpse of it is a game changer. When you get that first taste of progress, it's an amazing natural high. Your brain wants more of it.  Progress leads to more progress because it programs your brain and body to keep pushing by doing what you know you need to do to see more of it. Do this on a consistent basis and progress morphs into momentum. That's when it gets really fun!

Many people feel stuck or overwhelmed when trying to reach their goals. Why do you think that happens?

Most people don't stop to ask why and what they're doing. They're often on autopilot doing what they're told to do what they think they're supposed to do. It's hard to get motivated to do something when you're not inspired by anything. It helps to know "why" when you're chasing certain goals. When you understand your why behind your effort, it makes the work more palatable because you know the results are well worth it. Then there's the fact that some people have a goal but don't know who to achieve it. When you clearly define your goals and write them down, you give yourself a 400% higher chance of achieving them. It also helps make it clear what activities you know you need to do to make progress. 

You emphasize the importance of getting that “first win.” How can someone create that initial sense of progress in their life?

What's the one thing that would get your life on track the most to how you want it to be? When you identify this and treat it with the priority it deserves, you've got 1,440 minutes each day to make it happen. With that kind of time and targeted focus, you can make a lot of progress towards getting that first win. Each day is its own game, so play each day to win. String together a streak of winning days activity and you're on a streak that will build its own momentum. 

Your framework focuses on defining goals and taking consistent action. What makes this approach sustainable over time? 

When you view your ideal life as a puzzle, it helps tremendously. With a 1,000 piece puzzle, all you have are a bunch of scattered pieces and a picture of what it can look like with time and effort. 

When you're intentional about your time and effort to build what you picture your life can be, you become empowered. You realize, "Ok, I can do this. I am doing this." Every piece is progress towards the goal. Make a little progress each day and it keeps you going. Without the grand vision of your life, it's hard to keep doing what you have to do every day. Burn the picture of your vision into your brain so it's never out of sight or mind.

You’ve experienced significant setbacks in your own life. How did those moments shape your perspective on success and resilience?

You can't "win" all the time, but you can have a winning mindset through your ups and downs. Setbacks are extremely tough in the moment because they feel like pure negativity. Viewing losses and setbacks as opportunities to win bigger than ever is the best perspective to have. Failure and obstacles help us reach deep down and do amazing things. They're often catalysts for achieving things you didn't know you were capable of. Virtually all of my wins and successes in life came after failure and setbacks. No one wants to fail, but sometimes it's the thing you need most. Viewed properly, setbacks provide winning opportunities when you look for the upside. "How can I learn and grow from this?" That's what you want to ask yourself. Don't dwell on asking why it happened. Focus on what's next by using failure and frustration as fuel to propel out of a negative situation. It works!

Small wins can seem insignificant in the moment. How do they build into something larger and more meaningful?

You have to ask yourself honestly what a winning day looks like to you. Then, execute the activities that will make it so. You want to get out in front early each day so it's easier to stay there, like a race. Have a gameplan to crush your to-do list. Small wins help to make that happen. For example, don't say if I workout today. Decide when you'll workout. Check things often and early off your to-do list to turn small wins into a collection of bigger ones. Getting little things accomplished builds you up and gets you primed to tackle whatever's next. This kind of consistent, daily achieving is like a streak in sports that takes on its own life. You become invested in your success streak and don't want it to end. You're locked in and much more likely to keep performing at a high level because you're on a roll.

You talk about living “ON.” What does that mindset look like in everyday life? 

Living "ON" is living with clarity, energy and urgency. You have a defined mission and all parts of you are wired to work towards it. It's not surviving, it's thriving. It's like taking a race car onto the track to see what it can do by pushing its limits. Living ON is being excited about that opportunity in your own life every day. 

You’ve tied your book’s success to a larger charitable mission. How does purpose play a role in maintaining motivation and momentum?

The $1 million donation to charities if Life Switch sells 1 million copies is a huge motivator. My entire purpose is to help people. Between the messages in the book and the seven figure donation that other people can become part of simply by buying a copy of the book gets me fired up every day. It's slow progress sometimes, but any progress is progress. It reinvigorates me no matter what else is going on. I picture celebrating while writing out these big checks. I cling to that vision daily and that's what keeps me marching forward. 

If someone is reading this and feels like they’ve lost direction or momentum, what is one step they can take today to start moving forward?

There is no expiration date on living your best life. There's no better time than today to stop living an ordinary life and start planning to live an extraordinary one. You'll be pleasantly surprised how much you can do and how good you'll feel when you flip your Life Switch and start living "ON!" 

The first step you want to take is to use "pause, breathe and choose" from The Peace Guidebook and think about how you want your life to look in the end. Make that vision as clear as possible on paper. Once you have your target acquired and clearly defined, all you have to do is chip away at the activities you know you have to in order to see it take shape. As it happens, you'll put your foot on the gas even more to speed up your progress because you'll be so motivated by realizing anything is possible. When you start to see it, you more so believe it. Then there's nothing stopping you from achieving it. 

Everyone is pre-wired for success. Flipping your Life Switch on is your missing power source. When it's on, it's on!

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What Joel reminds us of is both simple and powerful.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You don’t need to have everything figured out.

You just need to start moving.

Progress doesn’t begin with massive change. It begins with one step. One decision. One small win.

And then another.

Over time, those small wins build something bigger—momentum. And momentum has a way of changing everything.

It shifts how you think. It builds belief. It reminds you what’s possible.

Pause. Breathe. Choose to ask yourself one honest question:

Am I living “ON”… or “OFF”?

And if the answer isn’t what you want it to be, that’s okay.

Because there is no expiration date on creating the life you want.

You can flip the switch today.

Not all at once.Not perfectly.

But intentionally.

Because the life you’re capable of isn’t built someday.

It’s built one decision, one action, one moment at a time.

And when you grow, the world grows with you.

About Joel Steele

Joel Steele is an entrepreneur, financial expert and co-owner of a successful financial firm. He has over 22 years of experience helping people build wealth along with peace of mind. He’s passionate about enhancing health and wealth, the business of sports and building meaningful relationships, starting at home with family. Steele’s journey — from massive setbacks to personal reinvention and professional success — fuels his mission to inspire others to win in all aspects of life. He is part of the ownership group of two professional sports teams (NBA G-League and USL Championship League), and has inspired thousands nationwide to achieve personal and professional growth. Joel is a former certified personal trainer and created a small chain of healthy fast-food restaurants in the early 2000s.

About Life Switch

If an extraordinary life were passing you by, wouldn’t you want to know about it?

All before turning twenty-five, Joel Steele had flirted with jail, bankruptcy, and death. But from those depths, he emerged not just to survive but to thrive. Joel chose a new path to find the highest levels of personal and professional fulfillment. Along the way, he obtained a meaningful life and even an NBA championship ring.

In Life Switch, Joel narrates his raw and inspiring journey with unflinching honesty, revealing his secrets and strategies to unlocking your full potential, recognizing your passion, and discovering your true purpose in life. He’ll show you how to overcome setbacks and failures, turning your challenges into opportunities.

Life Switch is a blueprint for personal transformation. Joel delves deep into the pivotal moments that shaped his life, offering relatable advice and actionable steps that you can take to flip your switch on to gain powerful access to the life you want.

Joel proves we’re all pre-wired for success, and everything we need is already within us. His story is entertaining and thought-provoking while promising to save you time, money, and misery. Life Switch will rewire your thoughts and ignite a spark within you.

Are you ready to take the first step toward an extraordinary life?

It’s time to experience the power of living ON!

About Best Ever You

Best Ever You is a globally recognized personal development platform founded by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino. Since 2008, it has reached millions worldwide with trusted, practical guidance on navigating change, redefining success, and creating a life aligned with purpose, clarity, and resilience.

Through bestselling books, expert interviews, coaching, and The Best Ever You Show, Best Ever You delivers real-world tools that help people move beyond overwhelm and into meaningful, lasting transformation. The platform is known for bridging insight with action—turning personal growth into something you can actually live, not just learn.

At its core is a powerful truth: you don’t need to fix yourself—you need to align yourself. Pause. Breathe. Choose