3 Weeks To Change The Rest Of Your Life
Connection Course
Transform every relationship in your life, including the one with yourself, by practicing the meta-skill Joe uses to coach the world’s most successful people.
October cohort is sold out. Next available cohort: November 2026.
I work with people across the full spectrum of society
From people running billion-dollar companies, to people who struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
One person binge-watches Netflix in order to avoid their work.
Another person builds a world-changing company, and the work feels like play.
One person feels completely alone in a house full of people.
Another person has deep, loving connections to their family and friends.
One person suppresses their uncomfortable emotions with junk food and social media.
Another person sits with their emotions, and allows themselves to cry if needed.
From one person to the next, the behaviors and the results are worlds apart.
Even the same human being can be completely different from one day to the next.
There are times when you feel stuck and unmotivated.
And there are times when you're focused and inspired.
There are times when you drift through life without any real excitement.
And there are times when you know exactly where you're going.
There are times when you feel nervous and want to hide.
And there are times when you feel confident and at ease with people.
So the question is, what makes the difference?
What's the key ingredient in the most successful people in the world, and in all of us on our best days?
It's not only intelligence, ambition, or willpower. The vast majority of people I work with have those three things in spades. And obviously those don't change within yourself on your bad days.
The difference is connection. Or more accurately, a lack of it.
- The person who doom-scrolls social media instead of building their business is disconnected from their vision.
- The founder heading into a divorce and custody battle has been disconnected from their partner for years.
- The person who drinks to suppress their grief is disconnected from their emotions.
- The person eating junk food every night is disconnected from what their body actually wants.
- The artist who isn't creating art is disconnected from their creative spark.
- The company that destroys the environment is disconnected from nature.
This shows up in three main areas
Disconnected from self
- Having no idea what you truly want in life
- Doom scrolling instead of feeling your emotions
- Letting the critical inner voice dictate your life
- Waking up with a sense of dread each morning
- A life that looks fine from the outside but has no spark
- Understanding your patterns perfectly, and still repeating them
Disconnected from others
- Performing a role, rather than showing your true self
- Holding back what you truly think or feel
- Morphing to become who you think other people need you to be
- Talking to friends and family but not feeling any true connection to them
- Feeling lonely even when you're with other people
- Feeling the need to carry and fix everything alone
Disconnected from the body
- Binge-eating as a way to self-medicate
- Tension and pain in the muscles and joints
- Feeling exhausted and burnt out all the time
- Feeling like you're floating outside your body
- Not crying in years, even though you know you need to
- Under-training or over-training instead of listening to what the body wants
The people who succeed aren't necessarily smarter or more driven. They're more connected: to who they are, to the people around them, and to what they deeply want.
Why it's so hard to change
Most of us learned early that being liked meant being easy.
Agreeable. Useful. Impressive. Not too much.
We learned to read the room and become whatever it needed. It worked. It kept us safe. It got us jobs, friends and partners.
Then self-improvement told us the same thing in a nicer voice. Fix yourself first. Become more confident, more healed, more worthy. Then you'll be ready to be fully seen.
So the work goes on, and the thing actually wanted keeps waiting.
Here's what's hard to see from the inside. The strategies we use to stay safe and be liked are exactly what keep us from being close to anyone. Including ourselves.
Managing the impression keeps people at arm's length. Holding back the true thing keeps every relationship a little shallow. And trying to think a way out keeps it all in the head, where it has been for years.
Most people already know why they do what they do. Knowing hasn't changed it. That isn't a failure. It's a sign of using the wrong kind of tool.
Connection is what the biggest companies in the world pay me for. It's the key to human transformation.
In business
The CEO who connected with his employees as human beings
“A CEO lost a third of his business. He went to everybody in the company and said, ‘I don't know what to do.’
The whole company said, ‘Let's reduce our salaries by a third until we can get another customer in.’ They got a customer relatively quickly.”
In the boardroom
The founder who connected with investors rather than pitching them
“When I was a venture capitalist, founders would come in to impress me with their knowledge and show me they had a really good business idea.
Then one CEO came in to raise money and asked, ‘What do you need to see to fund this? What are the boxes you need to check off?’
I told him straight away. Then he went through exactly what I needed to hear. He started in a place of wonder instead of a place of knowing.”
In a team
The team that hit their performance metrics for the first time in 3 years
“One team I worked with had an ex-Navy SEAL and a triple MIT graduate on it. Super intense people. They weren't getting along and they weren't being productive.
Half a day into a two-day workshop, the people who hadn't been able to get along were crying with each other.
That team hadn't hit their performance metrics in about three years. They hit them that quarter.”
In marriage
The couple who healed a dead relationship
“One was a high-powered lawyer, one was a venture capitalist. They would fight over the coffee maker, and the sex was dead.
They committed to two things: having their fights in a respectful manner, and speaking their truth even when the other person might be hurt.
Six months, maybe eight months later, their whole relationship had changed.”
My Story
I traveled all over the world and found only 5 people who could teach me this profound way of connecting.
The consultant
Years ago, when I was a venture capitalist, I brought Cees de Bruin in as a consultant for one of the companies I'd invested in. He was Dutch, opinionated, and drank an alarming amount of coffee. Within days he'd stirred up the whole executive team. One of them couldn't stand him. One of them loved him. And everything he pointed at was true.
The dinner
Then one evening he came over to my house for dinner with a few friends. And one by one, he started coaching them.
I watched someone's whole world shift in a single conversation. Then the next person's. Then the next.
Mind blown, mind blown, mind blown.
I'd always thought real change took months or years, and that at the end of it you'd maybe be a little bit happier. This was something else. It looked like magic, and I was determined to figure out what he was doing.
On our sofa
When Cees got sick and couldn't get the treatment he needed at home, he came to live with my family. For months at a time he sat on our sofa coaching whoever came through the door, while my kids listened from the next room. I watched him work, I got coached myself, and I explored myself more deeply than I ever had.
The search
After Cees died, I went looking around the world for anyone else who could do what he did. I found four or five people, and they all worked in completely different ways. Some were gentle and some were blunt. Watching one was like watching a surgeon with a scalpel. Watching another was like watching someone with a hatchet.
What they all had in common was how they were with the person in front of them. They were vulnerable, impartial, empathetic and in wonder. That's VIEW.
Living it
So I started to investigate what it was like for me to be vulnerable, impartial, empathetic and in wonder, not just when I was coaching but in the rest of my life too. That was my experiment for many, many months.
It changed me more than any coaching session I'd ever had. When I meditated, I stopped trying to get somewhere, and I started enjoying it. In conversations, in meetings and at home, things started to shift.
In truth, it has changed everything about my life and is the core of all the work we do here at Art of Accomplishment.
VIEW: a life-changing way to be in connection with self & others
Vulnerability
Saying the true thing, even when it's a little scary.
- Staying silentSpeaking uncomfortable truths
- Hiding emotionsAllowing others to see your sadness
- Trying to be perfectSharing your fears
Impartiality
Not needing the other person, or yourself, to be any different.
- Giving adviceTrusting others' wisdom
- Trying to control othersMeeting them as they are
- Trying to control yourselfMeeting yourself as you are
Empathy
Being with what someone feels without getting lost in their story.
- Trying to fix their emotionsSimply being with them
- Cheering someone upSitting with them in their pain
- Taking on their emotionsCaring without merging
Wonder
Being curious without needing an answer.
- Needing the answerEnjoying the question
- Judging yourself“Huh, I wonder what makes me do that?”
- Auto-pilot in lifeEnjoying the tastes, sights, sounds, smells, and beauty of the world
Why this is different
VIEW is not a technique. It's a state of mind.
VIEW is a loving state of mind that you can rest in, that fundamentally shifts how you relate to yourself and others. It also happens to reliably produce better results than self-management, shoulds, self-improvement, defense, and power over.
VIEW isn't a communication technique, though you'll definitely communicate better. VIEW isn't a coaching technique, though you'll definitely help people find their own answers.
Consuming content
The old wayPassively watching YouTube videos, reading books, and listening to podcasts is not how you learn to play golf.
VIEWYou learn to play golf by actually playing golf. Change comes from actively practicing this new way of being in a live format. It's an experience that has to be felt and honed through reps.
Communication courses
The old wayMost communication courses teach you mechanical techniques for how to say something.
VIEWThey don't teach you about the deeper layer: where to come from when you are saying something. Communication is a natural outpoint of your state of mind. It's a byproduct.
Meditation
The old wayMost people who meditate end up managing themselves and their emotions. The meditation becomes a subtle way to avoid their emotions.
VIEWWhen I stopped trying to get anywhere and meditated in VIEW, the enjoyment increased and I made faster progress.
Introducing
Connection Course
A 3-week live experience where you practice resting in VIEW with rotating partners, live on Zoom.
It's been distilled from more than 10 years of running this work, both in person and online. This is the most polished version of the program, with only the exercises that blew people away.
- 3 weeks
- 5 live partner sessions (Zoom)
- A podcast for each teaching
- A daily practice
- Live Q&A with me
How it works
Connection is learned by practicing live with different 1-on-1 partners
This is not a theory. 90% of your time is spent going through very specific exercises with different partners.
Strangers make it safe
It's far easier to say the scary thing to someone you don't know, in a safe, controlled environment.
Connection is learned in reps
You don't learn to connect by watching someone else do it. You learn by doing it, live, with another human being.
Every partner is different
A new partner each session means you practice VIEW with people who think, feel and react nothing like you, which is exactly what real life throws at you.
The Exercises
Watch Joe go through one of the exercises on the Rich Roll Podcast
We don't share what's in the course, as we don't want to ruin the magic. The best results come when people arrive with no expectations. However, if you want a small example of what is to come, check out the clip below.
At the end of 3 weeks
Connect with your emotions.Connect with what you want.Connect with yourself.
Connection Course is a different way of meeting people, and yourself.
Over three weeks, you practice a state of mind where you stop managing yourself and stop managing others. Conflict becomes a way to get closer. Triggers become something to learn from. And you no longer have to perform for anyone.
People say they come out performing better at work, enjoying conflict, and with deeper relationships with the people around them.
What does connection actually look like?
At work
Disconnected
You feel the urge to say something challenging in the meeting, swallow it, and spend the drive home replaying what you should have said.
Connected
You feel that urge to say something challenging in the meeting, you listen to it, speak up, and people respect you more for it.
With your partner
Disconnected
Your partner says something that stings. You go quiet or fire back, and spend the rest of the night in unspoken tension.
Connected
You notice the sting, get curious, and ask what's really going on. The fight turns into the closest conversation you've had in weeks.
On a weeknight
Disconnected
You're on your third episode with a bag of chips, and you're not even really enjoying it.
Connected
You notice you're not hungry, you're sad. You let yourself feel it, it passes, and you pick up the guitar instead of watching Netflix.
At a party
Disconnected
Someone asks “So what do you do?” and you give the same rehearsed answer for the hundredth time.
Connected
You get into a state of wonder, and ask them something that genuinely interests you. Ten minutes later, this stranger is opening up to you like you've been friends for years.
When you're criticized
Disconnected
Your boss picks apart your work, and it ruins your week.
Connected
You feel the hit, get curious, and walk away with useful information instead of a story about not being good enough.
With your kids
Disconnected
Your kid melts down, you snap, and you feel guilty all night.
Connected
You sit and allow them to fully express their emotions. They settle down quickly, and then you both feel connected after.
Dates & times
Three weeks. Five live sessions. A practice that you can use in your daily life.
November cohort · 2 – 19 November 2026
You'll spend most of your time with your partners, which is where the real change happens. Our expert facilitators guide every session, and Joe joins you live for a Q&A at the end.
Mark Alexander
Jason Berv
Andrew Voshage
Kirsten Corbett
Week 1
Session 1
Intro to VIEW
Your first taste of VIEW.
Session 2
Wonder
Your first real VIEW conversation.
Week 2
Session 3
Impartiality
Spotting the agenda and the assumptions behind it.
Session 4
Empathy
Turning triggers into connection.
Week 3
Session 5
Vulnerability
Being seen without the armor.
Live Q&A
With Joe Hudson
Bring your questions.
December cohort · 30 November – 15 December 2026
You'll spend most of your time with your partners, which is where the real change happens. Our expert facilitators guide every session, and Joe joins you live for a Q&A at the end.
- Jason Berv
Christy Tripp
Royal Kelly- Andrew Voshage
Week 1
Session 1
Intro to VIEW
Your first taste of VIEW.
Session 2
Wonder
Your first real VIEW conversation.
Week 2
Session 3
Impartiality
Spotting the agenda and the assumptions behind it.
Session 4
Empathy
Turning triggers into connection.
Week 3
Session 5
Vulnerability
Being seen without the armor.
Live Q&A
With Joe Hudson
Bring your questions.
Choose your time of day: Each session is offered at two times, so you can pick either one, and mix between them as needed. Both cover the same material.
Sessions aren't recorded, so you attend each one live.
All times are shown in Pacific Time (PT).
Join the next cohort
Learn to rest in VIEW with yourself & others, through live partner sessions
November cohort · 2 – 19 Nov 2026
$900
Sliding-scale discounts of up to $300 and a limited number of scholarships are available.
- 5 live, guided partner sessions over 3 weeks
- A podcast for each teaching
- A daily practice
- Live Q&A with Joe Hudson
- Lifetime alumni community, free VIEW conversations and events
October cohort is sold out.
Planning ahead? The December cohort (30 Nov – 15 Dec) is also open. See December dates
Questions
Before you join
Who is this course for?
The Connection Course is for people who are curious explorers, always seeking to grow and understand themselves and the world around them. It's for people who want to unlock their full potential, become more fulfilled by their work, and form true connections. This course is for those who want to courageously face themselves, with the knowledge that individual perspectives drive their experience of themselves, others, and the world.
Will Joe personally coach me?
It is not guaranteed that Joe will coach you. Joe coaches a handful of participants live during a large group Q&A at the end of each cohort, but he isn't able to work with everyone individually. You'll have the opportunity to raise your hand for live coaching with Joe if it's of interest.
One of the most powerful aspects of this work is that witnessing others being coached is often just as transformative as being coached yourself. You'll find yourself in what's being worked through, even when it's someone else in the hot seat.
Most importantly, this work doesn't depend on Joe. The wisdom is already within you. What unlocks it is the materials, the group work, and the partner processes, not any single person.
What is the time commitment for this course?
The Connection Course is designed to be immersive yet manageable. It is the same commitment and energy it would take to attend two extra workout classes or watch two movies a week.
Expect to dedicate approximately 2-3 hours to live sessions and an additional 45 minutes listening to the podcast.
We've structured the course to fit into busy schedules while still providing deep, meaningful growth opportunities.
What happens if I have to miss a class?
The course unfolds as a progression, so each session needs to be completed before moving to the next. If you have to miss one, our course managers will work with you to schedule a makeup session.
I want to take the course with a partner. How does that work?
Yes, many people take the course with someone they know, whether a partner, friend, family member, or colleague. Doing the work alongside someone in your life can be a powerful way to deepen the relationship.
You'll each register separately and need to be in the same cohort, though you can attend different session times (AM and PM both work). Once you're both signed up, we'll reach out to confirm how you'd like to partner through the course.
Can I take the course without a partner?
You can absolutely join without a partner. This is the most common way people enroll. The cohort model of the course was specifically built to accommodate this. The course manager will ensure you are matched with another participant for any partner work. Most people switch partners each session. If you're taking the course with a friend, you can request to stay paired with them throughout.
How is your approach similar to and different from other coaching techniques?
Coaching is often about trying to get someone somewhere, or adding value to their life. AOA is about going on a discovery journey together. It's about deeply understanding that the person you're talking to has all the wisdom they need to take the right next step in their life. It is about connection, not fixing.
Would you recommend this course even if I've done a lot of inner work or other AOA courses?
Yes. In fact, the more inner work you've done, the more you'll get out of it. Most inner work happens alone or with a guide. This course puts you in live, relational contact with another person, which is where the real patterns show up. The insights you've already gathered don't go to waste here. They become the foundation you build from.
I listen to the AOA podcast. What will I get from this course that I can't get from the podcast?
While listening to the podcast is a great way to learn about the VIEW mindset, this course is designed to help you fully integrate the teachings into your life.
It's the difference between watching a baseball game and actually getting on the field. The podcast gives you the knowledge, but the course will actually bring those teachings into your life.
What are the reasons I shouldn't take this course?
If deep self-exploration isn't what you're looking for: The Connection Course dives deep into who you are, how you connect, and why you might face challenges in your relationships. If you're not interested in exploring these deeper aspects of yourself, this course may not meet your current needs or expectations.
If you're not ready to be vulnerable: This course asks you to open up, not just to others, but to yourself. It involves looking inward at aspects of your life and personality you might not have examined closely before. If you're not in a place where you feel comfortable or safe being vulnerable, it might be better to wait.
If you're fully satisfied with your relationships: If you feel content with how you relate and don't see the need for change, this course might not provide the value you're seeking. It's designed for those who are looking for growth and improvement in their connections.
If you prefer a traditional learning environment: The Connection Course is highly interactive, experiential, and emotionally intense for some. If you're looking for a more conventional educational experience that focuses on lecture-based learning without the emotional and personal development component, this course may not align with your preferences.
What do I need for the live sessions?
This course runs on live Zoom calls with a partner, so you'll need a laptop or desktop computer (not a phone or tablet), a stable internet connection, and your camera on.
We also highly recommend the use of headphones to improve the audio experience on both ends, and joining from a quiet space where you can speak freely.
Do you offer scholarships or financial assistance?
Yes. We offer a sliding scale discount of up to $300 to make the course more accessible for those who need it. To take advantage of it, simply complete your application and you'll see the link at the end. If you need additional financial support beyond the sliding scale, a limited number of scholarships are also available. Reach out to courses@artofaccomplishment.com to request a scholarship application link.
Can my company pay for this?
Yes. Participants often expense the Connection Course, whether using a learning & development budget as an employee, or as a business owner. The communication and leadership skills you build show up directly in how you work, with yourself & others.
To help, we've made a one-page overview on the business case that is easy to share as needed (e.g. with a manager for budget signoff). We can also provide an itemized invoice on request, just email courses@artofaccomplishment.com.
Can my team take the Connection Course together?
Yes. Art of Accomplishment doesn't currently offer private cohorts for smaller groups, but teams are welcome to join a public cohort together. The price is the same for organizations and individuals, though teams do receive additional coordination such as bespoke partner pairings.
Teams can register in one of two ways: each person registers individually at the standard price, or the organization pays centrally by invoice for the whole group and receives registration codes so participants can register without a course fee.
For 10 or more seats, or for something more tailored like a facilitated integration session, teams can reach out to courses@artofaccomplishment.com.