Closing The Effort Gap: Why Lisa Nelsen Believes Effort Defines Success

Author: Michael Coxen
Published: Fri 22 Aug 2025
Episode Link: https://themindfulagent.podbean.com/e/closing-the-effort-gap-why-lisa-nelsen-believes-effort-defines-success/

In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I sit down with Lisa Nelsen, communication strategist, nonprofit leader, and founder of The Effort Gap for a conversation about what really bridges the space between knowing and doing.

Lisa’s journey through corporate marketing, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership led her to create The Effort Gap, a framework that helps people close the distance between awareness and action through clarity of mind, self-leadership, and human connection.

We explore:

Why perfect clarity isn’t the goal—and how to move forward without it

The Effort Gap: the space between knowing better and doing better

How to reframe self-doubt so it pushes you instead of paralyzing you

Why loneliness is rising (and what to do about it)

How self-leadership helps agents, entrepreneurs, and anyone lead themselves through uncertainty

This conversation reminded me that real growth whether in real estate, business, or life doesn’t come from more information. It comes from learning to lead ourselves, connect deeply, and take mindful action in the moment.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:30 - The Effort Gap

05:32 - Defining Morality

08:30 - Steps to closing the gap

12:41 - Self-leadership

21:12 - Overwhelm & Bridging the gap

30:15 - Real estate is an emotional process

34:07 - Scripts vs Using your heart

37:52 - The golden mean