Some people always seem to have the best luck. August Turak is one of them. But his life of "happy accidents" reveals something deeper about transformation, purpose, and what makes courses truly change lives.
A Life of Learning
Turak was bitten by the philosophy bug at the University of Pittsburgh— so deeply that he dropped out to study with a Zen master. At every bookstore he visited, he asked: "Who can teach me something?"
This question led him to Louis R Mobley, founder of the IBM Executive School, who became his mentor. Turak went on to MTV, A&E, then built and sold a software company before retiring at 49.
Meet the Monks
Since 1996, Turak has been spending time at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist Monastery. He believes the monks are so good at business because they don't consider themselves to be in business at all.
"Service and selflessness"—the more committed you are to a higher purpose, the more happiness, friends, love, and even money you'll find. But the primary driver has to be helping others, not seeking rewards.
A Different Kind of Faith
"I never had a plan for my life, but when I look back, everything came off exactly as planned. It was just a plan too big for me to see."
When Turak started his company, they didn't write a business plan. They wrote their 10 founding principles on a napkin—the things they believed in, the kind of people they would be.
The Biggest Challenge of Turning a Book into a Course
In order to accomplish anything worth doing, you have to live the life. People have to become what you're teaching them. It's not enough to just transfer information—and this is even more true in 2026, when AI can transfer information instantly.
"We all know we need to get into better shape. Do we really need another book telling us to be healthier? The problem is just getting to the gym."
The Three Kinds of Transformation
All human motivation is driven by a longing for transformation:
- Transformation of condition: when a thirsty man drinks
- Transformation of circumstance: when a poor man hits the lottery
- Transformation of being: when Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning a changed man
When we try to accomplish transformation of being by changing condition or circumstance, we always fail. "If you have a hole in your soul and try to fill it with donuts, you get fat. But you still have the hole."
It's Not About Learning—It's About Becoming
You can learn the rules of golf, know everything about the swing. But you can't learn golf. You have to practice until you become a golfer.
The greatest teachers use experiential models to bring about a change of heart. We're great at left-brain education—tell them what you'll tell them, tell them, tell them what you told them. But the "aha" moment requires something special.
Facilitating Transformation Online
Turak was dubious about whether deep experiential learning could happen online. His beta test blew him away—participants dug deep, were raw and honest about their fears and flaws, even though they'd never met.
The key was interactive exercises where students learn by doing, then report their discoveries to the group. The online community became a conversation about what they experienced.