Frank Mesa | Are Your Decisions Helping You Evolve?

About this episode

Have you ever stopped to think about where your everyday decisions are taking you?

Frank Mesa believes each decision moves us in one of three directions: we evolve, revolve, or devolve. We move forward, repeat the same patterns, or allow ourselves to move backward.

Frank knows what each of those looks like. He began his career as a train conductor and worked his way up to Chief Operations Training Officer at MTA Metro-North Railroad. While his career was moving forward, other areas of his life were not. He was nearly 100 pounds overweight, facing serious health issues, and relying on alcohol to manage stress.

In this conversation, Frank shares how he began recognizing the habits and emotions behind his choices and built a system for making better ones. His ERD framework, featured in his book Alchemy: It’s As Easy As E-R-D, offers a simple question to use when an idea, impulse, or emotion takes over: Will this decision help me evolve, keep me revolving, or cause me to devolve?

We also talk about the morning routine that changed his health, why success can create dangerous blind spots, what competing on the first season of The Amazing Race taught him about pressure and self-awareness, and how small decisions build momentum over time.

If you feel stuck in the same patterns and are ready to start moving forward, this conversation will help you take a closer look at the decisions shaping your health, career, relationships, and personal growth.

About Frank Mesa

Frank Mesa is the founder of Mesa Solutions Inc., an author, consultant, and former transportation executive. He spent more than 30 years at MTA Metro-North Railroad, beginning as a train conductor and eventually serving as Chief Operations Training Officer.

Throughout his career, Frank led workforce training and development for thousands of employees and helped modernize railroad training through virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and digital learning systems.

Frank is also the author of Alchemy: It’s As Easy As E-R-D, which introduces his framework for identifying where individuals and organizations are evolving, revolving, or devolving. Through Mesa Solutions Inc., he now helps transportation organizations improve workforce development while also helping people make more intentional decisions in their personal and professional lives.

Frank also competed on the first season of CBS’s The Amazing Race.

Learn more:

https://mesasolutionsinc.com/

About Kristina Lowe

Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution.

She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead.

To learn more or be a guest, visit:

https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast