--- title: "Stephen Koch: Pursue Your Passion" description: This show is about creating the life that you want, starting with surrounding yourself with the people you’d want to spend a day with, in a canoe. image: https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_StephenKoch-min.jpg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://planningalt.com/insights/stephen-koch-pursue-your-passion#main-content) [![Logo](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Logo.svg "Logo")](https://planningalt.com) [![Logo](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Logo.svg "Logo")](https://planningalt.com) - [Approach](https://planningalt.com/approach) - [Services](https://planningalt.com/services) - [About](https://planningalt.com/about) - [Insights](https://planningalt.com/insights-blog) - [Events](https://planningalt.com/events) - [Contact](https://planningalt.com/contact) - [Login](https://planningalt.com/client-login) [WEALTH PERSONALITY QUIZ](https://planningalt.com/quiz-assessment-landing-page) Toggle Menu Toggle Menu [WEALTH PERSONALITY QUIZ](https://planningalt.com/quiz-assessment-landing-page) - [Approach](https://planningalt.com/approach) - [Services](https://planningalt.com/services) - [About](https://planningalt.com/about) - [Insights](https://planningalt.com/insights-blog) - [Events](https://planningalt.com/events) - [Contact](https://planningalt.com/contact) - [Login](https://planningalt.com/client-login) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/planning-alternatives/) #### True Wealth Assessment ![PA-Blog_MoneyPersonality-min](https://planningalt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PA-Blog_MoneyPersonality-min.jpg?width=400&height=224&name=PA-Blog_MoneyPersonality-min.jpg) Everyone has their own unique relationship with money. 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[Start now](https://planningalt.com/true-wealth-assessment?hsLang=en) *Takes 7-8 minutes.* 1 min read # Stephen Koch: Pursue Your Passion [Planning Alternatives](https://planningalt.com/insights/author/planning-alternatives) Updated on September 24, 2024 [Day in a Canoe Podcasts](https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/day-in-a-canoe-podcasts) ![Stephen Koch: Pursue Your Passion](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_StephenKoch-min.jpg) | [![Spotify-teal](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Spotify-teal.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qO0VbmtswYllSKZ1YUf2r?si=_GsxAv1sToG2HPrxayb3MA) | [![Apple-Podcast-teal](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Apple-Podcast-teal.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-koch-pursue-your-passion/id1376400571?i=1000574860695) | [![Youtube-teal](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Youtube-teal.svg)](https://youtu.be/-Wo63z338HA?feature=shared) | | --- | --- | --- |   In this episode, Nathan and Stephen discuss: - Investing time into your passion  - Stepping out of your comfort zone  - Being unafraid of failure  - Listening to fear  Key Takeaways: - Consider activities that you are passionate about or put you in a flow state. Spending more of your time doing these things will propel you to a more satisfying or meaningful life.  - The best way to grow in any area is to step out of your comfort zone and move forward despite hardships or hindrances.  - Don’t be paralyzed by the fear of failure. Give yourself the space to fail and to learn and grow from it. Keep trying until you get it right.  - Fear could be your friend. Listening to your fear’s advice has the potential to benefit you but you have to be able to tell if your fear is helping you or holding you back from living your best life.    > “Following my heart, following my bliss. What am I moved to do? Saying yes to opportunities. Saying yes to the instinct. There were times that it got me in trouble but I survived it and I was able to learn and grow from it. Not being paralyzed by failure, not letting failure or the fear of not succeeding stop me. That really allowed me to do unprecedented things and step into the role of being a pioneer.” > > *—  Stephen Koch *   About Stephen Koch Stephen Koch’s career as a pioneering snowboard mountaineer, professional athlete and mountain guide led to over 50 first ascents and descents on the world’s highest and most challenging mountains where he made calculated decisions with a high level of uncertainty in the face of extreme danger. He generally chose well, but occasionally not. It is in the “not” where the gold lies. As a thought leader and keynote speaker, Koch analyzes the world of high-stakes decision-making and failure, sharing the gold that has resulted from tragedy as he connects with audiences. He inspires organizations and teams through customized presentations with stories and lessons learned from two decades of climbing and snowboarding unprecedented new routes from around the world. Connect with Stephen Koch:  Website: [https://stephenkoch.com](https://stephenkoch.com/) Email:  [stephen@stephenkoch.com](mailto:stephen@stephenkoch.com)   Connect with Nathan Mersereau:  Phone: 248-645-1520 Website: [www.dayinacanoe.com](http://www.dayinacanoe.com/) Email: [nathan.mersereau@planningalt.com](mailto:nathan.mersereau@planningalt.com) Twitter: [@NathanMersereau](https://twitter.com/nathanmersereau) LinkedIn: [Nathan Mersereau](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-mersereau-cfp%C2%AE-a984761/) Address: 255 S Old Woodward, Suite 310 Birmingham, MI 48009 Show notes by Podcastologist: Justine Talla Audio production by[ Turnkey Podcast Productions.](https://www.turnkeypodcast.com/) You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### A wealth of insight [![Rod Meloni: Perseverance Matters](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_RodMeloni1200-min.jpg)](https://planningalt.com/insights/rod-meloni-perseverance-matters) #### [Rod Meloni: Perseverance Matters](https://planningalt.com/insights/rod-meloni-perseverance-matters) [Day in a Canoe Podcasts](https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/day-in-a-canoe-podcasts) [![Julie Colwell: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Wealth Journey](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_DetailPages_Julie1200-min.jpg)](https://planningalt.com/insights/julie-colwell-finding-meaning-and-purpose-in-your-wealth-journey) #### [Julie Colwell: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Wealth Journey](https://planningalt.com/insights/julie-colwell-finding-meaning-and-purpose-in-your-wealth-journey) [Day in a Canoe Podcasts](https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/day-in-a-canoe-podcasts) [![Kathy Wiseman: Understanding Family Systems](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_KathyWiseman1200-min.jpg)](https://planningalt.com/insights/kathy-wiseman-understanding-family-systems) #### [Kathy Wiseman: Understanding Family Systems](https://planningalt.com/insights/kathy-wiseman-understanding-family-systems) [Day in a Canoe Podcasts](https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/day-in-a-canoe-podcasts) Company - [Approach](https://planningalt.com/approach) - [Services](https://planningalt.com/services) - [About](https://planningalt.com/about) - [Team](https://planningalt.com/our-team) - [Locations](https://planningalt.com/locations) - [Contact](https://planningalt.com/contact) - [Careers](https://planningalt.com/careers) Insights - [Assessments](https://planningalt.com/quiz-assessment-landing-page) - [Podcasts](https://planningalt.com/insights/tag/podcasts) - [Events](https://planningalt.com/events) - [Insights](https://planningalt.com/insights-blog) - [Client Login](https://planningalt.com/client-login) - [Form CRS](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/2025-Client-Relationship-Summary.pdf) - [ADV Part 2A Brochure](https://planningalt.com/hubfs/23129617/2026%20Form%20ADV%20Part%202A%20Rev.%208-7-26.pdf) - Wealth Advisors for Life™ - | - [Terms & Conditions](https://planningalt.com/terms-conditions) - | - [Privacy Policy](https://planningalt.com/privacy-policy) © 2026 Planning Alternatives [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/planning-alternatives/) Return to top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Planning Alternatives", "url" : "https://planningalt.com/insights/author/planning-alternatives" }, "dateModified" : "2024-09-24T21:50:51.070Z", "datePublished" : "2022-08-03T12:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Stephen Koch: Pursue Your Passion", "image" : [ "https://planningalt.com/hubfs/PA_Podcast_StephenKoch-min.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://planningalt.com/insights/stephen-koch-pursue-your-passion", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://planningalt.com/hubfs/Logo-dark-1-1.png" }, "name" : "Planning Alternatives" } } ```